ROA members:

By now, you have read much of the messaging that has resulted from the capitulation in Kabul.

The tragic outcome occurred not for want of skill, effort, heart, guts, blood, sweat, sacrifice, and tenacity on the part of America’s Reserve Components.

At home or abroad, you know what you did. You know what your buddies to the left and right of you did. Of that you must be proud. You must, we respectfully suggest, be thankful that the opportunity was ours to seize – to be of service to others. And that you seized that opportunity.

ROA will not try to tell you how to assess the strategic impact of our service in the war. History will have its say, and history takes its own time. We do know that we brought to oppressed peoples the light of freedom. We kept enemies of our nation at bay. We showed our fellow countrymen and women our mettle and our worth.

As ROA’s executive director and a retired soldier, my recommendation to you, fellow comrades, is to get ready for the next mission. It will come. For many of us who served in the pandemic response, that new mission has already come. Or fighting wildfires. Or floods.

Our job is to go where we are sent.

Among those of us in the Reserve and National Guard, we have been going to the sound of the guns, literally or figuratively, since before our nation’s birth.

We will continue to do so.

And may our fellow Americans thank God for that.

Jeffrey E. Phillips
Executive Director
Reserve Organization of America

WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs will begin processing disability claims Aug. 2 for asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis on a presumptive basis based on presumed particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas — if these conditions manifested within 10 years of a qualifying period of military service .

VA conducted the first iteration of a newly formed internal VA process to review scientific evidence to support rulemaking, resulting in the recommendation to consider creation of new presumptions of service connection for respiratory conditions based on VA’s evaluation of a National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine report and other evidence.

The process concluded that particulate matter pollution is associated with chronic asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis for Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations beginning Aug. 2, 1990 to the present, or Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Syria or Djibouti beginning Sept. 19, 2001 to the present. VA’s review also concluded that there was sufficient evidence to presume that these Veterans have been exposed to particulate matter.

“I announced my intent to initiate rulemaking on May 27 to consider adding respiratory conditions to the list of chronic disabilities,” said Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “Through this process I determined that the evidence provided was sufficient to establish presumptions of service connection for these three respiratory conditions. This is the right decision, and VA will continue to use a holistic approach in determining toxic exposure presumptives moving forward.”

The Southwest Asia theater of operations refers to Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the airspace above these locations.

VA will conduct outreach to impacted Veterans and survivors to inform them about their eligibility and will provide information on how to apply. Veterans and survivors who believe they may be eligible for the newly established presumptive conditions are encouraged to apply. They should file a VA Form 21-526EZ if applying for the first time or a VA Form 20-0995 if they are reapplying for these conditions. For more information on the new presumptive conditions, visit our website at  Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures - Public Health (va.gov).

To apply for benefits, Veterans and survivors may visit VA.gov or call toll-free at 800-827-1000.  Within the next week, you can view the interim final rule at www.regulations.gov.

There are special days designated to honor Veterans that have served.  These days may include ceremonies, parades, placement of flags, placement of wreaths, and/or purchase of poppies.  However, the most visible and the most powerful recognition of a Veteran is the headstone under which they have been laid to rest.

The responsibility of honoring our Veterans should not fall solely on the shoulders of the families.  It is also the responsibility and duty of the public for which the Veteran conducted his or her service.  Unfortunately, after several generations the families and the public begin to lose sight and forget the sacrifices of Veterans.  Visits to graves to honor the memory of a Veteran begins to fade away.

Veteran headstones tend to deteriorate over time, making them unsightly and the inscriptions unreadable.  Causes of deterioration include weathering, growth of moss/fungus, burrowing animals, fallen tree limbs, shade tree roots, poor water drainage, landscape maintenance methods, and vandals.  If your Veteran is in a National Cemetery or a State Cemetery, the effects of those impacts previously mentioned are dealt with quickly and properly.  However, in cemeteries under the jurisdiction of various municipalities with elected officials, the conditions of the Veteran sections is often overlooked and underfunded.  Yet cemeteries are a popular location for people to walk, run, bicycle, etc.  They are incredibly quiet and peaceful, often allowing for reverence and needed reflection.

Signature Project

The Walla Walla Chapter, Washington Department of the Reserve Organization of America, has taken on a signature project to improve the appearances and conditions of Veteran headstones and markers locally.  The effort involves two cemeteries located within the city of Walla Walla, Wash.  The Fort Walla Walla Post Cemetery (FWWPC) and the Mountain View Cemetery (MVC).

An American-Indian Wars outpost named Fort Walla Walla was established in 1856.  It was one of the longest-occupied military posts in the Northwest and was the center of regional activity for much of its existence.  Throughout its history, the post has been home to Dragoon, Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry units.  The presence of the fort helped keep peace between the Euro-American settlers and the native tribes during much of this period. 

The FWWPC was established in 1858 and has 142 grave markers with several graves appearing to be mass graves moved from other locations.  The actual number of burials is not certain.  An Army Quartermaster Report published in 1903 indicated there were 159 soldiers and 24 civilians interred at FWWPC for a total of 183.  The Fort was closed in 1910.  Over time Fort Walla Walla was transferred to several agencies to include a portion transferred to the City of Walla Walla for use as a park: including the designated cemetery area.  This transfer occurred in 1958.

