Anti-War Poetry- Bring The Troops Home Poem- Stop The Iraq War Poems Veterans Poems & Music.Help For Iraq War Veterans PTSD- Veterans Day Poems

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Stop The War Poem, Anti-War Poems-PTSD Poetry- Anti-War Poetry. Veteran's Rights Resources & Helpful Information

A resource of hand-picked poems, links, and resources: stop the iraq war poems, anti-war poetry, Iraq War veteran's issues,  & anti-war activism to stop the escalation and the latest news and links on how we can care for the troops when they return home.  

Read my poems: Soldier's Daughter's "Stop The War -War Never Ends" Poem and the new poem 'Lady Liberty Cries'
New youtube video of my
Veteran's Day Poem Lady Liberty Cries
My poems are also published at www.poetsagainstthewar.com and www.whyareweiniraq.com

Veterans Day Poem, MOTHER AND SON - FROM ONE WAR TO THE NEXT written by mother whose son is a disabled veteran to read this Veterans Day Poem click here

Learn and find resources about issues that many veterans and their families face. Support Veteran's Rights and health-care.

In addition, you will find sites to submit your own peace poem, anti-war poetry websites, stop the war You Tube videos,anti-war music links with free music to listen to, cds for sale, activism merchandise, Iraq war news headlines, news on veteran's medical care issues, and a Plexo link section where you can vote for your favorite link &/or add you favorite link to this lens. 

Special information featuring resources for veteran's issues: articles, books and links about many issues faced by veterans and their families when returning home from combat such as; PTSD- post traumatic stress disorder, emotional health issues, & TBI- traumatic brain injury. 

Soldier's Daughter
"Stop The War-War Never Ends Poem".
A poem I wrote to share what many veterans like my father live with everyday and how he and so many disabled veterans want to see the war end and the troops home safely and soon!
He was called to fight, he was the young, the strong, the fated pawn.
The warrior marches on, with stories to tell. Lives lost.
Images of hell that tangle and twist in his mind,
and those stories so buried he can never tell..... read more of this stop the war poem below.

 

Featured Anti-War Poems & Music
These sites stand out to me as they are written or performed by soldiers, veterans, and/or their family members:

Featured Favorite Sites: Veterans Music Website- Sarge Lintecum's Vietnam Blue Combat Tested Blues -For Peace CD  This CD is amazing- well done work by a decorated Vietnam Veteran.
* Also see his Vietnam poetry:  a soldier's voice combat poetry, ptsd poems, homeless Veterans poem

Poetry: Click Here To Read A Soldier's Daughter Haiku Poem at Daughters Of Vietnam Veterans Website Lennon vs US inspired poem, which is very well done and powerful
Daughters Of Vietnam Veterans Website   

Stop The War Poetry Featured Site
A site by a Iraq War Veteran's Mother, features her disabled son, Corporal Cloy Richards poems.

Military Familes Speak Out- Granddaughter's Video To Bring The Troops Home

Introduction To Veteran's Issues & Helpful Resources
Learn about VA benefits and how to help your loved one through the VA process Veterans Families United Article How To Intervene To Get Help For Your Veteran 

Iraq War Casualties
Washington Post Article: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Information on mental health issues of Iraq War Veterans
Many resources, books, websites and support for veterans on this page -see below...

Featured Activism- Ways To Get Involved Links
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans.

The Peace Alliance -Participate in an historic citizen lobbying effort to create a U.S. Department of Peace. There is currently a bill before the U.S. House of Representatives (HR 808).

VoteVets: Veteran's Against The Escalation

Iraq Veterans Against The War


Veterans For Peace

United For Peace.org

The Carter Center Peace Programs

Support Veterans

Vietnam Veterans Of America - Info & How to Donate

Support The American Disabled Veterans Memorial

Disabled American Veterans Information & Donations

"Stop The War- War Never Ends Poem" A Soldier's Daughter Poem Copyright© 2006 Kristin Lee...peacefrog 

Vietnam Veteran, My Father Asks " When Will They Bring The Troops Home"

"Stop The War- War Never Ends Poem" written by a disabled Vietnam Veteran's Daughter.

In the war that never ends, he sits in his room.
For years his mind would pretend
that he hadn't lost it all, freedom, love, dignity.
Left with wounds so deep they never mend.

Maybe a wiser man to lose your mind,
when the visions that flicker on and on,
show a world gone so wrong.
He knows many are blind.

She cries in the night, that awakes her from sleep
haunted by voices, that scatter and seep in hallow asylum walls,
that echo in administration's war calls.

He was called to fight, he was the young, the strong, the fated pawn.
The warrior marches on,
with stories of combat undergone, memories of precious lives that fell.
Images of hell that tangle and twist in his mind,
and stories so buried he can never tell.

With his battle's scars, he dwells in fear,
in places so dark, who can he tell?
When no one seems to want to hear.

Traded a young man's dreams and wishes for death, partitions,
flag draped coffins, and ammunitions.
Close as breath a memory seems, his fear never softens.

Alone in his room he stares and stares
as the television blares,
he tells his daughter he's had a bad day,
but not to worry as it's been that way for years.
She feels her tears.
He says,"the news declares more troops died today"
He asks her "if anyone cares?" What can she say?

They all told him in Nam "you won't remember the wounded, the dead"
Yet, he remembers their faces and pain as he recites them by name,
with stories of how they each reached their end.
Lost for time in a battlefield haze that lives in his head.
Where his mind returns again and again to honor those slain.
Until he asks her again, "How much longer until we bring the troops home?"

He sees them all die again and again,
and prays for the ones who make it back home.
Home does not change, everything in their head.
He knows many will roam on a hard road to tread,
The meds, buried friends, hospital beds, a soldier, a vet alone.
In a system he knows well, too many will dwell.

They seal his fate and say he lost his mind,
as they lock away the soldier who knows.
It seems his thoughts become clear, when he has his daughter near.
His soldier's wisdom to find in prose.
He knows what he sees is so wrong,
He asks her to write a peace song,
War scenes on flicker on and on.

Though he has come home decades ago, he lives in war that never ends.
He wonders were it all went wrong, lost years,
and how many will come home to sing his sad song,
of a war that lasts far too long

Copyright © Kristin Lee 2006 

Information On How To Share The Poem

Permission to repost the poem 'Soldier's Daughter' is glady granted. Poem To Stop The War

Please include in repost:
Title: Stop The War- War Never Ends
Author: Kristin Lee-Copyright © KLH 2006
Link: http://www.squidoo.com/peacepoet
Optional request: email me to let me know about where you are sharing the poem.

Do you have poem on this topic that you would like to share with reader online?If so Email me your poem, name, website (if you have one) contact & copyright info (if so) and state in the email that you give me permission to post your poem! I will add your poem to my Friends Of PeacePoet Webpage.

New Featured Poems- I keep finding really good poets online here are my newest finds 

Vietnam War- Veterans- PTSD related poems and poems- songs written by Veterans I recently found

NEW!!!! One of my favorites! Sarge Lintecum's Vietnam Veteran Blues CD now on DVD
Sarge's Vietnam Blues CD is now on DVD with Slide Shows of Authentic Vietnam Combat
Photos from Sarge's 3 Tours! Special "Boonie Rat" Edition only $20.00!
Or:
Download Any Song with Slide
Show in an Executable File
for Only $1 each

PTSD: The Living War- Patients That Survived Death
By PFC Jay Keck, United States Marine Corps Combat Veteran, Vietnam
Also visit his site for more poems 17 excellent poems, or buy collection of his poems poetry book available
Excerpt of poem

"....... When I take my medication, I think of the war
Shall I try suicide and forget this horror?

When I see the flag, I think of the war
So many brave men from shore to shore

When I go to bed, I think of the war
Am I on hole watch? No, not anymore

When I talk to my doctor, I think of the war
When will I be like I was before? Click to read more of this veteran's PTSD poem

VETERANS DAY 2008 - This Veterans Day poem is written by the mother of a disabled Veteran--it is true and is dedicated to her eldest son, a disabled veteran.
MOTHER AND SON - FROM ONE WAR TO THE NEXT

The stories told in staring eyes,
monotoned during daylight, and
screamed through haunted darkness,
bespoke unimaginable horror.

