Veteran Makes Voice Heard By Congressman For Change

PALM DESERT, Ca. -

The Cal State-San Bernardino campus in Palm Desert is dedicated to helping local veterans with a new kind of university. 

When Gabriel Razcoadurazo, a veteran of the armed forces, was on his way to Veterans University he ran into Congressman Raul Ruiz. 

"I was late and I got to run into him and I told him a lot of veterans, we lose hope," says Razcoadurazo. "And we fall into cycles of suicide and depression and it becomes difficult to find someone or even accept any kind of help. So when we find someone who'll help us it helps us a lot more than we thought it would."

Razcoadurazo moved to the Coachella Valley thanks to a housing program for veterans. "I was awarded a house through Operation Homefront about 2 years ago... this program kind of gave me hope. I was able to move out here and provide my family with a better livelihood."

Congressman Ruiz says he's hoping to make more of these veteran programs accessible to those who serve our nation. 

"So this is just a partnership coming together to educate, train our local veterans and their family members and anybody who works with veterans to better serve our veterans. Our collective vision is to make this district the most veteran friendly community in the nation," stated Rep. Ruiz.

"I believe it's only going to continue to grow, to get better," Rep. Ruiz says. "And the point here is that the veterans must come first and be the center of all of our efforts." 

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Veteran Adjusting School is VA approved for Veteran Tuition Assistance under 9/11 GI Bill.

CAT adjusters average between $70,000 - $100,000 in 6-7 months during storm season.

Do you have what it takes to for a rewarding career as a catastrophic insurance adjuster?

Veteran Removed From Ceremony For Mentioning God

Veteran Oscar Rodriguez was forcibly removed from a retirement flag folding ceremony where he was asked to speak for mentioning God in speech. Oscar, retired from the air force, has given this speech honoring the flag on several occasions. When Master Sgt. [Charles] Roberson asked him to give the speech at his retirement ceremony he gladly agreed. 

The speech he recited was an old version of the "Flag Folding Ceremony Air Force Script" that had been changed to remove God from the text. Oscar believed it was his right as an American civilian to give the speech he was asked to give. Once he began the speech several men dragged him from the stage. 

Oscar feels embarrassed by the event saying, "This is one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. All I wanted to do was honor Master Sgt. [Charles] Roberson, his guest, and the flag with my speech. Now Rodriguez is demanding that an apology is issued or he will sue the Air Force.

Here is the speech transcript:

"Our flag is known as the stars and stripes. The union consists of white stars on a blue field, symbolic of a new constellation. Each star represents one individual state and together they stand united indivisible. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies that declared their independence from Great Britain in 1776. The one official, red, is symbolic for the blood of those who have given their lives to defend and protect our great nation from all of her enemies, both foreign and domestic. White represents purity, innocence, and hope. Blue is for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. 

But in our hearts our flag stands for many things, evident in the Declaration of Independence where all men are created equal with rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; the right of the people to alter or abolish any form of government that becomes destructive. 

Our flag stands for the Constitution of the United States of America. Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech. It provides for security to all of her citizens, it also provides for a fair and swift trial. It abolished slavery and it gives each and every individual of age the right to participate in our voting process—to have a say in his or her’s future. 

Our flag is a beacon, recognized around the world to represent freedom during times of peace, or during times of war. This is what we live for. This is what we will fight for, and if necessary to touch the head of God in her defense, the charge that we accept as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines is a noble one for there is no heart stronger than that of a volunteer. Let us pray that God will reflect with admiration the willingness of one nation in her attempt to rid the world of tyranny, oppression, and misery. It is this one nation under God that we call, with honor, the United States of America. 

God Bless our flag. God bless our troops. God bless America."

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CAT adjusters average between $70,000 - $100,000 in 6-7 months during storm season.

Veteran Adjusting School is VA approved for Veteran Tuition Assistance under 9/11 GI Bill.

Do you have what it takes to for a rewarding career as a catastrophic insurance adjuster?

Miss U.S.A. Fights for Veteran Rights

Deshauna Barber, who is currently enlisted in the Army reserve, just won the Miss U.S.A. competition. As Deshauna serves in the reserve, she is the first ever military member to win the contest.

Miss U.S.A. plans on using her win to spotlight veterans issues, like PTSD, veteran suicide and the backlog in veterans hospitals. As an active member in the reserve and unit commander, she sees the need for the raise of awareness for veteran issues.

Deshauna said "As a woman in the United States Army, I think ... we are just as tough as men. As a commander of my unit, I'm powerful, I am dedicated. Gender does not limit us in the United States."

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CAT adjusters average between $70,000 - $100,000 in 6-7 months during storm season.

Do you have what it takes to for a rewarding career as a catastrophic insurance adjuster?