July 11, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA PAYS TRIBUTE TO CANADA’S FALLEN AT THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS NATIONAL WALL OF REMEMBRANCE

July 12, 2010 Colonel Stephen LaPlante made Korean War Veterans a top priority

July 14, 2010 Tories mull shrinking Veterans Affairs as old soldiers fade away

July 21, 2010 Minister Kim Yang, who heads Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, prepared a letter of appreciation

July 26, 2010 Don’t abandon vets

July 27 Korean War vets finally get recognition

July 27, 2010 Korean War day honours veterans

August 18, 2010 Republic of Korea Navy ships visit North Vancouver to commemorate 60th anniversary of the Korean War

August 24, 2010 Firing of Ombudsman sends shock waves through Veteran communities

August 24, 2010 Federal Government is not taking adequate steps to help our troops

August 30, 2010

The column below is republished from the Victoria Times Colonist, highly respected daily newspaper that is published in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Canada’s Veterans Ombudsman Pat Stogran wrote it in an appeal to garner support for Canada’s veterans. A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, Stogran retired as a colonel from the Canadian Forces after more than 30 years of service. In 2002 he led the 3rd Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group into Afghanistan and was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for his leadership.

Pat Stogran in action in Afghanistan

It's time we stood up for Canada's veterans

By PAT STOGRAN, Special to Times Colonist

Since the news conference that I held last week to expose the truth on veterans' issues, the grassroots outpouring of support from veterans and Canadians to fix the problems and provide veterans with the support they need has been overwhelming.

This is the same grassroots response that united Canadians to create the Highway of Heroes and to step out, thank and support our service personnel. Canadians might not agree on why their sons and daughters are fighting in far-off lands, but there is no lack of fervour when it comes to their support for the troops and their families.

The silence has been broken. Veterans are speaking out after years of silently fighting with a system that is not effectively meeting their needs, and they are being heard.

The fact that so many Canadians have become engaged in this debate shows that veterans' issues matter deeply to them.

It is time for government action.

Veterans are woven into the fabric of Canadian society. It is important how they are treated, not only because of our obligation to them, but also because of the associated long-term social and national security implications.

If military members are not effectively re-integrated into society after their service, it can have significant impact on our social, health and justice systems.

In addition, if Canadians see that veterans aren't being treated fairly, they might hesitate to join the military. An effective military needs the country's best and brightest.

Many veterans are struggling to get the services they need. It is widely recognized that the system is broken. We send our military and police into harm's way and when they come back sick, injured and wounded, the system makes them jump through hoops to get benefits and often treats them as if they are trying to get something that they do not deserve. This has to stop.

The system controls access to all information, adjudicates in secret, communicates infrequently and in a language that only a government lawyer can understand and then sets up an equally convoluted and secretive appeal process to address unfair departmental practices.

There is no impetus to change the system from within.

The original design of the ombudsman's office was set up to address complaints, not to address systemic issues. No wonder the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman has had so little success in trying to make substantive changes and veterans are speaking out. Now is the time for change.

Veterans need your support. Although much of what needs to be done is rooted in the legislative process, it is the culture of the system that develops and implements legislation and regulations that really needs to be changed.

The only way this is going to happen is if Canada's parliamentarians realize that this issue is significant and urgent and Canadians want it addressed now.

Get involved. Let your MPs and senators know how you feel. And make your views on how to support veterans clearly known. Make them accountable.

Our mothers and fathers and sons and daughters have sacrificed themselves and their families in the service of their country so that you can have the freedom to choose the government and issues that need to be addressed.

Our soldiers, sailors, air personnel and police have stood up for us; it is now time for us to stand up for them.

Above article provided courtesy of the Korean War Veteran, koreavetnews@aol.com