October 25, 2003

Homeless Veterans Stand Down set for November 24

For the first time ever Nassau County will be hosting a " Homeless Veterans Stand Down" on November 24, 2003. Just three days before Thanksgiving a few hundred of Nassau County's 4,000 homeless veterans will be offered an opportunity to shower, get a haircut, pick up new surplus clothes from the Department of Defense, talk to jobs counselors, apply for food stamps, locate housing, receive diabetes testing and other health services and many other services offered by Nassau County, the Department of Veterans Affairs, New York State Department of Labor and private and religious social service agencies. During the event working and retired veterans will provide home cooking and entertainment. Any one wishing to volunteer should call Frank Tobani at Family and Children's Association at 516-935-6858. Tax-deductible donations to help support the "Stand Down" can be sent to Education and Assistance Corporation 50 Clinton St. Suite 107, Hempstead, NY 11550. For more information call me at the Veterans Service Agency 516-572-8452.

The U.S. Navy has decided to close base housing in Mitchel Field in Garden City and Mitchel Manor in East Meadow. The Navy claims this is part of a larger plan to get the Navy out of the housing business. Service men and women will be forced to find affordable housing on the "local economy". This will destroy the military community in Nassau County as the 400 active duty personnel are dispersed through out Long Island and Queens and will also result in the closing of the base commissary (supermarket), clinic, and Navy exchange (department store). An estimated 8,000 retired military in Nassau and more in Suffolk and Queens are regular shoppers at the Mitchel Field Commissary, exchange and clinic. Families, retirees, veterans and friends will conduct a Town Hall Meeting at the Mitchel Field Gymnasium on November 15,2003 at 1:00PM. For directions call me at the Veterans Service Agency 516-572-8452.

A new national organization has been started in Nassau County. The Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing, Inc. is a family advocacy organization registered in the state of New York, according to the founder, Irene Mandra of Farmingdale. For information visit www.koreacoldwar.org/ or write PO Box 454, Farmingdale, NY 11735

This office has received serious complaints from reserve soldiers injured during the War in Iraq and receiving less care than their regular army brothers and sisters. Although the major media outlets have reported on substandard care and facilities in other parts of the country I am hearing the same complaints from reservists waiting for care at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

November 11 is Veterans Day. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month World War I ended. A war that was so horrendous no one thought it could ever happen again. Gone was the glory and the chivalry the romantics saw in war replaced by machines that killed in the thousands. This November 11th at 11:00 AM, I hope you stop a moment and remember those men and women who because of a sense of duty continue to serve when called upon. Thank a veteran.

November 9, 2003 the veterans organizations of Nassau County will come together at Eisenhower Park for a special ceremony to recognize Veterans Day. The event sponsored by the UVO begins at 10:00AM at the newly renovated Veterans Plaza near parking lot 6. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Artist Gary Euikwon Kim will be displaying his portraits of Korean War Veterans at Chelsea Estate, Muttontown Preserve from November 9-November 30, 2003. The exhibit also includes Korean War memorabilia, uniforms, photographs, and video interviews with veterans. Korean War veterans will be available as guides. A grand opening reception is planned for Nov. 9 from 1-4PM. A donation of $10 is requested for the reception only. The exhibition is free. Call 516-868-8607 for information.

If you would like to place a veterans name on the walls of honor at Eisenhower Park or contribute to the construction of a Vietnam Monument there call 516-681-8214.