Honoring our Veterans
by Chris Reder
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.”
March 25, a day set aside to honor our nation’s most decorated war heroes, Medal of Honor recipients. The Medal of Honor is the highest military honor the nation can bestow, an example of the respect given, officers salute those who wear it. It is the elite of the elite, currently there are only 75 recipients living today. President Trump hosted 25 Medal of Honor recipients at the White House on Friday and was quoted as saying, “Each of you has risen above and beyond the call of duty in defense of our country, our people, and our flag. You have poured out your hearts, your sweat, and your tears like few others, and your blood-most importantly your blood-for the United States of America.”
On March 25th 1863 6 soldiers who were held as POWs in a Confederate camp were awarded the very first Medals of Honor. Through history of our great nation over 3,500 service members have been bestowed this honor for their bravery in the face of explicit danger. Over 400 Medal of Honor recipients are laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society website has stories of EVERY single recipient of this award. I encourage you to visit and read what these brave heroes have sacrificed for our nation. The US Postal Service has books of Medal of Honor Stamps available now, including a folder with names, pictures and branch of service of the recipients from individual wars. Thank you cannot even begin to express my gratitude to these heroes.
In VA news, the government has agreed to provide disability benefits totaling more than $2 billion to those exposed to contaminated drinking water while assigned to Camp Lejeune, NC. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs has published regulations to establish presumptions for the service connection of 8 diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune. This presumption applies to active duty, reserve and National Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days (cumulative) between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, and are diagnosed with any of the following conditions:
–Adult Leukemia
–Aplastic Anemia and other Myelodysplastic Syndromes
–Bladder Cancer
–Kidney Cancer
–Liver Cancer
–Multiple Myeloma
–Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
–Parkinson’s Disease
In the early 1980’s, volatile organic compounds, trichloroethylene (TCE), a metal degreaser, and perchloroethylene (PCE), a dry-cleaning agent, as well as benzene and vinyl chloride, were discovered in two on-base water supply systems at Camp Lejeune. The contaminated wells supplying the water systems were shut down in February 1985. The area includes all of Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River, and includes all satellite camps and base housing areas.
“We have a responsibility to take care of those who have served our Nation and have been exposed to harm as a result of that service,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. “Establishing a presumption for service at Camp Lejeune will make it easier for those Veterans to receive the care and benefits they earned.”
The VA estimates that as many as 900,000 service members were exposed to the tainted water.