Save Our Vets petition 3

Save Our
Vet's

This website is dedicated to
the raising of awareness of the
Plight of our Veterans trying to
get help through the VA
system! And to educate the
American Public to the
existence of the Vet Center
program with the intent of
procuring additional funding to
Save Our Veterans!!!

Signers of the petition - page 3

100) Weldon 2/1 CAV, Roland,Oklohoma
101) Mitzi Cruz, 29 Palms, CA
My husband was a Combat Army, a Vietnam Vet, and 100% disabled
by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) also. We are having
problems finding help and the Vet Center though understaffed is a
whole hour from here even though we live in 29 Palms, CA (home
of a very large Marines base). Go figure. I would like to help the
new people coming back with PTSD. Thanks
102) Maggie Sheren, Alanson, MI 49706
103) Lucy Sheren, Alanson, MI 49706
104) Katie Sheren, Alanson, MI 49706
105) Tom Watson, Portland, TX 78374
Please support this program, any program that cares about our
Veterans, Tom @ MagneticPeace.com
106) Bruce Dwyer dwyerb@sill.army.mil
I'm a Vietnam Vet with a 50% PTSD rating...this is a good thing to
support.
107) Linda Lee Sawart, Key Largo, Florida
108) Mae I Bertram, Rochester, NH 03867
109) Mae I Bertram, Sun City West, AZ 85375
110) Chad Finley, Wichita Kansas Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet
111) Andy Dunau, Spokane, WA 99203
112) Richard Chabot, Coventry RI
Take care of our veterans, A Vietnam Veteran
113) Paul Appell, Altona, IL 61414
114) Barry Heath, Jacksonville, FL 32206
We need to be supportive of our returning vets.
115) Nikko Schoch,   Salt Lake City, UT
I am also a VietNam vet who is 100% disabled. I was a combat medic
w/ the 101st Airborne in '68 & '69. I helped establish the first Utah
chapter of Veteran's for Peace last fall; and we are currently doing
the kind of outreach to Vets (especially the large homeless
population we have here) which the VA is NOT providing. I would
like to support your petition effort.
I am honored to be a part of your project. Many thanks; wage peace.
116) Susan Fantl Spivack, Cobleskill, NY 12043
If the Vet Center Program is not preserved and allowed to grow to
keep pace with the needs of all the veterans returning from the Iraq
and Afghani Wars, we the American People will be doing a terrible
wrong. I know many veterans of the Vietnam War who still need
the Vet Center near them as they struggle, decades after the war
has ended, with the wounds to their minds and spirits inflicted by
that war. WAR IS ALWAYS THE SAME IN ITS DESTRUCTIVE
POWER--nothing has changed. Too many of our brave young
people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will need the kind of care
the Vet Center Program provides for a long time, some for the rest
of their lives.
117) Janis Brennan, Dunnellon, FL 34432
118) Pat Shaw, Brooklyn, NY
I agree with you. I have a Brother who is a Vietnam Vet and he
never got anything from the VA Hospitals. I went thru hell when he
was in Nam and I go thru hell now. He breaks my heart. I wish all
these soldiers would come home now before another dies. Yes, I
will sign your petition. Bring them all home!
119) Terie McComb, Palm City, FL
120) Brian McComb, Plam City, FL
121) Audra Baronn, Port St Lucie FL 34987
122) Mary Jo Raulerson, Memphis, TN
I am the mother of a veteran of OIF, 2003. I support this effort for
his sake and all those who serve and must come home and start
over.
123) Betty Carlson, Hudson, Fla. 34669
124) Angela McLawhorn, Rodanthe, NC 27968
125) Marie Pauly, Islamorada, Fl
126) Bernie Cooper, Islamorada, FL 33036-3312
127) John Cooper, Islamorada, FL 33036-3312
We have asked, they have responded and now we must care for
them.
128) Jerry O'Cathey, Islamorada, FL
129) Debbie O'Cathey, Islamorada, FL
130) Jeffrey A. Vasko, Long Key, FL 33001
131) Joan E. Vasko, Long Key, FL 33001
132) Martha Gonzalez, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34953
133) Clarisa B. Colchado, South Gate, California
Our returned veterans from Iraq and Afganistan need our help.
I came back from a 12 months deployment, and we were welcome
by a group of people at the airport who made us feel appreciated
and loved. If possible I would like to do the same thing, and let those
troops feel the same way I felt!!
134) Dawn Cale Islamorada Florida
135) Ed Cale Islamorada Florida
136) Edward Burkhart, Sebastian,FL.
137) J P Burkhart, Sebastian, Fl
138) Bryan Catherman, Herriman, Utah
139) Laurel Rafford, Tavernier Fl
140) Hardy E ("RUSS") Baker II, Mountain Grove, MO
141) ERIC LARSSON, KEY COLONY BEACH, FL.
142) Christian Heaton, Los Angeles,CA
Thank you for your dedication to honor the servicemen who give so
much of themselves to protect the principles of this country.
143) David Dalum, Minneapolis, MN
We owe our veterans the medical care that is equal to their
sacrifice!
144) Richard Williams, Platte City, Mo 64079
145) James w Scaife, Barnegat, N.J.
146) Susan M. Lewey, Cameron, Mo. 64429
147) Rachel Jones, Ft Stewart, GA
148) Karen Gottlieb, Dania Beach, Florida
149) Jeremy Brock, Memphis, TN
150) Robert E. Pickard, South Miami, FL 33143
151) Randy M. Roberson, Williamston,N.C. 27892
152 Gary Whitley, Dover,NC 28526
153) Bobby R. Mobley Sr.- Ayden, N.C. 28513 The Vet Center need
all help they can get to continue helping the vets and their family
thank-you
154) Mary Ann Becnel Long Beach, MS 39560
155) Mary Louise Glass Long Beach, MS 39560
156) Gordon L. Kuhn, M.Acc., CPA, CVA, CFE, Lakewood Ranch,
FL I support S-716. It needs to be passed with no more delays.
157) Bern E Yeager, Wv. 25181 I am a veteren of the Vietnam war
and I suffer from PTSD and have ever since I came home. For years
I thought I was losing my mind and decided to end it all. Thru a
program at work I was put in touch with the Charleston WV vet
center and Mr. Jessie Coulter. If it had not been for the Vet Center I
would be dead today and so would many others.
158) Terry Jarrett, Lizemores, WV   25125
159) Eric Voiers, Ravenswood, W.Va, 26164 (see box below)
160) Louis E. Loving, Pensacola, FL 32507
161) Clarence Lee Pickett, Moclips, wa. 98562
162) Terry E. Jarrett, 25125
163 )Priscilla Peters USAF Disabled Veteran, Panama City, Fl 32404
164) Mike Mabe, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
165) Lola Stepp Mtn Home,AR 72642
166) John Rios, Mtn. Home, AR, 72653
167) Brandy Hornsby, Huntington Beach CA 92647
168) Sheila Bodner, Arlington, VA 22201 Please do everything
possible to support the Vet Center program in assisting our men
and women returning from war disabled in mind and body.
169) Lori L. Noel, Flinton,Pa. 16640
170) Garland Gilmore, Canyon City, Oregon,
171) M. Ann Partridge, South Haven, MN 55382
172) Donald Bentz, Long Beach, MS 39560
173) Crystal Woerner, Dunnellon Florida 34432

