Mr. Rosebrock and his camp maintain that Mr. Waxmans proposal would promote what they regard as the further desecration of the grounds of aggrieved Veterans. The Waxman measure calls for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress providing a master plan for the use of the West Los Angeles Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and for other purposes.
Sacriligious, says Veterans, asserting that the grounds are theirs alone, not for the world to divvy up and play with.
Answering the Congressman
Aroused, Mr. Rosebrock and Marine Veteran Francisco Juarez, former president of Citizens for Veterans Rights, have co-authored a counter measure (displayed at the end of this story) that they hope will flatten Mr. Waxmans proposal.
Friends say that Mr. Rosebrocks zeal for his fairly private and uncrowded mission swells by the day. I am just trying to bring back respect for our Veterans, Mr. Rosebrock said. For many, being a Veteran is their greatest pride. It is the only thing they have left in life.
Calling them vets is not an acceptable term. American Citizen and Military Veteran are two very proud titles. Without our Veterans, we would not be Citizens.
Special Property
Sacred land is how Veterans see the sprawling campus.
The grant deed of 1888, according to a centurys worth of interpretation, figuratively walled off this plot from all other land in Los Angeles County. In perpetuity, this was to be a private, preserved, inviolable destination for all American militaryVeterans ever in need.
By the reading of Mr. Rosebrock and others dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the National Home and the rest of the grounds, attitudinal changes that swept across American society in the 1980s and 90s loosened the rigidity of the countrys commitment.
With the unraveling of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, the shining armour that military Veterans of an earlier era wore, became tarnished then tattered. No longer was or is? it prestigious for a Veteran to assert his status.
Bringing Back What Was
Enter Mr. Rosebrock.
He only took up the cause of preservation of the National Home last year. But he has fervently committed every day since to his objective.
Sometimes his self-assigned task feels like jelly that runs, or like trapping a cloud of smoke with one hand in a windstorm.
A sometimes-shy businessman but not even vaguely bashful fellow when his cause is threatened, Mr. Rosebrock speaks with an air of authority that demands a listeners monopolized attention.
Saving the National Veterans Home is about honoring the deed of 1888, he says.
Remember 1888
Tall and broad-shouldered, Mr. Rosebrock lifts the full force of a spoken word from the ground and fires it at his audience with the authority of a cannon shot.
Well aware of the reverence and respect Americans hold for events of the past the farther back the better he means to burn a single fact, 1888, into their minds.
When an audience leaves, as far as he is concerned, if it only recalls 1888 from his save-the-Home talk, that should be enough to gain new and badly needed support for the cause.
Deed Was Clear
The deed of 1888, Mr. Rosebrock says, was very specific about providing a permanent home for those who were at that time called disabled soldiers.
When the deed was written, the property was selected for its privacy and its isolation as a nice, safe haven. The surrounding area was nothing like the busy, built-up place it is today.
The principle of the deed has remained the same until, in recent years, they decided to interpret things a little differently.
Convulsive change rumbled onto and through the huge property.
When I say they decided to interpret the deed differently, Mr. Rosebrock said, I mean Members of Congress and different Presidents. They have decided there is unused land that they should do something about, lease it or do something to generate revenue. They are talking about $5 million a year, which represents less than 1 percent of the Veterans budget.
Missteps Abound
This is what they have done to generate new money. They have leased the grounds to an entertainment group in a no-bid deal. They have put in renovations at the Wadsworth Theatre and the Brentwood Theatre. I guess they also gave them a concession on the land around there. Not long ago, they had a big expo on the grounds, which Mr, Rosebrock regarded as sacrilegious.
The expo made a swap meet look like Rodeo Drive, he said. Just pathetic. This kind of thing goes on frequently.
Admittedly, Mr. Rosebrock concedes, such a flashy event generates millions of dollars.
When It Comes to Divying
The tragedy is that the Veterans Administration only gets back a pittance of these millions. It would be different if the V.A. hired a manager to do what the entertainment group is doing. But the guys in the entertainment group pay themselves big fat salaries.
Apparently, Mr. Rosebrock begins, with all of the skepticism he can muster, the entertainment group has a profit-sharing arrangement.
In the entertainment industry, you know, there is no such thing as profit. At the end of the day, they say, Here is your share, a buck-98. Now get out of my way while I get in my limo. Im outta here. And away they go to Malibu or Aspen.
That is precisely what is going on over there. Somebody is getting a lot of money, and it isnt the Veterans. The Veterans are getting nothing in return.
Challenging Waxman
Mr. Rosebrock dialed up the newest and potentially most nefarious villain, Congressman Waxman, a veteran of 33 years in Washington.
The National Home is in the heart of Waxmans district, Mr. Rosebrock said. If a man as powerful as Waxman cannot generate $5 million without prostituting the land, something is wrong.