The second cemetery, MVC, has burials dating back to the 1850s.  MVC is an active cemetery and is comprised of the city cemetery and cemeteries owned by the Masonic Lodge, International Order of Odd Fellows, and the Catholic Church.  There are several areas designated for Veterans to include, the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and the Afghanistan War.  There are more than 3,000 Veterans laid to rest, most of them in the designated Veterans sections and the remainder spread throughout the MVC mixed with family plots and in the mausoleums.

Description of the Signature Project

Headstone Cleaning

The most basic task to restoring dignity and honor is to maintain the appearance of the headstones.

Local teams of volunteers have been organized to periodically tend to the cleaning of Veteran headstones.  A biodegradable cleanser (known as D/2), water, and a natural bristle brush, with the help of a good strong arm, will clean up and preserve stone markers nicely.  If this routine is continued on a scheduled basis, the headstone will look good for many years.  A different technique using Mission Restore for cleaning bronze markers has shown great results.  Unfortunately, both processes are labor intensive.  Pressure washing is often suggested but this can cause more damage to the headstone than time and nature.  Pressure washing is highly discouraged.

Example of a stone marker in need of cleaning in Mountain View Cemetery, Walla Walla, Washington.

Headstone Restoration and Replacement

Stone and the quality of the stone used has varied over the years.  Some stone weathers more quickly or is damaged more easily by maintenance methods. 

The fix to damaged headstones is replacement or realignment.  However, the original placement of graves in our Veteran sections was never consistent over the years.  Efforts to fix the problems may include re-contouring and re-landscaping the ground for improved drainage, placement of headstones in improved foundation anchor points, and alignment of headstones in a uniform manner which reflects the appearance of dignity and honor to these Veterans which they deserve from all of us.

The level of effort to restore or replace a headstone is more equipment intensive and it comes at a greater cost.  Fundraising, seeking grants, asking for in-kind donations and services from professional and skilled community members, and partnering with others is critical in this venture.

After re-contouring the landscape, the first row of headstones was replaced in a new anchor system technology in Fall 2019.  Mountain View Cemetery, Walla Walla, Washington.

Other Actions

In addition to cleaning, restoring, or replacing headstones, there are opportunities to make our Veteran sections more inviting to family, friends, and the public.

• Ground Penetrating Radar studies can help determine if other burials exist.  Often grave markers disappear leaving uncertainty on the number of burials.  In our situation, the actual number of soldiers, their families and some Native American Indians buried at FWWPC is unclear. 
• Sharing the story of our Veterans who have been laid to rest and interpreting the history of the actions our country asked these Veterans to perform is very educational and brings us all closer to their sacrifices.
• Finding ways to protect the headstones from vandalism, thru use of security measures can be worth the cost.
• Enhancing the serenity of our cemeteries by removing old and dying trees, replacing them with a better species of trees.  Proper distancing of shade trees from the grave site will reduce damages from roots as well as falling branches.
• Implementing ways to share burial information and locations through web-based databases and improved mapping will benefit not only the general public but encourage visits by family and genealogist working on family histories.

Veteran Headstone Project Partners

Walla Walla Chapter’s progress has been slow as we build a support base to Honor Those who Served.  Initial efforts to build relationships with those who have similar interests has allowed for common ground and plan development.

• The City of Walla Walla owns both cemeteries so are responsible for the operation and maintenance.
• Fort Walla Walla Museum has an important role in the interpretation of the history surrounding Fort Wall Walla and the U.S. Indian Wars in Southeastern Washington, Northeastern Oregon, and Central Idaho
• Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation might have Tribal Members or members of other Northwest Tribes buried in the FWWPC and they have the technology for performing Ground Penetrating Radar studies.
• Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War have a Monument & Memorial Grant Fund intended to assist Camps and Departments in their efforts to refurbish and restore Civil War related monuments and memorials.  MVC falls within the footprint of Department of Columbia and Fort Walla Walla Camp No. 3.

Walla Walla Chapter of the ROA meets quarterly with the Veteran Headstone Project Partners.  We monitor all ROA volunteer hours and submit them to the City of Walla Walla monthly.

British Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. There are many ways for people, communities and organisations across the country to show their support and get involved.

Armed Forces Day celebrations begin on Monday, June 21 when the Armed Forces Day flag is raised on buildings and famous landmarks around the country. Reserves Day will also provide an opportunity for the country to recognise our Reserve Forces.

Physical and virtual events are being held across the country to mark this year’s Armed Forces Day. Find your local event.

Events may be affected by COVID-19. Please contact the individual event organisers, using the contact details provided, for further information on specific events.

Showing support for the Armed Forces provides a much valued morale boost for the troops and their families. You can find out more about what they are doing at home and around the world by visiting the official sites of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.

