Veterans For Common Sense Makes A Difference

Nov 18 VCS Update: VCS Makes a Difference

Libby Creagh, Development Director, VCS
Nov 18, 2008

VCS Makes a Difference
Dear VCS Supporters:
Veterans for Common Sense continues with our mission of publicizing problems and offering pragmatic solutions. This week's update contains four news items involving VCS. We also want your nominations for people who made a difference in 2008.

On November 10, our VCS Executive Director, Paul Sullivan, was interviewed by PBS Newshour. The news broadcast gave VCS a chance to highlight the causes behind the rising suicide rate among active-duty service men and women. Click here to watch the broadcast interview plus extended interviews with VA, DoD, and VCS about post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide.

Your donations keep VCS standing up for our veterans. Please set up a tax-deductible monthly contribution today so we can plan for next year. We want to make sure our "VCS Vision for a Vibrant VA in 2009" is acted upon by the new Obama Administration and the next Congress.

On November 14, Veterans for America released their new book, The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide. Craig Kubey and Paul Sullivan co-wrote Chapter One, "Basic Survivial Skills," that contains practical suggestions on how to fight for your VA healthcare and benefits.

VCS works hard year-round to get the word out to all Americans about our veterans' struggles. We can't do it without you. Please, click here to give a gift to VCS today.

On November 16, VCS was quoted in a Denver Post story about the spike in murders among soldiers deployed from Fort Carson to the Iraq War. While those convicted of crimes should face the legal consequences, VCS also believes that repeated deployments and a lack of mental healthcare are making an already bad situation worse.

On November 17, the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses released a comprehensive report confirming what many advocates already knew: that up to 210,000 Gulf War veterans remain ill and that VA deliberately sabotaged research.

Read our statement urging prompt action by VA and Congress for our Gulf War veterans.

Your donations help VCS stand strong for our veterans. Please take a moment and set up a monthly contribution today so we can plan for 2009.

Finally, VCS began preparations for our first Veteran Advocates of the Year Awards. Please send your nominations in for our five different categories - veterans, legislators, journalists, VA staff, and DoD staff - for people you feel worked hard this year to fight for our veterans' rights, civil liberties, and national security.

Send nominations to Paul@VeteransForCommonSense.org.

Thank you,
Libby Creagh, Development DirectorVeterans for Common Sense