Look at it this way. You can drive by or drive through the grounds of the Veterans Home. There are plenty of buildings there, and a hospital, too. An ordinary person could look around and say, A lot of wasted land.
No Howl vs. Big Howl
Yet if you went a mile down the street, to the Brentwood Country Club, took down the canvas, cut down some trees and put a street through there, the reaction would be phenomenal. What a waste of property there. It is. An 18-hole golf course.
Without awaiting a reaction from millions of golfers, he kept right on moving.
We have a problem, Mr. Rosebrock said. Everybody knows it.
They I mean Waxman and Sen. Feinstein, who put together this little hocus-pocus bill that says no future development keep trying to appease the Veterans. But they dont want to address existing leases. There are so many loopholes in Waxmans bill, it is pathetic.
Hearkening to the 19th Century
Because of the terms of the 1888 deed which Mr. Rosebrock calls ironclad, absolute stands staunchly opposed to any type of leasing to outside parties, such as the entertainment group of which he was so critical.
As Veterans, he says, we have an enormous responsibility. Every generation since 1888 has passed this on. We have no idea what the future holds.
Los Angeles National Veterans Home Land Preservation Act of 2007
Promises to Keep
More than 120 years ago, landowners Arcadia Bandini Stearns de Baker and Senator John Percival Jones had the foresight and wisdom to understand that America would always require a strong and vigilant military to protect our many freedoms and unparalleled way of life. Like Plato, (c. 429 – c. 347 BC) they understood that Only the dead have seen the end of war. Consequently, they intuitively knew that protecting America without human casualties, particularly the infliction of physical and psychological harm to its brave defenders, would be virtually impossible. Thus, with a patriotic vision centuries into the future, their benevolent land grant in 1888 was deeded with the resolute promise that those who dutifully and honorably defended our country would always have a permanent place to call Home. Correspondingly, our government’s token of gratitude, on behalf of We the People, was an unequivocal promise to provide America’s military Veterans with the very best of medical care and rehabilitative services. Unfortunately, these promises have not always been honored, and the following Legislative Document stipulates and ensures that these promises hereon out will always be kept.
A Bill:
In accordance with the Land Grant Deed of 1888, which was patriotically bequeathed and faithfully entrusted to the United States Government on behalf of America’s Military Veterans, this Bill reconfirms and reestablishes the following:
1) This Document of Congressional Legislation protects all land conveyed under the 1888 Land Grant Deed and guarantees its unconditional enforcement and preservation. Accordingly, the Deeded land shall be permanently maintained with the same fundamental principles and patriotic spirit that it was so generously donated by the Grantors, Arcadia Bandini Stearns de Baker and Senator John Percival Jones, to provide a permanent National Home to care for America’s Military Veterans.
2) The Deeded land west of the 405 freeway and north and south of Wilshire Boulevard shall be officially and respectfully called the “Los Angeles National Veterans Home,” hereinafter referred to as the “Home.” It is with full and absolute understanding that the Home shall be permanently maintained for the specific and exclusive purpose of benefiting all Military Veterans of all official Branches of the United States Armed Forces, hereinafter “Veterans.” 3) The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, hereinafter referred to as the “VA,” is the authorized steward and fiduciary administrator for the Home and its responsibilities shall be for the sole purpose of preserving the land while simultaneously providing quality medical, rehabilitative and preventative healthcare facilities and services for Veterans, and maintaining quality upkeep of the Home and its hallowed grounds.
4) Specifically, the Deed is inviolable and nonnegotiable. Therefore, it must be honored in perpetuity without compromise. Consequently, under no circumstances shall the VA, or any other government agency or entity, including but not necessarily limited to, any elected representative(s), hired or appointed employees, agents or officials of the federal, state or local government, lease, loan, share, exchange, trade, auction, sell, encumber, or otherwise reduce, diminish or dispose of any piece or parcel of this land and its improvements, including but not necessarily limited to, air, mineral and petroleum rights, to any outside source(s) for any purpose(s) whatsoever. Absolutely no term or condition in this Legislation allows for the Deed to be negotiated benefiting any other parties other than for the 100% direct and sole benefit and needs of Veterans.
5) Any and all existing land or building leases, including but not necessarily limited to, air, mineral, petroleum and structural improvement agreements of any nature or kind whatsoever, which are now in effect or existence or in process of negotiation, that are not specifically Veteran related, are in violation of the Deed and shall be terminated forthwith and all rights and benefits shall fully and exclusively revert back under the stewardship of the VA and be permanently maintained to serve Veterans needs and benefits only. All non-Veteran lessees, sub-lessees or other non-Veteran inhabitants must vacate the property post haste. Absolutely no term or condition in this Legislation allows for the Deeded land and appurtenances thereupon to be negotiated with any other parties whatsoever, other than for the full and direct benefit of America’s Veterans.
