Posted on 04/10/2005 8:50:22 AM PDT by tgslTakoma
Every Friday, 8-10 P.M. Shed Light On US War Casualties: Vigil Contacts: Ann Wilcox 202-xxx-xxxx; Ellen Taylor: 202-xxx-xxxx, dc@codepinkalert.org
CODEPINK recently held a nightly vigil at Walter Reed Army Medical Center from Friday, March 25 to Friday, April 1, at the North Gate (7200 Georgia Ave. at Elder Street, NW- see below for directions). It was a very successful action bringing together peace activists, soldiers, military families and neighbors. We will continue the vigil every Friday as a reminder that physically and psychologically wounded soldiers are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan every night. Late at night – several nights per week – gravely and seriously wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan arrive at Walter Reed, and Bethesda Naval Medical Center, for treatment – under the cover of darkness. These soldiers are the most seriously-wounded, with shattered limbs requiring prostheses and physical therapy, brain injuries and mental disorders. Soldiers are flown from US military hospitals in Germany – arriving at Andrews AFB and Walter Reed under the cover of night. We believe the nighttime arrivals are scheduled on purpose so as to prevent the public from knowing about the numbers of soldiers wounded and the severity of their injuries. The “hiding” of the severely-wounded is in keeping administration policy of prohibiting photographs of coffins arriving at Dover Air Force Base. (For investigative reporting of the Walter Reed arrivals, see Mark Benjamin’s articles, “The Invisible Wounded,” at www.salon.com on March 8, 2005. For Benjamin’s reporting on the psychiatric ward at Walter Reed, see “Behind the Walls of Ward 54,” Feb. 18, 2005.) Even after their stealth arrival at Walter Reed, soldiers must begin a bureaucratic battle to obtain sufficient disability benefits to provide an adequate quality of life. Initial determinations of military pension amounts (10-20% of salary, for example), made by the Army’s Medical Review Board, are often inadequate, and must be appealed to the Veterans Administration (which, to its credit, often increases the lifetime disability payment). We also vigil to protest ongoing cuts in the Veterans Administration budget made by the very same administration that sends these soldiers to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. For example, the FY05 budget institutes a new health care enrollment fee and increases prescription drug co-pays for middle-income veterans. The VA budget is not fully funded, failing by more than $2.6 billion to fully fund quality veterans’ health care. Despite strongly lobbying by veterans organizations, the Bush administration fails to recognize veterans as an extension of the costs of war. Other FY05 budget cuts in educational, vocational and adult education, and family support programs also directly impact veterans and their families. VIGIL WITH US – to honor the sacrifice of the troops and bring to light the seriousness of their injuries. We refuse to allow the government to conceal the true face of war – and the true cost of war – under a blanket of darkness.
As they are taken from the FRONT LINE to the BACK DOOR
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 7200 Georgia Ave., at Elder St., NW
I got clearance ;-).
Good morning, Chief. Don't forget to post the "meet time" for everyone, please.
i work till 9PM.
what hours is our activity?
free dixie,sw
Code Stink.
Best of luck to all.
bttt
Ooops. Thought I hit private reply when I posted that.
Time???
I talked to Kristinn a while ago and here's the word...
arrive between 7 and 7:30pm, and expect to stay through 10pm..
I'm taking back the color pink.
Next time, you just have set the time and tell him the time that you set.
Bravo. Really. I have been thinking about designing some very patriotic pink shirts. Those traitorous idiots have been insulting one of my favorite colors to wear. Just another reason to really really dislike the commie hags.
free dixie,sw
What happened this past Friday??
I pinged the others so they can add their comments. I have to fix brunch for my family right now. They are banging on their plates and ready to mutiny.
;-)
how come all those women for peace look like the "quaker oats man?"
ON THE NET...
http://images.google.com/images?q=CodePink&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&filter=0
http://www.codepink4peace.org/links.php
http://blogs.icerocket.com/search?q=CODEPINK
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