VETERANS LAND IS FOR VETERANS USE ONLY!

by Robert Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired

Though my focus is primarily on ending the Iraq War and voicing opposition to escalation of war in South West Asia without full National Commitment and mobilization for escalation (meaning THE DRAFT), another issue had come to my attention that I’m signing onto.

My long time friend and fellow Veterans/Military Family advocate, Navy retiree Bob Handy, out in California asked me to join in this effort and bring it to the attention of those who not only question war but also question how our Veterans are treated when they come home. Regardless our diverse views recognizing those who served with dignity and respect due is NON-NEGOTIABLE.

This is a national, state, and local LAND USE issue when property has been set aside by cities, counties, states, or the federal government for the exclusive intend of serving or honoring America’s Veterans. What ever our difference of opinion or views on war, to ignore that ALL VETERANS must be honored who chose to wear our nation’s uniform, as the Veterans Day Slogans tell us, begins with sharing land set aside for US with the vast majority of citizens who choose NOT TO SERVE.

https://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4007

Regardless or views on war or political affiliation/ideology, their is COMMON GROUND among America’s Veterans and Military Families otherthan being in a MINORITY GROUP. The vast majority of Americans not only do not want to do what we do, but now they even want to put an economic price tag on land set aside for VETERANS.

Though this issue pertains (FOR NOW) to California, I ask readers to take a closer look at the National implications of this considering the collective WE only make up about one percent of the American population. What is going down in California had implications for land that could be put at better use to expand Veterans Hospitals or even to ensure adequate sacred ground for those who have served by expanding National Cemetary property INSTEAD of a land grab disguised as shared use with some Conservation group.

Finally, I ask you to read this resolution coming out of Congressman Henry Waxman’s district in California and join those like me who already have signed on AND be prepared to take up such activism in your town, city, county, state, and at National level across the nation.

Bob Handy brought this to my attention, but let me make it clear WE do not share all points of view on WAR nor who does the fighting and dying. However, that’s not the POINT nor FOCUS.

Robert L. Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
Military Families Speak Out-OHIO
Speaking Only For MYSELF

I agree with Bob Handy that the Veterans Park Conservancy (VPS) may have good intentions, and being that Veterans and Military Families are in a vulnerable minority group WE cannot afford to alienate the vast majority of those American citizens who chose not to serve but do honestly honor and respect those of us who do.

The Veterans Park Conservancy (VPS) of Los Angeles, CA has done some good things for Veterans, that is undeniable but then because any non-Veterans/Military Family groups has done good things, does not necessarily result in improvement or benefit to ALL AMERICA’s VETERANS. This is a pure and simple a land grab by people in some of the richest (Beverly
Hills, Brentwood) zip codes in the nation.

The history of issue is long. The property has been chopped up for commercial use over the years. Rest assured that if this was for the exclusive good of the Veterans it would be acceptable, and every Veterans Organization not only in the LA area but California and the nation would be for it.

Unfortunately it is to the determent of Veterans. Those who have served the nation in uniform are fighting some of the richest people in the nation, that also make this a National Veterans Issue not a local or state of California issue. Though the land value certainly makes a distinction from most other states or locals, this property set aside for Veterans is estimated at $1 Billion or more, and it is being given to Veterans Park Conservancy at no cost for a 20 year lease with 10 year options.

As a Military Historian with a college degree in both History and Preservation, I know conservancy when I see it. I’ve been a member of the Civil War Preservation Association (CVPA) for years, and our mission was to purchase and provide care and protection of smaller American Civil War battlefields and monuments that were not under National Park Service Protection, so I an definitely not down on conservancy or even shared use with the general public.