6) The Home shall be permanently maintained and deemed as a safe haven and “Home” to all Veterans. Accordingly, The Home must always be readily available for any individual Veteran to be cordially welcomed with the immediate availability of professional, courteous and conscientious medical and rehabilitative healthcare services and treatment.
7) The United States Government and the VA shall never underfund the operating budget for the Home and must permanently maintain a policy of mandatory funding in order to provide quality medical, rehabilitative and preventative healthcare facilities and services, including, but not necessarily limited to, providing quality upkeep throughout all land conveyed under the Deed of 1888.
8) Historically, the Home has had a Veteran as its Chief Administrator and respectively called “Governor.” In keeping with this proud heritage and to ensure that a spirit of understanding, cooperation and camaraderie is always present, the Chief Administrator must be a Veteran of high moral standards who is devoted to the needs of the Veterans at large, and the rank-and-file in particular, and is wholly dedicated to serving their best interests first and foremost. In addition, he or she must not be preempted or distracted with the wants and desires of surrounding communities, special interest groups and commercial enterprise, nor bow to the dictates of political pressure when it comes to permanently maintaining quality care and services for Veterans and quality upkeep of the Home and its hallowed grounds.
9) As originally envisioned by the Grantors of the 1888 Land Deed, the legacy of the Home is that after honorably serving our country in the Military, disabled Veterans lived on these therapeutical grounds and became independent and self-sufficient while maintaining upkeep of the Home through farming, gardening, carpentry and other skilled trades that made them proud and productive individuals. The guiding model for the medical and rehabilitative services for Veteran patients at the Home, where physically and mentally possible, must adhere to a policy that maintains similar self-sufficient programs, self-sustaining activities, are holistic in nature and wholesome to the degree that patients will have the opportunity to learn a rewarding and gainful trade or profession, or how to become self-employed as an entrepreneur, while being respectfully rehabilitated. Accordingly, and upon immediate passage of this Legislation, the VA shall begin providing full therapeutic value by expanding upon, maintaining and perpetuating the natural open space, the flora and fauna, and, the gainful inclusion of Veteran patients in any and all restoration and maintenance projects at the Home and throughout the grounds.
10) As steward for the Home, the VA, along with the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, hereinafter “VAGLAHS,” shall work in a cooperative alliance with a Veterans Oversight Board, herein referred to as “VOB,” and made up of local Veterans that shall be judiciously and evenly selected from independent Veterans, Veteran advocate organizations, and Veteran Service Organizations. Their responsibilities shall be to oversee, monitor, report and advise on the day-to-day operations at the Home, thereby ensuring that the Deed is fully honored and that the VA and VAGLAHS are providing permanent quality care and services for all Veterans at the Home. The VOB shall have full access to the operating budget and its day-to-day expenditures to ensure that there is no waste, neglect or fraud. In the event of unresolved issues that would upset the sanctity, quietude and general flow of rehabilitative efforts at the Home, the VOB will have direct and immediate reporting access to the offices of the Inspector General, the Senator, and Congressperson whose venue this land is within.
11) The sanctity and integrity of the Home must never be compromised. This is historic and hallowed land with a proud tradition and must be perpetually protected and maintained with the highest regard and the utmost of safety, dignity, respect and decorum. Accordingly, and upon passage of this Legislation, all public access and thoroughfares shall be terminated and thereafter prohibited on and throughout the grounds of the Home, and nobody except Veterans, VA employees, and those on official Veterans business shall be authorized to enter these revered grounds. Correspondingly, a guardhouse shall be erected at each entry into the grounds and a sentinel or federal police shall be posted to monitor and facilitate ingress and egress of the Home.
12) The Deeded land east of the 405 freeway and north of Wilshire Boulevard shall be officially and respectfully called the “Los Angeles National Veterans Cemetery,” herein referred to as the “Cemetery.” Because of its near full capacity, the Cemetery no longer accepts ground burials for Veterans. Therefore, in order to continue honoring the remains of America’s Veterans, the VA shall design, develop and maintain a Veteran’s Memorial Columbarium for ashes in cremation urns. The VA shall diligently seek to expand the Cemetery burial grounds along with mausoleum entombment wherever possible, including at the Home grounds west of the 405 freeway, if any portions of that land are no longer necessary or required for medical, rehabilitative or preventative healthcare services.
13) This bill shall supersede any and all previous bills or Congressional Documents of Legislation pertaining to the enforcement of the inviolable rights of the 1888 Grant Deed. Furthermore, there shall be no other Congressional or Senatorial bills attached to this document of Legislation for passage, nor shall this Legislation be attached to any other Congressional or Senatorial bill for passage. More specifically, this bill shall stand independent on its own merit with absolutely no conditions, compromises, provisions or modifications, except for implementing further considerations that can improve and enhance the sole and specific purpose of benefiting America’s Military Veterans.
