Forward Observer

Forward Observer: Having the Courage to Do the “Write” Thing for the Blue Water Navy Act

LVMAC Poster Art 2005As has been reported, the Blue Water Navy’s Agent Orange bill continues to be stalled in the Senate despite years of effort to correct a poor decision made by the the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2002 (a reversal of policy) and its obfuscating subsequently.  This year, the House finally got the the gumption to act and unanimously passed H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018, in July to end the injustice of denying Vietnam, Korean DMZ, and Thailand veterans who suffer from life-threatening health conditions related to exposure to Agent Orange the care and benefits they deserve.

Our senators have yet to prove themselves equally concerned and courageous. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer: Senate Continues to Stall on Blue Water Navy Act Passage

LVMAC Poster Art 2005As an update, the Senate continues to stall since we have last written on the bill.  From the VFW, which emphasizes the importance of acting now in whatever way you can:

“During the Vietnam War, veterans who served in the offshore waters of Vietnam drank, bathed in, and cooked with water contaminated by Agent Orange. They are now arbitrarily and unjustly denied benefits for illnesses associated (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer:  Will the Senate Have the Courage to Rise Above the Intransigence of the VA on the Blue Water Navy Issue?

LVMAC Poster Art 2005The behavior of the Senate on the issue of the Blue Water Navy’s exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam Conflict has been less than noble — nor has it done its job.  Over the decades, it has conveniently allowed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to lead it by the nose and to provide an excuse for inaction. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence Comes to Allentown and Easton

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Annually, Zion UCC (see flyer) annually reads the Declaration of Independence at a Sunday Service.  It serves as a reminder of how special a nation we are, and how blessed we are to have our liberties and freedoms — though we often take them for granted in our our workaday lives.  Easton also does this on July 8, the day in 1776 the Declaration was first read in this area.  At the time, Easton was the seat of county government for what are now Lehigh and Northampton counties.  Both events are worth the trip, for they cause us to think on how the Declaration of Independence came about.

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By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer: The VA Mission Act Is Enacted

LVMAC Poster Art 2005We thought it would happen on Memorial Day.  Instead, it happened on 6 June 2018 (D-Day).  The President finally signed the VA MISSION Act of 2018 upon which we have previously reported .

According to the VFW’s Action Corps Weekly of 8 June,  “ ‘The VA MISSION Act will help improve the care our veterans get at the VA while leveraging the capabilities of the private sector when needed. It will help recruit the best talent at the VA, which is what our veterans deserve, and it also extends caregiver benefits to every veteran who needs it,’ …  The VA MISSION Act was the result of a bipartisan and bicameral effort led by Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Sen. Johnny Isakson, Ranking Member Sen. Jon Tester and House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Rep. Phil Roe, M.D.” (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer: Thinking of Starting or Improving Your Own Business?

LVMAC Poster Art 2005There are 28 million small businesses in the United States according to the Small Business Administration, an amazing 99.7 percent of all the employers.  Small businesses employ over 56 million people in this country, about 57 percent of all the employment in the private sector.  Think about that.  They certainly are an important component to ensuring a thriving economy.  Throughout our history, small businesses have helped to secure the “American Dream.” Importantly, they rely heavily on workers for their success, not on some “robotic arm.”

In that vein of thinking, Pennsylvania is gradually getting around to the addressing the issues of generating veterans businesses in the Commonwealth. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago