McHenry County Blog

Veterans have lunch at Camp Algonquin. Organizer John Blanchard can be seen top right next to Amy Johnson, who is in charge of the details.

NASA Education’s John Blanchard told me that about 325 Veterans came to Camp Algonquin for the Stand Down that his organization has been putting on twice a year for a couple of years.

Here are the staffers for Congressman Don Manzullo and Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

The only “celebrity” was 8th Congressional District U.S. Representative Melissa Bean this year. She didn’t speak, rather walked around and talked to the Veterans.

Main men snaked through the service provider room waiting for lunch.

So, the two-day event was about service more than publicity.

While mainly men were standing in the room next door, these Veterans were chowing down.

35,000 pounds of clothing were distributed.

Undoubtedly, the TV room was packed last night with 166 staying at Camp Algonquin.

166 stayed overnight at the McHenry County Conservation District-owned, but YMCA-operated campground.

The road down to the lower building, where clothes were distributed.

For the first time, there was snow. Melting.

One could still see it had been a snowy winter.

Get off the path and mud was the result.

Naturally, I arrived about lunch time.

There was a big feed.

Volunteers staffed the food line.

Some of the volunteers I recognized from before.

Blanchard told me some had been volunteering since the first Stand Down.

He also told me that seven of the Veterans would be staying in Crystal Lake to enter his group’s training program.

“This is our outreach,” he said.

“Where are you going to put those pictures,” one Veteran asked as I was leaving.

Stand Down Vets posing before the main building at Camp Algonquin.

“On McHenry County Blog,” I told them as they posed for this photo.  “And, it will show the snow.”

The following press release has been received from NASA Education. It gives details of the Stand Down on Marcy 8th and 9th.

NASA Education Corporation Semi-Annual Stand Down for Veterans to take place March 8-9, 2010

CRYSTAL LAKE – Calling all veterans this event is for you. There is no cost to attend this function. Veterans who are newly discharged, displaced, disabled or homeless and are otherwise in transition are the focus of the Stand Down for Veterans, which will take place beginning at 8:00 a.m. on March 8th through 3:00 p.m., March 9th at YMCA Camp Algonquin, 1889 Cary Road, Algonquin.

“The individuals attending our stand down, coming for assistance are truly heroes. Each and every one of us owes them our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, worldwide.“The reasons that they have reached the point in need of assistance, varies as widely as your own individuality.

“The people coming to the stand down for assistance are not only recent veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, but are also veterans that reach as far back as the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the code talkers of WWII,”

said John Blanchard, executive director of National Association of Systems Administrators Education Corporation (NASA Education), the sponsor of the event.

Last fall's Stand Down saw men walking up the hill from the clothes room with full duffel bags.

He added that the organization is expecting to provide services to over 300 veterans. Due to a new feature added to our website that allows attendees to pre-register for the event, we are able to plan more efficiently; so with almost 289 pre-registered, we anticipate that number to increase over the two days with individuals who will walk in that day. As NASA Education motto states, “Through ‘help and healing and delivering on their hope,’ these individuals want to rejoin the mainstream of our productive society. They were once the most loyal, dedicated, responsible and professional employees that the federal government has ever had and they need to get that back.”

Luncheon is served.

Services will include medical screenings and information about other VA services by North Chicago VA Medical Center, employment services by Veterans Employment Training Service (VETS)/Department of Labor through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), referrals for housing assistance and other services by the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission., legal counseling by Attorney Jeffrey Antonelli. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will verify military status and eligibility for services as well as claims processing; this office can and will make things happen.

Attorney Jeff Antonelli is one of the people who volunteer at the Stand Down.

Senior Services and representatives from the Social Security Administration will also be on hand to assist with any questions and applications for SSDI. The American Red Cross will be on hand to provide assistance. McHenry County College will be sending a representative to answer any questions regarding registering for classes, etc. Other services providers will be the VET Center and PAXEM, Inc. Harper College Dental Clinic will be providing cancer screenings on Tuesday only.

