Free Republic

A federal law has forced thousands of disabled veterans to return the separation incentives they received, throwing many into sudden hardship.. Vernon Reffitt got $30,000 to leave the Army in 1992. It was a one-time, lump-sum special separation benefit offered to service members when the U.S. had to reduce its active-duty force. Now, more than 30 years later, the federal government wants that money back. In May, the Department of Veterans Affairs began withholding the monthly disability compensation payments that Reffitt had been receiving for three decades until he repays the $30,000. It would take the 62-year-old nearly 15 years...

BOLIVAR, Mo. (KY3) - At the peaceful Parkview Residential Facility in Bolivar. Inside every door, there’s a great story. “Pretty soon the school bell rang,” resident Bill Pool said, “knew right then, gonna be tardy again.” Inside Bill’s room is a book full of his poems. It sits right next to the shadowbox full of World War II medals. “I think he’s a great man,” Bill’s daughter Carolyn George said. “He still has love,” Bill’s other daughter, Jeanie Price added. Bill Pool enlisted in the Army in 1941 and, after basic training, was off to the heart of the ground...

A Pentagon-funded company is seeking proposals to feed America’s soldiers lab-grown meat in a bid to "reduce the CO2 footprint" at Defense Department outposts. BioMADE, a public-private company that has received more than $500 million in funding from the Defense Department, announced earlier this month that it is seeking proposals to develop "innovations in food production that reduce the CO2 footprint of food production at ... DoD operational environments," according to an online announcement. These include "novel cell culture methods suitable for the production of cultivated meat/protein," or lab-grown meat, a product that is still in its experimental phases. This...

A Pentagon-funded company is seeking proposals to feed America’s soldiers lab-grown meat in a bid to "reduce the CO2 footprint" at Defense Department outposts. BioMADE, a public-private company that has received more than $500 million in funding from the Defense Department, announced earlier this month that it is seeking proposals to develop "innovations in food production that reduce the CO2 footprint of food production at ... DoD operational environments," according to an online announcement. These include "novel cell culture methods suitable for the production of cultivated meat/protein," or lab-grown meat, a product that is still in its experimental phases. This...

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduced by pro-life Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne. This amendment bars the Biden Administration from funding or reimbursing service members for costs associated with abortions. It garnered support from a majority of Republicans but faced opposition from most Democrats, resulting in a vote of 214-207. Essentially, this amendment overturns the current Pentagon policy of reimbursing travel expenses for service members seeking abortions in states where it’s legal, but where the service member is stationed in a state where babies are protected from abortion. Some...

Biden Hates the Military!

Today I watched the D-Day ceremonies on Canadian TV. It's not that I'm a fan of CBC, but it was difficult to find a US broadcast that was not delayed, edited and polished by liberal sycophants. And to be even more honest, I could not stomach hearing Joe Biden making a "heartfelt" speech on such sacred ground before he pooped his pants.The Canadian ceremony included Justine Turd-oh, Prince William and the PM of France, Gabriel Attal. All went pretty well. When the ceremony was over. the 3 dignitaries started to shake hands with each of the 13 Normandy vets present....

Three veterans slammed former President Trump as a “draft dodger” and argued he is unfit to be commander in chief in a new video from President Biden’s reelection campaign unveiled Thursday, marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Marine Corps veteran Curtis Register, Army veteran Ed McCabe and Navy veteran Matthew McLaughlin participated in the minutelong video, which was intended to “highlight the stark contrast between Donald Trump, who criticizes veterans and has refused to take accountability or attend military funerals, and President Biden, who stands with our troops abroad and takes care of them at home,” according to...

Likely the last major anniversary with veterans, now it’s on the living to pay tribute to the soldiers who fought the war, rebuilt the towns, then left.The eyes of the world are falling on the beaches at Normandy, France, as leaders mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. For most nations whose troops risked and sacrificed their lives at the landings, the beaches are far away in time and place. But locals are resolved to carry on eternal salutes to their liberators.World War II touched every continent, and even the greatest armada ever assembled — while a huge set piece —...

