Several years ago, my friend Matheau started up a page on Facebook to serve as a networking tool for military veterans, families, and supporters in general. Last year, he set me up as co-conspirat--excuse me, admin. A little backstory: Matheau is an Army veteran with combat-related disabilities thanks to an IED in Iraq in 2008. Ironically while I was twiddling my thumbs in Navy boot camp waiting on them to officially say I was too nuts to serve. My husband is a Navy veteran with service-connected disabilities. So we know firsthand the challenges military veterans face. We've fought with the VA, the Army, the Navy, and even organizations that claim to help vets, but ultimately only serve a select few. Here in Oregon, reliable resources for veterans are hard to find. There is a meager VA presence in the Eugene/Springfield area, with major facilities in Roseburg (Southern Oregon) and Portland (Northern Oregon). The charities and groups that the VA works with in Oregon are usually underfunded, and have to pick and choose who they help. If you don't meet very specific guidelines to benefit from their limited funding, you are essentially SOL. And sadly, the VA is frequently incapable of properly doing their jobs--claims backlog, anyone? Matheau is fighting with the VA over, well, everything. The VA told me and my husband that our records were lost. When I brought the Navy in, our records miraculously reappeared, with my husband on the fast-track to getting his disability claim processed. And don't get me started on the politicians in DC using veterans as pawns in budgetary and legislative battles.
Only a small percentage of Americans ever get to wear a military uniform. Legitimately, not one purchased in a thrift or surplus store. You know the saying about the blank check? Yeah, it's pretty much true. When we take our oath of service, we are basically saying that we are willing to die for the United States. We pray to whatever (if any) deity we believe in that we never have to make the ultimate sacrifice. In the end, most of us sacrifice parts of our physical and mental well-being. With the war in Iraq over, and Afghanistan winding down, we now have thousands of combat veterans who will be leaving the military. Troop support does not end when our enlistment/commission is over. There are approximately 400,000 veterans who are waiting for their claims to be processed. That is approximately 400,000 households who face homelessness, hunger, debt, uncertainty. The shutdown in the fall, and the threat of making cuts to retirement benefits only add to the stress that veterans endure. A number of those waiting in the backlog queue will end up being denied. Still others won't be able to get their education benefits for one reason or another. The fact of the matter is this: Congress is perfectly happy to spend money on the military, but only care about veterans when we can help their political agenda.
Are we just another group that wants to help? Yeah, probably. I won't deny that. All we really want to do is help veterans where the government has failed them. We want to help veterans with application fees, transportation, medical costs, food, clothing, shelter...you name it, we will more than likely want to help in that arena. To that end, Matheau and I have decided to take Veterans Network Northwest a step further. We are aiming to turn it into a nonprofit charity that aims to help veterans. I've set up a GoFundMe page, but nothing's really happened. So, with the help of a couple of friends, I'm attempting to organize a benefit. This will likely happen in early May/late June in Springfield. I am looking for bands who are willing to play, as well as vendors who would be willing to sell and contribute a negotiable percentage of their sales, and sponsors. I don't have too many specifics at this point, as we're still trying to pull enough of it together before we pitch it to the potential venue. If this is something you would be interested in participating in, you can contact me via email at stallingsja@gmail.com, or you can reach me and Matheau through the VNNW Facebook page.
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