Washblog || Vets and Military Families Get Political

Vets and Military Families Get Political

By JulieTackett
Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 12:04:11 AM PST Section: Diary Topic: Military

"My Path from Civilian to Veterans & Military Family Political Activist"

My husband Mike joined the Army at 18 and put in 13 years. When he got out in 2000, he met and married me, moving to Seattle to work in law enforcement. I didn't know anything about military life or being a military spouse. In fact, I was pretty comfortable in my life as a 43rd CD Democrat.

After a year or so, he asked if he could join the local reserve unit in Seattle (in his MOS or Job Description) and I said "Sure, why not?" Well, the whole unit was activated two months after he was in! Luckily, his main assignment was at Ft. Belvoir (DC area) with only occasional trips to Iraq, so I was able to visit often though it was officially TDY. (Temporary Duty)

The army put us up in an apartment in Alexandria, VA. I'll tell you.... I got an eyeful of the kind of sacrifices our country expects not only from our service members, but the family members who love them. It was so hard....This whole "Mission First" concept was foreign to me.... can you imagine that when Mike was first deployed my initial response was "Why don't you just give the Army your two weeks notice and quit? :) He finished his assignment in April 2005 ... for a total of 1 year and 9 months.

While I was in the DC area I served as a Red Cross Volunteer at Walter Reed Army Medical Center working the medevac flights. After our wounded are airlifted to Landstuhl they arrive at Andrew AFB and then Walter Reed. I would be there waiting with the wives and other family members, provide companionship and information about Walter Reed, lodging, the DC area, etc. until the doctors had their soldier triaged and in ICU. I then would accompany the family up to be briefed by the doctor and be present when they finally could see their soldier. Since they stayed for months, I would become friends with some of the families and stop by a couple times a week to visit or take them shopping. I tell you, the families were so brave and the doctors at WRAMC were amazing, but I am sure you understand that it was no pretty picture.

I really was upset by the whole thing, not just what I saw at Walter Reed, but the use of our military that put these usually young (but not always....a lot of reservists were in their 30's and 40's) in harms way.

What to do? .... Well, I marched right down to John Kerry Headquarters (this was 2004) and volunteered to work full time at the Vets for Kerry outreach desk. My thought was to get our troops a new commander in chief.... Not to be...

I wanted to get involved to make sure that our military was used responsibly and have gone on to help found Veterans & Military Families for Progress so we could work to not only assure that folks on Active Duty have the pay, gear and support needed to do a good job, but to ensure that the commitments we as a nation make to our veterans are upheld. Things like full funding for the VA, getting rid of concurrent receipt, and generally those veteran benefits I am sure most civilians are vaguely aware of.

VETERANS and MILITARY FAMILIES for PROGRESS is a new 501(c)(4) grassroots organization dedicated to ensuring that the rights and needs of veterans, active-duty service members and their families are:
    - understood by the American public,
     - endorsed by our elected officials, and
    - protected by legislation, regulation, and public policy initiatives.

It is the first VSO (Veterans Service Organization) to actively endorse and support candidates who are in alignment with our position on issues. Our goal - bring the tools used by activists to create political will for change to vets and their families.

It was time for us to get political! To learn more about VMFP or to join please visit www.vmfp.org.

This diary will keep you posted of our activities and share with you specific things you can do to truly support our troops and honor our veterans. I look forward to communicating with you all.

< Party Critters: Do you want this PCO's support? | Armistice Day: On the Blindness of War >

Vets and Military Families Get Political | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 hidden)

Thank you for posting Julie! (5.00 / 2)

I first met Julie and the VMFP, oh around last August I think, down at the VFW in Vancouver, WA. It was a worthwhile drive, because I got to bring her back up to Seattle. It was a great conversation driving home, her story about Walter Reed was something I'll always remember.

Lietta and Arthur are also members, and the Washington chapter is such a nice group of people, I really hope to hear more about them here and elsewhere. Julie, wasn't VMFP the eventual offspring of Vets for Kerry?

by Brian on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 12:56:32 AM PST

OOps - MFSO and VMFP not the same but friends! by Lietta Ruger, 11/12/2006 10:04:36 AM PST (none / 0)

Thanks for clearing that up by Brian, 11/12/2006 05:39:27 PM PST (none / 0)

VMFP Origins (5.00 / 3)

Yes, the organizers of our first convention were about 20 of the Vets for Kerry State Coordinators from across the country.

