it suggests that treating veterans like shit is ok, as long as we wear dime store trinkets to make everything all better. Did you get enough support when you returned from your tour, Tess? And will the fact that I'm wearing this button in Calgary redress that? Do you think the families of the Merchant Mariners who died without their hard-earned pensions will really be moved by this gesture?
Support I received when I returned was phenomenal, why? The Media was all over us, our supporters were on us like a fat kid on a smarty. As time wore on and there was no need for that support...
Support after that...hmm let me see with statements like;
"Your Veteran's file means absolutely nothing to me, your injuries are minor and I have seen people with much more severe injuries still serving"
DND Medical Officer
"If You cleared out like you were supposed to you wouldn't be in the mess that your are in now"
DND Clerk handling some of my paperwork
"Veterans Card, how in the world did you get one of those?? I don't think I can accept that you don't look like a Veteran"
Civie Staff at an eye clinic supported by veteran affairs
"Dou you know how many times I have called your name?? I have the right mind of passing you on and letting you miss your appointment"
Mediacl Clerk at Veteran Affairs hearing clinic to a ww2 vet , with hearing aids in both ears
So you know what, maybe this won't help the Dead Merchant Marine get his pension. It won't retract some of the attitude of the past, but I sure as hell hope that it will motivate one person, just one person to think of what they say before they go and shoot their mouth off at a Vet.
So I will take my pin and Mail it to the CDS or The Honourable Albina Guarnieri, and ask them to send it to someone else. Someone who is in need of some remembering.
dileas
tess
p.s I will ask that it does not get sent to Calgary, as it seems the troops out there already remember.