Benefit Steak Dinner

STEAK DINNER BENEFIT
All proceeds to benefit local Vets
SATURDAY DECEMBER 6TH, 2008
SERVING FROM 4-7PM AT THE LAKES LOUNGE
AMERICAN LEGION POST 90
LAKE LINDEN, MI


$10 Adults
Includes steak, baked potato, roll and cole slaw
Tickets available at the door and from any
Forgotten Eagles member

For more information call
Al Utzman 369-0278

www.forgotteneagles.org

Veterans Day

RESURRECTION CEMETERY TO DEBUT INSPIRATIONAL
FIELD OF HONOR FEATURING NEARLY 200 EIGHT-FOOT FLAGS, ONE FOR EACH SERVICEPERSON LOST IN THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS
Memorial event will include dedication of southeastern Michigan’s newest Veteran’s Section

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich., October 14, 2008 — Resurrection Cemetery will debut an inspirational Field of Honor and dedicate southeastern Michigan’s newest Veteran’s Section on November 11, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. on the cemetery grounds. The Field of Honor will focus on military men and women from the State of Michigan who sacrificed for this country, featuring an eight-foot flag for each of the nearly 200 fallen soldiers and a scroll with each soldier’s name.
The event will begin with a procession of the Patriot Guard riders. The playing of the National Anthem will follow a parade of colors for each branch of the military. The Sulfridge Air Force Base will conduct a flyover as a tribute to Michigan’s honored soldiers. Major-General Scott West, Commander of the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, is the guest military speaker for the event. The Birmingham Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra will play “God Bless America,” followed by a rifle salute, to conclude the memorial event.
Resurrection Cemetery is located on Clinton River Road at Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township. For more information on this Veteran’s Day memorial event, the public can call 1-800-989-9020 or visit www.mtelliott.com.
Resurrection Cemetery is a member of the Mt. Elliott Cemetery Association, a not-for-profit organization that has served southeastern Michigan for more than 160 years. The Mt. Elliott Cemetery Association is comprised of Mt. Elliott and Mt. Olivet Cemeteries in Detroit, Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, All Saints Cemetery in Waterford and Guardian Angel Cemetery in Rochester.XXX

Fall Run

Chapter 5 Fall Run

Chapter 5

Chapter 4 Event

RAM 08 DAY 1 Chapter 1

Getting ready to leave the Sault, time for one last smoke

American Legion Post in Newberry

Munising Color Guard and some behind schedule riders

My Thanks

First off I would like to give you my thanks for letting me join your blog. I would like to give my sincere thanks to all the Eagles that came to my cafe while in Atlanta on the 8th of Aug. You are a wonderful group and I would love to keep in touch with you. I pray that God will Bless each and everyone of you as you travel life highway and may he keep you safe. Feel free to e-mail me at any time at joeandnorma@dishmail .net.
Thank you and God Bless you all!

