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vol 3 issue 6
august 2018
CC Biker & Motorsports
CARING BIKERS HELP
CARING VETERANS
Paul Hall Roving Reporter
As a result of 30 years of an on-going war, more veterans are re-entering civilian life than ever
the Vietnam era. What’s probably not well known is that the other half of America’s homeless veterans served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Grenada,
than the civilian population. In fact, veterans’ suicides account for 18-20 percent of suicide deaths in the country, while they make up only about 8.5 percent of
our service men and women -even if they take issue with the politics and reasoning behind the wars and conflicts. Respect for our Vets doesn’t trump the prevailing ignorance of their plight and those who are aware of the struggle are not sure how to help. It is a sad commentary on the Federal government that civilian organizations and even the Vets themselves find it necessary to form organizations to generate support but that is exactly what has happened over the years.
Yes, we honor our past and present Vets twice a year with fun family events and the consumption of billions of hot dogs and train loads of beer but those events, while great, don’t do much to put money where our beer guzzling Nov 11, 2017 some 200 people attended the dedication of the CVA monument dedicated to past, present and future Service mouths are. men and women. That’s why organizations like Caring Veterans of America, Inc. Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf the adult population. There have before and the veteran support (CVA) was created with the motWar, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/ been several Vets who have taksystem is overloaded. to “Veterans Helping Veterans.” OIF), and the military’s anti-drug en their lives in the small moun- This amazing non-profit is largely While it shouldn’t come as a cultivation efforts in South Amer- tain community of Oakhurst. funded by donations from the cisurprise that many thousands ica. Two-thirds served our coun- A large percentage of Vets who vilian population but many of the of our military Vets are having a try for at least three years, and have somehow been able to more financially able Vets contough time assimilating back into one-third were stationed in a war manage their PTSD and avoided tribute as well. civilian life, the truth is much of zone according to the National drug addiction often have a vasociety is oblivious to the plight CVA’s founder, Commander Terry Coalition for Homeless Veterans. riety of other health issues that of these brave men and women. Cole, 74, from Coarsegold, CA is Shockingly, about 1.4 million othmay take months, if not years, to Further, it’s not just the recent a Vietnam Vet (101ST Airborne). Vets who are having issues but er veterans are considered at risk get proper treatment. Many are He told the CC Biker, “I loved many of our surviving 1940’s, 50s of homelessness due to poverty, simply in their golden years now jumping out of planes but my wife lack of support networks, and and have difficulty with the ac- won’t let me anymore.” Today he and 60’s vets are in trouble. dismal living conditions in over- tivities of daily living due to age; serves his country by helping his According to the Military Times crowded or substandard housing. and like any senior member of fellow Vets. the number of homeless veterans our society, just need a little extra across America increased in 2017 There are certainly a majority of The challenge is similar to help. Still others are forced to live our Service men and women who for the first time in seven years. storming Normandy in terms of very modestly, some just above Housing and Urban Development are not homeless but suffer from the odds. There are about 7000 the poverty line, making it difficult PTSD and drug addiction (often officials found roughly 40,000 Vets in the Mariposa/Madera to pay a phone bill or purchase brought on by PTSD and depreshomeless veterans in January mountain communities. Of those basic personal care items. 2017, an increase of nearly 600 sion). only 45 are currently members In general, our veterans are beindividuals from the same time in Suicide is the biggest threat facof CVA. Most members are Vietloved by all sectors of society, 2016. nam era and some WWII guys, ing our Vets. According to Deleft, right, libertarian and even Many people may not be sur- partment of Veterans Affairs (VA) Bernie’s misguided millennials prised to learn nearly half of statistics more than 20 veterans have a modicum of respect and See Bikers homeless veterans served during commit suicide each day, a numContinued on page 3 ber, on average, 22 times greater appreciate the heroic efforts of