We can be “ONE POWERFUL VOICE”

“An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin fool, you bet Tommy sees”

Veteran’s organizations and veterans in communities throughout this country can be an extremely powerful force that can press for legislation that can improve veteran’s benefits and services that are so desperately needed, deserved and earned.  Unfortunately, veterans and veteran organizations act too slowly, unfocused and uncoordinated when trying to influence elected officials or when dealing with elected officals who start to delay or block veterans benefits and services.  This lack of organization amongst veterans and veteran organizations paralyzes the veteran's effort especially when dealing with legislators who, for the most part, are and have been prone to ignore or just give “lip service” to fundamental needs of veterans. The same legislators who have used veterans as a back drop for their political campaigns and than ignored their promises and responsibilities to the same veterans while supporting frivolous “pork barrel” appropriations.   

If veterans are going to make a difference, veterans and veteran organizations at all levels need to become more organized, focused and pro-active when it comes to dealing with issues affecting veterans.  Some veteran organizations have their own agendas, their own goals and objectives and in some cases, unfortunately, their own little empires in which they do not wish to have infringed on by some other veteran’s or veteran organizations, thus diminishing their ability to generate any influence or create any positive change.  This has been a problem in the past when it came to trying to collectively address veteran’s benefits/issues and ensuring the promises made to veterans were kept.  Although many veteran organizations and individual veterans take the time to write or visit their legislators to present their concerns over these problems, the lack of an organized effort produces little to no results or usually generates the standard facsimile signed thank you letter for contacting me.   These same actions, if pursued vigorously and collectively by powerful veterans organizations, can gain attention and produce quicker results towards focusing efforts where they need to be. But the power of any organiztion comes from its members and membership.  As veterans, if we are going to continue to  make a difference, we need to JOIN a veteran's organization where we can start, along with fellow veterans, vigorously addressing the critical issues affecting all veterans today. 

“Patriotism is not a short frenzied outburst of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime”  

Veterans and veteran’s organizations need to get more focused and stay ever vigilant on ensuring benefits and services are improved and the promises are kept. Only veterans take care of  veterans and as long as veterans continue to “fight dispersed” they will not have the “fire power” needed to concentrate on the issues that affect their benefiits and get the much needed attention of legislators to ensure veterans are given a square deal.  We need to start taking care of our own and start focusing our efforts towards MAKING sure legislators provide more than just a mere "lip service or a thank you for your service.  We need to make sure that all "thank yous" equate to benefits and kept promises for our SACRIFICES and service.    

I encourage all veterans to start by joining a veteran’s organization; together with “ONE POWERFUL VOICE”, we can make a difference.  We can ensure a grateful nation really takes care of all those that serve and served.

"A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards".   Teddy Roosevelt