Desert Storm Vet's

On March 4th 1991, four days after the end of the Persian Gulf War, ground troops from the U.S. 37th Engineering Battalion destroyed large caches of weapons found at the Khamisiyah Ammunitions Storage Facility, a site approximately 25 square kilometres in size, located some 350km south east of Baghdad. The U.S. Department of Defense initially denied that its troops may have been exposed to nerve agents during the demolitions at Khamisiyah, but following an inspection of the site by the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) in 1997, it emerged that the munitions destroyed on that day included more than six thousand 155 artillery shells filled with mustard gas and more than two thousand 122 mm rockets containing the nerve agent sarin and a related compound called cyclosarin. After the discovery that the destroyed weapons had in fact contained nerve agents, the Department of Defense carried out a number of special investigations <http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/khamisiyah_iii/> . The investigations involved producing mathematical computer models based on the meteorological conditions, the number and type of weapons destroyed and the positions of U.S. Army units, which were used to estimate the size and movements of the gas plume produced and the levels of nerve agents to which U.S. troops may have been exposed. It was estimated that some 8.4 metric tonnes of sarin were released during the demolition of the munitions dump, and that more than 100,000 troops <http://www.desert-storm.com/soldiers/pit.html> may have been exposed to sarin in the week following the demolition. (An independent investigation carried out by the British Ministry of Defence concluded that British personnel were not affected <http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/33518362-99D0-45DA-B410-E9E3075D25BB/0/gviu_khamisiyah_assess2005.pdf> by the nerve agents released at Khamisiyah.)Sarin (o-isopropyl methylphosphonoflouridate) is a synthetic organophosphate compound whose chemical structure is similar to some common insecticides. At room temperature, it is a colourless, odourless and highly volatile liquid. The name sarin is derived from the names of the German chemists (Schrader, Ambros, Rüdiger and van der Linde) who, in 1938, discovered the compound while trying to synthesize stronger pesticides. Sarin inhibits an enzyme called cholinesterase, which normally breaks down acetylcholine, the neurochemical transmitter released by motor neurons onto muscles during voluntary movement, and by the nerve fibres of the autonomic nervous system that control involuntary movements such as breathing. Sarin therefore prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine after it has been released by neurons into synapses, thus prolonging the actions of the neurotransmitter. Specifically, sarin prevents hydrolysis of acetylcholine by forming a covalent bond with a serine residue in the active site of the cholinesterase enzyme. The symptoms produced by exposure to sarin are produced by the effects of the compound on the central and peripheral nervous system. These initially include a runny nose, constriction of the pupils and constriction of the muscle in the chest. These symptoms are soon followed by nausea, vomiting, difficulty in breathing, impairment of various cognitive functions and loss of control over bodily functions. The victim then becomes comatose and suffocates following a series of convulsive spasms. Someone who has absorbed a non-lethal dose can be treated with atropine, an alkaloid compound derived from deadly nightshade (Atropa belladona), which reversibly inhibits acetylcholine receptors. If this treatment is not administered almost immediately, permanent neurological damage may occur.Although sarin's mechanism of action is known, the short- and long-term effects of the compound on the central nervous system are still not understood. A new study now provides some evidence of abnormalities <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/us/17sarin.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&ref=health> in the brains of U. S. troops exposed to low levels of the nerve agent during the 1991 Gulf War. Roberta White, of Boston VA Medical Center, and her colleagues used quantitative magnetic resonance imaging to examine the brains of 26 Gulf War veterans, 13 of whom are believed to have been exposed to low levels of the nerve agent following the demolition of the weapons caches at Khamisiyah. It is one of only a small number of studies in which neuroimaging techniques have been used to investigate possible effects of exposure to sarin on brain anatomy. The results obtained from troops whose units were located within the hazard area around Khamisiyah in the days following the demolition were compared to those from troops whose units were outside the hazard area. White's group measured the volumes of various brain structures, and correlated the measurements with estimates of levels of exposure to sarin. This showed that troops exposed to sarin had reduced volumes of white matter and enlarged lateral ventricles in both cerebral hemispheres. These changes were rather subtle - those troops exposed to sarin had about 5% less white matter than those who weren't - but were found to be directly correlated to the extent of exposure to sarin. The preliminary data obtained by White's group are to be published in the June issue of the journal NeuroToxicology <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W81-4NBBYM8-1&_user=10&_coverDate=03%2F24%2F2007&_rdoc=16&_fmt=summary&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%236641%239999%23999999999%2399999%23FLA%23display%23Articles)&_cdi=6641&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=100&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=175f34993577e4ebffc7aef152cafbc6> . Similar results were also obtained in a recent study of individuals exposed to sarin released in the Tokyo subway system by the Aum Shinrikyo sect in 1995. This study found that, compared to controls, those exposed to the nerve agent had smaller volumes of white matter in the region surrounding the insular cortex. Earlier studies showed that Gulf War veterans believed to have been exposed to sarin performed very poorly on visuospatial and psychomotor tasks compared to unexposed troops. Impaired visuospatial and psychomotor skills were also observed in individuals who were exposed to sarin in the Tokyo subway system. Other studies performed in rats showed that sarin causes neuronal cell loss in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum, but much more research into the long-term effects of exposure to sarin should be carried out. Of the 700,000 U.S. troops who served in the 1991 Gulf War, at least 150,000 have complained of an undiagnosed illness whose symptoms include persistent fatigue, headaches, joint pain and nausea. The Department of Defense long denied that such a condition existed, and instead suggested that the symptoms were psychological in basis. But it now seems clear that the condition - which has variously been referred to as chronic multisyndrome illness complex, Gulf War Syndrome, or the Gulf War Illnesses - does indeed have a physiological basis. And the animal studies suggest that the onset of symptoms of exposure to sarin can be delayed, that the symptoms persist for years, and that they worsen with time. The myriad symptoms are unlikely to have a single cause <http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/05/sarin_caused_gu.html> , and instead may be due to a number of things, including exposure to a combination of hazardous and potentially neurotoxic substances, such as depleted uranium and other nerve agents. A recent study shows that the number of closed head injuries caused by improvised explosive devices <http://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/traumatic-brain-injury-on-the-front-line/> , which may go unnoticed for years, may far outnumber the penetrative wounds caused by the devices; they could also be a contributing factor to the Gulf War Illnesses. It is therefore difficult to extricate the effects of sarin from those other substances, and from other known (and unknown) causes of neurological damage. And although the findings of White's group are inconclusive, they do suggest that exposure to sarin may also contribute to the symptoms of the so-called Gulf War Illnesses. They also suggest that exposure to low levels of sarin may lead to neurological damage without any noticeable clinical symptoms. However, one needs to bear in mind that White's group could not determine precisely the levels of sarin to which the participants were exposed; they used estimates based on the plume models developed by the Department of Defense. Nevertheless, the little we do know about the effects of exposure to sarin has serious implications for those troops who served in the 1991 Gulf War. And we mustn't forget that the Iraqi people have also been exposed to many, if not all, of the same substances to which U.S. troops have been exposed.

