Many of these brave men and women are war veterans whose service goes back to World War II (when the Coast Guard was officially part of the United States Navy from 1943-1945) or Vietnam. A full third of all the homeless on the American street are veterans and the average World War II veteran, over 76 in most cases, cannot even get VA care.
Many of these heroes have been thrown out on the street by their own families. Most of them are too sick, psychologically or physically, to work. Many of them spend the day searching for a scrap of bread to eat.
You can help one of these American heroes. It's not too much to ask.
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When they tell America's Story
Hundreds of years from now
They will tell the story of ordinary heroes, men and women
Who struggled
And put themselves in harm's way every day
To keep Freedom's light burning bright.
When you hear that story
Then or now, you will know
Those heroes are there, and were there,
For You.
You can help make sure
That that story continues to be told...
Today.
When you're asked to help a Veteran,
Remember you're American.
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"O wives and mothers of soldiers,
Send your men off to war with a kiss.
As America's bravest sons,
Bid them goodbye with a prayer."
- From an unknown American author
at the time of World War I
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Not every government on this planet is democratic,
Not every man is healthy,
Not every woman is thin,
Not everyone's world is getting smaller.
Not every American is a patriot.
...Become a pariot today,
Support your Veteran, Service Man and Woman,
when asked.
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KEEPING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERAN'S PAST ALIVE
This Association has joined forces with the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress as a sponsor of the Veterans History Project. Created by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in October 2000, the project aims to collect and preserve a permanent record of the experiences of Americans in wartime.
Both veterans and civilians are urged to take part. It's a great opportunity to get members of different generations talking to one another. Have your kids interview you or your parents. Talk to your friends and neighbors. The value of recording oral histories of blacks who served in World War I, World War II, the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars cannot be overestimated. Everyone who fought in or lived through these historical events has a story to tell.
Letters, diaries, photographs, home movies, maps and other documents are crucial to building a comprehensive archive. To get more information on how to record an oral history, to order an interviewer's instruction kit or to learn other ways you can participate, go to
www.loc.gov/folklife/vets or call 888-371-5848, or you can email us at
uscgretminofficers@yahoo.com.
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