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Hope4heroes stance on VA "choices" booklet

Posted by Hope4heroes.org on Monday, August 31, 2009 9:50:36 PM
San Antonio, TX August 24, 2009 -- www.Hope4heroes.org  Is formally asking for Congress to review the VA medical handbook on end of life options.  It's the position of our organization that veterans at any stage of disability or illness should not be asked or placed in the uncomfortable position of feeling they have nothing to contribute.  Further we are asking that the record be set straight via the Congressional Veterans Affairs Committee and they seek a full accounting of the facts to ensure veterans this book is no longer being used.  "we will add this to our national agenda" say Vic Luebker, Chairman of www.hope4heroes.org.  "It's a must for the VA and veterans we get the facts out there today about this book and it's use" he goes on to say.
 
There has been far too much media back and forth and in the process us veterans are getting left out of this discusion.  It's important to address these questions in an open and direct manner.
 
1. If it's illegal to take it down from the website then who broke the law in 2007 when it was order removed?
 
2. Why not ask how we can build more VA retirement centers for veterans if they are asked if they feel they are a financial burden?
 
3. Who ordered the booklet be put back on the website after the 2007 removal?
 
4. What is being done to ensure all veterans we are just as valued in disability as we were in combat?
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Memories fade, lessons not shared, shame on us! (part 1)

Posted by Hope4heroes.org on Sunday, July 19, 2009 12:00:00 AM

Memories fade, lessons not shared, shame on us! (part 1)

We have dropped the ball and done our kids a major disservice.   When we hear the news that America’s last WWII vet has passed away will we even remember the sacrifice of that generation and will we have passed that along to every generation since the war (WWII) ended?

I’m deeply worried we have stopped teaching, sharing and telling the stories of the “Greatest Generation” and the unimaginable sacrifices they made. Have we assumed that IPods, I phones, text messages, Wii, laptops, and all the tech tools that have made us so impersonal happened as a natural course of tech evolution?

I can’t help but wonder where we would be had WWII and more so the D-day landings not been successful. The Nazi’s got the bomb before us, they fought us with jet fighters not prop planes and dropped bombs on NYC like they did London. Those incredible heroes faced death and knew it was coming. To think it took ten men to breach a wall with Bangalore torpedoes and only number ten lived as they each took turns after hearing the call “next runner”. That is heroic beyond anything I can imagine.

All so the sons and daughters, the grandkids, and now great grand kids of the greatest generation can enjoy liberty. They fought for freedom and knew the price, they fought for us knowing that freedom and liberty for their families and future generations was their duty; not something to be taken for granted or assumed. There was nothing selfish about those great Americans!

That day in just 12 short hours alone 2,500 brave souls died. 200 an hour, 3 a minute, 1 every twenty seconds was lifted up on high to join the lord in heaven ….. All for us! Let’s be sure our kids know what their Great Grandfathers did so that they can enjoy the freedoms, liberties and “stuff” they have today. Take nothing for granted, never assume freedom is free and remember we will face those that seek to take it all away again. It may come in the form of two 757 aircraft that take 2900 of us in an instant or it may come from leader that does not recognize the Holocaust 60 years later and vows to destroy us.  But know it’s out there lurking around a dark corner waiting to pounce.

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Vets response to Michael Jacksons Death

Posted by Hope4heroes.org on Saturday, July 11, 2009 11:57:35 AM

Vets thoughts about Michael Jackson’s death and the Media

Editors note: As I drafted this numerous emails came in and I have incorporated those thoughts into this blog post:


As I was just watching the news about Michael Jackson I was struck by the hypocrisy of it all.

We all know MJ was a global entertainer who performed for millions of the decades. He made millions, he spent millions. It is said he also did a number of things that inspired and disgusted millions, were you stand on these issues is not the point!

At what point did we as a country get to the state that if one person, one of 7 billion on the planet dies we all go into media paralysis for a week. While I understand the pop culture significance of MJ, just like Elvis I’m still aghast that we devoted so much time on his death. That same week 14 of mine, ours, yours….son’s died in Afghanistan with little mention and only one name photo that I saw on Fox News (Neil Cavuto).