Veterans will be able to register for medical care at North Chicago VA Medical Center at the Stand Down. Information about community services for homeless and low-income individuals will be provided by Susan Giannone, the constituent services advocate from Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s Office, and Pam Sexton, the constituent services advocate from Congressman Donald Manzullo’s Office.

NASA Education will accept applications for participation in Project Fresh Start, its comprehensive workforce and community reintegration program for U.S. veterans who are displaced, disabled, homeless or otherwise in transition. NASA Education will also accept applications for its 32-bed transitional housing facility for homeless veterans.

Headliner for last fall's Stand Down Veterans Affairs Director Dan Grant.

“The individuals that come to the Stand Down are in need of a safe place to be, workforce and community reintegration training and an opportunity to be back on track where they should be, and that’s exactly what we provide through our main program Project Fresh Start. Employers that wish to have dedicated, English speaking trainees that will show up to work and have a burning desire for a new career should strongly consider Project Fresh Start participants,” said Blanchard.

John Blanchard talked with folks in the service providers' room at Camp Algonquin.

“I strongly encourage the service providers attending the stand down to fulfill their obligations to the veteran community by doing what they’re charged do.”

Veterans will also receive a number of amenities at the Stand Down, including free haircuts by SportClips of McHenry, Hair Cuttery out of Woodstock and Crystal Lakes very own Slims Barbershop.

Haircuts were provided by Cortney Thurman and Melissa Adam at the fall Stand Down.

Clothing, military gear, meals and the use of shower facilities will be provided on both days, and overnight shelter will be provided on Monday, March 8th. Individuals and organizations from the community have donated new and gently used clothing and shoes, new underwear and socks, and toiletries.

We are very grateful to local businesses and organizations that have stepped up and made donations to assist with the Stand Down. Those organizations are Kyoto’s, Pontarelli’s, Great American Bagel and Rosati’s of McHenry. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Carpentersville Post 5915 will be strongly involved through volunteers and donations.

Volunteering last fall were Helen Jost, Richard Quick and Elaine Slack.

How can you help?

Donations are needed in the form of cash, new and gently used clothes for men and women, baked goods or other desserts, toiletries, fast food gift certificates in small denominations and gift cards from supermarkets.

Transportation will be provided to the Stand Down for the veterans from various pick-up points throughout the community. Please phone NASA Education at 866-338-4968 tollfree for more information about the Stand Down, pick-up points, volunteering and making donations. Or you may send an email to Amy Johnson at Amy_Johnson@nasaeducation.org or please visit our website at www.nasaed.org.

NASA Education is a Crystal Lake-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive vocational rehabilitation and community reintegration services for U.S. veterans who are displaced, disabled, homeless or otherwise in transition.

A front page listing on Google’s search engine led to the the following blog comment from Dan Blevins of Houston, Texas, after he read my Sunday post entitled,

He writes The Flat World Times.

This is what I emailed my friends during this morning’s show… obviously, tongue in cheek, but I was doing double takes thinking maybe it was just because I’m in the middle of a Stephen King novel and maybe just imagining it all…

Please excuse my messy email because the blood is still dripping on the keyboard…

You see, I still haven’s staunched the blood flow from the cut caused from my jaw dropping on the floor as I was watching this morning Assistant Secretary of the Veterans Administration Tammy Duckworth vehemently deny that the VA publication “Your Life, Your Choices” that the previous administration (GW Bush) had banned was now on the Veterans Administration website.

The interviewer, Chris Wallace, kept saying it was there along with a link to the VA directive saying to use it.

So while the good Secretary Duckworth was angrily correcting the obviously misguided Mr. Wallace I WAS RAPIDLY DOWNLOADING BOTH THE PUBLICATION AND THE DIRECTIVE FROM THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE!

So what’s the deal about the publication, you ask?

It has a questionnaire checklist asking the veteran if life is worth living and does he or she really want life saving treatment or wouldn’t it just be better for all to terminate his or her life?

Furthermore, the official VA publication was authored by Dr. Robert Pearlman whose list of accomplishments include arguing before the US Supreme Court for physician assisted suicide (Vacco v. Quill) and has been appointed by the current administration to the VA Ethics Board as well as one of the authors of the directive to now start using the YLYC publication (below is also the link to the teleconference transcript of the meeting with Dr. Pearlman that wrote the directive).

