JACK ‘MILES’ VENTIMIGLIAStar-Journal Editor

Warrensburg – The Veterans Day ceremony Sunday at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, included con-cern for veterans offered by the keynote speaker, George Scarborough.

Before the crowd of 150 guests, many of them retired veterans, Scarborough said veterans deserve honor for their service.

“Generations of our veter-ans ... have put country before self,” he said, and speeches and memorials are insufficient to accord them the degree of honor they are due.

Scarborough focused on Vietnam vet-erans and the cruelty they faced when returning home to protestors who spat on them and accused them falsely of crimes.

“How do you think it felt to come home?” he asked, and received applause when he told those veterans, “Welcome home.”

Scarborough said a new gen-eration is fighting for Ameri-ca.

“Our war fighters of today are second to none and we sa-lute them,” he said.

Scarborough said Americans should celebrate the legacy of veterans.

“Our sense of gratitude for our veterans can never sleep,” he said.

Because of the few who fought, the many have benefit-ed, and the many should never forget the sacrifices of the few, Scarborough said.

“Let us always draw our strength and inspiration from what they have done,” he told the crowd.

Having retired from the Air Force after a 20-year career that included postings to England, Vietnam, Germany and Italy, Scarborough is a member of American Legion Post 21 in Independence and Vet-erans of Foreign Wars Post 6603, Blue Springs.

VETERANS DAY

RECOGNITION: At the American Legion Hall on Sunday, Air Force Col. Theresa Rodriguez pres-ents a pin recognizing service in Vietnam to a retired soldier, Lawrence Mudd. He is one of several veterans to receive the pin at the ceremony.

THE DAILY STAR-JOURNAL, WARRENSBURG, MO., MONDAY, NOV. 12, 2012 PAGE 11

Continued from Page 1“‘If you were my brother, father, hus-

band or son,’” Rodriguez repeated South-by’s story, ‘“I would want to know that qualified, compassionate and skilled American nurses were caring for you to the very best of their ability.’”

Rodriguez then turned attention to the fact that American troops have been pulled out of Iraq.

“Since our withdrawal, there has been very little public discussion about the war in Iraq, despite the fact that it claimed more than 5,000 American lives,” she said. “Tens of thousands of service members suffered life-altering injuries. Thousands more families are

struggling with the loss of a loved one, or dealing with a life forever changed by their wounds. It was a monumental conflict.”

But the war is barely mentioned now, Rodriguez said, and urged the sacrifices of Iraq’s veterans are not forgotten.

“We owe them a debt for their service and the most basic way to repay that debt is simply to remember that they served – to remember that they fought a war, even as time attempts to wash its memory away,” she said.

At the end of the talk, more than a dozen Vietnam veterans came forward. Rodriguez provided each with a pin and the crowd applauded each veteran.

Vietnam veterans receive recognition

J.C. VENTIMIGLIA/Star-Journal

RETIRED ARMED SERVICES members, including Vilas Bielefeldt, right, fire a three-volley salute in recognition of veterans on Veterans Day on Sunday at the Missouri Veterans Home - Warrensburg.

TERESA SHANEStar-Journal Staff Writer

Warrensburg – American Legion National Commander James Koutz said his mission for the next year is bringing awareness to homeless, jobless veterans.

Koutz, who became the national commander Aug. 30 in Indianapolis during the 94th national convention, is a Vietnam War veteran, serving in the Army from 1969 to 1971. American Legion Post 131 hosted Koutz on Nov. 5 on a visit to Warrensburg and Whiteman Air Force Base.

Koutz also visited Missouri Veterans Home - Warrensburg.

He appeared Oct. 3 before Congress to present the American Legion’s pri-orities, including clearing the Veteran Administration’s claims backlog, and helping service members with licensing and credentialing when they return to the civilian workforce.

“If Congress doesn’t pass a budget, the VA and Department of Defense could lose $50- to $54 billion,” he said.

Contractors will lay off employees, and that will trickle down to affect man-ufacturers who supply parts for contrac-tors, he said.

“We can’t stand for that,” he said. “I think it will be the worse round of unemployment since 2008.”

Koutz seeks to make others aware of

homeless veterans.“More than half of the homeless vet-

erans are from the Vietnam War, and many of the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan had homes when they left,” he said, “but when they get back, they

can’t find a job and lost their homes.”

Koutz said many homeless veterans are women with chil-dren, and they do not seek care at the VA hospitals.

“I’m hoping to get a wom-en’s veterans coordinator in every state who works under the umbrella of the American Legion,” he said.

Koutz seeks to raise $500,000 for Operation Comfort War-

riors, which takes care of service mem-bers rehabilitating from wounds in Iraq or Afghanistan.

“Although their medical needs are taken of, they need personal care items,” Koutz said. “We give them iPods, buy loose sweatsuits for amputees, gym equipment, books, magazines, and take them on outings.”

Some of the wounded are in the hos-pitals for several years, including VA hospitals, and on military installations.

“The program started four or five years ago and in just three months, we’ve raised $162,000,” Koutz said. “I have no doubt we will raise the $500,000. All of the money goes for com-fort care.”

National commander visits county

J.C. VENTIMIGLIA/Star-Journal

AIR FORCE Col. Theresa Rodriguez addresses members of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and their guests, at a joint Veterans Day observance Sunday at the American Legion Hall, 733 E. Young St. The event focuses on the service of Vietnam veterans. Past observances have recognized the service of World War II and Korean War veterans.

Event honors area veterans

James E. Koutznational commander

George Scarborough