Letters to the editor

No parade expected

Regarding "No parade for troops" (Letters, July 9): I don't know what Navy ships Fred Jacobsen has been welcoming home, but I can assure you as a retiree from the Navy and as a Navy spouse, that the presence of a military band is exceedingly rare.

Short cruises are basically normal operations to prepare for larger extended cruises; in other words, normal work. No fanfare is required (or desired, because it takes longer to get off the ship.)

Deployments of six months or longer do get more hoopla that is usually arranged by the spouses' club associated with that particular ship. If it's a good active club that works well together, the welcome home can be very impressive indeed. The Department of Defense has more pressing matters than arranging welcome-home bashes. For obvious reasons, the general public usually is not aware that a battle group or ship is returning until a day or two before its arrival. That makes it a little hard to get the hoopla together.

In the grand scheme of things, most military members would just as soon skip all the ruffles and flourishes so they can be with their families sooner. The nicest thing a civilian can do is say "thank you" to anyone they know who is serving or ever has served in the military. Believe me, we do appreciate it.

MARY DUGAN

Seffner

Help homeless vets

In response to citizens neglecting to recognize our returning Iraq troops with a welcome home greeting at airports, I wholeheartedly agree that we should show homage to these brave and fearless heroes.

The worst tragedy exists only hours after they return. The greatest travesty is the disabled veterans who are confronted with issues of how they will support themselves and how they are going to procure housing.

These soldiers are returning with serious injuries, and although James Haley VA Hospital renders exceptional medical services, the VA does not provide housing.

It has been estimated that 23 percent of the homeless population in America are veterans. Contrary to the perceptions that our returning veterans are well-supported, many go without the services they need due to a lack of governmental resources. These soldiers served our country, fought for our independence and today have fallen victim to homelessness. Their spirits are broken, and they have exhausted all reasonable alternatives that will address their immediate financial and/or residential needs.

For that reason, Liberty Manor for Veterans, Inc. (10015 N. 9th Street, Tampa), has pioneered a supported housing program to promote the developmental and social needs of the homeless veteran population designed to contribute to self-sufficiency. Liberty Manor receives no funding from grants, thus we are solely dependant upon private funding.

We encourage citizens to visit the first program of its kind and meet some of the veterans who reside there. This initiative offers us a grand opportunity to pay homage in a significant way. Sponsorships serve to strengthen our community and provide our deserving veterans with some of the basic resources and services that will make a positive difference in their future.

CONNIE BLANEY

Tampa

Fight socialized care

This is for those who think the government should control our health care.

If you are dying to have national health care, you might if it is put into place. I don't understand how this administration thinks that fashioning America into a government-controlled country will make America better. It will make America poor to mediocre.

If only a limited amount of money is available, and that money is being printed without backing or borrowed from China, what makes you think every living body in America, legal or otherwise, will receive top-notch health care such as members of Congress do? If you believe this, you must have been one of the ones who thought you could have a mansion for nothing.

A national health care system controlled by government is not based on compassion. The idea is for quantity at the least cost. That means exclusions.

Do your research. Don't let any more of our freedoms be taken from us.

LYNN ROWE

Tampa