As one person pointed out, according to the obviously misguided Mr. Wallace…

What’s the big controversy of the “end of life” counseling clause in the Health Care bill since it already exists for veterans?

Personal observations…

1) This denial of the VA publication by the VA Assistant Secretary brings into question either the competence (didn’t even know it was there) or the honesty (just flat out lying) of the current administration and the Federal Government in general…i.e. so what else are they either mistaken about or lying about? My confidence level is really boosted…or as a wise person once said, “Trust me, I only want to help you.”

2) Sounding like a broken record, I keep saying to just read page 428 of the HC bill, which clearly states everything the Far Right Looney Tunes say is in it. (if you would like for me to email it to you verbatim if you don’t have time to read it, please let me know).

3) Can’t you just picture some VA webmaster being wakened up after a long Saturday night of code writing or partying to remove the links that aren’t there in order to do damage control and embarrassment prevention?

4) Below are the links that don’t exist but if by the time you read this the VA webmaster has had enough caffeine and removed them, just let me know and I’ll send the files since as I said I was downloading the documents while the VA Assistant Secretary was angrily denying they existed.

5) Again my apologies for the messy email. Oops, the bleeding has started again…darn, I’m going to have a nasty scar on my chin! Take a look at the links…

www1.va.gov/pugetsound/docs/ylyc.pdf

http://www1.va.gov/VHAPUBLICATIONS/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2042

http://www.ethics.va.gov/ETHICS/docs/net/NET_Topic_20070328_Advance_Care_Planning_and_Management_of_Advance_Directives.doc

http://www.ethics.va.gov/ETHICS/docs/policy/VHA_Handbook_1004-02_Advance_Care_Planning_20090702.pdf

http://fns.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/08/20/this-week-on-fox-news-sunday-82309/

Blame the original article on Tammy Duckworth’s service as Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Today we’ll take a look at what progress State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) has made with his legislation thus far.

Any bill he introduced that did not make it out of the Illinois is pretty much dead this year, although wags do suggest that bills have the closest thing to eternal life as one can find this side of heaven.

I count 29 House bills introduced. 20 have assumed the prone position.

His transparency bill, House Bill 35 has yet to receive a negative vote. It would require a state expenditure database to be sorted by recipient and by state representative district, plus a database of all development assistance reportable under the Corporate Accountability for Tax Expenditures Act. If enacted this would take effect January 1, 2010.

Another non-controversial bill that has advanced to final passage stage is HB 163. It appears to be one that makes information about the Prevailing Wage Law more readily available. That is the law which requires union wages to be paid on jobs paid for with public money. It’s the reason that public buildings often cost more than those paid for with private money.

HB 170 requires a permit for septic systems which discharge surface discharging systems It is ready for Senate passage.

HB 1142 appears to be a “lemon law” for manufactured homes. It also has yet to receive a negative vote.

HB 1322, an idea I dropped into Tryon’s head after a GOP precinct committeeman’s meeting in Johnsburg last spring, would allow counties to use money collected from local motor fuel taxes to match federal funds. The Senate has stuck a 10% deduction on the bill as an administrative rake-off for the Illinois Department of Transportation, I imagine.

HB 3785 imposed uniform political sign posting regulations statewide. If passed, no municipality could prohibit campaign signs on residential property during the period beginning 45 days before an election. Again, no negative votes.

HB 3787 changes the law to protect service personnel who are on active duty from having their school bus license revoked, if they don’t complete the current mandatory annual refresher course. You can guess this legislation is getting no opposition.

HB 4035 allows governments to provide a preference of up to 10% when purchasing environmentally preferable supply or service. No one was brave enough to vote against this one. Do you think this is called the “Green Preference Bill?”

HB 4212 started out as a bill to allow the creation of military and veterans courts. I was discussing this with my former legislative assistant Pete Castillo, who says he came up with the idea after interviewing homeless veterans while working at the Illinois Department of Employment Security in Woodstock. It was basically gutted and replace with language requiring a commission to study the idea. It is also near passage.

