Veterans.  Remember them?  They are the ones who gave up their freedom to protect yours.

They turned over their freedom to the military, which then told them where to live, what job they would do, when they would be deployed, how long they would be absent from their family and when they would be “in harm’s way”.  We owe more to our Veterans than we could ever repay.

Our Veterans (and our active duty military men and women) have been treated shamefully by this administration.  Their Commander-in-Chief has called them “losers”.  He has insulted a Gold Star family, just days after their son was killed in service.  Trump instructed his staff to never again have a disabled Veteran on stage with him (“Nobody wants to see that”).  This Administration has erased mention of many honorable acts of service of female and black and LGBTQ service members from the educational material at Arlington National Cemetery. And the list goes on.  

This Administration tried to cut 83,000 personnel from the Veterans Administration.  That’s 83,000 doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, clinicians, physical therapists, support staff, counselors, etc.  After intense backlash, they are now going to cut “only” 30,000 from the VA.  That means longer waits, and fewer services for our Veterans.  And Veterans made up a large number of the tens of thousands of the other Federal Workers who have been fired by DOGE.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 IS VETERANS DAY.  We will be holding a Rally that day from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Keeler Bay intersection of Rts. 2 and 314 (Ferry Road), in front of the old real estate office, in South Hero. (Near McKees).  Bring flags or signs in support of our Veterans.  We will also have some flags and signs you can use.  Please join in letting our Veterans know that we honor them, we thank them and they deserve better than what they are getting from this Administration.  

And if you know a Veteran, reach out and thank them.  Ask them to lunch.  Buy them a cup of coffee.  Share an hour of conversation.  We owe them so much.

SIGN-MAKING TEAM:  SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH FROM 2:00 – 4:00 AT THE GRAND ISLE FIRE STATION CONFERENCE ROOM.  Come join our enthusiastic sign making group on Sunday to craft some Support Our Veterans signs for the upcoming Veterans Day Rally.  The word is, it is lots of fun!  They are always looking for new hands to help out. 

UPCOMING: FOOD DRIVE.  We are planning a food drive to support our local food shelf.  Still finalizing details.  Tentatively on Dec. 6.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime, you can find ways to contribute directly to the food shelf at https://www.champlainislandsfoodshelf.org/donate-now

Just a note:  It is going to be COLD on November 11.  Dress like a Vermonter.

Cheers,

Marilyn Lagrow