Great proposal and will follow up.

Frank

----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Mitchell <michael.c.mitchell@...>
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 22:49
Subject: [MilitaryHop] From pepperd.com discussion - letter for surviving
spouses
To: militaryvillage@yahoogroups.com


> Hello,
>
> Given the fact that a victory for one is a victory for all, I'd
> like to encourage all on the list to consider using the following
> letter put together by "Cherry" of the Dirk Pepperd space-a board (
> http://www.pepperd.com ). We MUST remember that when the stats for
> one group prove no negative effect (and that will be the result)
> for expansion to other groups, we are all strengthened.
>
> For those that feel their group has priority, please feel free to
> adapt the letter to your purposes. We are the "choir" and need not
> to be spurred on for any particular group... rather all will win,
> the tactic will work!
>
> THE LETTER:
> Cherry C.
> Senior Member Dirk Pepperd's Space-A Board
> Username: Cherry
>
> Post Number: 4988
> Registered: 06-2003
> Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 01:08 pm:
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Okay, friends, I've got it ready. As is usual with me, it's kinda
> wordy! And you may note that I've cribbed a few good ideas from
> other people...
>
> The best way is probably to send your letter via email, and most of
> us can copy and paste this to our own representative's and
> senators' websites, making whatever changes we wish in order to
> personalize it.
>
> And please feel free to pass this on, without attribution, to any
> military-related site you think might hop on the bandwagon.
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Dear Congressman/Senator [insert name],
>
> The purpose of this letter is to suggest an official DoD policy
> enhancement that would entail no cost to the government, while at
> the same time honoring and assisting surviving widows or widowers
> of our military, as well as enhancing morale among all our military
> personnel.
>
> That is, to allow the unremarried widows or widowers of deceased
> active duty military members, or of military retirees, to have
> "space-available" travel privileges aboard military aircraft, as a
> way of recognizing and thanking them for their sacrifices. And if
> that widow/widower has dependent children, the change should
> include those youngsters in the same category but only when they
> are accompanied by the surviving parent.
>
> At present, the space-available travel privilege -- whereby
> otherwise unused seats on military aircraft are made available at
> no charge to eligible personnel -- is normally extended only to
> family members who are accompanying their active duty military or
> retiree "sponsor," who is indicated on their military ID card
> and/or in the DEERS system. (There are recently instituted and
> highly commendable exceptions that allow family members of long-
> deployed personnel to fly, and certain command-sponsored or non-
> command sponsored dependents are also granted some space-a travel
> privileges, but in the great majority of situations any family
> member must be escorted on such travel by his or her military
> sponsor.)
>
> This means that once the military sponsor dies, his or her spouse
> and also any minor dependent family members are immediately cut off
> from any eligibility for space-available travel -- at a time when
> they are also already suffering from the loss of their loved one.
>
> I believe that it is only right that such survivors be allowed
> space-available travel, in Category VI (along with retirees and
> their accompanying dependents -- and thus in line behind anyone
> else, so that they would never prevent another military member from
> flying). They would get a seat only if it otherwise would be
> unoccupied, on a flight that is already budgeted so there is no
> additional cost to taxpayers.
>
> Current estimates are that only about 5% of persons eligible for
> space-available travel actually use the privilege, so adding
> unremarried widows/widowers and their minor dependents to the list
> would have no material effect on the program.
>
> Because the status of unremarried widow/widower is already shown on
> such a person's military ID card (form DD 1173), that card would
> easily serve as proof that the person carrying it is entitled to
> space-available travel in Category VI status.
>
> While the actual number of newly eligible people who would actually
> avail themselves of the space-available travel privilege would
> probably be very small, nevertheless including them in eligibility
> would act as a public statement of our nation's desire to honor our
> military, and thus also give additional encouragement to those who
> are currently serving.
>
> Will you please urge the Air Force's Air Mobility Command to modify
> DoD Regulation 4545.13-R, at least on a trial basis, to add these
> deserving surviving family members to the list of those eligible
> for space-available travel in Category VI?
>
> Such a change, cost-free to taxpayers but of inestimable morale-
> boosting value to those who receive it (whether or not they ever
> actually use the privilege) is a very simple way that our country
> can officially honor the brave men and women, and their families,
> who sacrifice so much for all of us.
>
> Sincerely yours,
>