by
Joe Burns
There are two things I would like to touch on in my contribution
to this issue of the BVA Bulletin. The first involves the
Veterans Day activities in Washington last November 11. Our Auxiliary
president, Nancy Geden, eloquently expressed her feelings in the
past issue, and I would like to echo what she said.
The Arlington Cemetery ceremonies always remind us of the importance
of being veterans, the pride we hold in being veterans, and the
price veterans have paid for our country.
At the event, I had the privilege of meeting up with five marines
who were in my unit in Vietnam. We had many laughs and tears.
We continue to be astounded that, after almost 33 years, we still
have a close bond. Not a week goes by that I don’t have an
e-mail or a phone call from one of them. We have become a band
of brothers.
I am struck by the idea that if the members of BVA would become
such a band of brothers and sisters, we could really have an influence
on Congress and accomplish much more in that realm of our work.
I was also reminded at the reception following the Arlington
activities that BVA will be the host veterans service organization
and that the cost involved will be an addition to our annual budget
items. It is estimated that this cost will be $25,000. We are
seeking a sponsor or some other means of support to help absorb
some of this cost. If anybody has any ideas, please contact our
national vice president, Neil Appleby, who is the chairman of
the committee to find additional sources of revenue.
My second area of concern is the upcoming Congressional testimony,
which I will present orally on March 7. We annually submit a lengthy
written document to the joint House and Senate Committees on Veterans
Affairs in addition to the ten-minute speech. Both of these testimonies
are based on the resolutions passed at the preceding convention.
Because we passed 55 resolutions at our convention in Las Vegas,
summarizing them will be quite a chore. The challenge involved
in this endeavor highlights the importance of submitting well-organized,
thought-out resolutions for the convention’s consideration.
We should all be aware that resolutions passed at the convention
are not just words placed in the archives. They are indeed sent
to the appropriate agencies and parties as a means of requesting
action. Although government works very slowly, it is our job to
keep our desires and recommendations in the minds of decision-makers
so that our goals may be achieved.
Let us all resolve to meet our responsibility to submit well-worded,
meaningful resolutions that have the good of our veterans as their
overriding aim. I will report on the testimony in the next issue.
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