The public show their support for the Armed Forces on Armed Forces Day, but did you know the Armed Forces Covenant outlines how the Government, businesses and communities support Armed Forces personnel past and present throughout the year? Find out more here.

The Armed Forces

The UK Armed Forces defend the UK and its interests. They are busy working around the world, promoting peace, delivering aid, tackling drug smugglers, providing security and fighting terrorism.

Veterans

A veteran is anyone who has served in the HM Armed Forces at any time (including National Servicemen, Regulars and Reserves). Armed Forces Day celebrates their continued role within the military community.

You can find out more information about support for Veterans on the Veterans-UK website or by calling Veterans UK on 0808 1914 218.

Reservists

Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve. An annual Reserves Day celebrates their contribution to the Armed Forces.  Reserves Day is the Wednesday ahead of Armed Forces Day – June 23.

Cadets

The Cadet Forces (Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, Air Cadets and the Combined Cadet Force) currently support over 130,000 young people in more than 3,000 locations across the UK. Cadets learn life and career building skills as well as gaining vocational qualifications.

Families

Our Armed Forces couldn’t do their job without the incredible support of their family and friends.

Charities

Although Armed Forces Day is not a charitable event, the Armed Forces have the support of several UK charities and many local events will offer opportunities to support them. To find out more about Armed Forces charities please see here.

The U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. 

America's Revolutionary War began on April 19, 1775 with exchanges of musketry between British regulars and Massachusetts militiamen at Lexington and Concord. As their fellow citizen soldiers from New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island responded to the alarm, a state of war existed between the four colonies and the British government. Called the Army of Observation, a force of New Englanders surrounded Boston and had the British troops who occupied it under siege, but they needed help. They appealed to delegates who represented all thirteen colonies to join them in the struggle for American liberty.

When the delegates to the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on May 10, they soon learned that armed men commanded by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold had captured the British forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain in New York. The constitutional crisis, in which Americans sought a redress of grievances from the British king and Parliament, had become open hostilities. The delegates realized that even though many desired reconciliation, they would now have to address the new military situation. The Congress took the next step that eventually transformed a local rebellion into a war for independence when it established the Continental Army: the force we know today as the U.S. Army.

The Army Reserve of today can trace its roots as a national Citizen-Soldier force as far back as the French and Indian War (1756-1763) on through the Civil War (1861-1865) to the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection (1898-1902). From its birth in 1776 through the nineteenth century, the United States remained a regional power, protected from invasion by the vast expanses of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A large standing army was not required, and the nation's defense was based primarily on the militias of individual states.

The United States Congress created an official Army Reserve in order to place a large portion of American Citizen-Soldiers under federal control during times of peace and war. Financially, this was the best option for maintaining and projecting a land force that rivaled those of other world powers. This decision came into play during World War I (1917-1919) when the Army mobilized nearly 90,000 Reserve officers, one-third of which were medical doctors. More than 80,000 enlisted Army Reserve Soldiers served. The individual Army Reserve Soldiers were placed into newly organized units, trained, and then deployed.

Branch Birthdays

Since 1775, Congress has also authorized the establishment of certain branches within the Army. Today, these are represented by the Army's basic and special branches. Below is information about the legal authority for the Army's branches and additional information about each branch's birthday.

Army Birthdays

The U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. For more on the history of the U.S. Army birthday, click here: the Army birthday.

Since 1775 Congress has also prescribed the organization and structure of the Army. This includes various branches into which Soldiers can be assigned. In many cases these branch distinctions are reflected in the Army's system for designating units and in the U.S. Army Regimental System.

The Army Organization Act of 1950 (enacted June 28, 1950) set forth the legal basis for the various basic and special branches in the current Army (see Title 10, United States Code, Sections 3063 and 3064). It also permits the creation of other branches as the Secretary of the Army considers necessary. See the note below for more information on The Army Organization Act of 1950.

In recognition that many of today's branches have existed since 1775 and in order to enhance esprit de corps, the Army recognizes official branch birthdays (see Department of the Army General Orders, No. 19, dated October 31, 1978 and subsequent announcements). Listed below are the Army's basic and special branches currently in existence, their birthdays, and the relevant authorities.

NOTE: The Army Organization Act of 1950 was enacted on June 28, 1950. A full copy of the Act was published in Department of the Army Bulletin No. 9, dated July 6, 1950. The changes the Act had on the Army's branches and the titles of the various branch chiefs were announced in Department of the Army General Orders No. 23, dated July 20, 1950 (as amended). Finally, an article from the August 1950 edition of Army Information Digest discusses the Act's major changes.

• Department of the Army Bulletin, No. 9, dated 6 July 1950
  
• Department of the Army General Orders, No. 23, dated 20 July 1950 (As amended by AGO No. 38, dated 10 November 1950).
  

• “Army Organization Act of 1950” by LTC G. Emery Baya. Army Information Digest (August 1950), pages 23-37.

Sources: 

• NationalGuard.mil: https://www.nationalguard.mil/About-the-Guard/How-We-Began

• History.Army.mil - Army Birthdays: https://history.army.mil/html/faq/branches.html