We Gulf War Veterans of 1990-91 need help too. Our veterans
have stepped back and gone some what quiet since 911 knowing our
new veterans of OIF/OEF needed urgent help.
But we need help too! In September we have two critically
important meetings to get our veterans to in Washington DC that
directly impacts us the Veteran's Affairs has two advisory
committees. One the VA advisory committee on Gulf War illness
Research(Sept 15-16 in Washington DC) will be releasing a
landmark study the first in 4 years and their chairman is
encouraging me to get the maximum participation from Veterans
and I am trying but these veterans don't have financial means to
afford Travel and hotel in DC.
http://www1.va.gov/RAC-GWVI/page.cfm?pg=21
The second meeting is our new advisory committee on Gulf War
Veterans that covers everything else but research. This
committee deals with actual care and treatment at the VA and
benefits issues. Their meeting is scheduled for Sept 24-25
again in DC.
Right now I have vets from Calif(2), CO(myself), Tx (1-2),
Kentucky (1-2), GA, Alabama, MO, Ark that are indicating they
would like to be there but we need help! Help in the form of
air travel, gas expense, and housing in DC costs.
WE have set up a page to get the info to the veterans and to
coordinate the effort.
On that site vets and people wanting to help can so indicate.
I am encouraging vets to contact local veteran organizations
post and chapters to ask for help individually to get to DC and
I hope that all organizations from the top and bottom up will
step forward to help our gulf war veterans. Letters to your
post and chapters to get involved would help greatly.
WE certainly could use some help, can you see if your
organization can help?
This is when the veterans can be there face to face to tell
their own story and their suggestions for making changes face to
face! Their own impact is invaluable in getting action to
correct problems we have been living with since our return home
in 1991!
Sincerely,
Denise Nichols, Maj, USAFR(ret)
Gulf War Veteran ill and former flight nurse
303-422-2962