The anguish inflicted on my generation
warned of a military madness
that feeds upon the newborn....
to read the rest of this Veterans Day Poem click here

Troops Home--Time To Come Home 

powered by Youtube

Peace --- Anti War Poems---- Poetry Links 

Stop The War: Poetry, Artists, Art, Music,

Poets Against War, Submit Your Anti- War Poetry
Poets Against War continues the tradition of socially engaged poetry by creating venues for poetry as a voice against war, tyranny and oppression. Participate in a poetry reading or submit a poem online
Why Are We In Iraq - Poetry Site
This website is dedicated to giving the poets of the 21st century a place to speak out about a world consumed with war, peace, religious intolerance, military strategy, violence and hate. Here poets are free to voice how they feel, irrespective of their political allegiance.
Poets Against the War
Poets Against The War
Tom Greening: War Poems
Poetry about War and Peace
Worldwide Children's Poetry Home
Worldwide Children's Poetry For Peace
We welcome all children, parents, and grandparents to share poetry for peace throughout the world.
Student poets victimised for anti-war stance
Students Poetry
Good Books For Children -Peace Be With Us Booklist
Berkeley Public Library Good Books For Children
BBC NEWS Poet Laureate pens anti-war poem
Archived news: The UK's Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, and US director Martin Scorsese voice their concerns about a possible war on Iraq.
JAN HAAG ART & POETRY
ANTI-WAR POEMS INDEX
"APRIL IS THE CRUELEST..."
opening of The Wasteland by T.S. Eliot#6904-04-03
Odd that this "cruelest" should be running through my head today.It is
WW1:"Anthem for Doomed Youth" a poem by Wilfred Owen story of 12 soldier poets
PBS Jeffrey Brown. In the history books, or even reading today's newspaper, war can seem impersonal, involving millions of men and machines. The stuff a soldier carried in his pocket as he was killed, the words he wrote to describe the horror of life and death in the trenches of World War I. "Anthem for Doomed Youth"-- the title comes from a poem by Wilfred Owen-- tells the story of 12 soldier-poets
International Peace Poem
Take a moment to place your thoughts about peace on the Peace Poem. It recognizes the importance of every individual in contributing to this worldwide affirmation of the sanctity of the human spirit.People contributing lines to the poem include - Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Miss America, students worldwide
Poetry Can Stop War: by Anne MacNaughton
Send your peace poem to us. Organize protest readings. At the Bowery Poetry Club, we hand out ye olde Peace buttons -- only now we wear 'em upside down, as Patti Smith has suggested -- this ain't the 60s any more! What are you doing to stop the war?
WorldPeace.org: Submit Your Own Peace Poem:
A great opportunity to share with the world your own heartfelt feelings in inspirational peace poetry - the language of the soul. We would love you to take the time to write something about peace. We value soulfulness and not technical ability.
United Nations: Children's Peace Poem
Children around the world was invited to submit, via e-mail, two lines of poetry about peace to the United Nations. Once collected, the lines were collated together into one long Peace Poem, and redistributed to all participants as well as posted on the Web. Read what the Children have to say about peace.
VIETNAM POETRY BY SARGE LINTECUM
VIETNAM COMBAT VETERAN Sarge did three tours of duty in Vietnam, 1966-'67-'68. His first tour was eleven months in the jungle/hospital with the 101st Airborne Paratroopers as a combat infantryman.
Xanga page about The Perfect Anti-War Poetry
...... poetry reading at a St. Paul coffeehouse. I thought about anti-war poems for several days. What should they do, exactly? read more here....
Earthfuture - 101 Solutions to Stop the War on Iraq
Ten Ways to Stop the War -Check out # 58: Sing for Peace. Get together with your friends and sing songs for peace. If you are a singer, or if you belong to a choir, folk club, rock group, or chanting circle, include peace songs in your next concert. Suggest that all the singers in town come together for one big peace concert.
World Peace Wave Web Site
Nonprofit, non-sectarian organization dedicated to spreading the message of world peace

Lady Liberty Cries- A Veteran's Day Poem 

Lady Liberty cries
tears no one can see,
Another Veteran's Day comes and goes
It passes as quick as parade
and the support for the troops,
never shows, in the land of the free.
It is, in short, underpaid.
Ribbons of support with no rightful action,
Administration's gain, a patriotic charade.

The president is not quite sure,
but maybe the budget for Veteran's health
may come along soon, but late.
In the meantime, sit and wait,
or serve another tour.
There is a delay in your care,
the funding is simply not there.

Give service to your country
swear by oath to honor
the rights of life and liberty.
We will show our gratitude and give you years of grief.

Not one of the freedoms and rights you enjoy
were given for free.
I see my sister sigh and hear her sobs across the sea
as her Dad takes his life,
A Vietnam veteran who the system failed to ever see.
Who lived far too long on the streets, in homes here and there,
where no one could show one ounce of care.
I was told he met with many an unknowing doctor,
who had lived only in the land of the free
and had never actually been there...
they gathered up pills to help him be mute, drool and stare.

She told me he ran as long as he could from his battle scenes
and veteran's beds.
He lived his whole life in hell or was it all bad dreams?
In the night he could not turn down the screams.
He died to a bullet that sadly brings to death many a honorable and suffering Vet.
Lady Liberty reaches her hand to console,
another daughter whose Dad will never come home.

Then Roy, who breathed all the toxic tank emissions and took ammunitions,
Saw 60% of his troops die within minutes.
His lungs are torn from years of fumes,
yet in his voice his has no scorn,
as he tells the man, next door, in the hospital bed,
He was lucky,
unlike so many who were laid to rest.
I never heard him complain.
He is given appointments
"when they can find some time to fit him in'
As the time goes he waits and waits
until cancer is all his is.
Yet he finds it in his warrior heart and last days
to visit his ailing friend a Veteran, my father.

The soldier's daughter begs for doctors to save Roy
and prays petitions to intercede.
In the end it is 'the stranger',
a Vietnam Veteran's long lost daughter,
who is there to hold his hand,
awaiting death.
As his coughs turn to gasps and takes his last breathe.

She heard him call out to his friends,
the fallen soldiers,
whose names are to many a word on The Wall,
To him these men have never gone.
As he dies she hears him call out their names,
As they arrive to guide their brother on this last battle road.
The flight jackets are ready
they assure their friend
it won't be long
you are never alone,
he hears them say.
The day is fine with blue skies for clear flying
for this soldier who never forgot his friends,
the buried vets
.... as the angels come to take him home.

Will she ever forget how she saw him in box on the street,
in the cold, all alone?
She wonders were it all went wrong.
For too many years, he heard the screams of soldiers dying,
and tv shows of combat, the new war,
bombarded and tore through his soul.
In the news all that was heard was a system lying.

All he knew was more soldiers, soldiers dying
These were the thoughts in his head,
that broke his marriage to the sweetheart he had wed
thirty years or a lifetime ago.
His life in the hand of a system too slow.
One night the cold winter air took his breath
as he found the only bed he was given was death.

They tell us we'll do better with these boys this time,
the ones who make it home.
We will try our new therapeutic tone
And have a new pill that will surely make them forget hell.
We promise to reopen some closed homes to find the homeless Vets beds.
But the money tied up in the fed
is used to buy new toys,
and feed the war machine.
The Veterans are left with no funds for care,
In black, blood soaked, water the war coffers grow,
In secrets only the financial planners know.

She heard the WW2 Veteran listen politely
as he is told to be more patient, again,
and she can't get rid of the sight,
seeing him suffer in squalor.
"Help is on the way", they all say,
and this goes on day after day.
She notices how the curtains are drawn
to never have this image see the light of day.
As he stares at the ceiling with nothing to say,
he lives in his battle torn mind,
where there was and is no peace to be ever be found.

The nurse tells her to stop all the ruckus,
she finds she has no choice but to raise her voice to a holler.
Still they try to beat her down with blank stares and compassionless glares.
Lady Liberty has donned a megaphone
so she yells,
"please help this man!"
"it is our duty to care for these men who sacrificed so much!"
Yet, the only hope just walks away,
it is the end of just another work day.