Interested in what another House member is doing?

You can find out here.

I try to keep up with NASA Education’s Veterans Stand Downs at Camp Algonquin.

The next two-day event will be held Monday and Tuesday. Information about it is below the announcement.

NASA will sponsor the next Stand Down for Veterans on March 9 and 10, 2009 at YMCA Camp Algonquin, 1889 Cary Road, Algonquin, IL 60102.

This will be NASA Education’s sixth semiannual, two-day Stand Down. At the Spring 2008 event, 227 newly discharged, displaced, disabled, homeless, unemployed, elderly and other veterans in need received services.

We expect a record attendance at the next Stand Down! U.S Department of Labor’s, Patrick Winfrey, Illinois Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, and McHenry County board member Mary Donner were keynote speakers at the Spring Stand Down last year.

The Stand Down for Veterans is an ambitious undertaking that takes many hands to produce, but it’s a joyful one because the entire community pitches in to help our nation’s heroes.

Services to be provided to the veterans include meals and accommodations for the two-day event at beautiful YMCA Camp Algonquin.

Representatives will be on hand to assist with

• employment services,
• legal counseling,
• medical screenings and
• on-site registration for VA medical care,
• assistance in registering for VA benefits,
• DD214s and other programs,
• referrals for housing assistance and food vouchers,
• referrals for free dental and eye care.

There will be

• information and applications for housing/vocational rehabilitation programs,
• information about community substance abuse, mental health and other programs,
• free haircuts,
• therapeutic massage,
• a distribution of clothes, coats, new underwear, shoes and toiletry items,
• entertainment and more!

The Stand Down is partially funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)/Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS) and the HelpAmerica Foundation.

= = = = =
The top photo is of an outreach employee of 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

The bottom photo is of John Blanchard in a big room full of clothes for veterans.

The following press release explains the details:

CRYSTAL LAKE – Veterans who are newly discharged, displaced, disabled, homeless or are otherwise in transition are the focus of the Stand Down for Veterans, which will take place beginning at 9:00 a.m. on March 9 through 3:00 p,m., March 10th at YMCA Camp Algonquin, 1889 Cary Road, Algonquin.

This year we are excited to welcome our old friends, U.S Department of Labor’s Patrick Winfrey and McHenry County board member, from District 3, Mary Donner.

We are pleased to announce and delighted to extend our warmest welcome to the new Director of The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, Dan Grant. Director Grant will be in attendance at the Stand Down on Monday, March 9th.

“The individuals attending our stand down, coming for assistance are truly heroes. Each and every one of us owes them our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, worldwide.

“The reasons that they have reached the point in need of assistance, varies as widely as your own individuality. The people coming to the stand down for assistance are not only recent veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, but are also veterans that reach as far back as the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the code talkers of WWII,” said John Blanchard, executive director of National Association of Systems Administrators Education Corporation (NASA Education), the sponsor of the event.

He added that the organization is expecting to provide services to at least 200 veterans. As NASA Education motto states, “Through ‘help and healing and delivering on their hope’, these individuals want to rejoin the mainstream of our productive society. They were once the most loyal, dedicated, responsible and professional employees that the federal government has ever had and they need to get that back.“

Services will include

• medical screenings and information about other VA services by North Chicago VA Medical Center,
• employment services by Reynaldo Infante of Veterans Employment Training Service (VETS)/ Department of Labor through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES),
• referrals for housing assistance and other services by Mike Iwanicki and Cheryl Kirsch of the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission and John Carr of the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission,
• legal counseling by Attorney Jeffrey Antonelli.
• Phyllis Taylor Smith of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will verify military status and eligibility for services as well as claims processing; this office can and will make things happen.
• Sheryl White from Sr. Services,
• Siobhan White from Hospice of NE IL and
• representatives from the Social Security will also be on hand to assist with any questions and applications for SSDI.
• The American Red Cross will also be on hand to provide assistance.
• Veterans will be able to register for medical care at North Chicago VA Medical Center and Hines VA Medical Center at the Stand Down.