New Legislation

VFW Legislative Alert: Pass On-Time VA Funding Bill

This week, the House of Representatives is expected to take up the FY2009 Military Construction/VA Appropriations bill, but it is in danger of not passing before the Congress recesses. Some members of congress may try to attach non-related items to the bill which would hold up or even defeat final passage. VA would again be severely underfunded well into the upcoming fiscal year.
The VFW strongly supports quick passage of the bill as it provides critical increases in veterans' health care, troop housing and other resources needed for today's servicemembers.
We ask you to contact your Representatives today and urge them to pass a clean VA/MilCon Appropriations bill. Tell them that further delay hurts our veterans and our troops on the ground. Let them know that we expect them to reaffirm their priorities by doing the right thing and passing the funding bill quickly!!
For your Representatives contact information type your zip in the box provided in the link: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/

The Moving Wall in Manistique

2008 Sandy Corley Pics

More Corley 2008

Corley 2008

Retroactive Benefits to Agent Orange Victims

July 25th, 2007

"Appeals Court Says VA Must Comply with 1991 Consent Decree"

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay retroactive benefits to Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. The VA had fought for 16 years against paying benefits retroactively to veterans who had claimed that their leukemia was caused by the toxic herbicide.VA Refused to Pay Retroactive BenefitsAlthough the VA agreed in 2003 to provide benefits to the vets diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) caused by Agent Orange, the VA didn't then review previous claims from vets with CLL, and it declined to pay them retroactive benefits.Court Chastises the VA in RulingJudge Stephen Reinhardt, writing the appeals court decision, chastised the VA over its longstanding opposition to paying the benefits, stating, "We would hope that this litigation will now end, that our government will now respect the legal obligations it undertook in the consent decree some 16 years ago, that obstructionist bureaucratic opposition will now cease, and that our veterans will finally receive the benefits to which they are morally and legally entitled."The opinion went on to say "The performance of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has contributed substantially to our sense of national shame."It is not yet known how many veterans will be affected by the court's decision, or how much the VA would be paying out in benefits, or whether the VA will appeal the latest decision.Other Agent Orange-Based Disabilities PossibleAn attorney with the National Veterans Legal Services Program, Richard Spataro, noted that the appeals court ruling might finally halt the years of legal battles with the VA — if the VA doesn't appeal the case to the Supreme Court. Spataro also pointed out that if other disabilities or illnesses among vets are found to have been caused by Agent Orange, the recent decision will bar the VA from denying retroactive benefits for those vets, too.(Source: findlaw.com)Have adverse effects of Agent Orange or another toxic chemical harmed you or a loved one? Contact a lawyer with the skills and experience necessary to provide the legal representation you need. =

