National Commander Hotop Visits Walter Reed

This morning AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop and AMVETS National Programs Director Beryl Love made their way to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. to visit with wounded warriors recovering at the facility.

Hotop, whose schedule routinely takes him out of the Washington area, wanted to take a few moments to meet with troops recuperating at the facility.

During the visit, Hotop was able to meet with troops in various stages of the recovery process from all across the country and offered words of gratitude and encouragement on behalf of the 250,000 AMVETS, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, and Sons of AMVETS nationwide.

Hotop also received a briefing from hospital brass on the forthcoming merger between Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the nearby National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., to form the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The two facilities are slated to merge between September and October, when the current Walter Reed facility is scheduled to close permanently. The majority of patients transferred to the new facility in Bethesda will be amputees and those suffering from severe traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. Remaining patients will be transferred to the new state-of-the-art Army hospital at Fort Belvoir, Va.

While at Walter Reed, Hotop also had the opportunity to visit with three of the Federal Recovery Coordinators who have been assisting service members and their families in requests for financial assistance through the AMVETS Healing Heroes program. To date, AMVETS Healing Heroes has given more than $500,000 in grants to 256 requesting families, with more aid still available.

(Story with contributions from Beryl Love.)

AMVETS, Paws With A Cause Take to Capitol Hill

This morning, AMVETS and partner non-profit Paws With A Cause took to Capitol Hill, advocating for assistance dogs for wounded veterans.

AMVETS Luis Montalvan, an Iraq veteran who now attends graduate school at Columbia University, and Kevin Stone, an Army Ranger who is now a medal-winning U.S. Paralympian, brought their service dogs, Tuesday and Mambo, around the halls of the U.S. Capitol and the Congressional office buildings for the first of a two-day education and advocacy blitz.

Montalvan and Stone credit their assistance dogs with helping them to not only lead normal lives, but to excel in areas where they otherwise may have not. Both veterans credit their dogs with providing critical day-to-day task support and emotional support, allowing each of them to focus on living their lives to the fullest.

In today's meetings, Stone coined the phrase "Motivational Prosthetics of Freedom," when discussing assistance dogs. Like any other prosthetic limb or device, Stone says assistance dogs fill the gap left by whatever disability a veteran may be experiencing, such as the tasks Stone was limited to accomplishing while confined to a wheelchair.

AMVETS Deputy National Legislative Director Christina Roof and Paws With A Cause National Marketing Manager Deb Davis joined the veterans, helping to explain shortfalls in current policy toward assistance dogs and pushing to close loopholes and improve access for veterans who could benefit from new programs.

The major points driving AMVETS' and Paws With A Cause's work over the next couple of days are:

- Statues and policies must be clear to veterans and implemented throughout the VA system with a clear point of contact. The current language found in Title 38 of the U.S. Code is too vague, failing to identify what VA's actual responsibilities should be.

-When drafting responsible assistance dog placement and training legislation for veterans, a standard must be established based on proven assistance dog industry standards and practices exemplified by Assistance Dogs International, or ADI, and the International Guide Dog Federation, or IGDF. The bills currently before Congress are too vague and misuse certain industry terms interchangeably, such as guide dog, service dog, therapy dog, and assistance dog, making policy nearly impossible to properly implement.

-Decisive action must be taken in the short term, since thousands of veterans could potentially benefit from any new program, and AMVETS and Paws With A Cause are happy to work with legislators to make this happen. Though VA may have concerns over cost, the return on investment from veterans who take advantage of assistance dogs would have far-reaching effects as veterans re-enter the work force and live up to their full potential.

Today, AMVETS and Paws With A Cause met with Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), House Veteran Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.), staff from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and key staff from the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

CNN also followed AMVETS and Paws With A Cause later in the day, taking the time to speak with Hagan on the issue for a potential story on Montalvan, Stone and veterans' assistance dogs. American Veteran Online will keep you posted on details.

Tomorrow, AMVETS and Paws With A Cause will meet with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.), the architects of pending legislation, Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) and Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.), Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), and key council for other relevant committees.

Check back tomorrow with American Veteran for more updates.