In a quiet voice, not much louder than a whisper,
he did tell,
"this nightmare of dying with no care is nothing
when you have already been to and lived in hell"

I saw with my own eyes,
It is only these Veteran brothers
who really care what stories you have to tell.
They are the ones who will take the time to be by your side.
Living an honor like no others.
Every soldier I met is your true brother,
See how they never fail, as you lay dying,
they wipe your daughter's tears,
as if they'd known her for years.

But The "brother" who the courts declare is your next of kin,
has been stealing your VA bankroll,
as the appointed judge sits in sin.
This snotty cat will only hiss
and dismiss the voice that speaks
for the soldier's toll of lost dignity and justice remiss.

So come the young, the bright,
the strong, lay down your weapon,
and your rights.
Where no one will fight for your care,
but you will see our stickers and flags,
a small token,
for a life so broken.

The children who see your oddity will just stare,
never knowing the sacrifices of freedom you bear.
The judge will sit cold hearted, eyes in an icy stare.
This is my father and his brothers
who they mock, provoke, and forget
as they bang their gavel
to dismiss and assure the untimely death of yet another Vet.

Despite her cries, the system wins again
with one less check to write,
one more bed to fill,
as the flag draped coffin is laid to rest.

He fought for your country long ago
and was given nothing but 'the run around'.
He leaves nothing in this world,
as they lower his body into the hard ground,
but his long lost daughter, who grieves for all the soldiers
their daughters, sons, friends, mothers, and fathers.

Who holds the rights and the funds to care for all those
who did not run and hide?
Many Veterans, who fought for the freedoms you enjoy each day,
live in a world you are fortunate to never know.
On Veteran's Day what will your actions show?

His "brother" makes the coffins,
he showed me them stacked high on the wall,
a horrific sight,
as he proudly said, "our business is good"
"we make the boxes in which the boys come home."
Visions of untimely death arrive in the secret cloak of night.
The system just watches as they steal it all,
from the men who came home unwhole.

Once he was a strong warrior:
The few, the proud, the brave, the bold.
The old soldier is left to rot in feces and poisonous blood,
While the insurgents and prisoners are given laws to protect
and their right to life.
He is left to die with his story never told.

Dialysis the only thing that could sustain him
and end his strife,
These are denied to him,
by VA red-tape,
legalities that take too much time,
and laws that are muddled in federal and state.
He lives on in a miraculous fight
in war against death, where wrong is said to be right.

The ones who lived the system know far too well,
the story of your homecoming
for your service and protecting this land.
The young soldier is told,
"your ptsd psychoanalysis appointments are
coming soon, maybe we will have time for you next month.
In the meantime with life of a shadow, a ruin,
forget you hold that gun in your hand."
His mother finds him
as Lady Liberty shed tears that flood the land.

No action or money to protect those that served
as the dawns mourning light shines on
Lady Liberty
as she hang her head in shame.

The wounded and dying soldier's I've met have shown their true colors,
of red, white and blue,
living lives of the star spangled banner
and holding the founding father's beliefs true.
They 'are' the home of the brave
A brotherhood of highest order,
Which the system will not save.
But no government red-tape or grave can steal,
The memories of men so real.
I bow my head and feel
humbled their stories, sacrifices, and valor.

As the weathered soldier struggles
with his own illness, cancer.
He goes to get a wheelchair
to take his dying brother home
for his last home-cooked meal.
For moment,
a dying Veteran is free of all his years
suffering war trauma,
his symptoms soften.
They only met a week ago,
at the hospital,
always looking out for each other.
A stranger you may say.
But this a story of American Soldier
and they are above all brothers.

These men deserve care far above the rest,
The men who live in a never ending war drama,
yet we have failed to give them our best..poem continued below.

Lady Liberty Cries- A Veteran's Day Poem- continued 

Daughter Of Vietnam Veteran

Lady Liberty Cries (continued)
Meet Stanley, no chemo could keep him from living his ideal,
always fighting for the rights of all who served by his side,
even if another place and time.
A bond that is stronger than blood,
deep and real
no man or laws could keep them apart.
She vows to do her part to change the tide,
Not knowing where to start,
this is a Vietnam Veteran daughter's rhyme.

Lady Liberty holds her head high,
as the flag of the American Revolution hangs silent in night sky,
watching over the graveyards of all the brave men who died.
The call of justice is nigh,
as a soldier's daughter hangs her head to cry,
she comforts a soldier's daughter passing by.
A bellowing breaks the silence of those underserved.
Lady Liberty smiles as their lost voice will finally be heard.

Veterans lay dying in a under-funded system,
Veterans are living on the streets, one of every three you see.
A Veteran attends his church service in nothing but rags.
A brain injured soldier returns not remembering his name.
A veteran comes home lame, hoping to be able to walk again,
A woman who cannot put her thoughts in order,
as she trys to care for her bright eyed toddler,
A veteran in need of medical care is being told to wait,
A veteran succumbs to suicide, too tired to play the game.
A mentally ill Veteran is committed as the judge seals his fate.
Another mother hears the doorbell ring,
as she is given her child's dog tags.
Kristin Lee © 2007 Veteran's Day

My Story:

My father is critically ill, I have tried to fight for his medical care, psychiatric care, and legal rights in courts and the Federal VA System...

He may die, his untimely death, yet on his death bed I vowed To speak about the lie, and honor his brothers, whose stories I will share,
and to never rest.
Until America learns to care for all of our Vets.

In knowing him and trying to fight for his rights, I have met many Veterans whose stories have changed my life. This poem is written to honor their lives, and for all Veterans who suffer and their families./ I want to share some of this 'hidden world' with you.

Above all this poem is written with hope that you will find a way to make life better for Veterans today. We cannot allow other Veterans to be failed by the system.

As you pass by in your car with that yellow ribbon
on your way to that one day sale, will you remember my tale?
Will you just stop and listen?
Can you hear what the soldiers and their families have to say?
Find a way to take some action to show the soldiers that your signage is more than a popular, yet hallow statement?
Do what you can or... even more than you can, do it now.
Visit your local veteran's center to help out, attend a Veteran's Day service, call and donate to a Veteran's charity, speak to your elected officials.
Please do something to find a way to bring change and do your part to make life better for Veterans today.


Visit my myspace click here

Click here to visit the Daughters Of Vietnam Veterans website

Click To Read Soldier's Poem 'You Are Not Alone' by Brian Hidalgo

"Human nature itself is evermore an advocate for liberty. There is also in human nature a resentment of injury, and indignation against wrong. A love of truth and a veneration of virtue. These amiable passions, are the "latent spark"... If the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling the differences between true and false, right and wrong, virtue and vice, to what better principle can the friends of mankind apply than to the sense of this difference?"
John Adams, the Novanglus, 1775

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  • Reply
    Leo Leo Jun 15, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
    Great information, not to mention the excellent poetry and thoughts. Though it appear that peace and bringing our soldiers back home, may take a little longer than we would like to hear, and that is a reality.
    check this site, and send your comments
    sumoart.com
    thanks

    Leo
    Army retired
  • Reply
    Annie Annie Apr 1, 2008 @ 2:39 am
    Looking everywhere for Pat Scanlon's new protest song "Lock Them Up". It's terrific; want to download it, use it. Check it out and stir it around. Thanks.
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Keep scrolling for anti-war poetry and music, mp3 samples, videos,sites to submit your own poem, helpful veteran's resources, news- articles, books and links on supporting and getting proper medical care for returning troops.


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Project Compassion - Honors Fallen Iraq War Soldiers 

Artist Kaziah Hancock Paints Portraits Of Fallen Soldiers

She gives the portraits to the soldier's next of kin. This is an amazing video

Kaziah Hancock

Kaziah paints portraits of our fallen soldiers, free of charge for the families of the fallen.

Runtime: 347
61829 views
61 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Stop The War Poetry Website, Soldier Memorials, Peace Art Exhibit -NEW FEATURED WEBSITES 

Here are some of my newest website finds

My NEW Poem,'Lady Liberty Cries' is officially published now! December 20th, 2007.
Click Here To Read My Poem And More Poetry At 'Why Are We In Iraq?' Or scroll down to read this new poem.


Click here for information on submitting a poem to Why Are We In Iraq?