VfK members Debby & Bob Pattin, Dennis Mansker, Ralph Chappell and others came to Milwaukee, WI in February 2005 to explore "where do we go from here".

Also in attendance were members of Vets for Common Sense, The VVA, Vets for Peace, The VVAW (!), vets soon to run for congress, including Tim Walz from the MN-1 CD and assorted members from about 20 different veteran organizations. Everyone was excited to see what would happen.

Much to my surprise, the veterans did not seem to be planning on capitalizing on one of the most important lessons learned late in the Kerry Campaign.... to include military families in this organization.

I gathered some of the "Moms with a Mission" Kerry campaigners and attended. It was there that we made a compelling argument that a political organization was about $$, votes and grassroots volunteers and families would increase our influence exponentially.

After two days of breakout sessions, proposals, arguments, floor fights, an inspirational speech by Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Paul "Buddy" Bucha, and calls by Kerry, Max Cleland and others the basic tenants of VMFP were agreed upon:

We would be incorporated as a 501(c)(4)
We would abandon the "auxiliary" model and military families would be involved at every level with full voting rights
Most importantly, we would be non-partisan and work with all who embraced our position on issues

I served on the temporary board of directors, who over the next six months crafted our by-laws and completed the necessary paper work to become a legal organization.

At our founding convention in September 2006 in Washington, DC, the membership in attendance, this time including 10 (!) members from Washington State, passed our by-laws and VMFP was born.

I was elected to serve as National Secretary, I post I currently hold, in addition to being the interim President of VMFP-WA.

by JulieTackett on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 02:00:53 AM PST

We need you here by ivan, 11/11/2006 05:17:04 AM PST (5.00 / 1)

Helping citizens understand and support the troops (5.00 / 2)

I plan on posting something new on Fridays and being available intermittently through the weekend to answer questions and respond to comments.

I will also post military news of a political nature, including veterans legislation and what everyone can do to help with our lobbying efforts.

by JulieTackett on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 12:39:05 PM PST

Welcome, Julie -- (5.00 / 1)

And thank you for posting.

by noemie maxwell on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 01:36:59 PM PST

Vets worked for Dems, now Dems must step up (5.00 / 2)

Veterans & Military Families for Progress endorsed 34 Veterans and 14 Military Family members running for Congress this election. ( http://www.vmfp.org/political.php), including Darcy Burner. You may have seen us on her TV ad about groups endorsing her.

Along with these endorsements, VMFP members were encouraged to be "boots on the ground" volunteers. While I was GOTV canvassing for Burner the last weekend through the election, my VMFP friends had been actively working on the campaigns of many of our endorsed candidates including the Webb (VA Senate) , Tim Walz (MN-1), several PA races and others .

Even the more conservative military members who regularly post on military.com, after bitterly accepting the Republican defeat, are tentatively, and might I say hopefully, waiting to see if the Democrats will LEAD us out of the mess created by this administration.

by JulieTackett on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 02:38:55 PM PST

Julie (VMFP) Elizabeth (MFSO) noon today KCTS (none / 0)

Watch today Noon 'KCT Connects', channel 9 - PBS.
In honor of Veteran's Day, KCTS Connects offered this program which aired Friday night and will air again today, Sunday, Nov 12 at noon. It features local people helping veterans and military families. I got a call from the station requesting representation from MFSO and Elizabeth Falzone (Seattle) whose cousin was killed in Iraq in 2005 appeared on this program. Also from VMFP, Julie Tackett appeared on this program.

Note; How many knew about the collaborative effort with Seattle Seahawks to bring Fisher House to Puget Sound - helping to take care of veterans and their families?

link KCTS CONNECTS ;

Program; airing again today, Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at Noon KCTS The Public Network - KCTS Connects

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION

VeteranRegardless of how you feel about the Iraq War, we can all agree that our men and women in the Armed Forces deserve the utmost respect and recognition for their service to our country. In celebration of Veteran's Day, November 11th, we will be speaking with local citizens who are making a difference working to improve the lives of veterans and their families. Join us as we discuss ways you can support our veterans and those who are currently serving.

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