Homeless Veterans in SF get a gift on their day (a pair of socks, a granola bar and K-rations)

[Kadie]

The article isn't very long, read it all if you have a chance.

Veterans in the Tenderloin get a gift on their day
Steve Rubenstein, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

(11-11) 14:34 PST SAN FRANCISCO --

Homeless veterans, those folks who traded in one set of hardships for another, lined up in the Tenderloin today to receive their goodie bags.

It was a nice gesture, said each of the six dozen homeless veterans who got one. A pair of socks and a granola bar were a good start, and a lot better than nothing, which is what homeless veterans often get.

The veterans came to St. Anthony Dining Room on Veterans Day to receive their plastic bags, which also contained a rain poncho, a small box of chocolate, two bags of organic green tea and two packages of K-rations.

The irony of that last gift was not lost on the vets, who recalled receiving plenty of K-rations while on duty in their pre-homeless days.

"I remember what they taste like," said Rich Brandon, an Army private who served in Vietnam and now uses wheelchair. "They're all right, if you're hungry. I'm hungry."

snip...
Michael Aumock, an eight-year Navy veteran, said the best thing he could receive for Veterans Day was a means of getting off the street. He said he was forced out of his hotel room a year ago when the rent went up.

"I don't think the government is really helping us as much as they could," he said. "Whatever they're doing isn't enough."

The Veterans Administration says there are about 2,100 homeless veterans in San Francisco. A social workers from the VA was on hand today to pass out, along with the socks, slips of paper telling vets where to go to see a doctor or a counselor.


more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/11/BAD6142K09.DTL&tsp=1

St. Anthony's is getting ready to serve its 35 millionth meal, and more people are standing in line than ever.

[lonestarnot]

1. Damn sad.

:cry:

[katty]

2. beyond sad-use them up and throw them out

[Selatius]

3. I find it sickening the people who profit off of war live well while the ones who fought the war...

are left to starve.

I'd like some of these leaders put up on a stand in a war crimes trial.