What about the spouses and children of the Gulf War
I am one of the small handful that is not happy with the
current media reporting of the Gulf War issues. The reason
being is like with the last 6 years a small group of people
are trying to twist the media to do there bidding. So that
once more this becomes a issue of funding people in that
circle rather than instituting programs ( or reforming them )
on a larger scale.
The veterans have no where to go, and if you follow the
logic of the current stories its not focused on that. These
are sensationalist stories around the same old facts but
not solutions of VA healthcare or the lack of it.
The biggest missing element in all of this are those spouses
and children after the Gulf War who live ( or moved on ) with
those vets. This group of people have literally no representation
at this time. They certainly are not speaking up at the
committee meetings. Of which I attribute to the fact that they
are not being told of this and that they don't have the resources
to come forward. They are one of several missing elements
in this equation that merit attention.
Ironically I know of several vets who have children with Autism,
with severe handicaps, and a small few who will never function
at all in society. Why are these people silent about this now
that we even have a committee looking into this. Did they
magically vanish, loose faith, don't care, or give up on life. I
think many have settled into there lives resigned to live in
despair that no one cares. I hear it often enough from those
I try to encourage to speak up. They say "Why Bother".
There is a changing of the guard in Washington DC, and those
that set out to exterminate Gulf War vets these last 7 years
are now moving on. Supposedly the opportunity exist to
change the course of our own history. To get things back on
track toward helping those get back on there feet that had
no support all these long years since the war. That should
also include the GW spouses and the children who have
nothing in place for them now.
Keep in mind that more than half of those that served in the
Gulf War are probably divorced by now. Who now live with
the fall out of those relationships - illness, financial woes,
and the unfortunate children with both visible and invisible
injuries of birth defects. Another group are those who's loved
ones past on who grapple with financial and other problems.
These people need a clinical program, as much as the Gulf
War vets out there need one. A public center they as well as
the vets can go to for support, assistance, and to find some
dignity they often do not get from the general public.
It is my hope that in 2009 others will catch on that there is
more at stake here than just "Research". That human lives
are effected every day that are tied to that 1991 war, and
have paid a hefty price all these years for it.
We need a program outside of VA Environmental Agents
to deal with issues of the Gulf War. Healthcare, Benefits,
and support wrapped up in one. No one is arguing this.
But, no one is supporting this either. Which would be a
tragedy since there are no proposals on the table for
ANY public programs for us in 2009 or the next 5 years.
Well, other than mine which have gone largely ignored.
Just more closed door research that veterans no longer
even volunteer for.
The opportunity exist now to speak up and sadly that
is not happening. 2 committees poised at the start of
a new administration who are in a key position to take
those request forward - and we are not hearing from the
vets like we should. Not at all from the spouses or children
of those vets.
Now is the time to speak up if there ever was one. You cant
just sit back and hope someone else will do it for you.
Yes, I am a broken record on this but what else am I to
do given the circumstances but state the obvious until
something changes.
Get involved, and take charge of your lives rather than letting
others dictate it for you. Many have been robbed of there quality
of life all these years and deserve better. Only if you speak up.
Sincerely
Kirt P. Love
Director, DSBR
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