Honoring our veterans with support
We stand with Pennsylvania’s more than 964,000 veterans as they honor fellow service men and women and reflect on their own service to our country.
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, one in four dying Americans is a veteran. No matter how much time has passed, veterans carry the experiences of their military service with them, presenting unique challenges at the end of life. Veterans of each war have been exposed to diseases, environmental factors and personal and public sentiments about their service. A veteran of the Vietnam War does not have the same needs as a veteran of the Korean War or World War II.
ldquo;We Honor Veterans,” a partnership between the National Hospice and Palliative Organization and the Department of Veterans Affairs, is devoted to addressing the needs of aging veterans. Joined by veterans’ partnerships, VA facilities, and volunteers across the country, Holy Redeemer is one of the partners in the program learning ways to identify veteran patients, evaluate the health impacts of their experiences, and determine the benefits that veterans and surviving dependents may be entitled to. This allows our staff to accompany and guide veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending.
As we honored and remembered those who have served our country on Veterans Day, consider showing your appreciation for local heroes by visiting veterans in their homes or nursing homes. Becoming a hospice volunteer is another way to provide emotional support and companionship to veterans, while assisting their family members with errands and giving respite to caregivers. On Veterans Day and throughout the rest of the year, we invite you to join us in thanking the thousands of veterans who have served and protected our nation.
JoAnne Ruden
Vice President of Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice
A response to Mr. Tomezsko’s letter
Mr. Tomezsko,
You cry ad hominem, but present no solid argument of your own. You do present the logical fallacy of an appeal to tradition.
You make what appears to be an attempt to blame same sex marriage for the fall of the Roman empire and failure of the French Revolution, and it is we who need the history lesson? Neither you, nor I, nor anyone else deserves privileged rights in this country. It is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, not a select majority who consistently attempt to impose themselves upon others. Please read Amendment XIV of our Constitution.
Let me take a second to tackle some of the proposed arguments you may have considered:
1. It’s not natural: I know how Americans love to reject things that are unnatural, like eye glasses, polyester and air conditioning.
2. It will encourage others to be gay: Not anymore than hanging around tall people will make you be tall.
3. What’s next, marrying your dog?: Yes, because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.
4. Straight marriages will be less meaningful: Like that of Britney Spears’ 55 hour marriage.
5. Straight marriage produce children: So I guess older couples and infertile couples shouldn’t be able to marry neither?
6. Gay parents will only raise gay children: Since it’s obvious that straight parents only raise straight children.
7. Gay marriage is not supported by religion: Well in a theocracy like the U.S., others’ religion is imposed upon everyone else. That’s why we only have one religion, right?
8. Children won’t succeed without both a male and female role model: Let’s forbid single parents to raise children then.
It is your ignorance that shines brightly, George.
Mike Alexander
Holmesburg
Weighing in on same-sex marriage debate
Mr. Tomezsko, you are privileged to defend your views on traditional marriage until death do you part this life, but you are not privileged to get your facts wrong. You suggest the struggle to keep marriage traditional is winning and will totally win in the long run.
Here are some of the states which have made same-sex marriage legal: Massachusetts, New York, California, New Jersey and recently Illinois and Hawaii. Here are some of the countries of the world which have done so (some of them predominately Catholic): Spain, France, Brazil, England and Wales (with the blessing of the Queen), Portugal, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden.
George, you are so not on the side of history. But then, not too long ago it was illegal for a couple to marry if one was white and the other was black. When the Supremes intervened on this nonsense and said this was wrong, everyone settled down to the new normal and accepted it.
Edward Huber
Burholme
An Oxymoron: The Affordable Care Act
Fortunately, I have no party affiliation and have not been blinded by Obama’s speeches. My wife is in her sixties had a coverage canceled and was offered a new policy with less coverage for a 50 percent increase. This is happening to millions across the country despite the president’s promise that this would not happen. We use to call this lying.
In addition, he now has every policy providing benefits that will not apply to many of us. Can you imagine paying for maternity benefits and pediatric care at our age? Good old insurance lobby wins again having us paying extra for something we will never use.
Get ready because funding retirement plans for the 50 million or more who have not saved will be next.
Anthony Dello Russo Jr.
Fox Chase
