Nov. 15, 2008, is a day that will live in infamy for America’s Military Veterans, as well as all patriotic Americans, because one member of the California Democratic Party blocked the “Resolution to Protect a National Sacred Trust,” which would protect and preserve the sacred land at the Los Angeles National Veterans Home, preventing it from being turned into a public park.
This noble resolution was written and sponsored by Bob Handy, the chairman of the Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party, and Sanford Cook, his vice chairman.
Correspondingly, Gen. Joseph P. Hoar (U.S. Marine Corps, ret.), the former Commander in Chief of United States Central Command, co-sponsored the resolution.
Those are very impressive credentials. Yet one member of the Party’s Resolution Committee did not consider these Veterans and their honorable duty to our country to be worthy of having their resolution discussed.
Strength in Numbers
Mr. Handy’s resolution is similar in terminology to the California American Legion’s resolution approved on behalf of its 150,000 members at this year’s State Convention.
Consequently, his resolution had the support of other prominent Veteran support organizations, including the American GI Forum of California, Veterans United for Truth, Inc., We the Veterans, the National Veterans Coalition, North Carolina Democratic Party Veterans Caucus, Veterans for Common Sense, Military Spouses For Change and others.
In addition to being supported by so many Veterans’ organization, the Handy Resolution also included endorsements from Democrats, Republicans, Independents and the Constitution Party, many whom are not even Veterans.
‘To Keep a Sacred Trust’
Lest we’ve already forgotten, President-elect Barack Obama campaigned and essentially won the general election because he promised to be a uniter by reaching across party lines for conciliatory progress.
Moreover, during a recent Veterans Day tribute, the Democratic President-elect proclaimed: “Let us rededicate ourselves to keep a sacred trust with all who have worn the uniform of the United States of America, that America will serve you as well as you have served your country.”
In spite of Bob Handy exemplifying both of the President-elect’s pledges with his resolution that unified so many Veteran organizations and included individual endorsements from members of such political diversity, the California Democratic Party undermined both pledges with one vote and disallowed Mr. Handy from even discussing the merits of this moral and responsible resolution.
Destruction of One Vote
It is common knowledge that the men and women who proudly serve our country, courageously pledge their lives to defend and protect our freedom and democracy. However, what took place last Saturday was not at all representative of the kind of democracy that America’s Veterans agreed to pledge their lives to defend.
And while it’s the Veterans who have protected our nation’s democracy over the last 232 years, in one split second, Veterans were denied the very right they have defended for others.
One Woman, One Vote
So how did the Democratic Party, once known for being unified in standing up for those who were getting knocked down, throw away such a great legacy with just one vote? It all comes down to just one woman.
In a recent article in “Veterans Today,” by fellow Veteran Rees Lloyd, headlined “Shame on VA Bureaucrats and Shame on Congressman Waxman,” Rees correctly pointed out that “Veterans Park Conservancy, which manifestly is not a veterans organization but an organization of wealthy Brentwood residents whose principal agent in advancing its own interests through arrogant manipulation has been the politically-connected Sue Young — that is, politically connected to the Westside Machine.”
Sue Young has been hellbent for the past 20 years on stopping the National Veterans Home from living up to its deeded legacy of providing a quiet haven for disabled and homeless Veterans to heal from war.
Once again she has dictated from behind-the-scenes to manipulate others into compromising their principles so that she can egregiously occupy Veterans sacred land and use it for a public park to appease her wealthy friends in West Los Angeles.
Political Machine
And who is this political Westside Machine that answers to Ms. Young?
It is an alliance of powerful Democrats that include U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, whose 30th District encompasses the National Veterans Home, U.S. Sens. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and his senior deputy Flora Krissiloff who is also a vice president of Veterans Park Conservancy, state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, state Assemblyman Michael Feuer, Los Angeles City Council members Bill Rosendahl and Jack Weiss, Brentwood Community Council president Wendy-Sue Rosen and others. Only Rosendahl is a Veteran.
Through the manipulation of this political machine and the VA bureaucrats, Ms. Young, who is not a Veteran, received a no-bid privileged lease arrangement for 16-acres of Veterans Land, “rent free,” even though the parcel is considered to be one of the most valuable on the West Coast and estimated to be worth $1 billion.
On the flip side of this billion-dollar coin, Veterans receive absolutely nothing while their healthcare needs continue to go under-funded.
Unprecedented Compromises
When Ms. Young was asked in the November 2007 issue of the Brentwood News how she was able to essentially expropriate this 16-acre parcel of Veterans’ land “rent-free” for a public park, she responded:
“Because this arrangement was unprecedented, it required lengthy discussions and compromises with the Veterans Administration in Los Angeles and Washington. The agreement also called for approvals at the highest levels, i.e., Secretary Nicholson, and the involvement of the Congressional delegation.”
As witnessed last Saturday, Ms. Young once again manipulated the politicians of the Westside Machine to compromise their principles and bow to the pressure of satisfying her selfish “wants” while disrespecting and disregarding the best interests and healthcare “needs” of America’s Military Veterans.
Broken Promises
What’s at stake here is the Veterans’ Promised Land that was specifically and patriotically deeded on March 3, 1888, to be permanently maintained as a National Home for all who honorably serve our country as a quiet place to heal from war. For more than a century, every generation of America’s citizenry honored this promise until recent years.
In a letter dated Sept. 7, 2007, to the Wall Street Journal, Congressman Waxman stated that he has the facts about the Veterans land by declaring “the national soldier homes were for disabled and homeless war veterans.” He underscores this truth by stating “the legal deed requires that the federal government maintain the property permanently for veterans.”
Here is one of Congress’s most senior lawmakers, a lawyer, declaring in writing that the legal deed is the law of this sacred land. He further stipulates that it requires the federal government to permanently maintain this sacred land for disabled and homeless Veterans.
Why, then, are there still 20,000 homeless Veterans in Los Angeles, even though this is their rightful and legal home?
While these defenders of America’s freedom live imprisoned on the dangerous streets of Los Angeles, Congressman Waxman and the California Democratic Party gave their blessing for a public park instead of providing a safe shelter for America’s Veterans.
To be continued
Mr. Rosebrock is U.S. Army Veteran, Vietnam War-era, HQ USARHAW, Schofield Barracks. He is Co-Director of We the Veterans and Director of The Veterans Revolution, and a member of the American Legion Press Assn. He may be contacted at dutyscalling@aol.com