Am I missing something here? We have become numb to the loss of our Heroes that all volunteer to keep us free. These same Heroes that where the target of ridicule from the same Congress that wants a moment of silence for MJ??? The same Heroes that the New York times and MSNBC have trashed countless times but spent millions covering the death of one person with a clouded history.


This is a great comment from a hero now in Iraq: “I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan each and every time we lose Heroes!”

To all the Moms and Dads, spouses and Kids that have lost a hero I want to say thanks and their loss is a far greater blow then any pop culture icon. They (our Heroes) allow individuals to grow up and BECOME pop culture icons!

Vic Luebker,

Chairman and CEO

www.hope4heroes.org

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Support From Congress, VA status on post 9/11 GI bill

Posted by Hope4heroes.org on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:00:00 AM
We are very pleased with the support coming from the veterans affaires committee this 110th Congress.  They have pressed the VA hard on a number of issues and we may soon be at a turning point with VA related benefits.  Make no mistake there is a log way to go and we want all of you to keep steady pressure on the VA and report issues to us so we can up channel them.
 
Of note we are watching the new post 9/11 GI bill to see if the VA has the capability to implement benefits as fast as the claims.  It is critical that they learn from past mistakes in the aera of VA Retro pay and the excessive delays getting veterans paid.  We expect the VA to be more pro-active not re-active in the future and this is a big test of thier ability to do that.
 
Please keep us posted with both success stories and delays you face in the area of the new post 9/11 GI bill.
 
Contact us at www.hope4heroes.org with any questions or delays.
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Two stangers at the airport

Posted by Hope4heroes.org on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:00:00 AM
 

I want to share a story about two strangers I passed in the airport.  My guess is you have passed them also recently, let me describe them and see if you recognize them. 

I first saw these two, a young man and young woman in their mid-20's I would estimate at the TSA security point.  What stood out was the cool demeanor they both had.  I also noticed when they got to the front they were checked in and passed through very quickly.  When they got through they split up and went to separate x-ray lines.  The young man stopped and let an older couple cut in front of him.  I found it odd but refreshing given that it seems no one even makes eye contact these days let alone allows someone to cut ahead in line.  They thanked him and he just gave a slight nod and quick smile.

I next ran across these two in the newsstand.  It seemed they both were looking for a soda and magazine for the flight. Again they both allowed a single Mom to cut in line and the woman even chatted with the toddler in a stroller.  She also thanked them and they both said no problem Ma'am.

By this point I was struck and a bit intrigued by them and how two people so young seemed both polite and yet had an aura of confidence about them.  I decided to follow them as my flight was not for another three hours.

I was struck by this look they had.  They sat quietly together but always seemed in tune and aware of the surroundings.  They had the look of humble and proud all at the same time.  His clean cut hair stood out and her professional dress and posture also struck me.  They had no bling, loose cloths, baggy pants.  They did not text non-stop only pausing enough catch a breath and talk way too loud on their cell phone.  They were young yet showed a sense of self discipline not seen in many adults twice their age.

I decided to sit across from them and they both looked up and said in a firm but soft tone "Hi Sir".  I then noticed a couple of kids that may have been mid-twenties also but acted just the opposite.  Loud, center of attention, and acting in a way that drew attention because of the constant f-booms dropped during repeated cell phone calls.

The young man noticed a mom with two kids seating near them and went and apologized to her and whispered in one of their ears.  They gave a look of total contempt and told him he could f-himself and find another seat.

The young man again very calm but very, very confidently leaned in and said something.  They got quite and within seconds grabbed their stuff and left.  I was impressed to see someone in this age of allowing all bad behavior to go unchecked take action with a peer his own age.  He again said sorry to the Mom and came and sat down.

I have to ask him a couple questions.  I said excuse me sir, what did you say and what do you do for a living?  He replied by saying you don't have to call me sir....sir.  I'm in the military and I told him we are on our way to Iraq to defend things like free speech.  But that freedom does not mean you can offend everyone around you.  Unless you plan to join me there I expect you to stop offending all of us with your rude and obnoxious behavior.

 
My guess is we have all passed these two in airports across the country.  Your son or duaghter, husband or wife.  Confident yet humble.  Soft spoken yet in control.  Polite not pushy.  It's amazing how professional the men and women of our armed forces our.  Next time you see them in the airport stop and say thanks!
 
Vic Luebker
Chairman, hope4heroes.org
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