An investigation has been launched after a veterans memorial was vandalized in California, shocking locals who celebrate at the site every year. The memorial is located in Morgan Hill, a small city near San Francisco. It's a popular downtown gathering place, hosting services on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Early on Sunday morning, locals discovered that the US flag hanging at the site had been burned and a plaque had been defaced. The perpetrator remains unknown but the Morgan Hill Police Department suspects that the attack occured overnight on Saturday and said that officers are continuing their investigation, according to...

Freedom isn't Free. Just sayin...

As many as 100 showed up at Cheyenne National Cemetery on Monday morning for an advertised Memorial Day service in honor of fallen heroes and loved ones. But the VA never showed up to host the service. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On left, Carol Anne Hopkins and Dale Hopkins, drove four hours from Riverton, Wyoming, to see the burial site of her parents and participate in the observation of fallen military heroes. (Pat Maio, Cowboy State Daily) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CHEYENNE — As many as 100 showed up at the Cheyenne National Cemetery off Happy Jack Road ahead of an advertised 11 a.m. Memorial Day...

“Squad” members Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Cori Bush (D-MO) appeared to confuse Memorial Day — a day to honor fallen American service members — with Veterans Day, a day to honor those who have served. Omar posted on X from her congressional account: On #MemorialDay, we honor the heroic men and women who served our country. We owe them more than our gratitude — they have more than earned access to quality mental health services, job opportunities, housing assistance, and the benefits they were promised. Bush posted on her congressional X account: This #MemorialDay & every day, we honor...

Tribute to World War II Veterans.

Since the 1960s, the Knights of Columbus have held a Memorial Day event at the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, VA. For the last two years, however, The National Park Service (NPS) has refused permission for the event due to a new policy prohibiting “religious services” and calling the ceremony to honor this nation’s fallen heroes a “demonstration.” The park service has instead said the event must take place in a nearby “free speech zone.” The Knights and their attorneys say the decision by park officials violates the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. On May 13,...

'Equity' means realizing 'treating everybody the same might not be enough,' VA official Shawn Liu says .. Joe Biden's Department of Veterans Affairs is offering race-based training programs and workshops that exclude white veterans—programs that one legal expert says are "of dubious constitutionality and legality." The programs are taking place in at least four states, a Washington Free Beacon review of online offerings found. In Battle Creek, Mich., for example, the VA offers a "BIPOC Support Group," an "8-week curriculum designed to provide support for Veterans that identify as people of color/BIPOC, or as multiracial or biracial," according to a...

While much of the attention in Washington, DC has been on passage of the high profile foreign aid bills in this sharply divided Congress, the Biden administration has been hard at work using their many administrative tools to expand abortion. Several controversial abortion-expanding rules were recently finalized. In addition, a new bill was introduced in the Senate to require the Biden administration to provide real data on abortions being done under a new controversial Veterans Affairs directive. EEOC and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act In June 2023, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) took effect after passing with wide bi-partisan...

The Supreme Court recently decided on a case you might not have heard about. Its underreported landmark ruling about the GI Bill could have a massive positive effect on America’s veterans, our communities and our nation for years to come. Earlier this month, the highest court in the land issued a 7-2 ruling that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) improperly calculated GI Bill benefits for retired Army Captain James Rudisill, who now works in federal law enforcement. Like so many others before him, Rudisill had separated from the military and wanted to use the educational benefits that we all...

All but two Massachusetts House Democrats voted against an amendment to provide statewide shelter priority to U.S. military veterans over migrants. On Friday, all 25 Massachusetts state House Republicans were joined by two others across the aisle in voting for Amendment 698 as part of House Bill 4600. The amendment introduced by Republican Minority Leader Bradley Jones, titled "Homeless Veterans Prioritization for Shelter Assistance," failed on a 27-129 roll call vote. 01:17 Massachusetts Asks Citizens to Take in Migrants Amid State of Emergency By Nick Mordowanec Staff Writer FOLLOW 72 All but two Massachusetts House Democrats voted against an amendment...

A remembrance mural has become the target of "mindless vandalism" for a second time. Spray paint was used between Monday and Tuesday last week to deface the artwork situated on Witham's river walk. The initial incident was reported to Essex Police, but silver spray paint was then used at the weekend to create further damage. A spokesperson from Witham Town Council said it was "just mindless vandalism". Police have been contacted for comment.