Angry over veterans’ treatment To the Editor: As of today’s date the Sanford Maine Veterans Clothing Center has been stripped of all supplies and the shelves are now bare after over 15 years of supplying warm clothing and bedding to the homeless and needy veterans in southern Maine and beyond. This is due to the fact that they not only provided warm clothing to the homeless Veterans, but also provided this clothing to the needy Veterans within York County Maine and beyond. All clothing obtained is military surplus and will need to be distributed or destroyed. Many of the veterans walking through the door are needy and trying their best to help keep themselves and their families warm or fed, either or! If you wish to experience what they are forced to go through, turn your home heat down to 50° for one week, walk to the store in a summer coat and spend a minimal amount of money on only necessities. Try and stay warm at night without using electrical heaters or electric blankets for that week. Then you will know what they are forced to go through. Most of the needy vets are in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. And to deny this small amount of respect and thanks is nothing less than a slap in the face for those who have served and protected this great country. As Service Officer of the Sanford Veterans Post, I am well aware of their needs, but to deny warm clothing and bedding to the homeless Veterans in southern Maine and beyond, forcing them to travel to Agusta, ME, a distance of over 50 miles, with most not having transportation is a DISCRACE to the DoD, as this is a written mandate of DoD that warm clothing and bedding be provided to homeless Veterans. The DoD has stated that this was done to save money? Eliminating one useless position within the DoD could fund this program and allow it to also serve those Veterans in need throughout this country now and for years to come without costing the DoD ONE RED CENT and also showing a net gain in their overall budget. As there only 1% of our current population now serving in our armed forces and only 7% who have served as Veterans, and only a small percentage of them needing this assistance, how much will this new policy possibly save? How much will it hurt our Veterans who are homeless and those currently in need of this small amount of DoD assistance? You decide and make your suggestion to the DoD. To your own heart be true. It is with a sad and heavy heart I submit this letter to you. Yours in service to our veterans. Gordon Parent Sanford seacoastonline/article/20141029/OPINION/141028996/101136/OPINION
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:01:36 +0000
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