On Veterans Day, in small towns and in our largest cities, in rural and in urban areas, Americans will be asked to step back and offer public recognition to the Veterans of America's Armed Services. It is fitting and just that we do so for without them there would be no America.

If you really want to support the troops you have to do more than just put a magnetic sticker on your vehicle.  Among other things, it means that you stand up for both our troops in the field and for ongoing care for our Veterans at home.  And at a time when we have tens of thousands of new disabled veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, that latter part is especially important.


This weekend has brought some disturbing news for veterans in the 29th District that directly relates to this issue. It appears that the Acute Psychiatric treatment ward at the Canandaigua VA Hospital, just down the road from Rochester, is slated for closure just after the election. (What interesting timing!) This hospital is already the only center of its kind in the area and, in recent years, has faced dramatic cuts in its other medical services. Now, with the impending loss of in-patient psychiatric treatment services, disabled veterans and their families will be forced to travel to as far away as Buffalo.

Massa for Congress

Most of you are probably aware of the opposing rallies this past week in Johnstown, PA.   A tiny group of swiftboaters hoping to publicly smear Representative Murtha was countered by a group 10 times bigger rallying in his favor.  (link, link)   I was there and I want to talk about why we have to stand strong against those attacking Murtha.  It's about a lot more than just showing that Democrats are not weak and spineless, though that can be important at times.  Sliming Congressman Murtha is central to coordinated GOP efforts to keep Democrats from retaking congress in November.

I've spent a lot of time blogging about policies and politics lately.  But today is different.    Today is a day to reflect on the brave men and women who've died in service to our country.  Today I'd like to share some thoughts and images with you.

This weekend I was invited to join two other guest speakers as we dedicated a new Veterans Memorial Park in the small town of Odessa in Schuyler County, 30 minutes to the north of Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes region of Western New York State.  The request came from the driving force behind the five year project to locate, fund and build this monument - the center piece of which of is a strikingly beautiful bronze statue of a mother eagle protecting two young.  

First, I want to thank Andrew Horne (KY-03) for joining me today.

This last week while President Bush was visiting New York's 29th district, a marine corporal who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Ethiopia approached a group of protesters and said (link):

I just wanted to say that a lot of the guys coming back think that you guys don't appreciate our service... Well, when I went into the service, I took an oath to honor the office of the president, and it's disrespectful to hear you be so negative about him. It feels like a personal attack.

CORNING, NY - On Wednesday, March 19th 2008 at 9:00 am, retired Navy Commander Eric Massa will join fellow Congressional Candidates Dan Maffei (NY-25) and Iraq Veteran Jon Powers (NY-26) for a press conference at the Rochester Veterans Outreach Center at 459 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620. During this press conference, all three candidates will observe the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Additionally they will be calling on their opponents and the White House to provide more targeted funding for our Veterans.

Since the war in Iraq began on March 19th, 2003, 3,990 American troops have been killed, tens of thousands have been injured and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died. While President Bush and Randy Kuhl continue to block health care for working Americans, deny us the truth of our economic situation, and create more hurdles for Veterans requiring services, they have no problem spending $3 trillion on a war of choice against a country that had no involvement in the 9/11 attacks.

"Those of us that wore the uniform honor our men and women who stood with us," said retired Navy Commander Eric Massa. "Today I call on Randy Kuhl to finally stand up to George W. Bush's failed foreign policy. Since he came into office, Mr. Kuhl has gone out of his way to rubber stamp President Bush's each and every demand for Iraq. We are currently spending almost $6,000 per second in Baghdad while thousands of children right here in Western New York cannot receive access to health care. Additionally, our returning Veterans continue to encounter more and more red tape while trying to receive the long-term care they have earned. This is the hypocrisy of incumbency and we must hold our failed leaders accountable."

WHAT: Congressional Candidates Eric Massa (NY-29), Dan Maffei (NY-25) and Jon Powers (NY-26) will be observing the five year anniversary of the start of the Iraq War and demanding change.
WHERE: The Rochester Veterans Outreach Center - 459 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 19th at 9:00 am.

This weekend, in small towns and in our largest cities, in rural and in urban areas, Americans will be asked to step back and offer public recognition to the Veterans of America's Armed Services. It is fitting and just that we do so for without them there would be no America.

For better or for worse, over the last two years I have gained a public political persona during my bid to represent the 29th Congressional District in Washington. I want to take just a moment to discuss why I believe so many Veterans, especially those like myself who had never have been involved in politics before, are stepping forward to become involved in public policy at all levels of government. It's simple really, the Congress has fewer veterans now than at almost any other time in the history of the country. Veterans are under represented by a huge percentage. As a direct result, the benefits which all Veterans earned and deserve are being denied, compelling them to get involved. What's more, those in power who have never worn a uniform delight in standing in for photos with Veterans -- all the while attacking the service records of those who did and who disagree with them.