A big thank you to Doug for giving me the heads up about this association, and to Anthony for putting this together. The Civilian Veterans Association will be the equivalent to the VFW or any other number of associations dedicated to those that have served or are serving. And to me, it is about time we have something like this.
I should also note that the potential for this association is great. The headquarters is located in the heart of the defense world, and there are so many thousands of contractors that have served to draw from, that this could become a very big group. An association like this can also be an advocacy group for contractors who have served. They can also be an advocacy for those that were wounded, or for our POW and MIA contractors. In my post about the resolve and sacrifice of contractors, I have identified just such a group that needs all the support we can give them.
So here are some details. The CVA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia. On the website, you can make donations to this group at their donation page here. They are also looking for folks who would like to help with the various tasks of standing up the CVA. Most of all, they are looking for a director. Definitely head to the website and explore the various ways that you can contribute. Every little bit counts.
Finally, and this is really cool. The CVA is wanting to march in the New York City Veterans Day Parade. Here is an excerpt:
The CVA intends to march in the New York City Veterans Day Parade on 11 November 2011. This year’s theme is “Never Forget,” and pays special tribute to the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. If you are a Civilian Veteran, particularly, if you are a Civilian Veteran who has served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom or any other formally or informally recognized warzone, you deserve recognition and it is high time to come out in force. If you would like to march, please march@civilianveteran.org.
I think this is the first time I have ever heard of a civilian veterans group wanting to march at this parade, and to me, that is awesome. We have had several thousand killed, and thousands more wounded in this war, and I would very much like to see some kind of recognition for this sacrifice. We should also have a national monument or memorial of some type so the friends and families of civilian veterans have something to remember at. Cool stuff and definitely check out the links below if you want to get involved. –Matt
Website for the Civilian Veterans Association here.
The Civilian Veterans Association (CVA) supports civilians who served the United States in official and nonofficial war zones or during domestic terrorist events.
Throughout our nation’s history, civilians have served the US government in war zones, whether as diplomats, intelligence officers, engineers, analysts, trainers, linguists or in support of the military. In particular, for many Civilian Veterans the post 9/11 environment has been one of extreme hardship and personal sacrifice. These Civilian Veterans of war and conflict deserve recognition and support for the sacrifices that they and their families have made in defense of our nation.
Membership in the CVA is open to those who have served in official and nonofficial war zones or during domestic terrorist events while in the employ of the United States Government, whether in a civilian or contractor capacity. The CVA also serves military veterans who have since gone on to serve as a government civilian or contractor in a warzone.
The CVA seeks to help Civilian Veterans through support services, education, advocacy and memorialization. The CVA serves Civilian Veterans in the following manners:
Support Services:The CVA provides support services to Civilian Veterans and their immediate family members for mental and physical health issues related to their service in a war zone or during a terrorist event. These services include providing recommendations for mental and physical health treatment and promoting the treatment of mental and physical injuries by civilian hospitals for civilian patients. In the event of loss of life of the Civilian Veteran during service, the CVA seeks to support the families of the fallen through financial and education assistance programs.
Educate and Advocate: The CVA believes education and advocacy go hand in hand. The CVA seeks to educate the public about the service of Civilian Veterans through promoting historical, literary and other events in schools, communities and throughout the nation. The CVA advocates with Congress for Civilian Veteran rights and support. In addition, we believe that it is the duty of American’s to serve their nation in many different forms and the CVA actively promotes the service of American citizens in a non-uniformed manner during times of need by our nation. This includes through actively addressing the American people and seeking their support in times of war or threat to the nation, providing resources for citizens to find ways to serve as a civilian and through educating new generations of their duty to serve.
Memorialize: The CVA seeks to create and dedicate a national memorial to the service of Civilian Veterans in American history. This includes through marching in Veterans Day parades and through the creation of a national memorial. The CVA also seeks to memorialize specific groups of Civilian Veterans. The CVA is currently working toward memorializing the sacrifices of the members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II in the form of a documentary film.
How to Help: The CVA is in its embryonic stages. If you would like to help stand up this organization or become a member of the association, please email us at volunteer@civilianveteran.org.