In recent years there has been a great deal of coverage on veterans and the difficulties many of them face. The stories highlight a range of hurdles from soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with debilitating physical and mental traumas to reports of disability claims backlogs at V.A. offices across the country. The Washington Post, citing Department of Veterans Affairs figures, recently reported that more than a quarter-million veterans are appealing disability-claim decisions, and many may wait as long as four years or longer for a ruling. Research shows that about 3.4 million of the nation’s 22.6 million veterans have a service-connected disability, and approximately 20 percent returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. In Texas alone, which is home to about 1.7 million veterans, an estimated 16,000 veterans are homeless. Studies suggest that roughly three-fourths of homeless veterans experience substance abuse or mental health problems.

Moreover, our veterans also face a number of unique legal issues, such as obtaining disability benefits, correcting military records, and navigating the complex laws governing veterans assistance compensation and pension claims. And not all of them can afford legal assistance, assuming they know where to turn. Veterans advocates, journalists, and others have done an admirable job of making the general public aware of the problems our service men and women and their families face. Now, as Americans and beneficiaries of their protection, it is up to us to use our talents and abilities to assist them in addressing the issues confronting them.

Three years ago, the State Bar of Texas introduced Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans to help meet our veterans’ growing legal needs. The program, launched by then-State Bar President Terry Tottenham, who served in the Marine Corps, helps develop and support pro bono legal clinics across Texas for military veterans who otherwise cannot afford or lack access to an attorney.
Since 2010, about 3,000 Texas lawyers have served more than 10,000 veterans through the program, addressing issues such as bankruptcy, housing, employment, wills and estate planning, and landlord-tenant disputes. Across Texas, more than 50 local bar associations and legal organizations host weekly, monthly, biannual, or annual legal advice clinics for veterans, and legal groups in 23 other states have asked for and received “clinic in a box” materials.

The results are clear in stories like Severina Wilson’s. A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Wilson was nearly evicted from her Pasadena home this year because of a bank’s escrow error, according to a report by Houston ABC affiliate KTRK-TV. Her eviction hearing imminent, Wilson, 91, sought help at the weekly veterans clinic organized by Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, a service of the Houston Bar Association. Lawyers from the clinic attended her hearing and convinced the judge to delay a ruling. Volunteer attorneys from a Houston law firm later resolved the case, allowing Wilson to stay in the home she loved.

Every year on Nov. 11, we pause to observe Veterans Day. If you are an attorney, this is a perfect time to help a veteran by getting involved in a legal clinic. To find one in your area, visit texasbar.com/TLTV.

Attorney or not, we can all find a way to express our gratitude. This Veterans Day, take some time to reflect on how you can serve those who served our country.

Lisa M. Tatum is president of the State Bar of Texas and the founder and owner of LM Tatum, PLLC, in San Antonio with a practice that focuseson corporate, education, employment, and public finance law. She may be reached by email at statebarpresident@texasbar.com

http://www.sipsofsunshine.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-military-heart.html

A military heart is unique, it must be true,
The blood that pulses deep within is red, white, and blue.
Its love is like a fire that grows when it is shared,
For complete and total strangers, they have truly cared.
All heroes past and present, at war and at peace,
My admiration for you all will never ever cease.
Veterans who went by choice or those who had been drafted,
I feel that God took extra care with certain hearts He crafted.
He had to make them strong and brave, but tender all the same,
He knit them in their mother’s womb and knew them each by name.
It would take a special heart to leave loved ones behind,
To kiss and hug good-bye with Old Glory on their mind.
The countless sacrifice they made for freedoms we enjoy,
For every man, every woman, every girl, and every boy.
For those who have such passion for our great U.S. of A,
Who’ll stand for life and liberty, so we can speak and pray.
If you see a warrior, please give them all our love,
For the heart that beats within them is a gift from God above.
We’re thankful, oh so thankful, for that heart we have admired,
For giving so unselfishly, although it may be tired.
We’d never know of its fatigue – it’s hidden way inside,
For that heart is full of love, as deep as it is wide.
On Veterans Day and all the days that come before and after,
We thank you for allowing us a life of hope and laughter.
To wake each day knowing what you must have seen and heard,
It’s hard to find the thoughts to share – there isn’t just one word.
What can we say? What should we say?
A debt we just cannot repay.
I think I’ll just say thank you from the bottom of my heart,
I’ll pray for you – thank God for you. That’s certainly a start.
I’ll do my best to wake each day full of gratitude,
I’ll make a daily effort with a thankful attitude.
I’ll live to nurture peace – I’ll try to do my part,
And I’ll thank the Lord everyday…for your military heart.