• Veteran service officers from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) will assist veterans in applying for VA disability claims and other VA benefits, state health insurance, and DD214s.
• Information about community services for homeless and low-income individuals will be provided by

Susan Giannone, the constituent services advocate from Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s Office, and

Pam Sexton, the constituent services advocate from Congressman Donald Manzullo’s Office.

NASA Education will accept applications for participation in Project Fresh Start, its comprehensive workforce and community reintegration program for U.S. veterans who are displaced, disabled, homeless or otherwise in transition. NASA Education will also accept applications for its 32-bed transitional housing facility for homeless veterans.

Local employers Vets Total Car Care,

• Liberating Solutions and
• Vet-Teks

will be on-site to offer employment opportunities.

NASA Education’s very own Veteran Service Officer, Eric Behler will also be on site to assist veterans in applying for VA disability claims and other VA benefits and DD214s.

“The individuals that come to the Stand Down are in need of a safe place to be, workforce and community reintegration training and an opportunity to be back on track where they should be, and that’s exactly what we provide through our main program Project Fresh Start. Employers that wish to have dedicated, English speaking trainees that will show up to work and have a burning desire for a new career should strongly consider Project Fresh Start participants,” said Blanchard.

“I strongly encourage the service providers attending the stand down to fulfill their obligations to the veteran community by doing what they’re charged do.”

Veterans will also receive a number of amenities at the Stand Down, including free haircuts by SportClips and Slims Barbershop.

Clothing, military gear, meals and the use of shower facilities will be provided on both days, and overnight shelter will be provided on Monday, March 9th.

Individuals and organizations from the community have donated new and gently used clothing and shoes, new underwear and socks, and toiletries.

Partial funding over the past 3 years, for the Stand Down has been provided through grants from the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)/U.S. Department of Labor.

Donations are still needed in the form of cash, new and gently used clothes for men and women, baked goods or other desserts, toiletries, fast food gift certificates in small denominations and gift cards from supermarkets.

Transportation will be provided to the Stand Down for the veterans from various pick-up points throughout the community.

Please phone NASA Education at 866-338-4968 toll-free for more information about the Stand Down, pick-up points, volunteering and making donations. Or you may send an email to Amy Johnson at Amy_Johnson@nasaeducation.org. The NASA Education website is www.nasaeducation.org.

NASA Education is a Crystal Lake-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive vocational rehabilitation and community reintegration services for U.S. veterans who are displaced, disabled, homeless or otherwise in transition.

= = = = =

Photos are all from past Stand Downs. On top you see McHenry County Board member Mary Donner with NASA Education’s John Blanchard.

McHenry County Blog coverage of previous Stand Downs can be found below:

McHenry County Blog has written stories about each of them:

10-4-6 Veterans Stand Down Attracts 26 Homeless Veterans

3-7-7 Veterans’ Stand Down Notes

10-7-7 Camp Algonquin Stand Down for Veterans to take place October 8 and 9

10-13-7 Manzullo at Camp Algonquin Stand Down

4-1-8 Veterans Stand Down Fills Camp Algonquin

16th Congressional District Democratic Party candidate Robert Abboud has held a press conference in Rockford seeking the votes of veterans. Here is his press release.

ABBOUD ANNOUNCES PLAN TO INCREASE VETERANS’ ACCESS TO SERVICES, IMPROVE CARE
After 16 Years of Neglect from Manzullo, Abboud Seeks to Repair Sacred Trust of Caring for America’s Veterans

ROCKFORD – Democratic challenger Bob Abboud released his plan to increase access to, and improve the care of America’s veterans Wednesday, after touring a privately funded adult day care center that caters to veterans in Rockford.

Before a small crowd of veterans and local residents, Abboud outlined the need for a significant investment in America’s veterans.

“When private citizens are doing the work our government should be doing it is both an extraordinary and sad thing,” Abboud said. “What I have witnessed today is the incredible commitment of one family to helping care for Rockford and America’s heroes. But it is also a great tragedy to know that our government, and Don Manzullo, have chosen to leave our Veterans’ behind, cutting their access to quality health care and refusing to recognize the immediate need for increased attention to the effects of post traumatic stress disorder and the treatment of that disorder.”

