May Newsletter
May 2021 |
Newsletter |
Vol. 1, No. 3 |
Greetings from the Co-Editor
Nearly 15% of the attempted insurrectionists on January 6 were veterans. Research is consistently indicating that the primary driver for those insurrectionists was fear of the “great replacement,” the belief that the rights of minorities will “overtake” that of Whites. One study by Chicago’s Project on Security and Threats found that for every 1% decline in a county’s White non-Hispanic population over a 5-year period, the county was 6 times more likely to send at least one insurrectionist.
- The ingredients currently exist for future political violence.
- We need a thorough bipartisan investigation into the insurrection, including how it was possible that there was a 58 to 1 ratio of rioters to Capitol Police officers, and why 78 requests for backup were denied or ignored.
- FBI, National Guard, mayors, law enforcement, the CIA, etc. need better intelligence, communications, and sounder risk analysis of right-wing extremist groups in America.
- Research is needed to assess the extent radicalization occurs before, during, or after military service and police training.
Democratically yours, Bob Gould
Sources:
Washington Post 4/6/21 What an analysis of Capitol insurrections tells us Here
Chicago’s Project on Security and Threats (CPOST) Here
Washington Post 4/15/21 Police at the Capitol Severely Disadvantaged Here
The Nation 4/7/21 The US Military Is an Extremism Incubator Here
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V-E Day
Today V-E and WW II are commemorated around the world as those who served are honored. V-E Day marked the end of most fighting in Europe where tens of millions of service members and civilians lost their lives. President Harry S. Truman, who was born on May 8, 1884, announced the end of the war in Europe on his 61st birthday. About 16 million Americans served in World War II—with 2 million serving in Europe. 11% of our population fought in World War II.
May is National Military Appreciation Month
May-National Military Appreciation Month
A month to recognize and show appreciation to the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
May 1, 2021- Loyalty Day
A day set aside for American citizens to reaffirm their loyalty to the United States
and to recognize the heritage of American freedom. Learn more...
May 1, 2021 - Silver Star Service Banner Day
A day set aside to honor our wounded, ill, and dying military personnel by
participating in flying a Silver Star Banner. Learn more...
May 6, 2021 - National Day of Prayer
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of
May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. Learn more...
How can you pray for the military community? Learn more...
May 7, 2021 - Military Spouse Appreciation Day
A day set aside to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of the spouses of
the U.S. Armed Forces. Learn more...
LINK - Practical insights in caring for a military home front family
May 8, 2021 — V-E (Victory in Europe) Day
(Celebrated May 7 in Commonwealth countries)
A day which marks the anniversary of the Allies' victory in Europe during World War II
on May 8, 1945. Learn more...
Volunteers Honoring Veterans in Washington, D.C. with Helen Belletti, Volunteer Coordinator
May 8, 2021, VE-DAY, at 3:00 p.m. (CET)
RSVP for the Zoom Webinar: [email protected]
To join on Zoom, go to: http://us02web.zoom.us/j/4414855431
Meeting ID: 441 485 5431 (Waiting room. No password needed.)
To join the VMF Caucus: http://www.democratsabroad.org/vmf
April Newsletter
April/May 2021 |
Newsletter |
Vol. 1, No. 2 |
UPCOMING VMF CAUCUS MEETINGS - ACTIVISM - FILM RECOMMENDATION - ARTICLE
Greetings from the Editor
• There will now be two separate requirements to prove your identity when voting absentee. First, officials will compare your name, date of birth, and one of your Georgia Driver’s License number, Georgia State-issued ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number written on an outer “oath envelope” (instructions will be provided to accomplish this when voting using an electronically submitted ballot). Second, you must place a copy of one of the following ID cards in your outer envelope: Georgia Driver’s License, Georgia State-issued photo ID, a valid US passport, a valid Government employee photo ID, a valid US military photo ID, or a valid tribal photo ID. More information on valid IDs can be found here.
• Signature verification is no longer a part of registering for your absentee ballot. Instead, the registrar or absentee ballot clerk will compare your name, date of birth, and either your Georgia Driver’s License or State-issued ID number to what they have on file. If you do not have one of those two forms of ID, they “shall verify that the identification provided with the application identifies the applicant.” To be safe, I recommend following the provisions linked above.
• When you complete your registration to receive an absentee ballot, election officials are no longer required to send you your ballot. You must now request your ballot for each primary or election you wish to vote in. However, filling out and submitting the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) will still allow you to request an absentee ballot for every federal election in that calendar year. This is federal law for overseas and military voters (and their families!), so Georgia’s laws cannot circumvent this. Here’s an extra link to the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) guidelines for Georgia.
• The dates to request absentee ballots have changed in Georgia. Instead of up to 180 days prior to an election, you must now request your absentee ballot between 11 and 78 days prior to the election. Again, using the FPCA will allow you to register in any state at the beginning of the year as normal.
• Because overseas and military voters are covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), the changes made to when absentee ballots are sent out do not apply if you use the FPCA to request your absentee ballots. All states are required to send out these absentee ballots to overseas/military voters at least 45 days prior to the election if there are federal candidates on the ballot. For other absentee voters, Georgia will send out most absentee ballots between 25 and 29 days before the election.
• Run-offs in GA will now be held 28 days after the election instead of 9 weeks after. This means that there will be a significant time crunch in returning absentee run-off ballots. A blank run-off ballot will be provided with your election materials, but this may not always be useful if there are a lot of candidates from both parties like we saw in Senator Warnock's election. Unfortunately, I don’t have a solution for this problem -- many of us may not be able to return ballots in time for run-offs. Use express mail if it's available to you. I don’t know if this part of the law will be successfully challenged in court, but I do strongly believe that it goes against the spirit of the provisions laid out in the UOCAVA.
