spottedeagle

I was under the understanding a vet was a person who served in one of the Main branches of the armed forces, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Air National Guard or the reserves of those branches. I serves 6 years in the Air Force and when I enter with the veterans, I always make sure I am behind those veterans who served in combat, since I did not. Just my way of showing respect to the combat veterans.

__________________
The things you are doing today are the traditions of twenty-five years from now.
-Daryl Baldwin: Miami

smartybell

I also do this. I always defer to the Combat Vet.

TKMJ Productions

Here is a case for you. I know a woman who entered the Army, and had an accident in basic training. After a long and painful recovery, she was discharged, not completing basic training. After a year or so of recovery time away from the service, she attempted to reenter being denied due to medical problems. Because of the accident she was left with physical and emoitional problems. This happened over 20 years ago. Knowing this lady personally for many years, I know that she would have made the Army her life. She is one who understands commitment and service to her country. She has the same commitment to her family. She has always given all she is and has asked nothing in return. To this day she cannot hold a regular job due to her problems resulting from her accident. She is a wonderful lady.

To this day she is denied any type of assistance for her injuries. She has run the gammit looking for help. The VA won't touch her because she did not complete her basic training. Workmans compensation refuses to help because she did not work for 10 quarters consecutivly. (2-1/2 years). Social Security refuses to help because they claim she can work. She continues to be denied by all the government agencies. They all claim that this is not their problem. Did I mention that even her family hospitalization refuses to pay a dime for treatment because the injuries are "service connected"?

She has gotten some help here and there on a "one shot" basis but is always refused continued treatment because of money. Her husband makes an honest living but cannot afford to feed the family and maintain her medical needs. He has even considered quiting his job, and allowing welfare to pick up the cost of her treatment. After resceaching this idea he found that the family would loose their kids to the state. He also found that welfare would not pick up the costs of her treatment because it is "Service Connected"

She has had lawyers, congressmen and senitors look into the problems. They get nowhere.

She has been fighting this for 20 years and gets nowhere.

Where does she go from here?

__________________
Don't ask me what I think about something unless you want a truthful anwser. It may not be the anwser you are looking for.

It's better to fly with the eagles then drive with the turkeys.

fnordhorn

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veteran

So going by this Veterans are people that served in the Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force.

Note: I left out 2 area Coast Guard and Merchant Marine.

Coast Guard DOES NOT fall under the Department of Defense but use to fall under the Department Transporation and now Department of Homeland Security.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard

Merchant Marine’s
Source: http://www.usmm.org/faq.html

H.R. 23 and S. 1272: Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2005, provides $1,000 per month to WWII mariners (average age 81) or their widows in lieu of benefits not received after World War II. The Bill also gives Social Security credit for time served in the merchant marine, like the credit given to others who served in the Army or Navy.

So anyone that served in the Army, Navy, Army/Air Corps, Air Force, Marine’s and Coast Guard are Veteran’s

PLEASE NOTE: I left out the Merchant Marine. This is an area that the GOVERNMENT need to fix, the one that served in combat area during combat times also need to receive Veteran status.

WAR VETERAN Most states have laws on there books that define a War Veteran as someone that served in the military durning a time of War.

fnordhorn

Who has the right to enter during the Grand Entry as a Veteran?

1. Anyone that served in the Army, Navy, Army/Air Corps, Air Force, Marine’s and Coast Guard.

2. Anyone that Served in the National Guard and or Reserves.

3. Someone that was medically discharged and receives a VA service connection disability, even if only served one day.

I change this statment to read
3. Someone that was medically discharged and/OR receives a VA service connection disability, even if only served one day.
Change of and to read and/or

The following is open for debate
The following people I would not stop from entry in the Grand Entry as Vet’s
Merchant Marine – That served during a time of war. i.e. WW II

Someone that served with CAP during WW II that found one of the 173 subs or SUNK one of the two Subs.
I say If you sunk a SUB you served in COMBAT

smartybell

So in other words the woman that TKMJ is talking about has no right to dance in Veteran's dance because she was discharged and does not get V.A. benefits.

smartybell

[quote=fnordhorn]
On the contrary, I think we are right on topic as this does have relevance to who is a vet.

between2worlds

OK, I'm gonna stir the pot a bit here... all of your definitions are US Military definitions... there is more than just the US Government here on Turtle Island... how do your definitions account for determining Canadian vets, for instance?

~b2w

TKMJ Productions

Honest Question:

Since when does United States (or any other country) dictate the rules for anyone who served in any capacity whatsoever, to dance Grand Entry as a veteran?

b2w,
I'm gonna help you out with a little fire wood for under the pot you are stirring.

__________________
Don't ask me what I think about something unless you want a truthful anwser. It may not be the anwser you are looking for.

It's better to fly with the eagles then drive with the turkeys.

Joe's Dad

Wow. This topic is bouncing all over the place. Didn't this subject start out as wanting somebody to dance Grand Entry and other Veteran dances? There are so many different eligibility criteria for veteran status. Just the Montgomery GI Bill lists many differnet requirements to being considered a vet. Some requirements say 180 days of continuous service. Others say 1 year continuous service.

But you're talking about powwows here. IMO, the person directly involved should know if they are a veteran. I don't think any powwow has a regulation that states you have to have served 'x' amount of time to dance. Follow your heart. If you get questioned, then be sure you're armed with the proper words to show you are a veteran. Nobody is going to ask you for a DDF214 at a powwow.

There was another thread around here where a young lady was pulled out of a veteran lineup. In that case, the MC was wrong and should have apologized.

Stay away from what the government says and enjoy dancing.

__________________

fnordhorn

EDITED to put in full quote


Yes I ask a question to the group if a young lady would be a vet because she says NO and I say YES. Well she younger that me by 19 month.

She had served in the military and was in an accident in Basic Training and was medical discharged from the service.
because of the medical discharge I say yes.

Also because of the fact that it was my sister my mind is foged on the matter.

Hear the things.
1. My sister does not dance.
2. She did served in the Army and medical discharged.
Accident in Basic Training.
3. There is a Pow Wow coming up that is going to have a honor dance in memory of someone close to both of us.
4. Because of #3 I wanted to find a place for her to enter in the G.E.
5. If she was able to enter with the Vets We would enter side by side.
6. Be nice to hear the MC say SGT X, PVT Y. Brother and Sister.You ever hear that at a G.E.

Because it my Sister I was asking what other would think

I Change my statment in a posting to:
Someone that was medically discharged and/or receives a VA service connection disability, even if only served one day.

I forgot the /OR in my posting

As for the woman TKMJ was talking about. I do not know the case if full on what happen. but yes she would beable to enter as a vet in my books.

Joe's Dad