Abboud hammered his opponent, incumbent Don Manzullo, for ‘forgetting who we owe our freedom to’. Manzullo, according to information compiled by Project Vote Smart, has been given a zero percent rating by the Disabled Veterans of America from 2003 to 2006. In addition, in 2006 the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American only gave Don Manzullo a grade of ‘C’.

“It’s time that we repair the sacred trust we have with our veterans,” Abboud said. “We can no longer let politicians like Don Manzullo neglect and avoid our duty to care for our veterans. The plan I have laid out today is just a start, but it is a good beginning. If we do anything, we must protect, care for and give every opportunity to our returning men and women in uniform. It is our responsibility as a nation to fight for their care and well being as hard as they have fought for our freedom and security.

Abboud said that every detail for the Abboud Veterans’ Platform would be available on his website at www.robertabboud.com. Abboud pieced his plan together after meeting with a large group of local veterans and individuals currently working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Illinois. Abboud said the four cornerstones of his proposal should be a foundation for a renewed vigor in the pursuit of better care for veterans in the United States.

The plan included a call for the transition of veterans funding from discretionary funding to mandatory funding. Abboud stated that the cost of war is as much ‘bombs and bullets, as it is the care of our returning soldiers’. Second, he proposed the creation of a comprehensive online database where veterans of all ages could enter their zip code and receive information on all the public and private services available to them within their community. Abboud also called for a significant investment in the availability and quality of mental health care for veterans, to address the devastating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Finally, Abboud said we must continue our commitment to increasing funding for, and access to higher education for every military service member.

“After hearing the concerns of local veterans it is clear we need to improve not only their access to care, but its quality as well. If veterans don’t know what care is available to them how can they utilize it. The programs I have proposed today will help stem the tide of military suicides, which are at an all time high, and help our veterans build a better life for themselves when they return home,” Abboud said.

= = = = =
The photo of 16th District Democratic Party congressional candidate Robert Abboud was taken at the February meeting of the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee in Woodstock.

16th Congressional District Democratic Party candidate Robert Abboud has held a press conference in Rockford seeking the votes of veterans. Here is his press release.

ABBOUD ANNOUNCES PLAN TO INCREASE VETERANS’ ACCESS TO SERVICES, IMPROVE CARE
After 16 Years of Neglect from Manzullo, Abboud Seeks to Repair Sacred Trust of Caring for America’s Veterans

ROCKFORD – Democratic challenger Bob Abboud released his plan to increase access to, and improve the care of America’s veterans Wednesday, after touring a privately funded adult day care center that caters to veterans in Rockford.

Before a small crowd of veterans and local residents, Abboud outlined the need for a significant investment in America’s veterans.

“When private citizens are doing the work our government should be doing it is both an extraordinary and sad thing,” Abboud said. “What I have witnessed today is the incredible commitment of one family to helping care for Rockford and America’s heroes. But it is also a great tragedy to know that our government, and Don Manzullo, have chosen to leave our Veterans’ behind, cutting their access to quality health care and refusing to recognize the immediate need for increased attention to the effects of post traumatic stress disorder and the treatment of that disorder.”

Abboud hammered his opponent, incumbent Don Manzullo, for ‘forgetting who we owe our freedom to’. Manzullo, according to information compiled by Project Vote Smart, has been given a zero percent rating by the Disabled Veterans of America from 2003 to 2006. In addition, in 2006 the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American only gave Don Manzullo a grade of ‘C’.

“It’s time that we repair the sacred trust we have with our veterans,” Abboud said. “We can no longer let politicians like Don Manzullo neglect and avoid our duty to care for our veterans. The plan I have laid out today is just a start, but it is a good beginning. If we do anything, we must protect, care for and give every opportunity to our returning men and women in uniform. It is our responsibility as a nation to fight for their care and well being as hard as they have fought for our freedom and security.