Veterans Report

Veterans Report is the most comprehensive newsletter available to help Veterans stay current on benefits changes, learn about important legislation, get great discounts, and use the benefits earned in service. Make sure that you and your colleagues subscribe for this free update publication.-------------------------------- 21 APRIL 2008-------------------------------------------
Bush Supports Increased GI Bill Benefits
Deal of the Week: 20% OFF at JOS.A. Bank
VA Loan Increase Passes Senate
4 Ways to Fund Your Education
What's Life on an Aircraft Carrier really like?
Join Hollywood Stars at the GI Film Fest
Featured Job: You're a US hero. Now be NY's Finest
Military.com Offers Free Business Cards
Veterans Compensation Equity Bill Introduced
Hearings Held on VA Homeless Programs
Hearing Held on Health Care Providers
2008 Election Center
Scholarships for Veterans
Program Assists Wounded Veterans
Veterans Disability Claims Bill Reviewed
Veterans' Rehabilitation Legislation Introduced
Veteran Unemployment Increases
Women Veterans Health Improvement Act
Save 10% on Naval Prints, Mugs, and More
Knights of Heroes Camp Looking for Support
Transition to Civilian Firefighter in 10 Steps
Soul Survivor Benefits Bill
New VA Employment Coordination Office
VA Lowers Life Insurance Premiums
Veterans Have a Voice
Print and Post This Week's Veterans Report
Headline Military News
• Up-to-the-minute Military News • Full Veterans Report • Start Your Own Subscription

Skinner's New Sled

First annual Ride & Dine Event

The First Annual Ride & Dine Fundraiser

On sunday April 20th Brian Roland's faternity at Central Michigan University along with the Army ROTC unit and UPS Radio station sponsered the Ride & Dine event. More than $2000.00 dollars was raised along with a $200.00 donation from the UPS radio station's tee shirt auction on their bar tour. All the proceeds will go to chapter three of the Forgotten Eagles of Michigan to support veterans.

Moving Wall Coming to Manistique

Check out the link below to see the dates and times for the Moving Wall which will be in Manistique in July. Chapter 1 is doing a lot to support this event. If you want to get involved please contact Steve Lord.

http://www.myspace.com/themovingwallmanistique

Field Meet

JOIN US AT THE
32ND ANNUAL
ABATE OF MICHIGAN
STATE FIELD MEET

JUNE 12 – 15 2008

SALT RIVER ACRES
OIL CITY, MI
(M-20 between Mt Pleasant & Midland)
Gate opens Thurs 4:00pm, Friday 8:00am
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT !
Friday Night EXIT 282
Saturday Night North Country Band

Enter to win:
Tattoo contest Bike Show
Arm Wrestling Bike and Field Games
Advanced Sale Tickets
$30.00 each (Fri, Sat & Sun)
$45.00 each Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun
Purchase tickets from your Regional Coordinator or mail a check and the form below, postmarked before
May 30, 2008 to:
ABATE of Michigan
PO Box 309 Milford, MI 48381-0309
GATE PRICES
$40.00 each (Fri, Sat & Sun)
$45.00 each Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun

For more info call: 989-731.2055
Must be 18YRS old and
an ABATE Member to attend




Electrical Hook Ups are an additional $12.00
RV’s Motor homes & Pick-up campers add $20.00
Auto parking (4 wheel) is $5.00 for the weekend
Name(s)_______________________ Phone# (___)________County_________
Street______________________ City_____________ St ___ Zip _____+____
Number of tickets ___ Weekend only tickets $30. each _____4 Day ticket ($45.)each _____
Do you wish to join/renew? ____New Single($20.) ______New Couple ($35.)
Renew single($20) _____ Renew Couple (35.) _____ Membership # (s) ______ ________
This form, along with check must be received by May 20, 2007
ABATE of Michigan PO Box 309 Milford, MI 48381-0309
FREE TENT CAMPING & BOTTOMLESS MUG*
With Admission

FOOD AVAILABLE

OUTSIDE FIREWOOD CAN NOT BE
BROUGHT IN TO THE CAMP

No Bottles, Fireworks, Attitudes or Pets Allowed

Unsafe vehicles will be asked to park

Hello again

http://www.mininggazette.com/stories/articles.asp?articleID=11326

Folks, this is an article from Chip, FE's chapter 2 president. Very nice one at that. Fatbob

Hi folks

Well, its been a very long winter, and us in the U.P. are still waiting for the snow to dissapear. We are working on updating the website, the frontpage, the calendar of events page and a few other things. I hope that folks start using the blog again as its great to hear from everyone and find out whats happening around the state. We will be starting another riding season soon, so be careful. I am looking forward to FE's events as well as everyone elses, as I hope all of you are. Take care, Fatbob

Guitar Auction