Vets Put Boots on the Ground at DNC

[unhappycamper]

Vets Put Boots on the Ground at DNC
August 27, 2008
Military.com|by Ward Carroll

This week at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, mixed among the politicians, news teams, delegates, fringe groups, operatives, and handlers, a new generation of veterans groups are in place, some trying to influence the outcome of the race between John McCain and Barack Obama, others simply looking to get their messages heard.

"We are here to make sure veterans issues are at the forefront of the national political dialog," said Army veteran Andrew Roberts, who works for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association. "We're not for or against the war; we're not trying to get anybody elected. We're simply trying to take care of those veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan."

Roberts went on to explain that among IAVA's priorities are issues surrounding VA case backlogs and traumatic brain injury screening. "I know of a West Point grad who suffered through several IED attacks," he said. "And although he was never wounded, when we came back he was suffering from memory loss and losing the sense of smell, and when he went to the VA they told him, 'You got a concussion when you were playing football at West Point,' and they denied him his health care."

Veterans for Freedom has a slightly different focus around the election. After acting as "embeds" in recent weeks, reporting from the regions in which they served on active duty, the VFF reps are motivated to get their message heard, especially by Democrats.

"We're here to engage delegates and others to talk about what we saw and why we remain committed to victory in Iraq," said Pete Hegseth, VFF's director. "We recognize the success and gains that have been made not just militarily but politically. It's about sharing our perspective, which we believe is underrepresented here.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/vets-put-boots-on-the-ground-at-dnc.html

[grannie4peace]

1. this administration is so anti- vet it is disgusting!!!!!