Homeless veterans 'stand down'

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20091114/NEWS01/911149966

By Leia Baez-Mendoza
« Metro/Region

Bill Schildhouse sat patiently with his eyes closed as his gray hair was snipped by volunteer hair stylists.

The 61-year-old Army veteran was one of about 200 homeless veterans who took part today in the Veterans Affairs “stand down” at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.

Schildhouse, who stays at the Siena-Francis House, said he looks forward to the event every year. He is a Vietnam War veteran.

“It's good for me,” he said. “I'm glad to see them do this for the veterans.”

Schildhouse and other veterans had the opportunity to receive medical checkups, including the H1N1 vaccination, dental and eye exams, free hair cuts and foot care.

Veterans were also given free clothes, toiletries and a hot meal. Several organizations were on hand to discuss veterans benefits, housing and counseling.

"Stand down'' is a military term for troops to get rest and recuperation.

[debbierlus]

1. Give them a fucking HOME, not a hair cut

All of them.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. +1

:thumbsup:

[bobbolink]

4. Thank you.........that's exactly what I wanted to say.....

But I knew I would be attacked.

JUSTICE NOT CHARITY!!!!

[Yuugal]

7. I'm used to the attacks too.

But please never stop posting for our cause, I love your writing and I don't give a damn what the BMW dems think. You shouldn't either.

[bobbolink]

9. Is that weird or what?

Here we are, on a forum that is supposed to be soooo progressive that its called "Underground", and we are getting attacked for being steadfast about poverty.

:wtf:

[Yuugal]

10. After 5 years here, and watching blues40 and you and others.....

try so hard to talk real issues, it just gets so depressing to watch a mindless one line thread like "rec if you think OBama is great" get 3 million recs but every time we want to talk about where our raw meat is, they tell us to shut up or go away.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. +1,000,000

[Bitwit1234]

3. Get the media moving and

tell them to let the public know that Coburn the republican a**hole from Ok is blocking a bill that would give health care and other services to our veterans. I have emailed CNN several times and they continue to ignore this. They won't print or publish anything that is really about the offensive things the republicans are doing. I sent an email to the VFW and asked them why they did not get their veterans to write, email and call the news media and tell them to let the public know what Coburn is doing. I know of several people who have emailed CNN and they won't do a thing. I asked if they are afraid of republicans.

[bobbolink]

8. And how do we "get the media moving"?

Do you have any idea how many times I (and others, including Sapphire Blue) posted to request that DUers take action, including with the media?

And got..... zilch.

If we progresssives can't even get other "progressives" "Moving", how the fuck do we expect to effect the media?

There just is no concern.

Period.

[cliffordu]

5. K&R