Happy Veterans Day; Marshawn Lynch grooves with Steven Hauschka at ...

Happy Veterans Day.

Its neat for me to see our nation make a little bit bigger deal out of this day than I remember in the past more schools and civic facilities closed to commemorate those who have served, etc. Just seems to be a higher, more-widespread awareness that has bridged the gap some between our society and our military. Unfortunately thats happened after two wars in the last dozen years.

Seahawks pre-Veterans Day ceremonies before Sundays game against New York included this scene for the National Anthem (Gregg Bell/Staff writer).

As I mentioned and wrote Sunday, the Seahawks pregame ceremonies were impressive: a 110-yard flag across the field held on its edges by local personnel fromtheUnited States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard and the raising of the 12th Man flag by veteran Army Major Scott Smiley. Smiley is Pasco High School graduate, a 2003 West Point graduate and father of two who has climbed Mount Rainier, earned his masters of business administration and won an ESPY award since a car bomb blinded him on duty in Iraq in 2005.

Thanks to blog participant Southendzone, heres what a reported divisive malcontent in the Seahawks locker room was doing on the sidelines during the teams win Sunday over the Giants: dancing with kicker Steven Hauschka.

Todays main story in the News Tribune is on the key loss of defensive tackle/run stuffer Brandon Mebane to a hamstring injury during perhaps his finest of eight seasons with the Seahawks and on the likelihood of getting safety Kam Chancellor and outside linebacker Malcolm Smith back from injuries to play Sunday at Kansas City.

Columnist Dave Boling discussing the glass-half-full or half-empty ways you can view quarterback Russell Wilsons last three games, in which hes had his lowest consecutive passer ratings.

I say he got Seattle three straight wins.

The players are off today, their normal practice day off (though many likely are at team headquarters anyway, studying film and game plans, as usual). They return to the practice field tomorrow.

Source: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/2014/11/11/happy-veterans-day-marshawn-lynch-dances-with-steven-hauschka-at-seahawks-bench/

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VA secretary: Happy Veterans Day, 'largest restructuring' of VA underway

On the eve of Veterans Day, new Secretary of Veteran Affairs Robert McDonald said that the largest restructuring in the departments history is under way and that at least 35 people are facing disciplinary action, with as many as 1,000 to follow. The action follows a nationwide scandal this summer over the thousands of veterans waiting for health care.

McDonald made the announcement at a forum at The Washington Post on Monday on the new book featuring their stories,For Love of Country, by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and Washington Post senior writer Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

More than 2.5 million Americans served in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept 11, the longest period of warfare in the countrys history.

This book shows how much leadership, courage and perseverance veterans have, McDonald said. And its the VAs privilege and pride to care for them. We have a real opportunity right now and there is no more noble or inspiring mission.

McDonald, who took over the 330,000-person agency three months ago after his predecessor Eric Shinseki resigned, said the firings would be taking place soon, but did not give a specific timeline.

Were talking about people who violated our values, McDonald said. Those values are integrity, its advocacy, its excellence.

McDonald has said in previous media interviews last week that he first needs to build up a case against each person on the pink slip list. A judge needs to approve each firing.

The law didnt grant any kind of new power that would suddenly give me the ability to walk into a room and simply fire people, he said at a breakfast with reporters in Washington on Thursday. Our Constitution provides for due process, and we are following the due process.

McDonald also said he hopes to hire about 28,000 medical professionals to join the agencys hospitals and clinics around the country, including about 2,500 mental health professionals.

Additionally, McDonalds reforms will restructure everything from what he calls the too confusing Web sites to giving veterans a single point of contact to get care.

Everything must be measured against on question: Is this organization centered on the veteran.

McDonald said his reforms and restructuring will focus on the driving issue behind the VAs 90-day-plus wait times in some areas and the coverup by employees, which was reported last year.

Emily Wax-Thibodeaux is a National staff writer who covers veterans, veterans' affairs and the culture of government. She's an award-winning former foreign correspondent who covered Africa and India for nearly a decade. She also covered immigration, crime and education for the Metro staff.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/11/10/va-secretary-happy-veterans-day-massive-restructuring-of-va-underway/

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