Featured Favorite Poetry Site
Why Are We In Iraq Poetry Website
This website is dedicated to giving the poets of the 21st century a place to speak out about a world consumed with war, peace, religious intolerance, military strategy, violence and hate. Here poets are free to voice how they feel, irrespective of their political allegiance.

Photos and Article About A Father Who Finds Out His Son A Soldier Is Dead
"Next thing, the Marines ask me if I was Carlos Arredondo. I don't understand why they asking me that, and I don't see my son anywhere. I even ask them, "Are you guys here to recruit some kids?" because I have a second son, a 16-year-old, Brian. And he said, "I'm sorry, I'm coming to notify you that Alexander Arredondo got killed in combat." At that moment, not expecting those words, my world tumbled and I felt my heart go down to the ground and rush up through my throat." thenation.com

Peace Art Exhibit
Eyes Wide Open Exhibit- Peace Art
Working with American Friends Service Committee offices, Quaker meetings and peace groups across the country, the Eyes Wide Open state exhibits feature the boots of the soldiers from their home states in addition to a memorial to the Iraqi civilian casualties.

Fallen Soldiers
Faces Of The Fallen Soldiers from The Washington Post.

Washington Post News Dec 22,07- Veteran Health Care
NOTHING WILL ever be able to absolve this country for the disgraceful way it has treated its returning war wounded...read more here">

Cd's of the music & videos that are featured on this lens 

support music that stops the war

Imagine

Imagine

Imagine John Lennon

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 12/06/2009) Buy Now

Living with War

Living with War

Neil Young's Cd

Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 12/06/2009) Buy Now

Not Too Late[from UK]

Not Too Late[from UK]

Nora Jones- New Cd - 'My Dear Country' on this Cd

Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009) Buy Now

Around the Sun

Around the Sun

Rem Cd - 'Last Straw' is on this CD

Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 12/06/2009) Buy Now

Season of Change

Season of Change

by: ED MUNTER

You can buy this Cd on Amazon - or go directly to website
http://www.seasonofchange.org/products.htm

Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009) Buy Now

More Cd's of the music & videos in this lens 

& one book by cartoonist Pat Bagley.

Evil Empire

Evil Empire

Rage Against The Machine

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Us Against the Crown

Us Against the Crown

State Radio

Amazon Price: $8.97 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

All Points Bulletin

All Points Bulletin

Dispatch

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

World Wide Suicide

World Wide Suicide

Amazon Price: (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Clueless George Goes to War

Clueless George Goes to War

by: Pat Bagley

This is a book I just found out about .Pat Bagley's cartoons have appeared in Time, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian of London, and The Los Angeles.

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Some New CD's I found recently 

veterans cd, veterans music

Body of War: Songs That Inspired an Iraq War Veteran

Body of War: Songs That Inspired an Iraq War Veteran

Amazon Price: $20.98 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Tune Your Brain: Music to Manage Your Mind, Body and Mood (An Audio Companion to the Book by Elizabeth Miles)

Tune Your Brain: Music to Manage Your Mind, Body and Mood (An Audio Companion to the Book by Elizabeth Miles)

Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

American Warriors: Songs for Indian Veterans

American Warriors: Songs for Indian Veterans

Amazon Price: (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Cost of the War in Iraq 

PBS NewsHour- 'Miltary' RSS Feed 

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Blue Star Military Wives For Obama Video 

Election 08 Miltary and Veterans Issues

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THIS IS THE ANTI-WAR POEM 

Johnny Firefly

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Miltary Families Join Michael Moore Tour 

Hear Military Families

Military Families Join Michael Moore's Slacker Uprising Tour

As the tour, and the war, went on, Iraq war veterans and their relatives began showing up and joining Mike on the stage. Mike continues to pass the mic at http://www.michaelmoore.com/

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Iraq War Soldier died by suicide 

When are we going to demand care for soldiers and veterans?

This Time Pfc. Jason Scheuerman Wasn't 'Faking It'

Army psychologist told commanders that Jason was putting a loaded gun is his mouth because he wanted them to think he was mentally ill. Doesn't sound too healthy, does it? Well, they showed him and we'll show everyone at http://www.michaelmoore.com/

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News: Iraq War News -Troop News, Activism Links, & Veteran's Health Care Rights 

MySpace: GIs-KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! 800-394-9544 The Lewis & Clark Military Counseling Project is an Oregon based counseling service operated as a student-collective and a subset of the student chapter of the National Lawyers' Guild. The project aims to (1) counter the military's effort to swindle, coerce, and deceive the youth of America into entering military service; and (2) provide direct counseling and information to GI's attempting to withdraw from military service. Additional resources also links here.
______________________________________________________
Read about Joseph Briseno Jr. brain injured soldier this is an article that made me cry and cry, read about his injuries and how his loving and courageous family has been taking care of him for four years. Read about this man's young life and think about the soldiers in Iraq right now, and if you can do anything to help stop this kind of tragedy from happening.

Joseph was 20 years old, attending George Mason University, when he was called up from the reserves and sent to war. Brain damaged by a point blank bullet to the back of his head." He lies flat, unseeing eyes fixed on the ceiling, tubes and machines feeding him, breathing for him, keeping him alive. He cannot walk or talk, but he can grimace and cry. And he is fully aware of what has happened to him."
______________________________________________________
U.S. struggles with breadth, depth of Iraq war injuries These are America's war wounded, a toll that has received less attention than the 3,500 troops killed in Iraq. Estimated number of Iraq war wounded varies from 35,000 and 53,000
For every soldier or Marine killed, 15 others have survived illness or injury
2,000 brain injuries treated; docs think less obvious cases have gone undetected
___________________________________________________

Mistreated Veterans News 

I just found this site about a decorated WW2 Veteran
I read it and cried and cried... for even one man who served his country to go through such difficulties - he has war trauma and was trying his best to fight for his rights. Think how brave he was to try to fight the system to get his benefits and medical care, with no organizations to help him.

To read how he had trauma and was scared to death of the VA itself...reminds me of my bio-dad and so many veterans I have met. I met many a WW2 veteran who were being given substandard care, respect, and comfort.
Read Eddie's Story Here> Eddie's Place The Sad And Infuriating Story Of A WW2 Veteran Mistreated

Latest Iraq War, Veterans, Health Care News 

I am posting latest news and poetry I find here

Kaziah Hancock Paints Portraits OF Fallen US Soldiers
Project Compassion (www.heropaintings.com) recently shipped its 1,000th hero painting to a fallen American service member's next of kin
BODY OF WAR Movie Bill Moyers PBS
Bill Moyers interviews former talk show host Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro on the true cost of war and their documentary, BODY OF WAR, depicting the moving story of one veteran dealing with the aftermath of war.
Marine Who Died Wrote of War Stress
So sad and infuriating, when will we take of soldiers and veterans? Read the story here...Marine Who Died After Cross-State Chase Wrote of War Stress.
send an online memorial day card from 123.greeting
Memorial Day is the time to remember, reflect and honor those who risked their lives to protect us and the country. Reach out to your friends, family and loved ones with our inspiring Memorial Day egreetings and express the pride you harbor for them.
Special Memorial Day Poems Are a Tribute to Veterans - Salem-News.Com
This collection of poems was submitted to Salem-News.com through a contact in our work on the TCE (Trichloroethylene) related cancer cases and other illnesses stemmimg from water contact at the Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, Camp Lejeune.C.....
Iraq War Veteran's Family Seeks VA Compensation for Illness that Killed Him
He believed - and his family still does - that he became ill because he was exposed to depleted uranium at a chemical weapons site while serving with the Army in Iraq."All of them were very concerned about what they were exposed to, very concerned," said his stepmother, Laura Bumpus. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs rejected one claim Bumpus filed seeking compensation for his illness.
They'll hold a fundraiser in Auburn next Friday to help pay Matt Bumpus' medical bills.But Bumpus won't be there. The 31-year-old father of two died a month ago after a series of battles with his disease.The Roseville man and his family worked on the event for months in hopes of raising money to treat his leukemia.

Youtube video Drowning Pool and IAVA meet with Barack Obama 

This is for the soldiers campaign to increase funding for veterans mental health services.

