VFW Joins Volunteers of America to Discuss Veterans' Transition

On Tuesday the VFW joined the Volunteers of America, or VOA, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. for a panel discussion on transitional issues faced by today's veterans. VOA brought together distinguished guests from across the military, media and veterans' advocacy in an effort to advance discussions in Washington on how to best serve the nation's newest generation of combat veterans.

David Gregory, the host of NBC's Meet the Press, moderated the discussion, which featured Lee Woodruff, author and wife of severely wounded war correspondent Bob Woodruff; Barbara Banaszynski, senior vice president for VOA; retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey; and Dr. Betty Moseley Brown, associate director of VA's Center for Women Veterans.

Much of the discussion centered on the unique issues veterans of the current conflicts will face for years after the wars have ended, as a result of the kinds of injuries sustained on the modern battlefield. Woodruff, whose husband survived a severe brain injury from an improvised explosive device, pointed out that many wounded service members who experience injuries like the one sustained by her husband would not have survived in past conflicts. She went on to say that while advances in technology have saved lives, the rehabilitation process can be long and difficult for both the wounded warrior and his or her loved ones.

Panelists said that VA was making a concerted effort to improve its services for today's veterans, but acknowledged that the job was entirely too daunting for the agency to handle alone. Banaszynski called for improved public/private partnerships between VA and non-profit organizations in communities across the country that have competencies to fill gaps in veterans' services. McCaffrey went so far as to suggest that VA restructure itself from a direct care provider to more of a care manager, allowing veterans to seek out resources in their communities.

Brown highlighted VA's efforts to change the ways in which they reach out to veterans, acknowledging that today's veterans will not stand for long wait times on toll-free phone numbers. She said today's veterans expect immediate access to the goods and services they use in their every day lives, and they expect no less from VA.

At one point, McCaffrey unintentionally highlighted an issue with which many veterans express continued skepticism -- misunderstandings about mental health issues and the negative stigma associated with those who seek treatment. While discussing long-term recovery processes and combination injuries many wounded warriors face today, McCaffrey said that PTSD was usually "cured within a year" after returning. Veterans in the audience balked at the comment. One attendee, Iraq War veteran and PTSD blogger Max Harris, later wrote on his blog, www.combatveteranswithptsd.com, that he would be writing to McCaffrey directly, seeking an explanation of the comment.

As the panel drew to a close, Gregory pointed out that national media would need to play a critical role in ensuring that veterans' issues remain at the forefront of the public conscience once the wars end. The VFW has long echoed these concerns, pointing to historical examples of how Americans can quickly forget that the cost of caring for veterans is a true cost of war.

Overall, attendees said the discussion was productive and that the discourse will give high-level decision-makers the kinds of input they will need to affect positive change as the current wars draw to a close. VOA has already scheduled a follow-up panel for next spring at the National Press Club, and your VFW plans to once again join in the discussion.

(Image: NBC's David Gregory introduces the panel assembled by Volunteers of America to discuss veterans' transition issues yesterday at the National Press Club. Panelists, left to right, included Lee Woodruff, Barbara Banaszynski, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, and Dr. Betty Moseley Brown. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

Field Report: Sen. McCain Visits Ohio VFW to Support Local Veteran

On Monday, Sen. John McCain spoke at VFW Hilliard Memorial Post 4931 in Colombus, Ohio, voicing his support for a local veteran, Josh Mandel, who hopes to represent Ohio in the United States Senate.

Mandel, a Marine Corps reservist who served two tours in Iraq, currently serves as the Ohio State Treasurer and is running as the endorsed Republican candidate against incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Post Commander Charles Adkins, Jr., had the honor of welcoming and leading all in the pledge of allegiance prior to the comments of the invited speakers.

Though the VFW is prohibited from endorsing specific candidates, the VFW has a long tradition of encouraging its members to actively engage in the political discourse and encouraging posts to open their doors to hear directly from political candidates on veterans' issues. McCain's visit to speak alongside Mandel is just another example of how the VFW can foster constructive political discourse among candidates.

To submit your Field Reports for consideration on the VFW’s Capitol Hill blog, simply fill out our online form here, or send photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. Information for this story was provided by Ohio VFW Legislative Chairman Larry Moore.

