It is my understanding that there will be Disabled Veterans participating in the LA Marathon by running, walking and in wheel chairs.
Obviously, and as always, we are extremely proud of their brave and courageous journey toward recovery from their war injuries. Thus, the VA grounds should be open to them exclusively to pass through ... both as a tribute to them, and an inspiration to other Veterans who are Disabled and trying to heal from the travesty of war. All other Marathon participants should be re-directed around the VA.
To have the Disabled Veterans solely come through the VA during this Marathon would help bring special and isolated attention to their remarkable endeavor, and a reminder what the price of freedom really is.
Their exclusive presence on this sacred ground during the Marathon run would also bring attention to the Deed of 1888 that states specifically that this land is "to be permanently maintained as a National Home for Disabled Soldiers." It would bring attention to the fact that there are thousands of homeless Veterans sleeping on the streets of Los Angeles, even though this is their rightful "Home."
However, the VA has a history of ignoring and abusing Disabled Veterans when it is not expedient for a staged public media coverage, such as two weeks ago when the VA locked out Veterans in general, and Disabled American Veterans in particular, at the Veterans Appreciation Day Celebration honoring the Deed of 1888.
A letter was sent inviting the Administration of the West LA VA to attend and support the event. The letter was sent by the leaders of Chapter 13 of Disabled American Veterans, the host of the event, but not one person from the VA was present except a "monitor" who observed our every word and movement. He refused to have the gates open to the Veterans and their invitees.
VA Locks out Veterans -- San Fernando Valley Sun
- Andres Chavez, Sun Staff Reporter
Sunday saw another skirmish in the ongoing battle between protesting veterans and the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration when veterans arriving to celebrate "Veterans Appreciation Day" and discovered that they had been locked out of the VA grounds.
The grounds had been opened earlier in the day for a church service and the West L.A.VA had known about, and had approved, the use of the grounds by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the sponsors of the event.
"Aside from being stunned, my first reaction was 'do I have the wrong date or the wrong time'" said Veteran Activist Robert Rosebrock, "It didn't take long to sink in that this was the VA we're dealing with and this is a deliberate attempt to mess up this event."
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