“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the guest columnist to enlighten readers on a subject, as he views it,
and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

Random Thoughts

I have been too busy this last month to do the research to write a serious and documented column. However, I am a huge fan of Dr. Thomas Sowell, economist, educator, & columnist, and he has several times written columns entitled “Random Thoughts”. Since “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, here goes my effort. These are my opinions only, and somewhat ‘radical’, so please do not blame the Dolphin.

• Desperate times require desperate measures, or at least stop doing the same dumb things and expecting better results.

• Marxism kills the human spirit in all ways. Not only does it kill ambition in the productive, the dreams of youth, but the gratitude of those that may benefit short term. And it rewards viciousness and lying in the leaders.

• The Constitution is often said to be inspired by God. It was inarguably written by men that were inspired by God. If there is no God, well intentioned people would have to invent Him to facilitate civilization. I believe that it may be possible for a strong-minded moral person to be an atheist or agnostic and still be civilized, but weak-minded people are too greedy and self-centered. Without God, or a totalitarian gov’t, they become criminals and parasites. But they are the natural prey of the Marxists and Progressives that use them for votes and cannon-fodder in riots and revolutions.

• There will be massive cancellations of Health Insurance policies. This was intended and guaranteed by ‘mandated coverages’. TeamObama number-crunchers estimated 93 million people would lose their insurance and told Obama back in 2010. His promise to “keep your plan and your doctor” were knowing, intentional, and malicious lies to pass the bill and get the foolish to support his take-over of health care. Others estimated as much as 134 million will lose their plans. The real goal of ObamaCare is to destroy the health insurance industry to facilitate Govt Health Care. Also many Doctors will retire. The ObamaCare train-wreck and melt-down is just getting started, it will get much worse.

• Nancy Pelosi said, “We must pass the bill to see what is in it!” This may be the stupidest thing ever said by a ‘Democratic leader’ in the history of democracy. Totally irresponsible and willful malfeasance to her constituents: as Speaker of the House, that is the American people. Impeachment for Gross Malfeasance and Misprision of Felony is called for.

• There will be an effort by patriotic Republicans to impeach Attorney General Eric Holder for his involvement in many crimes and stone-walling on Fast and Furious and his intentional refusal to enforce Federal laws against political allies of the Obama Administration. This will probably fail because of the Democratic controlled Senate and their RINO allies will be bought off.

• There is a serious rift in the Republican Party. The Mainstream Media will try their best to back the RINOs and demonize the “Tea Party” reformers. The RINO leadership believes the Media and is encouraged by them, forgetting that the Media will turn on them like rabid dogs when the primaries are over. That is why they are called The Stupid Party! Do NOT give money to the Republican National Committee or any other National Republican fund raising organization. Support your local party, support Republican candidates directly, and support patriotic organizations that are trying to preserve the Constitution. Educate yourself about what is really happening in govt, our liberty and the Union depend on it. Neither govt, the media, or most of the pundits will tell you the truth, their comfortable elitist positions and life-styles depend on YOUR IGNORANCE.

• The Leadership of the “Democrat” Party has been usurped & stolen by radical Marxists, Progressives, and outright Communists – International Socialist Totalitarians. If you give your money to any “Democrat” party, organization, or candidate at any level, that is what you are ultimately supporting.

• You cannot borrow yourself into prosperity. You might fool your neighbors and sycophants for awhile, but ultimately without real wealth production it is doomed to failure. A nation bankrupt also destroys its currency and enslaves its citizens to the creditors and profiteers.

• We must prepare for economic disruptions. I suggest Mutual Assistance Groups for food production. People interested in gardening, chickens, and other food production should organize for helping get started, marketing, and trading. Also for neighborhood protection and support of local police or other emergency services in case of emergencies.

