When America's Veteran's returned home from OIF and OEF to a VA health care system underfunded and understaffed, where was the Legion? When our brothers and sisters in arms were misdiagnosed, misrepresented, and misinformed, where was the Legion? When conditions at the nation's premier Army hospital deteriorated to such an extent that the they were outed by the national press, where was the Legion?
Where? The Legion was busy drafting resolutions to prevent flag burning, issuing statements condemning Congressional action to stem the flow of blood in Iraq, and bloviating about how America doesn't have the stones to fight the Global War on Terror. Where was the Legion? AWOL.
It sounds to me, National Commander, like you have a real membership problem. I can only imagine that the many post commanders you have that are aging and dying don't help your numbers. You claim, in your remarks today, to be non-partisan. I challenge that. I challenge you to hold this administration accountable. I challenge you to get Veterans the care and treatment they deserve. I challenge you to live up to your charter especially these parts "to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth".
When I called the National Commander's office the day the Walter Reed story broke, I spoke to his secretary for a good 10 minutes. I told her I wanted to register a complaint with the Commander. She was very gracious in her discussion with me, but she said something telling. She said she didn't know what the Commander's response to Walter Reed would be, because he was unaware of the story. I see. Maybe that's the problem. Where was the outrage? Why was he not on the steps of the Capitol calling a press conference to demand bodies, funds, accountability.
In short, I have canceled my membership and have decided to give my money to organizations that truly deserve it. Organizations that every day struggle with an overburdened VA system that is screwing our Veterans knowingly and unknowingly. Those organizations will be there to fight the good fight.
Organizations such as:
VFA
NVF
DAV
In the meantime, the National Commander can continue his quest to outlaw flag burning, wage a hopeless global war, and slander Veterans (combat Veterans) in the House and Senate that are trying to do the right thing and bring our sons and daughters home. If you have any doubt, see the Commander's statement today. He ends his speech with 5 points. Number 5 is the most telling to me: Only one nation has the power to stop terrorism. If we don’t have the will to use that power -- and use it until we prevail -- then terrorism will have made cowards of us all. We were prepared to use force, 300-400 thousand as Shinseki recommended and was quickly chastised, but I guess that's not important. And Cowards? Commander Morin, have a quick look in the mirror. Take stock of where things really are, spend some quality time in the field where the real problems are, and you'll soon realize, like many others, that the problem is the administration's rampant corruption and disregard for human welfare. You stress in your speech today that the American people are complacent, I submit that the complacency is YOURS and by extension your organization.