Don’t let these changes dishearten you. Keep engaged, keep voting, and make sure your friends and family are voting too. We won 2020 fair and square, and we will do it again. Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Persevere.
For those who are interested in reading the full text of the bill, here is a link to Georgia SB202. And remember, use the FPCA!
Mike Nitz, Co-Editor, Global VMF Caucus Secretary, and Veteran
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Earth Day/Week 2021
The theme for Earth Day 2021 is Restore Our Earth, which focuses on restoring the world’s ecosystems through natural processes, emerging green technologies and innovative thinking.
EARTH DAY observed by the U.S. military:
The U.S.Navy: “Each year, our Sailors and Navy civilians go above and beyond to demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship. Not just on Earth Day, but in our daily work year round, we take pride in caring for the ecosystems and communities in which we operate."
April 19-at 3:00 p.m. (ET) the virtual march and rally, called “SC1.5NCE NOT SILENCE,” will take place in a 1990s-like virtual reality space created by Future Meets Present and Gather. Through an avatar, you will be able to visit booths, speak to exhibitors and other attendees, and, at 3PM ET, take part in a march and rally organized by March for Science NYC and Fridays for Future (the movement co-founded by Greta Thunberg). You can attend by sending an RSVP via the EDI site.
April 20-a global youth summit.
April 21-a global education summit.
April 21- 8:30 p.m. (ET) join National Geographic for its Earth Day Eve 2021 virtual celebration, with performances by artists such as Angélique Kidjo, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma, and Ziggy Marley, and appearances by a number of environmental activists such as Dr. Jane Goodall. You can join at the NatGeo website or at its YouTube channel — and afterward, continue with the music of Jayda G on the organization’s TikTok channel.
April 22- Earthday.org’s second annual “Earth Day Live: Restore Our Earth” online program, featuring celebrities, politicians, and activists, will be live streamed at noon (ET) at the same time as the global climate summit organized by the Biden administration. To participate, visit Earthday.org on the day of the event.
April 22 & 23- Leaders Summit on Climate to which President Biden has invited 40 world leaders. A live stream link will be available on the date of the event.
Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Corpsman Richard D. DeWert
A Proclamation on National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, 2021
•WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
Enduring with limitless dignity and determination, these former prisoners of war are a powerful reminder that their indomitable spirit could not be broken, even by brutal treatment in contravention of international law and morality. Despite the terrible suffering inflicted upon them by their captors in harsh prisons and camps in Europe and Asia, American prisoners of war steadfastly demonstrated their devotion to duty, honor, and country.
On this day and every day, let us honor all who have borne the hardships of captivity in service to our Nation, remember the brave men and women who were held as prisoners in foreign lands during our Nation’s past conflicts, and recognize those at home who anxiously awaited their loved ones’ return. Their faith in God, love of family, and trust in our Nation are an inspiration to all Americans, and we will always remember their sacrifices.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 9, 2021, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day by honoring the service and sacrifice of all former prisoners of war as our Nation expresses its eternal gratitude for their sacrifice. I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
Military children qualify for a variety of VA benefits
Every April, the nation celebrates the Month of the Military Child – a time that honors all military children for their dedication and sacrifices. The VA honors military children year-round by providing them earned benefits. Dependents and surviving children of Veterans and service members may qualify for certain benefits, such as life insurance, education services and health care.
Click the link for more information: https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/86374/military-children-qualify-variety-va-benefits/
A Proclamation on Month of the Military Child, 2021
• WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
April marks the Month of the Military Child, when our Nation pays tribute to the resilience and tenacity of our military children; over 2 million active duty, National Guard, Reserve and children of veterans who did not make the choice to serve, but live each day supporting their brave parents. These young people live out the words of the poet John Milton, “they also serve who only stand and wait.” We see their service and thank them for it.
From a young age, children of service members sometimes endure long separations from their parents and shoulder the burdens of service. They spend holidays and milestones apart from those they love the most, or celebrate with only a short phone call or virtual chat from a faraway parent. This is something the First Lady and I have witnessed in our own lives, as our grandchildren experienced their father’s deployment to Iraq.
Military children change schools up to nine times between the start of kindergarten and high school graduation. With each move, they grapple with difficult goodbyes and the challenge of making new friends. Although life in a military family can include exploring new places and exposure to other cultures and customs, it can also bring frustration and loneliness. During the Month of the Military Child, we show our appreciation for the commitment and service of military children in shouldering these challenges, and we recognize the stressors on military children brought about by the unique demands of their parents’ military life.
The strength of our Armed Forces comes not just from those who wear the uniform, but from their families, who also serve on behalf of our country. As a Nation, we have many obligations, but we have only one truly sacred obligation: to properly prepare and equip our troops when we send them into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families. The First Lady and I understand the gravity of this promise personally, and we have made supporting service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors a top priority for my Administration.
That is why the First Lady has committed to relaunching the Joining Forces initiative, mobilizing all Americans to continue the national commitment to support and engage our military families. By raising awareness about the unique aspects of military life and working toward solutions to its challenges, my Administration will continue to support military children and will help ensure that they have opportunities to grow and live out their dreams.
Observing the Month of the Military Child demonstrates our support for military children who make daily sacrifices so their parents can keep our Nation safe. Military-connected children are strong and resilient, and we must match their strength with a commitment to provide the full support of our communities and our Government. I encourage all Americans to serve them as well as they serve us.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2021 as the Month of the Military Child. I call upon the people of the United States to honor military children with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.