RESOLUTION URGING THE DEDICATION OF A CABLE TELEVISION CHANNEL FOR MILITARY VETERAN'S PROGRAMMING
WHEREAS, Enough cannot be said or written to laud the honorable service that United States veterans who served in all branches of its military have performed in the defense of this nation and in securing its vital strategic interests throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, The veteran's families have sacrificed many long months separated from their loved ones or, worse yet, suffer from their permanent and devastating loss. Many families bear the burden of having to care for a severely maimed or wounded returning veteran. This places psychological and financial stress on both veteran and family caregiver. Many of them may not be aware of programs or benefits that may be made available to provide post-traumatic stress disorder counseling, legal assistance, medical, jobs, housing, education and the support they need to prevent their frighteningly high rate of suicide; and
WHEREAS, Many veterans and their families an not receiving the help they earned, were promised and are entitled by law to receive. This applies to not only those veterans from this nation's current conflicts. The Vietnam-era vet was by far more neglected than all previous military veterans. This nation owes an apology to this generation of fighting men and women and must resolve that such shabby treatment of our military personnel will never again happen; and
WHEREAS, In a 2007 address, the Honorable Phil Hare, United States Congressman from Illinois' 17th District, noted that the State of Illinois ranks 48th in awarding disability claims made by veterans. He related the story of one Vietnam veteran who waited through eight years of appeals for the veteran's disability award, having to start from scratch on several occasions. Unfortunately, the vet died before he collected any of the money to which he was entitled; and
WHEREAS, Whether one agrees with a particular conflict or not, these fighting men and women ...
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