CHICAGO –- In conjunction with African-American History Month, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) today honored African-American Veterans in Illinois for their dedicated military service, and named retired U.S. Army Col. Eugene F. Scott, president of the Chicago Defender Charities, as the February 2010 Veteran of the Month.
Gov. Pat Quinn also issued a proclamation declaring today as African American Veterans Recognition Day in Illinois.
“Every day we should give thanks to the men and women who bravely stepped forward and answered the call to duty when this nation needed them, even as they often faced segregation, bigotry and injustice within their own ranks,” said IDVA Director Dan Grant.
“During this month and always, we must recognize the contributions of African-American Veterans who honorably served to protect and expand the very freedoms we all enjoy today.”
State Sen. Toi W. Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), vice-chair of the state’s Veterans’ Affairs Committee, presented Gov. Quinn’s proclamation declaring Feb. 1, 2010 as African American Veterans Recognition Day in Illinois at the ceremony, which was held in the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St., Chicago.
“Gov. Quinn and the State of Illinois are proud to recognize the great sacrifices and accomplishments of African-American Veterans,” said Sen. Hutchinson.
“Their contributions to our state and our nation will never be forgotten.”
Director Grant presented the February 2010 Veteran of the Month Award to retired U.S. Army Col. Eugene F. Scott, former publisher of the Chicago Defender newspaper.
Scott is president of the Chicago Defender Charities, which provides educational and cultural programming, including the world-famous Bud Billiken Parade.
Scott served in the U.S. Army from 1962-1990, earning numerous awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Combat Infantryman Badge and two Bronze Stars, among others.
He has remained a strong advocate for Veterans in Illinois and nationwide, serving as chairman of the National African-American Military Museum, and working on the boards and committees of other organizations including the Bronzeville Military Academy, Illinois Military Flags Association, Giles Post #87 and the Illinois Secretary of State’s Veterans Advisory Committee.
“Col. Scott has been a true friend to Illinois veterans and an important voice in advocating for the recognition of African-American veterans,” Grant said.
“He distinguished himself through nearly three decades of service to the United States Army, and continues to serve veterans in Cook County and nationwide through numerous organizations.”
ABC7Chicago sports anchor Jim Rose, an Army veteran who began his sports broadcasting career while serving in West Germany, served as Master of Ceremonies.
About Illinois Veterans’ Affairs’ “Veteran of the Month” program
The “Veteran of the Month” award highlights the work of community activists who are also military Veterans.
Each month the Department recognizes a different person or group that contributes to the betterment of communities across the state of Illinois.
To nominate a “Veteran of the Month,” please visit IDVA’s Web site at veterans.illinois.gov or call IDVA at (312) 814-5538 to obtain a list of guidelines and a nomination form.
The Veterans Served Our Country The Veterans Can Stimulate the Economy!
As I watched the State of the Union I paid close attention to see what President Obama would say to the veterans. For the many men and women who had served or currently serving their country with pride. Those who served in various wars and conflicts. I must say I was disappointed that President Obama made no mention of the claims that are currently pending for more than one million Veterans cross the country.
I recall when President Obama was a State Senator here in the State of Illinois. I was able to attend a town hall meeting. Where in his closing remarks to the veterans that if they were having issues getting their claim resolved to contact his office and submit information regarding their claim and he would review each case and contact the VA regarding the claims. At that time the State of Illinois had the poorest rating for Veterans claims being resolved.
I must say that many Veterans in the State of Illinois was very pleased and appreciative with the results as many claims were being approved, mine was one of them. I can even recall when President Obama was on the campaign trail. This was an issue that he addressed many time. But here we are in the same position again. Where claims are being delay or denied by what I would consider raters with little or no experience when it comes to men and woman who served their country who returned home with more problems than a math book. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is no joke. Many of us returned home with many issues. All of us have lived with conditions that we did not understand.
During my service the draft system was still in place which meant that when your number came up their was no choice you served or you went to jail or moved to Canada because you didn’t want to be shipped to Vietnam. At that time young men were processed through the system 8 weeks of basic training, 8 weeks of advance individual training on how to be a killing machine and shipped to Vietnam. To Kill Or Be Killed. Many returned home in body bags and families all across America felt the Pains of War.
Here’s my point if the one million claims were resolved then we the veterans who served our country would be in position to help stimulate the economy… Many veterans are facing foreclosure joblessness and living on food stamps struggling to make ends meet as they wait for their claims to be resolved. Many veterans feel like the government is waiting for us to die so they don’t have to pay the claims. During the month of January there was a recent claim resolved for the surviving wife of a World War II veteran whose claim was resolved because the news got involved and we know how long ago World War II was. When these claims are resolved we the Veterans will be able to help stimulate the economy in the same way when we put our lives on the line at 18 and 19 years old. It hurts when I see homeless veterans! It hurts when I see veterans begging for change on the streets across America. But what hurts the most is the lack of compassion the raters have for Veteran claims who have no clue what many veterans have experienced that changed their life. I believe that if the Vietnam Veterans where treated like hero’s when they returned home things would have been a lot different.
I believe had many of us returning home had better treatment we would have been better sons, daughters, husbands and fathers. But that wasn’t the case… I was 55 years old when I was finally diagnosed with PTSD. I knew I had issues but they were buried deep but one day an employee at the VA broke me down. As she profiled me all I could do was cry. I had learned to live with the condition but as I got older that’s when the horrors of my service to my country became real issue. So Mr. President I now your have a lot to deal with and you have so much opposition in your camp. I am appealing to you and to the Veterans Administration to resolve these pending claims and we the verterns will once again serve our country by helping to stimulate the economy by saving our homes, paying off bills as well as the purchase of new homes, automobiles. Its a numbers game and all it takes is placing money where the money will be spent to stimulate the economy do the math if a million vets were receiving a $1,000 a month how much is it do the math in my opinion we the Veterans will take cake of business therefore we would be making an impact on the economy by taking care of our needs and then some. So my friends if you have a love one who served there country and have issues we should be compensated… We the Veterans need your help Mr. President!