Posted on 10/08/2013 7:35:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Five U.S. service members died over the weekend in Afghanistan, and now the government is refusing to shell out a $100,000 benefit to their families to help with the immediate costs of burying a loved one killed while serving their country.
A “death gratuity” is usually wired to the families within 36 hours. It’s intended to cover funeral costs, time lost at work, and travel expenses to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to witness the return of their loved ones in flag-draped coffins.
But no. The government is shut down, so we must do things like keep geriatric heroes out of parks and deny benefits to grieving soldiers’ families.
"The government is hurting the wrong people," said Shannon Collins, who lost her son over the weekend in Afghanistan. "Families shouldn’t have to worry about how they’re going to bury their child … Families shouldn’t have to worry about how they're going to feed their family if they don’t go to work this week."
Amen Sister. And God bless your son Marine Lance Corporal Jeremiah M. Collins, and may he rest in peace.
There is something very, very wrong here. There is money to pay these families, and they should be paid. If there is money to run Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move website, then there is money for these families.
If there is money for the glitchy Obamacare exchange websites that no one seems to be able to get through to, then there is money for these families.
This is just another sick political ploy so that President Obama can say that the dirty Republicans are refusing to do exactly what I want, so it’s their fault!
Ok, obviously I’m paraphrasing, but it’s basically what he’s saying. It’s a temper tantrum, and unlike a two-year-old you can send to his room, this guy runs the country.
The Republicans have said over and over that they’re more than willing to negotiate. They got caught on a hot mic saying they want to negotiate. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid convinced the President to cancel a negotiation meeting with top GOP lawmakers before the shutdown.
When Barack Obama and Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi refuse to bend even the slightest bit to the center, it’s annoying. When they blame the right for not being united with them because we don’t all want to go stand in the failed utopia of leftist ideals, it’s maddening.
When they use political ploys like denying immediate death benefits to fallen soldiers’ families, it’s just sick.
President Obama, you have the power to fix this. Do it. Do it now, for Shannon Collins, a grieving mother that just lost her 19-year-old son.
"For the sacrifice our kids are making, at the age that they’re making them, I don’t understand how this can be a benefit that’s withheld. I won’t ever understand it," she said. “How can we do that to these young men and these young women, who come back having lost their lives? I just really hope that the government really figures this out.”
Do you think the families should recieve the death gratuity despite the government shutdown?
Just keep screwing with the military Obama, just keep screwing with the military and suffer the consequences.
This is such an obscure little thing in the whole of the massive mess that is the government. What sick, sadistic, hateful, spiteful mind identified this humanitarian benefit, given in respect of soldiers who have given their lives and left loved ones behind, to be taken away?
Who? What evil bastard found this shameful despicable sinful thing to do? We know who authorized it OBASTARD authorized it.
Obastard is purging the flag ranks of anyone who is not a toady and will not do as he demands. Same thing Stalin did and the same reason coups are led by Colonels.
I hope he just keeps pushing. We deserve it as long as we will put up with it.
$100,000 dollars is a mere pittance compared with the government expenditures. I hope the military is as furious as I am.
Disgusting, vindictive, vengeful, hateful, sorry, despicable, and a bunch more that I dare not type.
No, it’s an intentional attempt to incite violence on the part of the “right wingers”.
A tactic once understood is no longer a tactic.
Congress swears that they are going to fix this tomorrow. But if they don’t, it will be up to us to assist the Collins family to retrieve their brave Lance Corporal from Dover AFB.
Our Marine family has donated through this Marine Parents website: https://marineparentsinc.com/assist.asp
Withholding promised assistance from new Gold Star families is just plain evil, and mean.
They’ve hit a new low inside the Beltway, just when you thought they couldn’t sink any lower with their scorched earth politics. Shameful.
The only thing I see coming out of this is the uniting of the largest voting block in the us ... the veteran (and current military). Nothing unites veterans of diverse political beliefs than to be under attack ... part of our nature and training.
check this our and tigerized comment at number 7
I haven’t verified this yet, but thought I might pass it on
Fisher House is helping the families cover the costs; I tried a donation tonight but had some issues. It may be that you need to set up a profile/account first. I’ll try again tomorrow if it didn’t go through as I don’t want to get double billed and put my card over it’s balance.
Untrue; even a perfectly understood tactic might not be counterable.
Here’s the article from Marine Times:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20131008/BENEFITS/310080023
And the one from Rhinoden:
http://rhinoden.rangerup.com/governmental-fails-our-newly-rendered-gold-star-familes/
I’d say our CIC has really stepped in it big time, this time.
He hates the military except insofar as it provides him limitless opportunities to murder as many Americans as he can.
Priorities!
In the Rhinoden article, they spoke of a Million Vet march to DC on the 13th regarding the Memorials. Isn’t the 11th the Truckers Protest? The sleeping giant is stirring.
Best way to diminish the military, keep them in no win situations (Afghanistan) or putting them in harms way in wars we have no business getting involved with (ME and Africa).
Bring our troops home and use them only when and where the US is directly threatened.
Every tactic can be countered, once understood. Even an ambush. There are only so many tactics, probably less than two dozen. The rest are dressed up derivatives and subgroups.
I hope that every veterans hall throughout the country is just buzzing with this story. Vets, if you belong to a VFW, bring this up in your conversations.
Mothers of vets, tell all your friends. If you go to the beauty parlor, tell the women there. Spread the word.
I hope that every veterans hall throughout the country is just buzzing with this story. Vets, if you belong to a VFW, bring this up in your conversations.
Mothers of vets, tell all your friends. If you go to the beauty parlor, tell the women there. Spread the word.
True, but understanding it doesn't mean one is able to counter it. Understanding is a necessary condition, not a sufficient condition.
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