Lest We Forget

Lest We Forget

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Hoo-AH U.S. Troops: The real one percent

The following op-ed was written by 

"60 Minutes" producer Henry Schuster...

We like to divide the world up. It's only natural to think in terms of us v them. Right now, in the public discourse, it seems to be all about the wealthiest one percent and the rest of us - the 99 percent.

However, after covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq for the last ten years - including numerous trips to the war zones and to military communities here at home -- I've learned there's another one percent, who I call the real one percent. They are the men and women who fight our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (not to mention Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya) and their families. The rest of us are the 99 percent.

We lend our moral support to the one percent. We cheer the veterans when their names are announced at ball games. Maybe we even have ribbons of various colors on our car. We say the obligatory 'thank you for your service,' and I believe we mean it. But we don't really understand what that service really means for these members of the military.

We don't understand that the cost of war doesn't end when the troops come home, but is instead often paid out over the years.

This is our real great divide in this country. It is in part the consequence of an all-volunteer military. It is also in part the consequence of fighting wars without involving the rest of us. We weren't asked to sacrifice after 9/11 or pay for the wars that followed. Imagine the reaction if we had a war tax. Or if there had been a draft. Instead, we've got the few fighting for the many and they do it at great cost to themselves and their families.

Last season on "60 Minutes," we did a story about homeless veterans and a program called Stand Down to help them. And now, on this week's broadcast, Scott Pelley and I report onOperation Proper Exit, a story about the price of war being paid by the real one percent. Part of that price is the horrific wounds suffered by many who, in wars past, might have died. Advances in military medicine allowed them to survive - survive with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. That's something the rest of us, the 99 percent, need to know.

Oklahoma need a Dale Peterson to tell it like it is!

Only two things are certain: (1) He is about to become the most famous agricultural commissioner candidate in America, and (2) Alabama politics are awesome.

Dale Peterson, Alabama Agriculture Commission, candidate fighting the fight to save our country. Some people recognize the enemies from within & without. We need fighters today, people that are not afraid to stand & tell the Government NO!!! Help Dale Stand & Defend our Country, it starts 1 state at a time.

Hoo-ah: Terrill to be Keynote Speaker for Moore 4th of July Veterans’ Event

State Rep. Randy Terrill will be the keynote speaker at a July 4th event held at the Moore Veterans Memorial at the southeast corner of 4th Street and Bryant Ave.

“As we observe the anniversary of our nation’s founding, it is appropriate that we also recognize the sacrifices of the men and women who have kept our nation free,” said Terrill, R-Moore. “I am both honored and excited by this opportunity.”

“While this is an American Legion ceremony, I’d encourage anyone who appreciates the sacrifices of our veterans to attend,” said Preston Simms, commander for American Legion Post 184. “This memorial honors all veterans and we’d love to see our fellow Moore citizens show up in force.”

This is the first Fourth of July ceremony conducted at the memorial since it was completed in August 2007.

Terrill, who chairs the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee, has led the charge to create new tax breaks for Oklahoma veterans since Republicans gained control of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in November 2004.

Oklahoma’s benefits for military veterans include the following:

· Up to 75 percent or $10,000 (whichever is greater) in military retirement benefits are now exempt from state income tax.

· 100 percent of service-connected disability benefits are exempt from both federal and state income-tax for most veterans.

· Both active military and veterans receive an ad valorem tax exemption in the amount of $200 of the assessed value of their personal property.
Veterans are also entitled to claim an exemption for the full amount of the fair cash value of their homestead.

· Veterans are exempt from paying motor vehicle excise tax on one vehicle and disabled veterans do not have to pay sales tax on up to $25,000 in purchases each year.

· Sales to the Disabled American Veterans of Oklahoma and their subordinate chapters are also now exempt from sales tax.

· Sales to nonprofit organizations that limit membership to honorable-discharged veterans and provide financial support for the purpose of constructing a memorial or museum are exempt from sales tax.

· Sales to the Oklahoma chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States are exempt from sales tax.

Lawmakers have also voted to honor Oklahoma veterans with special license plates for Congressional Medal of Honor recipients (with no annual registration fee), spouses of veterans killed in action (with only an $8 annual registration fee), veterans who were prisoners of war (at an $8 annual registration fee), the parents of those killed in action (Gold Star license plates), and veterans with at least a 50 percent service-connected disability are entitled to a reduced rate on annual registration and/or a special DAV license plate.

HOO-ah: Higher Ed Officials Should Stop Attack On Veterans

The Vice-Chairman of the House of Representatives Homeland Security Subcommittee used the occasion of the Veterans Awareness Day Joint Legislative Session to call on Oklahoma Higher Education officials to ease off recent comments that he feels are insulting to Oklahoma's military men and women.

"In their zeal to maintain the status-quo and oppose
House Bill 2513, Oklahoma's higher education elite
are bringing into question the judgment of
Oklahoma's military officers," said state Rep. Jason
Murphey (R-Guthrie).

HB 2513, which is advocated by the National Rifle
Association, supports Oklahoma veterans and active
duty personnel by giving them the right to defend
themselves and others when they are attending or
teaching classes at one of Oklahoma's state colleges
and universities, provided they notify the university
they are in possession of a concealed carry license.

Murphey said he was especially concerned when,
after the passage of House Bill 2513, prominent
higher education officials launched a campaign in
which they are insinuating that the safety of
Oklahoma students will be endangered if
Oklahoma's veterans and active military are
allowed to defend themselves on college
campuses.

"To suggest that Oklahoma's highly trained military
men and women are going to endanger the safety of
Oklahoma students is inappropriate. I believe that
we have the finest military in the world and I find it
offensive that some in the higher education
community have begun to question the judgment of
our military men and women," Murphey said.

"Earlier this year, the Governor received a report
from a task force which recommended that
millions of dollars be spent on enhancing
campus security. This proposed expenditure comes
at a time when Oklahomans are already forced to
deal with massive tuition increases, high taxes and a
government that continues to incur long-term debt.

What better way to solve some of our security
challenges than to take advantage of the training of
our military veterans and active duty military
personnel who also maintain concealed carry licenses?

House Bill 2513 would allow them to defend
themselves and their fellow students and teachers. In
many cases, these personnel have training that is
equal to or exceeds the training of the law
enforcement officers charged with protecting our
campuses. This is a service that would be provided
with little or no cost to the state," Murphey stated.

"It is inconceivable that we are willing to ask our
military officers to work with local government in
securing such dangerous areas as the Green Zone in
Baghdad, but we don't trust them to work with local
law enforcement officers to enhance safety on our
own college campuses," Murphey said.

House Bill 2513 cleared the House of Representatives
by a vote of 65-35 and is now headed to the Senate
for consideration.