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Please Help Us
The Association lost many records in the fiasco of the Virginia Beach office. Several recipients of the Non Sibi, Sed Patriae award have expressed an interest on forming a Non Sibi, Sed Patriae Society as a part of the Association. Unfortunately we no longer have the records of who has received the award. We ask the membership to help us out in this matter.
 The e-WORD June 2009 |
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There is something about the sight of that grand old flag gently waving in a breeze that sets off an emotional reaction in me. I'm sure I'm not alone. In the right setting even the most hardened Marine will swell up with pride and fight back the emotion of this eye watering experience. Imagine, if you can, what it is like for my wife to see this flag, Born in Siberia under the communist regime, she experienced the hardships of the Soviet system and the lack of the freedom that so many Americans take for granted. When she arrived in America on a K-1 visa just before Memorial Day eleven years ago, she was astounded to see all the American flags on display. I'm sure most Americans would be shocked to know that in the former Soviet Union it was against the law for ordinary citizens to display the Red Hammer and Sicle flag. So get out that flag and show your pride in the freedoms we enjoy. Flag Day, June 14, celebrates the birthday of Old Glory. The origins of this celebration go back to 1885 when a school teacher in Wisconsin started a flag day celebration with his students. This event started a grassroots campaign that spread locally, then statewide, and finally nationwide. President Woodrow Wilson made Flag Day Official in 1916 and Congress made it a national day of observance in 1949. Wisconsin's pride in displaying the flag continues to this day. Appleton, Wisconsin, celebrates the day each year with a big Flag Day Parade. 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lieutenant Colonel "LPM" Howlett donned his uniform once again to enlist his step-son,
Aleksandr V. Petrov, into the Marine Corps. The event took place in the newly dedicated room honoring Pfc. Ryan
Jerabek, USMC, on 8 June 2009. Petrov is a recent graduate of De Pere High School and was a delayed entry recruit. He
chose to enlist with an infantry guarantee. He is fluent in both English and Russian.This marks the second time LtCol Howlett administered the oath to a family member. He officiated at the commisioning of his oldest, William Howlett, who is now a Major in the Marine Corps Reserve. A bill significant to all service members was introduced on March 19, 2009 by Rep Maurice D. Hinchey, [D-NY] to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes. This bill would nullify a 59 year old Supreme Court decision known as the Feres Doctrine, which prohibits those on active duty from suing the government for negligence resulting in personal injuries. H.R. 1478 is also known as the Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009. Rodrigues was a Marine Corps platoon leader and Iraq war veteran who was never told by Navy doctors that he had melanoma even though they had diagnosed this serious form of skin cancer and he was never referred for treatment. He died of his cancer in November 2007 at age 29. The Feres Doctrine has prevented relatives from suing the government for wrongful deaths of servicemembers. Many cases of egregious malpractice such as the Rodrigues case have been overlooked by courts as a result of the Feres decision. You are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to contact your Congressional Representative to support this bill. H.R. 466 also known as the Wounded Veteran Job Security Act, was passed by the House of Representatives and now moves on to the Senate. This bill that would amend the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) to prohibit acts of discrimination and reprisal against an employee who is absent from work to receive medical treatment for a service-connected illness, injury or disability. Specifically, under this legislation these employees: would have the right to retain their jobs; be entitled to seniority and other rights and benefits determined by seniority while on leave; be entitled to any other rights or benefits ordinarily provided to other employees who are on furlough or leave of absence; upon request, could use for absences for service-connected illness, injury or disability treatment any vacation, annual, medical, or other paid leave accrued by the individual; would be treated as if he or she is absent by reason of military service for purposes of entitlement to employer-provided health care and pension benefit plans; and would be protected from acts of discrimination or reprisal for taking such leave. The following House Bills previously reported have received further action as noted below. H.R. 1172 was introduced on 25 February 2009 by Rep John Boozeman (R-AR). Title: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors. Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. H.R. 1171 was introduced on 25 February 2009 by Rep John Boozeman (R-AR). Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R. 1170 was introduced on 25 February 2009 by Rep John Boozeman (R-AR). Title: To amend title 21, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R. 1168 was introduced on 25 February 2009 by Rep John Boozeman (R-AR). Title: To amend Chapter 42 of title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans with employment training assistance. Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. H.R. 917 was introduced on 9 February 2009 by Rep Brett Guthrie (R-KY). Title: To increase the health benefits of dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die because of a combat-related injury. Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. |
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