FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Adrienne Willis - awillis@veteransforamerica.org - 917.359.8543
Veterans for America (VFA) Stands with Our National Guard as They Prepare for Hurricane Gustav
September 1, 2008 , Washington, DC - - Our country owes a great debt of gratitude to the thousands of citizen Soldiers from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida who currently stand at the ready to respond to Hurricane Gustav.
Our National Guard has shouldered an incredible burden in the past few years as a result of its heavy use in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as its continued commitment to respond to various contingencies and emergencies within the United States. As VFA has found, between now and the end of President Bush’s term in office, about 20,000 members of the Army National Guard will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. This constitutes about half of all members of the Army who will be deployed over this timeframe.
VFA recently launched a nationwide program focused on assessing the needs of our National Guard. Indications from VFA’s work and from the Department of Defense suggest that the needs of the members of the National Guard – and their families – are considerable. For instance, the Department of Defense recently found that almost half of the members of the National Guard who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered considerable psychological injuries.
VFA remains strongly committed to ensuring that our National Guard and their families receive the support their sacrifice merits.
For more information on VFA’s work supporting the National Guard, visit: www.veteransforamerica.org