A press release from Joe Walsh:
Rep. Walsh Introduces Bill to Help Veterans Rebuild
Joe Walsh used the American Legion Post in Wauconda for a Town Hall Meeting last August.
WASHINGTON – Today Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) introduced the Renovate and Enhance Veterans’ Meeting Halls and Posts (REVAMP) Act of 2012.
This legislation provides our veterans with the resources needed to renovate and refurbish meeting halls and facilities in their communities.
It establishes a competitive grant program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to which Veteran Service Organizations can apply for up to $250,000 in Community Development Block Grants to renovate meeting halls.
In addition to honoring our veterans, this bill will not add any additional cost to the taxpayer.
“It is and always has been my top priority to honor and recognize our veterans for their service and sacrifice to our country. Meeting halls, like the VFW and American Legion, serve as familiar pillars for service members all over the country and give veterans returning home a place to meet with one another.
“Our veterans have already given so much to us and our communities, and we will always be indebted to them.
“New halls haven’t been built due to a lack of funds and resources, and current posts are deteriorating and in desperate need of repair.
“This bill will provide veterans with the resources they need to make these repairs and maintain the meeting halls for themselves and their communities. ”
It will continue the legacy of the halls and honor the service of our veterans. We owe it to our veterans and those who have sacrificed for our freedom and prosperity.”
Thank You Congressman Walsh.
As a 20 year vet and having gone to some of our posts I can tell you we do need help.
Respectfully,
Andrew Gasser
Where were you when the Only Mental Health grant to assist communities with providing Veterans and their families with mental health services was cut by 55%? You voted for the cut.
I am sure that VFWs play a role but that is NOT where OEI/OEF veterans are going. They have bars- which is NOT where OEI/OEF veterans need to be.
We have received mail on the “services” you can provide me and my fellow family members that are veterans.
Help me obtain my medals.
Provide me the website for how to get my GI Bill….
Funny, Until you were running against a Veteran- I never received any mail on the issue.
As the member of a multi generational veteran family- I am sorry, I think Congressman Walsh is missing the real need.
Inish you are spot on. I am a 30 year vet and this is nothing more than a publicity stunt. Walsh has voted against REAL legislation that truly helps vets and their families.
Sprucing up the bar isn’t going to attract new members to these dying organizations. The Legion and the VFW were popular with the WWII, Korean and Vietnam drafted vets. They are not attracting new vets who volunteered to serve.
It is also a doubled edged sword…without members, these organizations have a hard time living up to their charter and their invisibility in the community doesn’t help build that dying membership.
Inish,
Not sure when you served, but thank you. Here is the official GI Bill website:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/
There are many fake ones. Always use the .gov websites. Some of the fakes have awesome info but never use their services. As a vet they are free to you.
As for your medals, those are really difficult to obtain once you leave service. You need to run through a lot of hoops. Even congressmen and women cannot “make” your branch of service give you a medal without a ton of verification.
This to me, honestly, looks like grand standing.
Respectfully,
Andrew Gasser
I see OIF/OEF – there is a lot more to the VFW then “the bar”.
These organizations do so much for our communities. The truth is each one is different. Some are much more active than others.
I know from personal experience that Post in Wauconda is pretty active. They retire flags. They participate with parades. They are active on Memorial and Veterans Day.
It just depends where you are.
Finally, its up to us, the veterans of Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Noble Eagle, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom to make sure we do not let the hard work of our brothers and sisters fall by the wayside.
Many of our WW2, Korea, and Vietnam veterans paid a dear price, and the VFW halls were one of the things to come out of their sacrifice. Maybe you should visit one to see what they have to offer. Its more than you think.
Respectfully,
Andrew Gasser