It's Reveille Veterans,
Not Taps Yet
by Gene Simes, VFVC President
October 20, 2003 a time to remember the freedom we all have and the promise that was made to all of those that volunteered and served their country. It was also the day that concern veterans and citizens met with the Veterans Affairs, Cares Commission to discuss the proposed closing of the Canandaigua VA Hospital.
We came, we saw and we remembered...
It was gathering that brought tears to the eyes of many. As a Marine and President of VFVC, "The tears were not only for the children that were singing God Bless America, but for the promise that is being broken by our government to those that gave their all and are still giving their all."
Pictured right to left:
- Former Marine Gene D. Simes
and President of VFVC
- Former Navy Robert A. Fink,
VFVC military historian Robert A. Fink dressed as a 1776 Continental Marine.
Fink spoke to the crowd about the patriotism that our forefathers gave to this
great country.
- Former U S Army and retired reservist Bill Love
We made our voice heard! We need Canandaigua VA Hospital!
Veterans for Veteran Connection Inc:
A non-profit volunteer organization providing information for Veterans and their families, and supporting and serving our schools and communities with patriotic programs. These programs include the respectful handling and display of "Ole Glory," and the meaning of the red, white and blue. The Flag was created as a symbol of freedom for which it stands for and a country that we call America.
VFVC works hard in assisting Veterans and their families by directing them to organizations and resources that can meet their needs. Working to support Veterans and their families is primary mission Veterans for Veteran Connection. VFVC strives to bring together individuals and like-minded organizations to stand together to make the Veterans issues known and work with government leaders and agencies to identify solutions to these problems. America’s Veterans and service members should be confident that promises made will be kept. It is VFVC's promise that we will "Remember the Vet" work hard to make sure the promise is kept.
VFVC pledges to stand together with Veterans organizations, no matter what it takes we will stand together to support our veterans and their families. VFVC is working to create a support network, not based on political views or agendas, but one based on issues and solutions that promote the welfare of the veterans community. It is VFVC's firm belief that providing for our veterans is helping to ensure our Nation's future by making our military a place where our young men and women can serve and know they will have the respect, appreciation, and support of a loving and grateful nation.
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they receive the veterans of earlier wars were Treated and Appreciated by their nation."
-- George Washington
Monitoring and protecting our benefits, including keeping our VA hospitals from closing, and having their operational budgets being cut is a tremendous task. We need to make sure that our government elected officials understand our concern. We need to they know that the people that they represent care about the availability and quality of services provided for our veterans and their families. To do this, veterans organizations need to work together to make sure that VA directors and their staff know we will insist on working with them to make the right things happen for our veterans. When the decision makers for these services believe that there is little interest or concerns from our citizens, we can only expect them to make decisions that are only based on "business objectives" and not on the needs of those they are there to serve.
As Veterans we have to ensure that we support each other. Remember this is not the first time we have had to take action to change the plans our government wants to do to our hospitals. With the CARES Commission which was organized by the Department of Veterans Affairs proposes to close 26 of our VA hospitals. VFVC hopes that the examples of what we have been doing to keep them from closing the Canandaigua VA facility, in New York will be an model for other communities where Veterans Hospitals are at risk. VFVC contends that we Veterans can work together to reduce the risks to ALL sorely needed veterans facilities. We must strive to preserve the services at the other twenty-five facilities that they want to close.
We cannot think that our fight is over. We must stand up for all the other VA Hospitals around the country that are targeted for closing. Canandaigua is not our only responsibility. We must remain united for the cause as a whole. As Veterans we need the help and support of our families, friend and communities and know that our vote counts.
Our elected officials understand the importance of a strong voice from their communities. When we make our voices heard, officials will understand that they must listen to these issues and take appropriate action to meet these needs. Come election time, this is our best weapon and must be united by going out and voting for what is right and change that which is not, voting is the best way!
During times of war, we work our allies achieve difficult objectives. We must remember seek out allies in our own communities and across the country. Valuable support can, and often does, come from a variety of resources. Veterans themselves come from many political party affiliations, cultural and religious backgrounds, and geographic locations. The source of our support for veteran initiatives should also span across these divisions as well. We can accomplish our mission and help others in our communities by working and voting together. Veterans must team together in a united voice and take coordinated actions to meet our objectives.
As a former Marine,
I will not let anyone tell me or suggest that my struggle is useless for
I will stand for what I believe in.
And I say this to all Veterans across
the Four Corners of our great country,
Veterans Health Care has improved over the years as evidenced by the scheduling
of appointments and shortening the window of waiting room time for these appointment.
The doctors, nurses and staff try to be there for us as allowed by the shortage
of staff. The quality of care we are receiving by no means should be forgotten,
beginning from the men and women that are working when we check into a VA facility
whether it is to a clinic or a hospital. We need to remember those who assist
us with countless paperwork that needs to be filled out. We have to remember
that there are some Veterans who cannot do this for themselves. There are many
veterans who require special services, such as blindness, diabetes, mental health,
ocular conditions, this is only a few of the services provided. Specialist are
contracted for these special services, we must make every effort to ensure that
these services continue. To those who provided service to Veterans, Thank you.
Without you there wouldn't be Veterans like us fighting to keep those clinics
and hospitals open.
Pictured below is the cover page of a popular piece of sheet music with a world war one soldier on it. The song title, "Remember the Vet", dates to 1921 and reflects the feelings of those who were concerned that our government was forgetting our veterans. , Remember the Vet 1921 , even back then they were telling our government not, to for get those that volunteer that gave their all. In turn I, presented this sheet of the music title Remember the Vet to Our VA sectary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony J. Principi, when he came to our VA Canandaigua hospital to tour the facility.
God Bless America
Gene D. Simes Founder VFVC
Last and least Veterans, state and Communities, no matter what we do , we must remember not to drop our guard. We cannot take for granted that our government will not reduce services or close our Veterans hospitals. If we save one facility, we must work together to fight for the rest that are on the chopping block. We must share our knowledge resources. As a Veteran myself, I have to step up and let my voice be heard and not wait for others to do it for me.
Here some important phone numbers
to make your voice heard:
Toll free number to the U.S. Capitol: 1-866-727-489. It’s a free call
make their lines ring 24 X 7. Let your elected officials at the state and federal
levels know just how you feel every time. Call, write, and email those concerns.
Or if you want to call directly to the White House, at 202-224-3121. They can
help you reach your Congressmen and Senators as well.