VA: Taking a Swing at American Symbols

American flag raised by Marines on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945 become a symbol of victory of WWII.

To the dismay of many patriots (West Pointers in particular), on February 23, 2015 VA Secretary Robert McDonald ´´marked´´ the anniversary with an apology for misstating his military record.

In an ironic twist of history, February 2016 may become a symbol too; or maybe rather a sign of our times… The same flag which liberated concentration camps may accompany our Veterans to prison. Will the photos of honorable, elderly Veterans harassed by smug VA police for ´´displaying a placard´´(American flag…) evolve into a symbol of offensive treatment reserved for American virtues by present administration?

Homelessness, neglect and violation of basic human rights of American Veterans cannot be swept under Obama´s magic carpet and the abuse is raising international eyebrows.

The government visibly can´t ban respect for American symbols on the entire planet.

In ´´Czechs Brave Bad Weather to Welcome Dragoon Ride´s Show of Force´´ (Stars and Stripes, March 29, 2015) Michael S. Darnell describes warm welcome American troops received in Czech Republic. Soldiers who took part in a 1,100-mile convoy through six countries must have felt appreciated. Cpl. Tristan Miller told Stars and Stripes: ´´The whole entire way, there have been people along the roads, thanking us, waving to us. We see American flags all over the place. It´s been amazing, probably the highlight of my military career so far.´´

Displaying American flag is hardly a highlight in fearless, whistle-blowing pro homeless Veterans patriotic ´´career´´ of our Vietnam era Veteran Robert Rosebrock.

On domestic ground, the honorable Veteran, and yet another outstanding homeless Veterans advocate Mr. Ted Hayes who ´´ dared´´ to hang American flag on VA walls are being treated as criminals, dragged to court, threatened with jail and an outrageous fine for what VA managed to define as: ´´C.F.R.1.218 – Security and Law enforcement at VA facilities; a) (9) Distribution of handbills. The distributing of materials such as pamphlets, handbills, and-or flyers, and displaying of placards or posting of materials on bulletin boards or elsewhere on property is prohibited, except as authorized by the head of the facility or when such distributions or displays are conducted as part of authorized Government activities.´´

Even if VA officials are tempted to stretch the truth as they stretch waiting lists or to distort it as their manipulate data: American flag is not a pamphlet, handbill, flyer or a placard. American Veterans go with flag.VA goes with Veterans´ mistreatment, financial scandals and blatant harassment of whistleblowers.

In many countries American soldiers are greeted as heroes, and American Veterans are as loved and respected as national protectors. Is it because people in these countries remember American military´s sacrifices? Has America forgotten?…

On February 6, 2016 a Polish town called Torun welcomed American artillery soldiers. The locals were holding…American flags, and military vehicles carried Polish and …American flags. In ´´Torun welcomes artillery soldiers during Dragoon Shock´´ (Story by Sgt. Paige Behringer 10^th Press Camp Headquarters) Spc. Tobias Garza said: ´´Everywhere we go people are waving flags. These people are amazing.´´

Shockingly, nobody got arrested- so Secretary McDonald has either neglected his duty or ´´displaying of placards´´ constitutes a criminal act only if American flag is in hands of an American Veteran. Barack Obama who is as reluctant to fire disgraced Sec. McDonald as McDonald is against accountability for the most unethical of his employees must have forgotten to warn population in at least six European countries that ´´distributing pamphlets´´ must be nowadays authorized by VA bureaucrats who seem to ´´own´´ American flag.

American flag is often depicted as a representation of the physical body of the sacrificial soldier. It looks like American Veterans are being ´´sacrificed´´ alive and for everyone who agrees with Ronald Reagan´s: ´´Red for courage and readiness to sacrifice, white for pure intentions and high ideals, and blue for vigilance and justice´´ it´s time to stand up for American flag and American Veteran who dares to be a patriot, before both of our symbols get arrested.

       Joanna Rosamond