Lest we Forget: Who wrote this?

[TayTay]

Military Families Bill of Rights
FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, APRIL 13, 2005

This debate on emergency funding for our military wouldn't be complete if we did not begin to address the crises military families face at home as well as abroad.

I am proud that the Senate has passed my two amendments -- one to allow families to stay in military housing for a full year after the death of a spouse, the other to ensure all military families receive $500,000 in total death benefits when a loved one dies in service to America - but I am also deeply moved by the stories I've heard from across our country in the last 24 hours about the challenges to military families every day.

Yesterday, I sent an email to Americans asking them to share their stories - of husbands and wives, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends who serve their country with courage but have been left on their own by our policies here at home. Within hours over 2,000 Americans sent me their stories. They took time out of their busy days to share their stories on the hope someone would listen. Their voices must be heard in the halls of Congress. Today, I enter a small sample of their stories into the Congressional Record to prove we are listening, and hope that today's victory marks a new beginning - -and that soon Congress will answer all their prayers and pass a comprehensive Military Families Bill of Rights.

--John Kerry

---------------------------

Alan - Aberdeen, SD

This is a story about my own family. In January 2003, my wife was called to active duty with her Army National Guard unit. She was inactive status and a mere 7 days from being completely out of the military when she was mobilized. She went from being a civilian attorney to a Sergeant/E-5 administrative clerk at a significant loss of pay. At that time, I became a single parent to four young children for one full year. In August 2004, I too was called to active duty with my Army Reserve unit. I went from being a university professor to being a Sergeant First Class/E-7. Once again, our four children were without one of their parents during their critical stages of development. We've done our part, now it's time for others to do their part. The burden placed on the National Guard and Reserve forces seems extreme. The morale among more seasoned soldiers, those with 10 to 20 years of service, is not good. Many are getting out of the military at the first available moment.

---------------------------

Doris - Albuquerque, NM

I just lost my husband on February 11. He was a navy pilot for 28 years. He paid on my SBP for years, and now I can hardly get by, and waiting for the increase in October is going to be difficult. I will have to sell my house to survive. It appears they are waiting for us to die to....

Not enough is being done for the active duty veteran. I don't see how the administration can be so tight with the veterans and their loved ones while we wage war in a foreign country and pour in millions of millions of dollars.

---------------------------

Stephen - Haddenfield, NJ

This past Christmas, my uncle was called into service in Iraq. He has served this country in Vietnam and when he returned continued to serve as a policeman.

My uncle is 58 years old. This is an example of how stretched our armed forces are because of the current policies of the President and his followers.

His current service not only required that he miss Christmas with his family, including his father who was very ill, but more importantly, it required that he miss his father's funeral. His wife is now alone in their house, waiting for his return. I do not know the specifics of their finances, but I do know that they relied on his income as a police officer.

I wonder how easily our current majority leaders would send people into combat if they had to survive on the same benefits.
*************************************

More at: http://www.johnkerry.com/features/militaryfamilies/

Baby with the bathwater anyone?

[blm]

1. I hope you're putting that in GD -

And tell then to share it on military boards they visit.

[beachmom]

2. That's why the whole things hurts so bad

He supports the troops with ACTIONS, which trumps any words.

Thanks for the reminder, Tay.

[wisteria]

3. Is there some way we can get this information out there to groups

like the American Legion and other veteran groups? Also, I remember the Disabled American Vets coming out with scores on Congressional support and Kerry was well placed and McCain wasn't.

How about Kos too? That might get some attention from the media.I can't do a diary there, I am at work.

[TayTay]

4. It is not yet time to put this back out there

either in GD or in the military family boards or whatever.

Let the furor die down. That will be a good thing. Let the focus be where it should be, on the 2006 elections.

There is plenty of time for this after the election. It is important, for now, that YOU good people remember this. I assure you, it will come up again in it's proper place.

BTW, it's not like it's difficult to find instances of this kind of caring. This is, after all, a lifetime of caring that we are talking about. It's why the sane people knew what Kerry was saying right away and why it was so easy to spot the political opportunints in this recent uproar.

Again, not difficult to find at all.

Be patient.

[Inuca]

5. 100% agree, too soon n/t

[wisteria]

6. I was thinking that myself. After the election- right after the election.

When the Repubs are vulnerable and Rove has been blown away.

[TayTay]

7. Ahm, you put it out there because this is real and truthful

and because I believe, with all my heart, that this is what makes John Kerry get up in the morning and go back and do his job. You do this because this is why people want to work for and believe in this guy. You do it because it is the real beating heart of this man.

I don't think this was done originally for political effect. I think it was done because he wants 'our troops,' or 'our kids' to be properly taken care of by their country. I think he did this because he views veterans issues and treating veterans properly as a moral issue.

I don't think you do this to score political points. That would betray not only the man who proposed it, but the people he proposed it for.

I can quote this, as can anyone else, because it's real and it is, again what will motivate this man to get up and do it all again. It's not about him, it's about the people. I have nothing but the highest respect for that. It is why I am still here, after all.

[ProSense]

8. Kerry also

made it a priority to use his e-mail list to support donations to the USO. That impressed the hell out of me. I remember when I was stationed overseas, two things reminded me of home: care packages and the USO. I can only imagine how important this is to troops serving in combat!