Drowning Pool Meets Barack Obama

Check out Drowning Pool and Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. as they stress their efforts for the This Is For the Soldiers campaign.

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Thisisforthesoldiers.org 

Please Sign The Petition For Veteran's Mental Health Care

Drowning Pool Video supports IAVA - Health Care For Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans

ThisIsForTheSoldiers.org

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COST OF WAR Soldier Deaths- Youtube video- Stop The Iraq War 

Returning Caskets-Iraq & Afghanistan War Soldier Memorial

Returning Caskets-Iraq & Afghanistan War Soldier Memorial

Montage memorial of caskets returning to the U.S. from Iraq and Afghanistan. Produced when the U.S. military death toll was at 700.

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11201 views
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curated content from YouTube

I Invite You To Squidoo, Too! 

Maybe you have a passion, hobby,interest, or some expertise you would like to share? If so consider making your own Squidoo lens! Squidoo is free and they make it easy for everyone to make lens on topics they are interested in. If you want to try it
Click here for your own Squidoo lens

More Links: Stop The War Resources, Veteran's Support Orgs Etc... Visit My MySpace Stop The War- Peace Poems 

Support The Troops, Healthcare For Troops, PTSD Lawsuit

Bring The Troops Home, Stop The War, Click Here To Visit MY NEW Poems For Peace MySpace

National Veterans Foundation
Toll Free Lifeline For Veterans And Their Families
Call Center Number Is 1-888-777-4443

Help For Veterans From The National Foundation For Veterans Click Here For More Information & Resources


Tomas Young "Body of War Film" Documentary film about an Iraq War Veteran with paralysis Film by Phil Donahue, Ellen Spiro and original songs by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.

Visit and learn more about mental health issues NAMI The National Alliance On Mental Illness Veteran's Issues And News

So What Can I Do Blog-Make Life Better For Veterans

Iraq Veteran's sue the VA in a class action lawsuit- Read the full Time Magazine Article click here....on behalf of vets diagnosed with PTSD, the suit is the first to accuse the federal department of constitutional violations and to seek sweeping changes in its processing of disability claims. The VA is charged with "shameful failures ... to meet our nation's legal and moral obligations to honor and care for our wounded veterans" who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Without systematic reform, the suit contends, "the costs to these veterans, their families and our nation will be incalculable," and will contribute to a new generation of unemployed and homeless veterans and a burden on local social services...The plaintiffs seek no monetary damages, only an order requiring the VA to stop "illegal policies and practices," such as the months-long delays in reviewing claims and providing care to PTSD victims.
PTSD was recognised as a psychiatric disorder only in 1980. Patients find themselves reliving an extreme traumatic event through flashbacks and nightmares and tend to avoid things associated with the experience. Sufferers also have difficulty with personal relationships, feeling distant from others or emotionally numb.

PTSD may be even more common than the military's one-in-six estimate. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an often-debilitating mental condition that can produce a range of unwanted emotional responses to the trauma of combat. It can emerge weeks, months or years later. If left untreated, it can severely affect the lives not only of veterans, but their families as well. Read stories of Iraq War soldiers who have PTSD & the full USA Today article here

Study Likens Veterans of Vietnam to Those in Iraq.
A Columbia University study estimates that 18.7% of Vietam veterans developed war-related PTSD during their lives and 9.1% were suffering from it 11 to 12 years after the war
Read more about the PTSD study here.

Visit This Resource for Veterans: THE HUMANE GUIDE TO VA BENEFITS FOR VETERANS WITH PTSD by Sarge & Leslie Lintecum,

.....Keep scrolling down for more Veteran Resources, Veteran's rights, hotlines, websites,Iraq War and Veteran News, information on PTSD, Brain Injury and helpful books for veterans and their families. Poetry, Music, Videos, Books And More....

Other Lenses Worth Checking Out 

Iraq War, Anti-War, Veteran's Services, Disabled Soldier Benefits Info, TBI Resources

featured lens Veterans Issues

There are a number of groups who are supposedly advocate groups. From my personal experience as well as the experiences of friends it seems that those organizations are more often than not more concerned with the politics of the system than with stan...

featured lens U.S. Veterans: In The Wake Of War

One of the many results of war are the waves of disabled American Veterans. I have been in the V.A. System for over 30 years and have known vets from WWI, WWII, The Korean War, Viet Nam War and now Desert Storm and Afghanistan. Not to mention all the...

featured lens Traumatic Brain Injury and the challenge of family caregiving

The mission of this lens to provide extensive information and resources to help meet the needs of families and especially spouses who have had their lives turned upside down because of a traumatic brain injury.

featured lens VA Disability Compensation

Thank you for visiting my lens. Please take a moment to rate it by using the star-system above when you are done. Thank you!   This lens was created to help Veterans understand VA Disability Compensation.  It is dedicated to those who serve...

featured lens Wounded Veterans Benefits

This lens is designed to highlight some of the information, books and programs available for Veterans. We have a duty to help the people who protect our freedom and way of life.; It does not matter what your politics are we owe our freedom to Veterans...

NPR RSS: Iraq War News 

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Sign The Petition For Veteran's Mental Health Care 

Click Here To See The Video And Sign The Petition! Support The Troops

"1.5 million people have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost one-third of them will have a serious mental health problem - like depression, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. That's why I'm supporting IAVA and Drowning Pool's "This is For the Soldiers" campaign to make sure the mental health needs of our troops are a top priority." Petition at www.thisisforthesoldiers.org

Iraq War Information Links 

Veteran Care Could Cost $700 B
By CHRISTIAN B. FLOW. Harvard Crimson Staff Writer.
The possibility of an increased American military presence in Iraq has recently sparked political debate, but according to a new study, the country should focus less on sending more men into battle and more on how those men will be cared for once they return home.
MSNBC Video People Of The Black Hawk Crash
Watch video to learn about the personal lives of those lost in this crash....34 children lost their parent in this crash.
10 of those who died were members of the National Guard-highest number of guard members killed in a combat mission since the Korean War.
Black Hawk Down: The True Cost of Iraq War - Newsweek The War in Iraq - MSNBC.com
There are so many news accounts of troops killed in combat that the details blur. The death of one soldier, or 20, loses its power to shock, except to the families of the fallen.
Told to wait, a Marine dies - The Boston Globe
VA care in spotlight after Iraq war veteran's suicide
Military Families Speak Out
An organization of people opposed to the war in Iraq who have relatives or loved ones in the military. Our membership currently includes over 3,000 military families, with new families joining daily. If you have family members or loved ones in the military and you are opposed to this war, JOIN us......
National Veterans Foundation
Through the links you can find resources through your State's Department of Veterans Affairs, or any of the 206 VA Vet Centers located across the country.
Battle Worn - washingtonpost.com
After he was injured in Iraq, Richard Twohig found himself fighting an unexpected foe: the U.S. Army.
Dead Men Walking - What sort of future do brain-injured Iraq veterans face? Discover Magazine
A soldier-or a civilian-can survive the blast without a single penetrating wound and still receive the worst diagnosis: traumatic brain injury, or TBI, the signature injury of the Iraq War.
Study Details Mental Health of War Veterans
One in eight soldiers returning from service during the first year of the Iraq war was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or some other mental illness, according to the most comprehensive study yet of the effects of war on the mental health of veterans.
Former Soldier Helps Others Fight Army for Help
The 36-year-old former soldier has become a driving force behind efforts to force the Army to revise its response to soldiers suffering from PTSD. Pogany's saga shows how an advocate can overcome enormous obstacles and battle a powerful institution - and help shine the national spotlight on what had largely been a hidden problem.

As NPR reported last year, numerous soldiers from Fort Carson who have come back from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious mental health problems have been kicked out of the Army with few or no benefits. Those reports prompted a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, as well as officials at the Pentagon, to investigate Fort Carson. In turn, the public attention pressured commanders to pledge that returning soldiers would get better treatment...read more
Moveon.org
Keep Me Posted on MoveOn.org Political Action
Would you like to receive updates and alerts from MoveOn from time to time? If so, please sign up below.
Daughter of a Vietnam Veteran- Agent Orange - Reader comments at The New York Sun
The reason why I have all of you gathered here is to discuss and expose the use of DEPLETED URANIUM. We all know, us Daughters of Vietnam Veterans, that the United States Department of Defense KNOWINGLY poisoned our Father's with Agent Orange (amongst other poisons, not discovered or discussed).

