VANCE HELP-OC-VO (Support for 9-11 Widow Refused)

WBOY ^ | March 4, 2003 | unknown

[the_devils_advocate_666]

The widow of a West Virginia soldier killed in Afghanistan wants grief counseling. but is having trouble getting it from support groups for nine-eleven victims.

Lisa Vance's husband, Gene, was the first West Virginian killed in Afghanistan.

He was killed in May 2002 during an attack by al-Qaida and Taliban forces.

The Morgantown woman says six organizations have refused her request for emotional support and counseling and blatantly told her she wasn't a victim of 9-11.

Vance says she hasn't had financial difficulties after losing her husband and isn't interested in money from the September Eleventh groups.

A Red Cross official says money raised stays with the families who were affected by September Eleventh.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I don't know all the details, but this seems like a bit of a slap in the face.

[folklore]

I have to leave for a bit. Just bumping to keep this going. Great job. Thank you.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Doesn't the military provide (either directly, or through an insurance plan) grief counseling services for widows/widowers of servicepeople killed in the line of duty? It does sound as if she's going the wrong route. The 9-11 relief funds were intended for families of people killed on 9-11. Are these funds really supposed to provide assistance to the families of every serviceperson subsequently wounded or killed in overseas military operations that are directly or indirectly connected to the 9-11 attacks?

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Good point

...blatantly told her she wasn't a victim of 9-11.

But I'd have to say that, in some way, she is a "victim" of 9-11. How they determined that she was "blatantly" told she was not is, however, an unkown to me.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I live in NYC and know people (including my secretary) who were traumatized, with obviosu effects lasting several months, by just knowing the towers fell and having to spend the night at a friend's house due to transportation problems getting home. I can definitely see how the people in charge of these 9-11 relief funds and organizations have to draw the line.

[AMBERVANCE]

Loss is Loss and Pain is Pain....He never would have been over there if not for 9-11...and it hurts the same as it hurts people that were actually 9-11 victoms or their idea of 9-11 victoms...it was just a different date...thats all.