However, I’m also sensitive when I use the Dayton VA Medical Center here in Ohio of its historic significance and value. The vast grounds of the Dayton VAMC are not as valuable in today’s dollars as any land in California, but the historic value is pricesless. The Dayton VA was one of the first Veterans Hospitals in the nation after the Civil War. It was exclusively for Veterans of the Union Army who served in the Western Theater of War or Army of the Cumberland. It was run as a Soldiers Home right up until the turn of the century. There is a sort of Museum at the Dayton VAMC that show pictures of the Old Veterans of the Civil War, but also highlights the vast gardens and grounds that were favored picnic spots of the elite of Dayton Society during the Victorian Era. Trolley Cars used to have their End of the Line at the Dayton Soldiers Home way before the horseless carriage became a common place commodity thanks to Henry Ford.

My fellow Veterans, with the coming of mass transportation, and a so-called classless society, the desire to share those gardened ground with Veterans of the Civil War died out and faded as they did.

Do you want to know what those gardens and remaining monuments to a war that tore our nation apart are now – today. Those Victorian Era parks and gardens for the wealthy and subsidised by the aristocracy before the federal government moved in became part of the Department of Veterans Affairs Cemetary system.

Unless someone can prove we mistaken, the last I heard was that our nation’s National Cemetary system was in short supply of space to lay our remaining Veterans to rest. Given the newest generation of Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, combined with the remaining Greatest Generation, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans passing in record numbers the passionate need for hallowed ground is more than the nation can place any price tag on be it in Ohio, California, or Florida.

We Americans by cutlure and otherwise just do not like to think about nor plan for DEATH. It is just not the American way. The Funeral Director Industy knows that and take advantage of that lack of planning.

My focus is not on turning land set aside for Veterans in LA or anywhere else into cemetaries, I’m making the point that there is better use to which land intended for and to honor and respect our Veterans can be put to better use, and if some Conservation group wants to contribute to that effort fine.

Here are some other examples, the Dayton VAMC makes use of every historic building on campus for the full benefit of Veterans to include Homeless Veterans. Not ony are there Homeless Shelters on campus, but most moral support facitilies one finds on a active duty military base can be found on the Dayton VAMC including a Theather and BX/PX type set up, a library, and so on.

If the Veterans Park Conservancy Group in California or anywhere else seriously wants to share respect and honor for America’s Veterans in a meaningful way, I for one invite their members to come visit the historic grounds of the Dayton VAMC and see how they are use, then return to California or whereever with a meaningful plan for Conserving the Land for America’s Veterans to be shared with the general public without any pricetag on it.

I realise this was my long winded way of advocating what my comrade in the War for Veterans Rights and Recognition, Bob Handy wants to do to ensure that Veterans’ Land is For Veterans Use Only.

Be patient with me a bit longer as I describe the details of this resolution/petition to ensure that Veterans’ Land is only for Veterans Use. I now turn the floor over to Bob Handy.

Fellow vets….(regardless of your political affiliation this is a non-partisan issue) If you would sign on as a co-sponsor of our petition/resolution that will be presented to California Democratic Party politicians concerned, I would appreciate it. Below is the history followed by the resolution. The resolution was killed by one member of the Party on the technicality of being a late resolution. However, WE intend keeping this resolution alive and front and center to ensure land intended for the use of America’s Veterans remains so.

As you can see by those supporting this resolution, it has national support and crosses party lines.

Please just email me back with your name and AD as soon as you can. My email address is: [email protected]

Robert Handy

Resolution to Protect a National Sacred Trust

The 388 acres known as the Los Angeles National Veterans Home was given as Gift to the United States government from John P. Jones and Arcadia de Baker on March 3, 1888. The Deed of 1888 states six different times that this land is to be permanently maintained as a National Home for America’s Veterans.

For over a century, every generation of America’s citizenry and the politicians entrusted as stewards of this hallowed ground honored the Deed of 1888. However, in recent years the VA bowed from pressure of the wealthy and powerful members of the neighboring Brentwood community to lease parcels of this land for special interests.

This includes 21 acres to Brentwood School, one of the most expensive private schools in the nation, for an athletic field; leasing two Veterans theaters to a Hollywood/New York entertainment group for a public cultural center, leasing numerous buildings to UCLA for "research," leasing more than 10 acres to Enterprise Car Rental and Tumbleweed buses for vehicle storage, leasing the rights to an oil well to a private concern, Breitburn Energy, with the royalties going to the Department of Interior.