Abboud said that every detail for the Abboud Veterans’ Platform would be available on his website at www.robertabboud.com. Abboud pieced his plan together after meeting with a large group of local veterans and individuals currently working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Illinois. Abboud said the four cornerstones of his proposal should be a foundation for a renewed vigor in the pursuit of better care for veterans in the United States.

The plan included a call for the transition of veterans funding from discretionary funding to mandatory funding. Abboud stated that the cost of war is as much ‘bombs and bullets, as it is the care of our returning soldiers’. Second, he proposed the creation of a comprehensive online database where veterans of all ages could enter their zip code and receive information on all the public and private services available to them within their community. Abboud also called for a significant investment in the availability and quality of mental health care for veterans, to address the devastating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Finally, Abboud said we must continue our commitment to increasing funding for, and access to higher education for every military service member.

“After hearing the concerns of local veterans it is clear we need to improve not only their access to care, but its quality as well. If veterans don’t know what care is available to them how can they utilize it. The programs I have proposed today will help stem the tide of military suicides, which are at an all time high, and help our veterans build a better life for themselves when they return home,” Abboud said.

= = = = =
The photo of 16th District Democratic Party congressional candidate Robert Abboud was taken at the February meeting of the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee in Woodstock.

This may be the last time the Veterans Stand Down sponsored by Crystal Lake’s NASA Education may occur at Camp Algonquin.

It’s not because yesterday’s event, the fourth at Camp Algonquin, was a failure.

Just the opposite.

The over 200 veterans, many homeless, filled the camp on the Fox River.

John Blanchard, head of the sponsoring organization, which specializes in finding good paying jobs for veterans, told me that the number of men and women attending the event is doubling each time.

This is the fourth Stand Down.

McHenry County Blog has written stories about each of them:

10-4-6 Veterans Stand Down Attracts 26 Homeless Veterans

3-7-7 Veterans’ Stand Down Notes

10-7-7 Camp Algonquin Stand Down for Veterans to take place October 8 and 9

10-13-7 Manzullo at Camp Algonquin Stand Down

Headlining the event Monday was State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora and veteran herself.

In her sixth term, she can be seen above talking to my former legislative assistant Pete Castillo before she addressed the veterans. Pete is the area unemployed veterans’ counselor of choice.

The attendees were in various stages of eating a scrumptious lunch provided for free by Pontarelli’s Pizza at the corner of Route 176 and Oak Street (815-477-4040) in Crystal Lake and by Kyoto Japanese Restaurant on Route 14 in Crystal Lake, next to the Old Country Buffet.

Blanchard said that Kyoto chef Shawn Lee, a Chicago resident, got up at 5 A.M. to make his bounteous luncheon fair, which I can attest from three helpings was excellent. Mrs. Chris Lee said it was a several day effort. (Less than half of the Lee’s contribution can be seen to the left.)

The Lee’s so generous contribution embodied the attitude of the volunteers that helped put on the event.

And coffee came from the Downtown Crystal Lake Starbucks.

But, back to State Rep. Chapa LaVia.

She surely knows how to talk to veterans.

After telling of her support for veterans benefits, she concluded with this strong line:

“…until I have no breath left to scream, I’ll be saying that.”

I was taking pictures, as usual, and didn’t get a chance to write down other parts of her talk.

Chapa LaVia received a rousing reception.

Earlier she had told Castillo and me that she was pushing federal congressmen to separate benefits veterans have earned from the Defense Department budget. This former Executive Office of the President budget guy agreed.

Castillo, Rep. Chapa LaVia and her husband met at the Million Veteran March, at which Castillo and she spoke and which he was one of the veterans leading the others up the mall to the United States Capitol.

When Blanchard was introducing Rep. LaVia, he said,

After lunch, I finally got a picture of the hair stylists.

Previously, I had just found empty chairs.

From left to right, you can see

• Marie Borre of Sports Clips Salon in McHenry,
• Kristina Weingartner of Blades Salon on Randall Road in Algonquin,
• Krissy Dougherty, also of Blades, and
• Nicole Borress, a third stylist from Blades.

I also found Lockport Healing Touch practitioner Karen Johnson.