Latest News 

Iraq War & Veterans Issues

I will be posting the latest news on these topics here- so favorite this lens and check back.
Read My Poem "Soldier's Daughter" @ Poets Against The War
Happy to report my poem is published on the
Poets Against The War Website. Poets Against The War continues the tradition of socially engaged poetry by creating venues for poetry as a voice against war, tyranny and oppression. Kristin Lee, Self-taught artist and poet. Born in 1967, the poem is written about my biological father, who was in Vietnam.....
Era of war pinches a place devoted to peace - The Boston Globe
SHERBORN -- The Peace Abbey, born of a pacifist's dream 19 years ago, has brought the inner hum of meditation and the occasionally harsh spotlight of international attention to this small, affluent town.... But now, the abbey has been put on the selling block for $5.5 million. Its director, Lewis Randa, cites a plummeting drop in donations that he links to the abbey's visible protests against the Iraq war.
Support The Peace Abbey
I have visited The Peace Abbey several times, it is a very special place-if you are in the area is worth a visit, if not you can visit it online. At one time Yoko Ono donated to help the Abbey when it had some financial issues. I hope that someone or many people step up to help this special place...remain a special place for generations to come. Here is link to their donation page and also for more information about the Abbey. A Multi-Faith Retreat Center in Sherborn, Massachusetts, USA - There is no place like The Peace Abbey.
How the U.S. Is Failing Its War Veterans - Newsweek National News - MSNBC.com
.... stories are raising concerns that the country is failing to meet its most basic obligations to those who fight our wars.

Veterans' support groups and even some former and current VA insiders believe there's a reluctance in the Bush administration to deal openly with the long-term costs of the war. (All told, Bilmes projects it could cost as much as $600 billion to care for GWOT veterans over the course of their lifetimes.)
How You Can Help - Newsweek The War in Iraq - MSNBC.com
These charities were highly rated by multiple philanthropy watchdog groups.
Military prodded on brain injuries - USATODAY.com
The Pentagon lacks a comprehensive plan to identify and treat tens of thousands of troops who may suffer from traumatic brain injury, the signature wound of the Iraq war, according to a previously undisclosed Defense Department memorandum obtained...
PBS -Veterans Hospitals Problems
The Veterans Administration is unprepared to care for brain-injured Iraq war veterans once they leave rehabilitation centers and return home to VA hospitals, a new documentary reports. By Judy Woodruff
Substandard living conditions likely exist throughout the military health care system.
Substandard living conditions found at the Army's flagship veterans hospital Tierney said he is afraid "these problems go well beyond the walls of Walter Reed," adding that "as we send more and more troops into Iraq and Afghanistan, these problems are only going to get worse, not better."
Mr. Woodruff's account of his ordeal , Traumatic Brain Injury on ABC tonight
On this ABC News special, Mr. Woodruff tells his story with candor and restraint, then turns the focus to the men and women who return badly wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan and do not heal as thoroughly.

Lessons of "To Iraq and Back," Mr. Woodruff's account of his ordeal on ABC tonight. Many veterans with similar traumatic brain injuries may never fully regain their ability to speak, walk or pick up a glass of water.
Salon.com
Veterans groups told the Army surgeon general about the shockingly bad mental health treatment at Walter Reed two months before the latest expose, but there's no evidence he followed up.
Stories of neglect pour in from soldiers and veterans at clinics nationwide
Oliva is but one quaking voice in a vast outpouring of accounts filled with emotion and anger about the mistreatment of wounded outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Stories of neglect and substandard care have flooded in from soldiers, their family members, veterans, doctors and nurses working inside the system. They describe depressing living conditions for outpatients at other military bases around the country.
From FreeNewMexican.com
Study:Thousands of veterans return with mental illness - CNN.com
March 12, 2007 Nearly a third of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who received care from Veterans Affairs between 2001 and 2005 were diagnosed with mental health or psychosocial ills, a study published Monday has concluded.
Casualty of War: Mental Health --TIME
A new study reveals that one-third of returning veterans have a diagnosed mental illness, and young soldiers are particularly vulnerable
Veteran's issues - bureaucratic crap
... Veterans Center and just feel the pain in these people from the process," Morris said. "Just sitting in that waiting room, all the veterans talk to each other and 90 percent of them are (sharing) horror stories of what they had to go through as far as the bureaucratic crap."....It's easy to take pictures of mold on the wall, but it's difficult to photograph the daily frustration and suffering of caregivers and the injured," Sargent said.

Veteran's Issues - War Books 

These books will help use to understand the issues many Iraq War Veteran's will be coping with.

Down Range: To Iraq and Back

Down Range: To Iraq and Back

by: Bridget C. Cantrell, Chuck Dean

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

by: Edward Tick

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

My Tour in Hell: A Marine's Battle with Combat Trauma (Reflections of History)

My Tour in Hell: A Marine's Battle with Combat Trauma (Reflections of History)

by: David W. Powell

Amazon Price: $23.18 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

War and Redemption: Treatment and Recovery in Combat-Related Traumatic Stress Disorder

War and Redemption: Treatment and Recovery in Combat-Related Traumatic Stress Disorder

by: Larry Dewey

Amazon Price: $49.95 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Troubled Hero: A Medal of Honor, Vietnam, and the War at Home

Troubled Hero: A Medal of Honor, Vietnam, and the War at Home

by: Randy K. Mills

Amazon Price: $18.96 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Soldier Trauma Issues- Returning Home 

Articles, Information, & Helpful Resources For Understanding The Importance Of Good Quality Care For Soldier Who Coming Home

Veterans Report Mental Distress
Washington Post: More than one in three soldiers and Marines who have served in Iraq later sought help for mental health problems, according to a comprehensive snapshot by Army experts of the psyches of men and women returning from the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places.
USATODAY.com - Iraq injuries differ from past wars: More amputations, brain traumas
The war in Iraq is producing a group of young combat veterans who face a lifelong struggle to cope with physical wounds so severe, they might not have lived through previous conflicts.
Fewer Vietnam Vets Suffer From PTSD, But Study Shows Post-Traumatic Stress Levels Still Quite High - CBS News
CBS News: Nearly one in five Vietnam vets suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a new study shows that nearly one in 10 was still suffering 11 to 12 years after the war.
Trauma of war hits troops years later - mental-health - 25 August 2005 - New Scientist
New Scientist has pieced together a range of evidence showing that war veterans will be paying the price of combat for decades to come
NY Times: By Jeffrey Gettleman
The Stress of Guarding the Couch; When Soldiers Come Marching Home, Trauma Often Sets In
By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN
Study Details Mental Health of War Veterans
"I had 38 guys under my command. One shot himself in the leg to go home. Seven of them got divorces, one is in a mental institution, and one took his own life a few months after he got back," he said. "Not everyone comes home with post-traumatic stress disorder, but no one comes home unchanged."
Web site to offer veterans, families help
A nonprofit organization dedicated to developing a national network of volunteers to respond to acute and chronic needs within our society. Our first target population, the U.S. troops and families affected by the current military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The mental health professionals who join us will give an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families. We plan to launch our services in the spring of 2007 and are now signing up providers.
Symptoms of TBI
Information and explanation of symptoms of severe traumatic brain injury.
Symptoms of Mild TBI
Information and explanation of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).Traditional radiological scans such as CT scans and MRI scans fail to detect many brain injuries. These tests fail to reveal all the microscopic damage to the brain following trauma and also fail to test brain functioning.
Thousands of GIs Cope With Brain Damage
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer

This section mainly books for families of Veterans 

Helpful books for support, information, your rights and skills to help returning vets

Family Caregiving and Traumatic Brain Injury.(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Health and Social Work

Family Caregiving and Traumatic Brain Injury.(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Health and Social Work

by: Charles Edmund Degeneffe

Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and Their Families

Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and Their Families

by: Keith Armstrong, Dr. Suzanne Best, Dr. Paula Domenici

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

In Conflict: Iraq War Veterans Speak Out on Duty, Loss, and the Fight to Stay Alive

In Conflict: Iraq War Veterans Speak Out on Duty, Loss, and the Fight to Stay Alive

by: Yvonne Latty

Amazon Price: $16.32 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

War Trauma: Lessons Unlearned, From Vietnam to Iraq (HC) (A Vietnam Trilogy)

War Trauma: Lessons Unlearned, From Vietnam to Iraq (HC) (A Vietnam Trilogy)

by: Raymond Monsour Scurfield

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Psychologoical and Psychosocial Consequences of Combat and Deployment with Special Emphasis on the Gulf War (Gulf War Illnesses Series)

Psychologoical and Psychosocial Consequences of Combat and Deployment with Special Emphasis on the Gulf War (Gulf War Illnesses Series)

by: David Marlowe

Amazon Price: (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

More Books for understanding the returning soldier's issues and needs 

TBI Traumatic Brain Injury books are included as some veterans have either full TBI or mild TBI that goes undiagnosed.