Recently, the VA agreed to lease 16 acres of Veterans land at the corner Wilshire and San Vicente Boulevards, considered to be worth nearly one billion dollars, to a wealthy special interest community group for a public park, "rent free."

This land was deeded specifically as a "National Veterans Home," yet there are more than 20,000 homeless Veterans in Los Angeles. (That’s not counting the thousands of Homeless Veterans throughout California and the nation). In brief, there should never be a homeless Veteran, because this is their "Home."

Veterans need to unite and take back this land and demand that our government honor its moral promise to care for those who must heal from defending the freedom and democracy of others. Accordingly, it must honor the patriotic and moral principles of the Deed of 1888.

This land is under the stewardship of the 30th U.S. Congressional District, Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman’s District, which he has represented over the past 35 years. It is imperative that Congressman Waxman decides if he is looking out for Veterans "needs and interests" or the "wants" of non-Veterans residing on one of the wealthiest Zip Codes in the nation.

Veterans across America please unite to support this Resolution to "Save Our Veterans Land." Veteran unity will be required across the nation for your town, city, or state Veterans Home could be next up for grabs.

Robert L. Rosebrock
Co-Director, We the Veterans
Director, The Veterans Revolution

---

Resolution to Protect a National Sacred Trust

Whereas the property on which the Los Angeles National Veterans Home is located was irrevocably deeded to the nation 120 years ago by John P. Jones and Arcadia de Baker as a place dedicated for the “sole purpose of providing veterans a place to heal from war”; and

Whereas the Department of Veteran Affairs has awarded rent-free occupancy for 20 years of a 16-acre portion of that land to the Veterans Park Conservancy, not a veterans organization but a local community organization, for use, in the Conservancy’s words, “for the enjoyment and education of the entire community”; and

Whereas a public park, despite its value to the whole community, is inconsistent with the exclusive use for veterans envisioned by the donors, and the trust conveyed in their deed to the United States.

Therefore Be It Resolved that the California Democratic Party joins The American Legion, Veterans United for Truth, Inc., the National Veterans Coalition, the Gathering of Eagles, We the Veterans, and the American GI Forum, Military Spouses For Change, Veterans For Common Sense, among others, along with hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families, to support an immediate halt to any giveaway of any of the Los Angeles National Veterans Home property, either to a non-veterans organization or for any non-veteran-related purpose, and the revocation of any extant agreement to do so; and

Be it further resolved that the California Democratic Party convey this resolution to US Representative Henry Waxman (D CA-30), in whose district the property falls, and Representative Bob Filner (D CA-51), the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, post haste.