PETITION
Our men and women in our Armed Services
and Reserves need our help; need YOUR
help! They been through Hell and many are
coming home with excruciating memories
and fears, to a system that has not, is not
and will not be able to care for them, without
change. Many of those fortunate to survive
the war, are losing the battle for their lives.
The Vet Center program is a proven VA
program that works!!! But they are too small
to be able to give all the help these brave
men and women need. This is what the Vet
Centers need:

1) More outreach people. People who can go
to the veteran when they come home! Who
are trained to recognize PTSD can attend the
Drill weekends and homecoming events (if
any) and talk to these men and women, one
on one. People to talk to the families, who
are frequently first to recognize problems
with their loved one’s. People who can help
the Veteran get the help they need, one
Veteran at a time if necessary!

2) More counselors that can actually do the
counseling and provide the help necessary
to stop the progression and provide
RECOVERY! It IS possible, if caught early
enough! Also, family counselors, and Vet
Center counselors to cover VA community
medical clinics for all combat vets.

3) More and better staffed Vet Centers and
Vet Center “Outstations” with outreach
people and counselors. This should include
outstations near, but not on, all major
military bases and clusters of activated
Reserve units. And more Vet Center
counselors to cover VA community medical
clinics and help all combat vets. This will
allow many returning combat vets to get
help confidentially, and again, save lives.

4) The Vet Center program should be given
the most credible voice in the VA regarding
the needs of these new veterans. All
Resources necessary to fulfill these needs
must be given to the Vet Centers, or
reassigned if necessary from other VA
sources.
This list of needs can only be met with
additional funding! The ONLY funding they
have received allowed them fifty new
positions for outreach, less than one per
state! This is but a drop in the bucket! They
need more, and the ability to spend it where
it is needed the most. The VA system has the
Vet Centers as the proven source of helping
veterans with PTSD!! More Vet Centers are
needed to save their lives.

It is THAT important! FUND THEM!!