– Life is hard. And it is a lot harder if you are stupid. – John Wayne

Part IX: Unhappy Anniversary

It has occurred to El Hyena that our nation is approaching a momentous anniversary. Two weeks from today, another Friday, many people will stop what they’re doing and think back fifty years. They will remember where they were and what they were doing when they first heard about something horrible and unthinkable and, for some, incomprehensible.

El Hyena was in the second grade in Mrs. Heflin’s class at Clarkston Elementary School in Tyler, Texas. At some point during the day (El Hyena is a little fuzzy on whether it was morning or afternoon, but he’s old and addled now) another teacher burst through the door into our classroom. She was crying and started whispering to our teacher, who then started crying herself. They both ran out into the hall to join other teachers, all of whom were crying. Neither El Hyena nor any other of his fellow second graders had any idea what was going on, but figured it must be something bad. After all, none of us had ever seen Mrs. Heflin cry before, and she taught second graders.

After a little while Mrs. Heflin (being as how it was 1963, there was no such word as “Ms.”) came back into the room and told us our parents would come get us and take us home. At this point, no one had told us anything but we all figured getting to leave school early was a pretty good deal. All of us kids were standing outside on the sidewalk, and a big line of cars was moving slowly through the circle drive, each picking up a kid or two at a time, and driving off. The teachers were still crying.

Then El Hyena saw Imogene, the very nice lady who looked after El Hyena and his little brother until our Mom came home later in the afternoon. El Hyena’s mother was a teacher at another elementary school. Imogene was also crying, and it was she who told El Hyena what was going on. When she told El Hyena the President had been assassinated, El Hyena asked her “What’s assassinated mean ?”; when told, El Hyena’s reaction was “Really ?”. Remember, El Hyena was too young to have said “No sh@# ?”.

When El Hyena got home his little brother was already there. El Hyena asked his little brother if he had any idea what this was all about, but he was no help. Then the Folks came home and, although both were really stressed out, they sat down with us kids and tried to explain it to us. For the next several days, this was all that was on TV. One day, El Hyena and his Daddy were watching TV, where apparently lots of people were waiting for something to happen somewhere over in Dallas. We then saw a guy in a cowboy hat come into the picture leading some scrawny guy, and then some other guy pushes forward and sticks his arm towards the scrawny guy. At this point, El Hyena’s Daddy jumped off the couch and hollered something with which El Hyena was unfamiliar. El Hyena’s Daddy then explained what they had just seen on TV, but didn’t explain what all those words meant.

Of course, then we all watched more TV over the days to come, and it was mostly all about the same thing. Everybody was very sad, including El Hyena, who thought it appropriate that he also be sad. After awhile, it wasn’t on TV anymore, or at least not nearly as much. People still talked about it for a fairly long time, and everybody had their own idea about what had happened and why. Finally, everybody pretty much quit talking about it, so El Hyena figured things were back to “normal”.

Can you imagine what it would have been like if we’d have had the Internet back then ? Nowadays, everybody screams at everybody else on the Internet about everything that happens, whether it be what some politician or actor or football coach said, or what some actress wore to some banquet or as a Halloween costume, etc., etc.

Fifty years later, and since El Hyena is always interested in new books, he has noticed that many, many new books have come out about that president and what happened to him a long time ago. El Hyena has not read any of these new books, but he imagines they contain lots of re-thinking, re-hashing, re-examining, re-theorizing, and revising. There are apparently new movies coming out about it, but El Hyena will not go see any of those. He’ll probably read about them on the Internet.

But what do they know ? El Hyena is pretty sure that none of them were in Mrs. Heflin’s second grade class at Clarkston Elementary School in Tyler, Texas on November 22, 1963.

Judge Nancy Pomykal, shown here with Russell Cain the Calhoun County Republican Party Charman, filed for re-election on Saturday, November 9.

Judge Nancy Pomykalwith filed for re-election on Saturday November 9th .

Mrs. Pomykal is Justice Court Judge for Precinct 5, Calhoun County. She has been serving as Port O’Connor and the surrounding area as JP for 23 years.

Saturday the 9th of November was the first day for filing to be placed on the 2014 March Primary ballot. Several Calhoun County candidates filed on that date.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve my community for the past 23 years. I am looking forward to another term of office. I plan to continue serving to the best of my ability with fairness, patience and integrity.” Judge Pomykal said.