(Photos: Top: Kevin Stone speaks with Sen. Kay Hagan, while a CNN photojournalist composes his shot. Bottom: Luis Montalvan rewards Tuesday for his good behavior on Speaker Pelosi's balcony on the U.S. Capitol. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

House approves caregiver bill; VSOs push for the Senate version

Yesterday, the House passed its version of a new VA family caregiver bill that would establish a new set of benefits for family and non-family member caregivers for wounded warriors.

However, veterans' advocates note that the House bill (H.R. 3155) would create a program only available to a small fraction of wounded veterans. The Senate version of the bill (S. 801) would make up to 34,000 wounded veterans eligible for the program.

"When we're looking at a version of a bill between the House and Senate, AMVETS usually believes 'more is better,'" said AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley. "If more veterans will be served, or if more benefits will be offered, we usually encourage Congress to accept that version of the bill."

The House bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine), contains a more restrictive definition of severely-wounded combat veterans, which advocates believe would only allow up to 200 caregivers to take advantage of the new benefits. Meanwhile, the Senate bill, introduced by Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), contains a much broader definition of eligible veterans.

The VA has testified that it does not wish to assume the responsibility for training family caregivers since it would set a dangerous precedent of the VA providing services and benefits for non-veterans.

Here is a line-by-line breakdown of each bill and the terms of eligibility:

H.R. 3155:

(A) provides caregiver services to a veteran who--

`(i) was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

`(ii) for purposes of this subsection, is determined by the Secretary--

`(I) to have a service-connected disability or illness that is severe;

`(II) to be in need of caregiver services, such that without such services, the veteran would require hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care; and

`(III) based on an examination by a physician employed by the Department (or, in areas where no such physician is available, by a physician carrying out such function under a contract or fee arrangement), to be unable to carry out the activities (including instrumental activities) of daily living;

S. 801:

(b) Eligible Veterans- (1) For purposes of this section, an eligible veteran is a veteran (or member of the Armed Forces undergoing medical discharge from the Armed Forces)--

`(A) who has a serious injury (including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma, or other mental disorder) incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service on or after the date described in paragraph (2); and

`(B) whom the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense as necessary, is in need of personal care services because of--

`(i) an inability to perform one or more independent activities of daily living;

`(ii) a need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury; or

`(iii) such other matters as the Secretary shall establish in consultation with the Secretary of Defense as appropriate.

As the Senate version indicates, the secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs can confer on who else will be eligible for the new program simply based on the service-connected injury and its effects on everyday life, without the constraints of domiciliary care found in the House version.

Check back with American Veteran Online for updates as each caregiver program act moves through Congress, and please let us know what you think of this potential new program.

Briton Climbs California's El Capitan to Benefit Wounded Troops

This week, British Army Maj. Phil Packer is in the midst of his latest task to raise money for wounded warriors. Packer is in California scaling the face of El Capitan in California's Yosemite National Park.

Packer started the climb on Sunday and expects to finish the 1,800 foot climb either late today or early tomorrow morning.

Since Packer lost the use of his legs from a spinal chord injury he sustained from an RPG attack in Iraq, he has dedicated himself to completing daunting physical challenges to raise money for his fellow wounded troops. To date, Packer has already reached his initial goal of raising more than one million pounds for the Help for Heroes program and he hopes to raise much more.

Last month, American Veteran Online highlighted Packer's work when he completed the Flora London Marathon.

To visit Packer's official Web site, track his progress on El Capitan, or to become involved, Click Here.

(Photo: British Maj. Phil Packer climbing the face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Photo courtesy of www.philpacker.com.)

Phil Packer's Marathon for Britain's Wounded Warriors

Last week, AMVETS received a media inquiry from CNN.com, asking about American troops who had been wounded serving in Iraq. The story, which ran throughout the last week on CNN International and CNN.com highlighted the journey of British Maj. Phil Packer, who was seriously wounded in Iraq and told he would never walk again. Here is video courtesy of CNN.