WE CARE!
YOU MADE IT HOME, NOW STAY HERE!
NO MORE DEATHS, NOT HERE, NOT
NOW, NOT EVER!!!!

Sample E-Mail:
On November 17th, you voted for and passed
Bill H.R. 2528, providing funding for Veterans
Affairs for the year 2006. This Bill has fenced
an unprecedented $2.2 Billion for Specialty
Mental Health Care assuring that this funding
can not be siphoned off for other purposes
during the year! We thank you for that! By your
vote, is obvious that you are recognizing and
caring for our Veterans at this crucial time.
However, there is only one way to ensure that
our Veterans and their families get the best
Mental Health Care possible and that is by
passing Bill S. 716, VET CENTER
ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005.
The Vet Center program is the only proven
program with a charted record of success
within the VA system. It has the full support of
the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars (VFW), the Disabled American Veterans
(DAV), the Paralyzed Veterans of America,
AMVETS as well as the Iraq War Veterans
Organization, the Woman’s Army Corp
Veterans Association (WACVA), and hundreds
of thousands of Veterans and their families.
However, unless you take immediate action to
fence the necessary funding by Sponsoring a
Parallel Bill to Bill S.716 in the House, this
program will loose the ability to do the
outreach necessary to help our returning
Veterans and their families!
On June 9th, James Nicholson, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, spoke before the Senate
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and declared
that the VA budget was fully balanced and that
no additional money was needed. He stated
that he was refusing to fund any additional
care for Mental Health or the Vet Center
program until “HE was convinced there was a
need”. You saw through his words and
recognized the truth and forced him to fully
address the problem by fencing the necessary
funding for Mental Health. Now please take
the next step by taking $180 Million of that
money and fence it to fund the Vet Center
Program.
On December 22, Bill S.716, the Vet Center
Enhancement Act of 2005, received full
unanimous support and vote of the U.S.
Senate. This bill was sponsored by Senator
Daniel Akala (D-HI), and Co-Sponsored by
Senator John Rochefeller (D-WV), Senator
Kent Conrad (D-ND), Senator Ken Salazar(D-
CO), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). They, as well
as every single Senator, has recognized that
our Veterans need the help and care of the
Vet Center Program.
It was then sent to the House Committee of
Veterans Affairs where it is waiting for a
Sponsor and Vote. Here's where you can help,
by Sponsoring a parallel Bill for the U. S House
of Representatives. By doing so, you will
confirm that you care about our Veterans and
want them to get the help they so desperately
need! You will also earn the gratitude of
hundreds of thousands Veterans and their
families in your state alone.
Sponsored by:
SaveOurVets.com: a group of Veterans and
their families that support the Vet Center
Program. We have the full support of the Iraq
War Veterans Organization, the Woman’s Army
Corp Veterans Association (WACVA) and a
membership of over 150 people. All
information concerning our drive to save this
wonderful program is on our web site
SaveOurVets.com.

7/20/2005
I am a Vietnam Vet & have on more than one occasion used
the Vet Center program. They provide a great and valuable
service, one of which needs to continue to be available for
our returning Vets. Let us not let them down for they sure
haven't let us down. I contacted my Congressman Harry Reed
and asked him to support this bill. I am also forwarding this to
other Vietnam Vets I know to add their support.
Thank You
Harold Rhinehart

I am sending this e-mail in regards to the mental health needs of our
vets. I have a degree in Psychology, a temporary social work license, and
am interested in working with Veterans. I understand that the committee
of veterans affairs is considering vetoing Bill S.716, I hope you will
reconsider based on a couple of aspects:

1. High Tempo Deployments: With the difficulty in recruiting new soldiers,
soldiers who have already served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan will
likely be sent back. These soldiers need the support of the vet center
counselors to help them deal with what they have experienced so to help
them process their feelings regarding what they will likely return to based
on military need in the above stated countries. THE VET CENTERS AND
BILL S.716 ARE FORCE MULTIPLIERS.

2. Word Of Mouth: Most young people I speak to about joining the
military( I am a recruiting assistant GRAP)do not want to even consider
service because they feel the government will use them and then discard
them,they feel the government will not care to sustain them
medically,mentally,etc.. If word gets out that the government is looking to
cut or veto proposed bills supporting our veterans,it will be more
ammunition for young,perspective recruits to use to discount military
service for their lives.

These are 2 good reasons to pass this bill. I am a Veteran of the Iraq
war,having served in Baghdad, Fallujah and Ballad and have spoke to
many good men and women whose biggest fears were being "thrown to
the dogs" once Uncle Sam is finished with them.

Thank you for your time, PLEASE PASS BILL S.716.

Eric Voiers
Ravenswood, W.Va 26164