(L to R) Moderator Chris Wallace; Richard Lugar, Former U.S. Senator (R-Ind.); Dr. Jon Sherin, Executive VP, Volunteers of America; Kelly Caffarelli, President, The Home Depot Foundation; and Koby Langley, Senior Advisor, Corporation for National and Community Service
Sorry for the delay in getting this out to everyone. For personal reasons, I was not able to write this in a timely manner. For a good summary of what happened during the panel, click HERE. It's been too long since the panel for my memory to be clear of all that was said and the best I would be able to do is reading the paraphrasing of the live twitter feed. There are a few points that were made that were significant that I do remember and those are the ones that I will discuss in this post. Veterans as Civic Assets: One of the panelists, Koby Langley, commented that one of the major problems facing veterans is that they are not viewed as civic assets. I agree 100%. What was nice about him making that comments is that it puts that subject on the national radar. Veterans are volunteering and serving their local communities in record numbers and not much attention is being paid in the national media. Yes, they have articles about veteran volunteerism on websites like CNN and FOXNews. The problem: It's never THE item of news. 
Koby Langley (far right) discusses veterans contributions to the civic community.
Veterans continue their selfless service after they leave the military, making a huge difference wherever they put down roots. This hard work and dedication to their communities, however, has not translated into gratitude and jobs. Serving honorably in the military used to mean stability and a guaranteed job upon separation from service. The communities we live in seem to have forgotten just what it is we sacrifice and how selflessly we serve. I don't say this on my account - my family doesn't live paycheck to paycheck, but too many veterans and their families struggle to make enough to keep a roof over their heads. Many veterans with disabilities that CAN work aren't given equal consideration for employment yet none of us can prove discrimination. I am lucky that I work for a compassionate company that does right by veterans. Koby obviously understands this struggle that veterans face every day and is working to make sure that our plight is put on the national radar and stays there. Many thanks, Koby, for your efforts and I wish you success in your endeavors. Bipartisan Solidarity: We were all in for a surprise visit before the panel got under way. Representatives Phil Roe of Tennessee and Tim Walz of Minnesota talked to the audience about all of the struggles facing veterans with PTSD. They vowed that no partisan politics would come into play when it came to doing right by veterans. I was surprised to see a Republican and a Democrat standing side by side voluntarily. The respect each man had for each other was obvious. It was very heartening to see. 
Representatives Phil Roe of Tennessee and Tim Walz of Minnesota discuss the plight of veterans with PTSD and TBI.
With all of the partisan vitriol constantly being spewed from all corners of DC and across the country, more open cooperation is necessary for our country to move forward - especially concerning the long-term care for our nation's veteran population. Representatives Roe and Walz have dedicated themselves to doing what is best for veterans, regardless of constituency or political affiliation. I encourage them to continue on this path of cooperation. I know I will be paying much closer attention to their efforts in DC. Again, I am sorry that I was unable to follow up on this panel like I did last year. Personal issues, aside, I still believe that the conversations being held at these panels is important and gives us all an idea where policy is headed (as well as what issues will be focused on by non-profits and veterans organizations). I just wish that I could have given this panel discussion the attention it was due. If you are interested in watching the whole panel and the Q&A, you can watch it below. I would love to hear from everyone on what was covered in this panel. Hope everyone has a great week! |
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Max HarrisAs I continue my life with PTSD, I will share my challenges and discoveries on this blog. Archives
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