No nation treats returning veterans better than than the United States.
A recent Warrior-Family Symposium just in time for Veterans Day concluded: After 11 years of war and tens of thousands of injured service members, veterans’ families and caregivers aren’t getting the help they need.
Panelists pointed to sincere statements by all involved that achieving goals over a five-year span is not acceptable. Military Officer Association of America attended, listened and is urging action: “... cut through interagency bureaucracies and achieve quick results.” MOAA has developed this eight point plan:
• Assume a wartime-urgency mentality focused on near term results.
• Do whatever it takes to implement a joint DoD/VA electric health record within two years.
• Develop a scoreboard to measure results and hold leaders accountable for near-term success.
• Use civilian providers to ease delays in accessing VA mental/behavioral health providers.
• Consolidate all veterans employment programs under the VA.
• Expand — not cut — military and VA family-caregiver programs and recovery coordinator positions.
• Pursue fast-track legislation authorizing service animals for veterans with severe psychological and physical challenges.
• Develop materials to better prepare care-givers for physical, emotional and other challenges they and their wounded, ill or injured veterans will face.
While we all know that all communities, especially ours, serve veterans as volunteers, these leaders, many retired commanders are aware that things move slowly even in the most well intentioned arms of government,but those who need help need it now, and if you wish to learn more watch a video at www.moaa.org/wfs.
Then contact Representative Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs who states veterans face a mental health care crisis “right now.”
Thomas F. Conlon
Cumberland
Letters
It’s time to consider pulling together all veterans’ programs
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
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Save the Bridge Program
Please do not close the Frostburg United Methodist Church Bridge Program. The community and many families need this program. Let me enlighten you about a few things.
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Town of Westernport needs a police force and a curfew
Since the consolidation of Bruce and Valley high schools the town of Westernport rapidly deteriorated from what was once a quite respectable community to a community in a decline in residents, and along with that came a collapse in local government due to lack of knowledge and bad decisions that set the town of Westernport back 60 years.
One bad decision was to give up their police force, and with no constant visual law enforcement it has created an open range for drug dealerss, addicts, thieves, drunks and speeding vehicles that choose to ignore our city laws and speed limits and have totally disregard for the safety of the citizens who are on the streets, especially the children who are like deer, you don’t see them until their in front of you. -
Financial gutting will damage school system
I am writing in response to the Allegany County Commissioners’ efforts to cut local education spending to the lowest possible level allowed under state law.
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Cemetery organization plans events to mark Memorial Day
This upcoming Memorial Day marks the 30th anniversary of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization (CHCO).
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Outside water customers pay for town’s mistakes
The following is the opinion of the individual and in no manner reflects the opinion of any other person or organization.
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We’re twisting the meaning of the Founding Fathers’ words
I really had to chuckle when I read a recent comment someone made in a northeastern publication: “I’d like to suggest that Congress make a tiny change in our Second Amendment that would more accurately reflect the Founding Father’s intent (to wit): “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear muskets, shall not be infringed.”
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Their health benefits proved to be better than they expected
ObamaCare! Of all the terms the GOP uses as scare tactics, that one is my favorite.
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It’s time to ratify Equal Rights Amendment
I have three words I want to say: “It is time.”
By those three words, I am referring to passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). -
Preserve these things for future generations
This is an open letter to the mayor of Cumberland and Allegany County commissioners:
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