It is important to get help for these conditions. Anyone who cares about veterans should be aware of these issues and assist them in getting the needed medical or psychiatric care.
VA learning module details treatment of traumatic brain inquiry.(Clinical Rounds): An article from: Family Practice News

VA learning module details treatment of traumatic brain inquiry.(Clinical Rounds): An article from: Family Practice News

Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Family Caregiving and Traumatic Brain Injury.(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Health and Social Work

Family Caregiving and Traumatic Brain Injury.(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Health and Social Work

by: Charles Edmund Degeneffe

Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

TBI: vets, VA face new war's hallmark injury.(traumatic brain injury, Department of Veterans Affairs)(Cover story): An article from: DAV Magazine

TBI: vets, VA face new war's hallmark injury.(traumatic brain injury, Department of Veterans Affairs)(Cover story): An article from: DAV Magazine

by: D. Clare

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Their Last Words: A Tribute to Soldiers Who Lost Their Lives in Iraq

Their Last Words: A Tribute to Soldiers Who Lost Their Lives in Iraq

by: George G. Sheldon

Amazon Price: (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

More Books About War- Stop The War- Some Books Here Are Written By War Soldiers 

I just added these in check them out!

The Blog of War: Front-Line Dispatches from Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan

The Blog of War: Front-Line Dispatches from Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan

by: Matthew Currier Burden

Amazon Price: $11.70 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace

Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace

Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

An Operators Manual for Combat PTSD: Essays for Coping

An Operators Manual for Combat PTSD: Essays for Coping

by: Ashley Hart II

Amazon Price: $11.65 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Items Tagged 'No More Troops', Peace, 'Stop The War', 'No Escalatation' From Cafe Press 

T-Shirts, Buttons, & Bumper Stickers

From:

US Military Veterans for Peace. "If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." -James Madison

Price: 0.00 Buy Now

...and I want them home alive Sticker (Bumper)

...and I want them home alive Sticker (Bumper)

From: CounterCultured - BlackSpot Friendly Products!

Price: 5.49 Buy Now

...and I want them home alive Sweatshirt

...and I want them home alive Sweatshirt

From: CounterCultured - BlackSpot Friendly Products!

Price: 33.99 Buy Now

NO! NO MORE TROOPS! Button

NO! NO MORE TROOPS! Button

From: BELTWAY

Price: 4.24 Buy Now

Veteran for Peace Button

Veteran for Peace Button

From: Peace Buttons, Bumper Stickers, T-shirts & Gifts

Price: 3.99 Buy Now

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Help PeaceFrog's Dad-Veterans Rights- Health Care Funding For Veterans- Share your poetry- submit poetry here- 

Share this stop the war poem- sign petition for Veteran's health care funding

Permission to repost the poem 'Soldier's Daughter' is glady granted.
Poem To Stop The War
Please include:
Title: Soldier's Daughter-War Never Ends-Peace Poem
Author: Kristin Lee-Copyright © KLH 2006
Link: http://www.squidoo.com/peacepoet
Optional request: email me to let me know about your post.

Do you have poem on this topic that you would like to share with reader online?If so Email me your poem, name, website (if you have one) contact & copyright info (if so) and state in the email that you give me permission to post your poem! I will add you poem to my Friends Of PeacePoet Webpage.

Check out more news at bottom of this lens. His health has taken a turn for the worse and I am trying to cut through 'red tape' to get him proper medical care!
Thank you for your emails, thoughts and prayers!
If you are an attorney or advocate who can help me to get legal rights and medical care for my father please email me!

Help Veterans Now - With Veteran's Day Coming Soon and the bill to fund Veteran's health care on the president's desk - now is the time to let congress know how you feel about Veteran's Health Care.
Now, it's up to the President and Congress to approve the budget. Add your name to the statement, and demand they take action. Sign The Petition HERE- Let People In Washington Know YOU care About Veterans!
From Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Fund Site:
As a recent report from the Government Accountability Office reveals, seven months have passed since the Walter Reed crisis and serious problems in veterans' care remain.
As of October 1, the veterans' budget is late. Until it is approved, the VA will be forced to ration care.

Read And Sign Petition To The VA Secretary to Increase Mental Health Staffing Please do what you can to advocate for better medical and mental health care for all Veterans.

Send me your links on these topics and I will add relevant links to this lens and myspace Click here to visit MY PeaceFrog NEW Stop The War MySpace

Click here to read my Blog
For more information read my bio in this lens. I'll be adding new links and resources regularly, if you liked this lens email it to a friend, bookmark it, & come back soon! Send me your website for possible link on this lens....& If you have ideas on how to help this personal situation or veteran's care in general email me! PeaceFrog

Listen to powerful antiwar spoken word poetry by Andrea Gibson, click on 'For Eli'

Panel supports greater disability benefits for veterans
A 25% increase is urged for lost 'quality of life."The commission report comes after the Government Accountability Office last week found that the Bush administration has yet to find clear answers to some of the worst problems afflicting wounded warriors, such as personalized medical care and reducing backlogs in disability pay" Boston Globe Article


Click here to visit Daughters Of Vietnam Veterans Against The War
"With the support from Bill Perry from the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and Cindy Sheehan. After 10 years of trying to help my Dad, who has been homeless all of my life, I wanted a place for Daughters of Vietnam Veterans to have a place, online, to meet with others and network. This site is also to encourage DOVV's and (Children of Veterans) to raise awareness and blog the true realities of having a Veteran for a Father. Since creating Daughters of Vietnam Veterans online blog I have uploaded short films, pictures, and news from around the world regarding the war in Iraq. DOVV encourages all DOVV's from all over the world to participate in our website. We have a story to tell, so that we may have a gift for Children of Veterans of the current and future wars."

Use can use this space to leave a comment for my bio-Dad, the Veteran Soldier who the poem was written for. 

Support The Troops Comments Too. I will print out the comments & he will appreciate it!

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Iraq War News, Information & Links 

Latest News & Links Here

U.S. troops in Iraq will receive at least 1,000 fewer special armored vehicles than expected this year
"It is beyond pathetic that the world's only superpower can't build, equip, and ship 2,500 vehicles that are desparately needed by our troops." read more of this blog news by Chris Jones here...
Army Suicides Highest in 26 Years
"a significant relationship between suicide attempts and number of days deployed" in Iraq, Afghanistan or nearby countries where troops are participating in the war effort, it said. The same pattern seemed to hold true for those who not only attempted, but succeeded in killing themselves."
Senator Warner Calls on Bush to Withdraw Troops
Senator John Warner, a prominent Republican and the former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has asked that President Bush consider beginning the process of withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq by Christmas
Press Explores Bush's Iraq- Vietnam Link
Read this great article for highly respected press/reporters comments on Bush's latest comments about Iraq and Vietnam...
Read Article Written By Army Sergeants -Specialists
The War As We Saw It..."As responsible infantrymen and noncommissioned officers with the 82nd Airborne Division soon heading back home, we are skeptical of recent press coverage portraying the conflict as increasingly manageable and feel it has neglected the mounting civil, political and social unrest we see every day." read more.....
Victory Is Not an Option - The Mission Can't Be Accomplished -- It's Time for a New Strategy
Washington Post: Feb 2007, an older article but worth a read! The new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq describes a war that has no chance of producing a stable liberal democracy that is pro-American.
Written by William E. Odom, a retired Army lieutenant general, was head of Army intelligence and director of the National Security Agency under Ronald Reagan. He served on the National Security Council staff under Jimmy Carter. A West Point graduate with a PhD from Columbia, Odom teaches at Yale and is a fellow of the Hudson Institute.

