Posted on 09/05/2012 4:26:14 PM PDT by SMGFan
Democratic House candidate Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) emphasized the cost of war Wednesday with a curious example.
The former assistant Veterans Affairs secretary, who lost her legs serving in Iraq, noted that the federal government is still paying out pensions to the children of two Civil War veterans — 147 years after the conflict ended.
“We have to understand what the cost of war is. We are still in this country paying for two children of Civil War veterans,” Duckworth told a flabbergasted panel on veterans hosted by the Truman National Security Project.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
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Department of Veteran Affairs spokesman Phil Budahn says the VA last checked in on the benefits recipients in the fall. Both were alive, but in poor health.
Budahn says it's likely that the children of the Civil War veterans, who have wished to remain anonymous, both had illnesses that prevented them from ever becoming self-sufficient..
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As of 2007 there were also 50 Spanish-American War veterans widows and 62 children receiving benefits, and over 2,000 widows and over 2000 children of WWI veterans on the rolls. Source
Since 1958, Confederate veterans have been considered US veterans (even though there were only at most one or two left by that date and they may not have been authentic). I don't know how exactly that would affect the children of rebel veterans.
standwatie and lentulus?
Very interesting information.
I hope stan is doing well wherever he is. He was fun - though completely unhinged ;-)
The point? Perhaps that dhimmicrats get their panties in a wad over the most trivial of things and usually miss the forest for the trees.
“Lets guess that these are 90 year old now... so born in 1932”.
That would make them 80.
Do a math check. I don't spell check people but I do math check.
I think it’s time these two kids went out and got themselves a job.
From your article 37 union childern still alive. The 2 still getting benefits as some sort of disability payment. Didn’t say if they were disabled or their father. Great article. Thanks. Always nice to have some context.
ping
A friend of mine died in 2009 and his father served in the civil war and was a prisoner of war. A very interesting story.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/53518132.html
“He remembered seeing his father put on his undershirt and seeing the minie ball scars and putting his little hands over the holes,” said daughter Monie Upham. William H. Upham Sr. survived days wounded on the battlefield before being taken to a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp. He was later released in a prisoner exchange and brought to the White House by a Wisconsin senator.
“His father met the president, and Lincoln asked to see his scars,” she said. “Lincoln asked about conditions at the prison and how he was treated. He appointed my grandfather to West Point.”
(note: should be father and not grandfather)
Cryogenic sperm banks in 1863?
My great grandfather was in the Civil War. While he was alive he received a pension but the minute he died noone got a dime. So!?!?
My Mom was the daughter of a Civil War vet who married a young woman late. But he was on the wrong side. He died in 1918 of spanish flu and left three young daughters and a young widow.
It’s a good point.
My Dad was a WWII wounded vet and when he died so did the payments.
So I am not getting this.
A friend of mine died in 2009 and his father served in the civil war and was a prisoner of war. A very interesting story.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/53518132.html
“He remembered seeing his father put on his undershirt and seeing the minie ball scars and putting his little hands over the holes,” said daughter Monie Upham. William H. Upham Sr. survived days wounded on the battlefield before being taken to a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp. He was later released in a prisoner exchange and brought to the White House by a Wisconsin senator.
“His father met the president, and Lincoln asked to see his scars,” she said. “Lincoln asked about conditions at the prison and how he was treated. He appointed my grandfather to West Point.”
(note: should be father and not grandfather)
A few years ago I heard a talk by a 97-year-old man whose father had ridden with Nathan Bedford Forrest. I don't know if the man is still alive. Just recently I saw a report that the last person in Georgia who was the actual son of a Confederate veteran had died (as opposed to a member of the "Sons of Confederate Veterans"). I forget how old he was but I think late 70s or early 80s.
She may be right. If war isn’t worth it Barry would be picking cotton now and not just carrying Bill’s and Ted’s bags.
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