I pointed out to Johnson that you can’t get from here to Lockport. She admitted that it was a two hour drive. In two hours I can be more than half way to Springfield.

Guess whose head her hands were on?

McHenry County Board member Mary Donner.

She keeps telling me that I can never take a good picture of her. This one with John Blanchard received her approval.

Shortly before three Castillo and I were standing in front of the Camp Algonquin Lodge and what should occur but a traffic jam.

A veteran was coming down the hill in a powerful motorized wheel chair with a Jesse Brown bus behind him.

There were vehicles everywhere.

And, was it foggy.

But, I guess fog is better than the earlier downpour.

This may be the last time the Veterans Stand Down sponsored by Crystal Lake’s NASA Education may occur at Camp Algonquin.

It’s not because yesterday’s event, the fourth at Camp Algonquin, was a failure.

Just the opposite.

The over 200 veterans, many homeless, filled the camp on the Fox River.

John Blanchard, head of the sponsoring organization, which specializes in finding good paying jobs for veterans, told me that the number of men and women attending the event is doubling each time.

This is the fourth Stand Down.

McHenry County Blog has written stories about each of them:

10-4-6 Veterans Stand Down Attracts 26 Homeless Veterans

3-7-7 Veterans’ Stand Down Notes

10-7-7 Camp Algonquin Stand Down for Veterans to take place October 8 and 9

10-13-7 Manzullo at Camp Algonquin Stand Down

Headlining the event Monday was State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora and veteran herself.

In her sixth term, she can be seen above talking to my former legislative assistant Pete Castillo before she addressed the veterans. Pete is the area unemployed veterans’ counselor of choice.

The attendees were in various stages of eating a scrumptious lunch provided for free by Pontarelli’s Pizza at the corner of Route 176 and Oak Street (815-477-4040) in Crystal Lake and by Kyoto Japanese Restaurant on Route 14 in Crystal Lake, next to the Old Country Buffet.

Blanchard said that Kyoto chef Shawn Lee, a Chicago resident, got up at 5 A.M. to make his bounteous luncheon fair, which I can attest from three helpings was excellent. Mrs. Chris Lee said it was a several day effort. (Less than half of the Lee’s contribution can be seen to the left.)

The Lee’s so generous contribution embodied the attitude of the volunteers that helped put on the event.

And coffee came from the Downtown Crystal Lake Starbucks.

But, back to State Rep. Chapa LaVia.

She surely knows how to talk to veterans.

After telling of her support for veterans benefits, she concluded with this strong line:

“…until I have no breath left to scream, I’ll be saying that.”

I was taking pictures, as usual, and didn’t get a chance to write down other parts of her talk.

Chapa LaVia received a rousing reception.

Earlier she had told Castillo and me that she was pushing federal congressmen to separate benefits veterans have earned from the Defense Department budget. This former Executive Office of the President budget guy agreed.

Castillo, Rep. Chapa LaVia and her husband met at the Million Veteran March, at which Castillo and she spoke and which he was one of the veterans leading the others up the mall to the United States Capitol.

When Blanchard was introducing Rep. LaVia, he said,

After lunch, I finally got a picture of the hair stylists.

Previously, I had just found empty chairs.

From left to right, you can see

• Marie Borre of Sports Clips Salon in McHenry,
• Kristina Weingartner of Blades Salon on Randall Road in Algonquin,
• Krissy Dougherty, also of Blades, and
• Nicole Borress, a third stylist from Blades.

I also found Lockport Healing Touch practitioner Karen Johnson.

I pointed out to Johnson that you can’t get from here to Lockport. She admitted that it was a two hour drive. In two hours I can be more than half way to Springfield.

Guess whose head her hands were on?

McHenry County Board member Mary Donner.

She keeps telling me that I can never take a good picture of her. This one with John Blanchard received her approval.

Shortly before three Castillo and I were standing in front of the Camp Algonquin Lodge and what should occur but a traffic jam.

A veteran was coming down the hill in a powerful motorized wheel chair with a Jesse Brown bus behind him.

There were vehicles everywhere.

And, was it foggy.

But, I guess fog is better than the earlier downpour.