VFW Takes the Hill: An Advocate's Point of View by Army Veteran Phil Patterson

Our next advocate's submission leading up to the 2012 VFW National Legislative Conference comes from Department of Michigan's Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee chairman and Iraq war Army veteran Phil Patterson. Be on the look-out for more stories from VFW advocates coming to Washington tomorrow to meet with leaders in Congress leading up to VFW Commander-in-Chief Richard L. DeNoyer’s testimony before a special joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees on March 7:

I feel coming to Washington is one way that I can carry on the messages for those who cannot be here to express their concerns themselves. I am here to help promote the ideals of our organization by visiting our legislators on Capitol Hill; to explain to them the needs of our active military veterans such as housing, family care, education and medical [care] just to name a few.

I need to be here to stress the importance of the VA’s budget; we need to explain the importance of our funding and why we cannot afford to have it reduced. We are training our [veterans service organizations] and their service officers; educating them and now we are being told that our budget is being cut once again. We need this funding to keep going, to keep providing our veterans with the services that they deserve. Without proper funding this will only cause our service officers who we have invested in and trained to turn elsewhere for better paying jobs.

I would like to ask why it is that veterans have to fight to keep everything that we have been told that will be an entitlement, or to fight so hard for what we need? We have fought for this country and now we come home to battle with our own administration for what we have earned and are now trying to keep.

As a Desert Storm and [Operation Iraqi Freedom III] veteran, this is why I came to Washington. After all, if we do not help ourselves then who will? This is why we “Honor the dead by helping the living.”

Phil Patterson is a retired Army master sergeant as a vehicle maintenance supervisor in both Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. Since leaving the military, Patterson continues to serve his fellow veterans as a life member of David A. Huhn VFW Post 12082 in Ionia, Mich. He has served as his post commander and captain and earned an Outstanding Community Service award for his post. Patterson is joining the VFW in Washington as a national co-chairman of the VFW Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee.


(Images: Top: Phil Patterson as a Post All-American Commander in 2011. Bottom: Patterson, left, working on a vehicle in Al Taqaddum, Iraq in 2005. Photos courtesy of Phil Patterson.)

VFW Takes the Hill: An Advocate's Point of View by retired Navy Corpsman Joe Lumsden

Our third advocate submission leading up to the 2012 VFW National Legislative Conference comes from Department of Vermont Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee Chairman and retired Navy Corpsman Joe Lumsden. Be on the look-out for another story tomorrow from a VFW advocate who will be coming to Washington on March 3 to meet with leaders in Congress leading up to VFW Commander-in-Chief Richard L. DeNoyer’s testimony before a special joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees on March 7:

What really matters when you come to Washington, D.C., are issues concerning veterans. Your rank, political affiliation, sex, or the color of your skin play no role. What makes a statement, however, is unity. In a time where many different organizations form to represent a single conflict, the Veterans of Foreign Wars remains focused on fighting for all.

This March will be no different as generations of combat veterans "Storm the Hill" to address issues like healthcare, education, retirement and budget cuts. This is my second visit to our Nation's Capitol representing the state of Vermont as their Iraq and Afghanistan chairman.

I spent the last year traveling around my state listening to hundreds of veterans and their families while doing my [college] senior internship promoting the VFW. The conversations started out with [Voice of Democracy] and the Patriot's Pen essay contest, or teacher awards and college scholarships. Then conversations shifted to stories of the VA and the backlog of claims, or unemployment; and what shocked me more were the tears of frustration.

I made a promise that I would continue to be their voice and continue to fight for what's right. Some said they had no fight left in them, some wanted direction and leadership to continue the fight.

"What's in it for me?" -- a question asked many times about joining the VFW. This was asked of my state commander during a Yellow Ribbon ceremony by a young returning veteran. He turned him around to face the VA hospital and said, "That's for you, but it takes fighters like us to keep it."

Joe Lumsden is a retired Navy hospital corpsman who deployed during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and returned to serve in Iraq again in 2003. In 2011, Lumsden served as a national co-chairman of the VFW Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee. He continues to serve today as Vermont's Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee chairman and membership chairman. Lumsden was also recently appointed as Vermont VFW National Deputy Chief of Staff by the department commander. Lumsden will also graduate this spring with Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Vermont College with a minor in history and politics. 

(Images: Top: Joe Lumsden during the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee meeting at the 2011 VFW National Convention in San Antonio. Official VFW photo. Bottom: Lumsden, far right, and his fellow chairmen of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee speak with Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry during the 2011 VFW National Convention. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)