I forwarded this press release from the Vietnam Veterans of America

[fishface]

to my local paper..


"Purple Heart" Band-aids a Mockery of service


Vietnam Veterans of America

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release
August 31, 2004
No. 04-042

Contact: Mokie Porter
[phone] Ext. 146
[phone]


"Purple Heart" Band-aids a Mockery of service


A Statement from Thomas H. Corey, National President, Vietnam Veterans of America


(Washington, D.C.) – Vietnam Veterans of America has received reports of delegates at the Republican National Convention disseminating and wearing "Purple Heart" band-aids in mockery of one of nation’s most distinctive honors, the Purple Heart medal.

The Purple Heart is one of the oldest military awards, first introduced in 1782 by Gen. George Washington to honor the service and sacrifice of the common soldier and recognize the spirit of volunteerism and selfless dedication. It was reinstated in 1932. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces who are wounded by the enemy.

The spirit of the award recognizes the personal sacrifice of our troops without regard to the severity or nature of the wound. It is the wounding itself that merits the honor. To demean the decoration and the sacrifice it symbolizes demeans all veterans and the patriots who honor them.

With our nation’s sons and daughters at war to protect global freedom, demeaning military service in this way is especially hurtful. Vietnam Veterans of America urges all Americans to decry this type of outrageous, disrespectful, and infantile behavior.

###



Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is the nation's only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated to the needs of Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA's founding principle is “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

[David Zephyr]

1. I'm Doing the Same.

Thanks for the idea!

[ezee]

12. Me too. Sent state wide in Washington

[skygazer]

2. Kick for the VVA

Good idea - I'll do the same.

[fishface]

3. The more local papers pick this up, the farther the outrage

should spread. The major media is just giving it a passing mention..:argh:

[wildeyed]

4. I'm kind of new to this, so help me out.

I cut and paste the press release into an email and then just forward it to the general email of my local paper? Should I include a comment? Thanks.

[fishface]

5. I forwarded the original I got in my e-mail but you

you can cut and paste into an e-mail and then send it off. By all means add any comment you feel appropriate.

[Booster]

6. I hope my part played in this had some affect.

I sent them their donation request back with a note that I would not be donating unless the Vets started standing up for the war heroes from Viet Nam, ALL of them. The next request I get I will definitely donate - wait, I may not. If Bush is elected, I may not donate to anybody because I won't be financially able to.

[seabeyond]

7. this is just awesome. so much respect

Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

[Skinner]

8. Kick

kick

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Just sent it to our local and our city papers...I also included the link

to the VVA for credibility purposes.

I also included a comment. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Another kick. Let's get it in all the papers!

:kick:

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. KICK!!!!!

:kick:

[GOPAgainstGW]

10. Ouch Thanks - They Sent Us That & I Forget to Post It & Hub it Out

[lunarboy13]

13. Kick

:kick:

[matcom]

14. YES YES YES THANK YOU!!!!

:kick:

[spanone]

15. Kick Kick Kick

[mzmolly]

16. Is their a link? I'd like to blast this to many of my media contacts.

:hi:

[fishface]

17. Yes..here it is...

http://www.vva.org/PressReleases/2004/pr04-042.htm

[mzmolly]

18. Thank YOU.

:hi:

I'll blast this out to the media and the DNC.

[JDPriestly]

19. I just e-mailed the text to Bob Dole

and asked him to apologize to Kerry.