This was my first VVA Convention. After reviewing the four-page draft agenda, I was amazed and a bit overwhelmed at the number of committees, study groups, and candidates vying for nomination and election to operate this 90,000-member-plus national organization.

As I opened the doors to the hotel, my wife and I were met by the loud din of hundreds of simultaneous conversations, a sudden rush of testosterone, and many friendly greetings of: “Hi, brother, welcome home.”

After settling in, I wondered, how does one decide which committee hearings to attend? All seemed important and held great interest. Then I wondered, how does one get to participate in an operating committee?

I sat in on several committee meetings to get a sense about current topics and outreach work. I heard about new tools to help with TBI and PTSD, help for care providers, and a hotline for homeless veterans.

With fifteen working committees, you can’t go to all of them, even if you want to, because of the scheduling. Then I saw a scheduled meeting of the nine regional caucuses. That sounded like a logical way to organize and disseminate information about current and future activities. Each of the candidates who were running for office dropped by and was given two minutes to introduce themselves and answer a few questions.

Thanks to an article in The Veteran by Marc Leepson, I discovered Doug Bradley, Dan Lauria, Joe Namath, and Tobias Wolff would be receiving well-deserved VVA awards. Another article by Trevor Strunk provided insight into local areas of interest and things to do while at the Convention—providing you figured out how to make the time.

Aside from the election of officers and the ongoing work of the committees, the vote related to planning for future VVA dissolution was the hot issue of the day. There seemed to be a large gap between the Board’s recommended actions and the delegates’ desired direction.

I am rather new to VVA and feel honored to be part of the organization and its many activities to help veterans and activities aimed at the larger community. By participating in the VVA Convention, I’ve gained a keener appreciation of all the hard work invested in the organization in support of its mission and the many opportunities VVA provides.

What lingers with me is the friendship offered by everyone I met. We were family; we were brothers and sisters; we cared for each other.

Richard Epstein
via email

When the latest edition of the magazine arrived, I had to admit, again, you’ve outdone yourselves. To apply a phrase from time-traveling Bill and Ted, “a most excellent production.”

Thank you all for another stellar effort. Yet, sadly, the obits tend to outnumber the Locator entries, and the list of reunions grows larger as we are, in more and more cases, less able to make trips to meet and reminisce.

Keep up the fine work. It is appreciated out here in the continental boonies.

Tom Werzyn
via email

I read with sadness the news from Richard Lindbeck in the July/August issue about his decision to stay home to take care of his wife during the National Convention. I want him to know that I agree with and understand his decision. I will be praying for Mrs. Lindbeck in her coming fight. God bless you, brother. Stay strong.

Richard H. Christian
via email

Regarding Carol Brautigam’s letter about PAs and NPs in the July/August issue, she is misinformed about PA education and licensing.

PAs are required to have a four-year baccalaureate college degree with science prerequisites and at least 500 hours of previous patient care experience prior to admission to an approved training program. And most PA schools are 27 months long and require around 120 postgraduate semester hours of training in medicine.

Furthermore, PAs are now authorized to practice independently in nine states, an ever-increasing number. NPs are allowed to practice independently in 29 states. And PAs and NPs are frequently utilized interchangeably in clinical practice just like MD and DO physicians are. So, equity in VA pay is only right.

Ed Friedmann, PA
via email

Carol Brautigam’s Letter to the Editor contains some inaccuracies. As a Navy-trained Physician Assistant, the Navy was affiliated with George Washington University and a 4-year Bachelor of Science was awarded upon completion of GW’s requirements.

And while there may be some accelerated programs today, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant requires a Bachelor’s Degree. Also, a 4-year college degree is a minimum education requirement to become a commissioned officer in the Navy, including Physician Assistants.

Conversely, in my home state of Tennessee, Nurse Practitioners require physician supervision with a collaborative agreement in place for prescribing medications.

Bernard Wooley
via email

Editor's note: Incoming PA students bring with them an average of more than 3,000 hours of direct patient contact experience, having worked as paramedics, nurses, medics, etc. All PAs receive Master’s degrees in on-ground programs that are approximately 27 months long (three academic years) and include competence-based classroom instruction and more than 2,000 hours of eight clinical rotations. Once in practice, those interested in mental health go on to earn a certificate of added qualifications, completing 2,000 hours of clinical experience in mental health. PAs may continue post-graduate education in a Doctor of Medical Science degree focused on psychotherapy and clinical therapeutic modalities supervised by a mental health clinical therapist.

The mantra of war veterans, “We Fought For Each Other,” is a truism even today. That spirit was evident in the last issue’s President’s Message.

Just as the House passed legislation to rename the Hinesville, Georgia, VA Outpatient Clinic, VA Leadership changed exterior identifying signage to honor a Vietnam veteran, not those named in the legislation. The veteran honored by VA, not Congress as required by law, had no connection to Hinesville, Liberty County, Georgia, or anywhere in the state of Georgia. These unlawful actions devastated Gold Star families and all those involved in the renaming.

This was more than a mistake. It was a violation of VHA directives and VA policy. Multiple VA departments failed to address this egregious violation. Is the VA central office unwilling to acknowledge a gross leadership failure, or are we witnessing a broader systemic cover-up?

Remember when Spooky gunships came to get us out of a very bad day? Spooky flies again, call sign VVA.

Bruce A McCartney
via email

With renewed focus on the status of POW/MIA’s today, I have at times found efforts to honor those Killed in Action lacking. I became a Ghost Soldier several years ago in order to honor someone’s uncle who was KIA in Vietnam in 1965. The story begins with a group of veterans visiting The Wall in 1993. Before leaving, one of them wanted to leave something behind to honor the brothers and sisters on The Wall. The only thing he had was a POW/MIA flag. As he was getting ready to place the flag, another veteran asked, “Why would you leave that? POWs and MIAs don’t want to be thought of as dead.” From that conversation, the idea of a flag that would honor KIAs grew.

What came out of much thought, discussion, and debate was a unique flag. The flag is red, for the blood they shed. There is an oval, called “The Honor Ground,” with a soldier, battle ready, Gold Star on the chest, going back onto the battlefield to retrieve his comrade, and next to the soldier is the Battlefield Cross. There is also a KIA Honor Table.

The funeral home and cemeteries where I have volunteered for many years allowed the KIA Honor flag and KIA Honor Table on Memorial. During an Honor Flight I was a part of in April, I placed a small KIA Honor Flag at The Wall.

Steve Coady
via email

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