Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News

DISCLOSURE: VT condemns the horrific tragedy committed by the NAZI Party against Jewish Citizens of Europe during Word War II known as the "Holocaust". VT condemns all racism, bigotry, hate speech, and violence. However, we are an open source uncensored journal and support the right of independent writers and commentors to express their voices; even if those voices are not mainstream as long as they do NOT openly call for violence. Please report any violations of comment policy to us immediately. Strong reader discretion is advised.

From The VA
This week, we salute VA research achievements through the decades. Research Week 2010 recognizes the tremendous accomplishments of VA researchers, and salutes the Veterans whose willingness to participate in VA studies make medical advances possible. But this year’s celebration is unique as it hails the distinguished accomplishments of the past, as well—starting with the program’s inception in 1925. U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, put it this way: “For eight and a half decades, VA Research has helped not only those who served in our Nation’s armed forces: it has yielded vital breakthroughs that have benefited all Americans, Veterans and non-Veterans alike. Looking back, we applaud VA Research’s many award-winning discoveries; looking forward, we expect its greatest days are yet to come.”
From effective therapies for tuberculosis, to implantable cardiac pacemakers, to the first successful liver transplants, to the development of the nicotine patch, and beyond, VA’s legacy of trailblazing accomplishments is a source of great pride. Meanwhile, VA is extremely grateful to today’s researchers for their ongoing medical study that continues to lay the foundation for VA’s world-class patient care.
Among VA Research’s current areas of study to be highlighted during Research Week 2010 is the cutting-edge science of genomics—the study of genetic information toward tailoring therapies for an individual patient. Many other areas of pioneering research will also be spotlighted during Research Week 2010. Among them: comparative effectiveness studies that compare therapeutic options head-to-head and strides being made toward personalization of medicine to meet a patient’s individual health care needs.
For information on participating in VA Research Week events in your area, . Click here

Top Veterans Stories in Today’s News

1. From combat to lockdown: Troubled veterans trading military uniforms for prison attire Salt Lake City, Utah – John Pace stumbled to his car, slipped Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” into the compact disc player and turned the key. From half a century away, one Air Force veteran crooned to another: When I was just a baby, my mama told me, ‘Son, Always be a good boy, don’t ever play with guns.’ Five years as a military police officer, including a stint in South Korea, a tour of duty in Afghanistan and multiple deployments in Iraq, had all come to this: a drunken 23-year-old combat vet behind the wheel, determined to find another bottle to empty onto his pain.
2. Wet Honor Flight doesn’t dampen the emotions of 106 WWII veterans Washington, DC – The tenth trip was a soggy one, but the 106 World War II veterans with Honor Flight Tennessee Valley didn’t so much as cast a displeased glance skyward. I’m so blessed, they said. I’m so grateful, they said. I just wish all of my buddies could’ve survived and been here, too, they said.
3. Isle veterans court sought Honolulu, Hawaii – The trauma of war lands in Judge Michael Broderick’s Honolulu courtroom daily: wives and girlfriends describe soldiers who return from Iraq punching, choking and threatening to kill them. These war-weary troops often admit their violent behavior and ask for help — not the typical response Broderick hears from someone accused of domestic abuse.
4. Veterans exemplify the best of what our country has to offer Washington, DC – Hearing about a shortage of farm laborers in California, the couple who would become Susumu Ito’s parents moved from Hiroshima to become sharecroppers near Stockton. Thus began a saga that recently brought Ito, 91, to the Holocaust Memorial Museum here, where he and 119 former comrades in arms were honored, during the annual Days of Remembrance, as liberators of Nazi concentration camps. While his Japanese-American Army unit was succoring survivors of Dachau, near Munich, his parents and two sisters were interned in a camp in Arkansas.
5. Cheyenne VA Medical Center Getting Solar Panels Cheyenne, Wyoming (AP) – The Cheyenne VA Medical Center is one of 18 Veterans Affairs facilities in the country to be awarded funding to install solar energy systems.
   The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Thursday that it is spending $20.2 million on the project nationwide.
6. New park salutes veterans of WWII Manchester, New Jersey – Three years of hard work came together Saturday with memories, music and patriotism as the township dedicated its new World War II Veterans Memorial Park. Stephen Stanziano, the township director of public works, described the project involving 30 acres of parkland as “a labor of love, a work in progress and long past due.”
7. Illinois governor attends veterans event Chicago, Illinois (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn is encouraging Illinois veterans to take advantage of state and federal services available to them. Quinn spent Saturday at the annual Illinois Warrior Summit resource fair in Chicago. The event’s goal is to welcome soldiers home from deployment and provide them with information about housing, health care, education and other benefits.
8. VA to boost outreach and care for Gulf War Illnesses Providence, Rhode Island – Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has announced promising news for veterans of the Persian Gulf War who are experiencing the broad range of symptoms referred to as Gulf War Illnesses. Shinseki said the VA plans to reconnect with veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991 to ensure they get the best information and care possible.
9. Group spotlights challenges amid push for reform Arizona Republic – Hoisting yourself up by the bootstraps remains a valuable talent in American society. It remains as true for Americans wearing combat boots as anyone else. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, an active association of 180,000 vets deployed in overseas wars since 2001, has taken on the task of reforming the nation’s often cumbersome system of veterans benefits.
10. Denver veterans hospital highlights VA research Denver, Colorado (AP) – The Denver VA Medical Center is highlighting research by the Veterans Administration with presentations on suicide prevention, enhanced wound healing and other topics.