Google News: Iraq War 

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PeaceFrog's News 

Stop The War News- Personal News

April 23,2007: Please send thoughts and prayers- Gary who the poem was written for, has been transfered to intensive care at the VA. He had passed out at the nursing home, after complaining for weeks he was not feeling well. Among other things he needed 5 pints of IV.

May 2007: He has been sent back to medicare state nursing home....Asked VA to make sure he is cared for and have proper follow up care. He did not receive the promised follow appointments and his condition worsened. I live close to 1000 miles away and have a son to take care of and work, I cannot visit like I would like to- Nor do I have much say in his care, his is under guardianship that was put in place before I reunited with him. I need to become his guardian so I can move him closer to me and be able to see to it that he is cared for properly and legally. If you are lawyer or can pull strings to cut through red tape to make this happen- sooner than later email me!

News:
Gary- has been transferred to intensive care unit at a VA hospital.....please send prayers for his recovery,
thank you!

Good news to report- he is doing better and will go in for surgery soon. His spirits are up and we thank you for your kind emails, thoughts and prayers!

Bad news to report- he never was set up any any surgery or aftercare! He is not doing well, please send thoughts, prayers, email me a note to read to him, or leave comment in my guestbook.

Since his condition has gotten worse it is imperitive that I, as his only child, is given the right to oversee his care. If you have ability to help me cut through the 'red tape' and get him the care he needs and deserves.

JULY 2007 News: Thank you for thoughts and prayers, I am sure it all the kindness that has helped him to survive his recent ordeals. He recently was hospitalized again for diabetic retinopathy, his condition went undiagnosed until he became temporarily blind.

I am trying my best to get caught up with work and bills to make a trip out to see him and his Dr.s in August- to give them a piece of my mind! Please keep him in your thoughts and for my strength to cope with this worsening situation and help him.

I also am trying to explain to him that he and all veterans deserve good care both physical care and emotional care. He has had no therapy of any sort and has limited outdoor time- sunshine and flowers really help to keep his spirits up, when I visit we are able to sit in the courtyard, talk and get fresh air.
I made it out to see him....Photos from August visit soon to be posted on PeaceFrog's Stop The War MySpace


October 2007 NEWS: Keep prayers and get well wishes coming, they are working! My father survived a massive heart attack , he has lived for over month with less than 15% heart and kidney functioning and has not received ANY medical care for these issues! The State courts and The VA have allowed his guardian (who was removed as guardian of estate- due to unlawful use of my father's VA disablity benefits!) To remain as guardian of person and despite my motions and hearing in Ohio courts, letters to the VA etc...they are allowing my father to have no medical care & he will die with no medical helpthis is signed for by his "brother"- who is his guardian. Read more of this sad story on my myspace blog

November 2007 News: It was a long difficult month- he was over-medicated on psych drugs and in a stupor but after I raised a scene about that issue it seems his meds are lowered. The guardian will not let the doctors or nurses tell me anything! but hope lives and despite all medical odds he is still alive! He is teaching me so much through all this. It makes one wonder about the amazing power of HOPE and I thank you for all your emails and prayers!

I've been calling him, singing songs to him (he is actually that 'one in a million' that likes my singing voice,lol),sending care packages, waiting for my court transcript(it has been over 30 days and they have not sent it- despite my paying $2.50 per page up-front!) and busy writing letters to senators and the Dept Of Veteran's Affairs trying to get help for him and all Veterans.

His new 'veteran friend' from the VA visited him for Thanksgiving, even though this brave man is struggling with cancer and has waited 2 months for his first treatment- this is so wrong to put off veteran's who need healthcare so long!

When are we going to demand that failing VA system cares for Veterans? Please consider taking a moment to send a few holiday cards to Veterans or wounded soldiers at VA hospitals- see top of this page for how to do this- it will mean so much to them!!!

December 2007: I have good news!! my poem 'Lady Liberty Cries' is accepted to be published on the site: Click Here To Read My Poem At: Why Are We In Iraq Website
This comes as such good news after the past month of rough times and the fatique I have been struggling with. It gives me a boost of energy to know my poem will be read by more people and will help to raise awareness of the issues that soldiers, veterans, and their families face everyday.

The holidays are coming and he is enjoying the new place he is now living at (one success I have accomplished was to raise such a fuss he was moved to higher quality facility!) I have already been sending little gifts for him to open and have my hopes up that he will make it until Christmas! I am comforted knowing that no matter what happens I will continue to fight for Veteran's rights in his honor.

Jan 08,08 Rest In Peace
Click here to read my blog
I have set up a donation link on my latest blog with the American Veterans Foundation to honor his memory, those who wish to donate in his memory will be giving to a organization that truly helps veterans and families who are suffering. There is no better way to honor my father than to help other veterans. Please consider a donation to the American Veteran's Foundation. Read what this great organization does for Veterans and their families in my blog.

Rest In Peace - January 8, 2008 

Donate to help veterans

Rest In Peace
May 12,1944-January 8,2008
PeacePoet's Biological Father, for whom these poems where written.

Click here to read my blog
I have set up a donation link on my latest blog with the American Veterans Foundation and the IAVA to honor his memory, those who wish to donate in his memory will be giving to organizations that powerfully help veterans and families who are suffering. There is no better way to honor my father and all veterans than to give to these great organizations that help and advocate for veterans and their rights. Please consider a donation to the IAVA or The American Veterans Foundation. Read what these great organizations are doing for veterans and their families in my blog.

Go to my blog or use these direct links to the donation pages
My donation page at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

National Veterans Foundation Donation page

Thank you for your support and to all who have sent emails in these very difficult months, and for your positive thoughts and prayers.
Peace.

Stop The War Links & Interesting Resources 

I will be continually adding news and latest finds on this topic to this list.
Dick Cheney Video 1994 Going To War With Iraq
Watch this video and pass it on
Help End Dick Cheney's Quagmire in Iraq
It's clear from this video that the administration knew all along that the war would be a disaster and didn't care. The only way to stop them is through massive, organized public pressure. MoveOn is running a cutting edge organizing campaign in every congressional district to turn the tide-from Moveon.org
The Presidential Candidates on Iraq - New York Times
Concise NY Times article- candidate's position on Iraq War.
Cost of War- National Priorities Project
See the total cost live, the cost in your community or compare the cost of war to the cost of:
Public Housing
Public Education
Pre-Schools
Children's Health
College Scholarships
Information on Iraq War Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury
Since 1982, the unique role of the Brain Injury Resource Foundation (BIRF) has been to direct families toward services and resources needed to handle the physical, emotional, mental, and relational challenges endemic to brain injury.
Veterans History Project | PBS
PBS Veterans History Project

Video Of Pearl Jam's Censored Anti-Bush Lyrics On YouTube- Watch It Here 

During the live Lollapalooza Webcast of a concert by the Seattle-based super-group, the telco giant muted lead singer Eddie Vedder just as he launched into a lyric against President George Bush.

AT&T Censors Pearl Jam

AT&T's version of "Internet freedom" includes blocking out content that they don't like. As Pearl Jam said in a statement following this censorship,"What happened to us this weekend was a wake up call, and it's about something much bigger than the censorship of a rock band." Take action Now at www.SavetheInternet.com and www.futureofmusic.org

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The Doors Unknown Soldier, Live Performance YouTube Video 

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Gene Simmons Vets Tribute Video A&E 

rock n' roll for all the branches of the US Armed Forces

Watch this video today
Gene Simmons and the troops
songs of the Armed Forces and God Bless America

Gene Simmons Military Tribute

HQ Gene Simmons' military tribute with ending!-taken from his A&E show.

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curated content from YouTube

Support Daughters Of Vietnam Vets CafePress Store- Buy Great Tshirts, Mugs, Hats, Mousepads And More 

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by PeaceFrog

My biological dad was in the Vietnam War when I was born, he had no say and never signed papers for my adoption as he was at war, when he came back an...

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