• Sanford Cook LTCOL US Army Ret, 33rd AD Veterans Caucus
• Bob Handy HMC USN Ret Director Region 10 Veterans Caucus
• Senator Art Torres (Ret) Chair CDP
• General Joseph P Hoar USMC Ret, 39th SD
• Russ Weed LTCOL USAF Ret33rd AD Veterans Caucus
• Vitali Mostovoj LTCOL USAF Ret 37th AD Veterans Caucus
• George Giacoppi LTCOL US Army Ret, 67th AD Veterans Caucus
• Tom Mullins Veteran, 37th AD Veterans Caucus
• Roger Hart Veteran 33rd AD Veterans Caucus
• Bob Manley Veteran, 47th AD, Past Director Region 14 RD,
• Lucy Sells, 14th AD, Veterans Caucus
• Joyce Howerton 33rd AD Former Mayor of Lompoc Ca
• Bob Manley Veteran,Past Regional Director CDP
• Vialali Mostovoj 37th AD LTCOL USAF Ret
• Jim Hensley 35th AD, USAF Ret
• Donald Katz 37th AD, Veteran
• Don Bustany Veteran Democrat
• Bill Hillbrandt 37thAD Veteran, Democrat
• Gilberto Flores Veteran Garden Grove,
• James McIntyre, Veteran, Calif Democrat
• Dennis O’Dell, 36th CD, Past Chair Veterans Caucus
• Willie Galvan 33rd AD, Veteran Chair American GI Forum*
• Helen Galvan 33rd AD Secretary American GI Forum*
• Francisco Juarez Veteran, Co-Director, We the Veterans*
• Past President, Citizens For Veterans Rights*
• Sharon Hillbrandt 37th AD Non Veteran Democrat
• Ferial Masry 37th AD Non Veteran Democrat
• Richard Berger Non-Veteran Democrat
• Larry Cardenas Veteran Democrat
• Hank Papeika 37th AD Veteran Democrat
• Jon S. Levinson 21st AD, Veterans caucus
• Thomas P. O’Shaughnessy, Veteran, Chair Irish American Caucus
• Brian Hartness, Veteran 11th AD Veterans Caucus
• Lester Thresher, Veteran 35th AD Democrat
• Michael Burtch , 26 AD, Veterans Caucus
• Ron Dexter, 35th AD, Veteran, Dmocrat
• Richard Coleman 245 Atlantic Dr. Rio Vista CA 94571 Viet Nam Vet
• Michael Burtch Veteran Democrat 26 AD American G I Forum
• North Carolina Democratic Party Veterans Caucus
• Veterans For Common Sense
• Military Spouses For Change
• Rick Zeidell, North Carolina Democratic Veterans’ Caucus*
• Phil Leslie, Major USMC Ret North Carolina Democratic Veterans’ Caucus*
• Beth Berman, North Carolina Democratic Veterans’ Caucus*
• John Stanley, North Carolina Democratic Veterans’ Caucus*
• Russ Brown, North Carolina Democratic Veterans’ Caucus*
• Sharon Musgrave, Veteran Ohio
• Sharon Lynne, Veteran Ohio
• Lee Kniess, Veteran, Ohio Democratic Party
• Mike Nolan, Veteran Kentucky, DNC Veterans and Military Families*
• Rim Bajoraitis, Veteran, Federal Way Washington, Democrat
• Fred Allingham, Union Veteran, PA
• Melvin Lee Lowry US Army Veteran democrat CA 24, AD 37
• Carissa Picard, President Military Spouses for Change*
• Paul Sullivan, Veteran, Director Veterans for Common Sense*
• Robert L. Rosebrock, 30th CD, Veteran Independent
• David C. Crowley, Veteran 33rd CD, Republican
• Duane Buckley, 27th AD, Veteran Republican Conservative
• Richard Breithaupt, Veteran Republican
• Newton W Young, Veteran, Republican
• David Bischoff, Veteran, Republican
• Betty Michaels, Veteran, Independent
• Steven Palmer, Pres Veterans Coalition, Republican
• June Griffin, non veteran, Republican, Tennessee
• Lady Cage-Barile Non-Veteran, 47th AD, Republican
• Duane Buckley Veteran, USAF, 27th CD, Republican
• Gloria Manciocchi
• Stuart Sheslow, Non Vet, Republican, Los Angeles Ca, 90035
• Jay Handal Immediate Past Chairman of the Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
  Chairman of the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council* Republican
• North Carolina Democratic Party Veterans Caucus
• Lady Cage-Barile Non-Veteran, 47th AD Republican
• Duane Buckley Veteran, USAF, 27th CD, Republican
• Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired, Editorial Board Member, Our Troops Newsladder, Veterans for America, Writing Staff of VT News Network. Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America, Life Member Disabled American Veterans, Member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out-Ohio, and advisor to Iraq Veterans Against the War-Ohio. Independent from the State of Ohio.

Robert Rosebrock

U.S. Army, 1965-67, Schofield Barracks, Hqs., U.S Army, Hawaii. Director, The Veterans Revolution, Captain, the Old Veterans Guard, and Director, We the Veterans.