Packer set out to complete the 2009 Flora London Marathon to raise one million pounds for Britain's wounded warriors. At the steady pace of two miles per day with the assistance of crutches, Packer completed his marathon over the weekend. He was greeted with cheers from his fellow service members, and wounded warriors from around the world.

The marathon was the second piece of three physical challenges for Packer in his quest to raise one million pounds for the non-profit Help for Heroes. He has already successfully rowed across the English Channel, and next month, he will attempt to climb the El Capitan rock formation in California's Yosemite National Park. Packer remains about 170,000 pounds short of his goal. Those interested in donating to the cause should visit Packer's official Web site to learn more.

Packer's story is a true inspiration for the thousands of American and allied troops seriously injured in Iraq, and it was an honor to be included in the dialogue.

(Video: CNN package about Maj. Phil Packer's accomplishments and his new goals. Used with permission.)

AMVETS joins President Obama to kick off "White House to the Lighthouse" bike ride

Yesterday afternoon, AMVETS was on hand at the White House as President Barack Obama kicked off Wounded Warrior Project's White House to the Light House bike ride.

Started in 2005, the annual ride takes participants on a 65 mile trek from Washington, D.C., to Annapolis, Md., to demonstrate the strength and resolve of our nation's wounded troops, and to build camaraderie.

The President, along with Defense Secretary Roberts Gates, VA Secretary Erik Shinseki, and Assistant VA Secretary Tammy Duckworth, sent the riders off with inspiring words about their sacrifices, their resolve, and the nation's gratitude for their service and inspiration.

The riders will cover the 65 miles over the next three days raising awareness of the challenges facing our returning heroes, as well as raising funds to assist wounded warriors.

(Photos: Top: Onlookers greet riders from Wounded Warrior Project in the annual White House to the Lighthouse ride, as they depart from the south lawn of the White House on Thursday, April 30, 2009. Bottom: President Obama addresses the riders prior to kicking off the ride, alongside secretaries Gates and Shinseki, and Assistant Secretary Duckworth. Photos by Jay Agg.)

UPDATE: Tammy Duckworth confirmed by Senate

Late last night, the Senate confirmed Tammy Duckworth as the new assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs for public and intergovernmental affairs.

Duckworth, a wounded warrior who has fought for improved benefits and care since returning from Iraq, recently received AMVETS' presitigious Silver Helmet Award as 2009 Public Servant of the Year.

On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs unanimously approved her nomination.

AMVETS looks forward to working with Duckworth and the VA in the coming years to ensure that veterans receieve the proper care and recognition they have earned.

Women in Service: Margaret "Capt. Molly" Corbin

Over the next two weeks, American Veteran Online will highlight some of our nation's most distinguished military women in honor of national Women's History Month.

For the first installment of this feature, we only see it fitting to start with our nation's first female combat veteran, Margaret Corbin, who fought in the American Revolution.

Known to her contemporaries as "Capt. Molly," Corbin accompanied her husband, John, into battle with the First Company of Pennsylvania Artillery. Corbin, along with many other soldiers' wives, served in the background as a camp follower, taking care of day-to-day tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for the wounded.

However, on Nov. 16, 1776, the Pennsylvania Artillery came under attack at Fort Washington, N.Y. John was killed in the assault, leaving his battle station unmanned. Quickly, Corbin manned the cannon, firing on the advancing British and Hessian forces, until she had taken slugs to the chest, arm, and jaw.

The British would win the day at Fort Washington, taking Corbin as a prisoner of war. Upon her release from British custody as a wounded soldier, Corbin made her way to Philadelphia, where Congress decided to grant her rights and privileges as a disabled veteran. Congress also kept her on the rolls as a member of the Continental Army for the remainder of the war, citing her courage under fire as the discerning factor in their decision.

Corbin never fully recovered from her wounds and continued to receive a military pension until her death in 1800.

Today, Corbin is the only veteran of the Revolutionary War interned at West Point Cemetery--an honor bestowed upon her in 1926 by the Daughters of the American Revolution in recognition of her groundbreaking service.

(Image: A portrait of Margaret Corbin by Herbert Knotel. The original is maintained by the West Point Museum.)