VoteVets.org adviser Roger Martinez has made another phenomenal video in the support of Jim Webb's 21st Century G.I. Bill. This video targets Alaska's Senator Ted Stevens, a World War II veteran who went to UCLA and Harvard Law on the G.I. Bill. Despite using his education to springboard a long career in politics, Stevens is opposed to the new G.I. Bill which would grant veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars the same educational benefits as veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
The good news is that Stevens' opposition to giving our veterans the benefits they have earned is a minority view. There's a good chance the Webb bill will be added as an amendment to Iraq supplemental funding next week.
And here in Alaska, Stevens' opponent - Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich - has been a strong advocate for the new G.I. Bill.
Ted Stevens needs to hear from people about his misplaced opposition to veterans. And Roger is just the kind of person he should be listening to. Here's a bit of background about Roger:
Rogelio Martinez was born in, Defiance, a small town in northwestern Ohio. While growing up, his childhood was split between Texas and Ohio. After graduating from Defiance High school, Rogelio started work at the same factory at which his father and older brother worked. Six months of working the third shift he was persuaded to join the Army by his fellow coworkers.
On April 22, 2001, Rogelio entered the military and was shipped off to Fort Benning, Georgia for infantry Basic Training. He was at Airborne School on 9/11 and, at that point, decided to volunteer for the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP). Rogelio received his tan beret and was stationed with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
After two deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq with the 1st Ranger Battalion, Rogelio decided to separate from the military and pursue a Bachelor’s degree in communication. Presently, Rogelio is a junior at the University of Texas of San Antonio.
Three deployments in our nation's post-9/11 wars and now Roger is a student. But will Ted Stevens listen?
If Ted Stevens won't listen to the opinion of an out of state student and veteran, perhaps he'll take the word of Charles Bergeron, an Alaskan Iraq vet and student at University of Alaska, Anchorage. In the video below, Bergeron speaks about how inadequate the current G.I. Bill is for his educational needs and the unnecessary burden it creates on vets trying to get an education.
Hopefully Ted Stevens will hear from more people thanks to Roger's video and will reconsider his opposition to giving today's veterans the benefits they have earned. You can contact Senator Stevens DC office at:
Phone: (202) 224-3004
Fax: (202) 224-2354
Email Form
Update:
In the comments code breaker points out his diary from earlier this week which gives a great rundown of why today's vets deserve a new GI bill.
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Also diaried at VetVoice.
Disclosure: I work as Mark Begich's Online Communications Director. You can learn more about Mark's campaign to represent Alaska in the US Senate at Begich.com.