Organizations work toward fair treatment of veterans
Published August 28, 2003
Editor: Re: Younger veterans need lawmakers' help too, Aug. 21 letter to the editor:
Margaret Mageaus, kudos to your husband who fought in Vietnam, and your son, a Gulf War veteran. Hopefully, for their own good, they get involved in one of our many veterans organizations, in any community in this great nation or overseas.
We have a couple of great Marines organizations in Hernando County, the VFW, the DAV, the American Legion, etc., with service officers to help any veterans with their cases. We also have our own county service officer and staff.
I certainly don't know where she got the idea that our young veterans are being slighted by our politicians. Her husband and son can receive the same entitlements today as any veterans. There is no difference between young and old in the Veterans Affairs system, of any wars or conflicts, as long as they were honorably discharged. As far as our politicians, they don't owe our veterans a thing - it's the country that owes these veterans our gratitude and help.
A politician is not going out to support any issues unless it is brought to their attention by lobbyists (special-interest groups), in or this case, veterans organizations. And, may I add, much is done pro bono with time and use of their vehicles.
Our veterans have been fighting for their entitlements for more than 100 years, and many went to their graves without receiving their compensations. Many veterans will say, when asked to join any of the veterans organizations, "I haven't got the time." If the letter writer's husband and son don't belong to one, she should make them join, since it seems she is the one who is strong and concerned.
If they don't help fight for their entitlements, they will lose them.
-- Gus Scumaci, Spring Hill
Hospital's cutbacks hard on families of patients
Editor: Oak Hill Hospital has made more changes. The cafeteria is now closed for breakfast, so a patient's family members who come in during the wee hours of the morning for their spouse's surgery have no place to go for a bite to eat. Not only that, they have changed the hours in the deli so it will not be open to the public until 11 a.m. Again, the families who come in for testing have no place for a snack.
I think this is a real shame on the hospital's part to have cut this out to trim the budget. Please reconsider these changes and think about the public and staff who are here at the hospital.
-- Joan Rainville, Brooksville
Tile shingle roofs cause costly problems
Editor: Homeowners in Hernando County, beware of the "slipping tile roof syndrome," which has reared its ugly head and is causing considerable financial loss and could cause extreme pain if you happen to be standing below a loose 20-pound tile shingle.
Let me explain: 13 years ago, my wife and I bought a new home in Woodland Waters. During the 13 years in our home, we have been plagued with roof leaks, which were repaired by the roofing contractor. Our new home came with a tile roof, which we upgraded to a "Monier Lifetile" for an additional $2,000. We were under the impression that a "life tile" roof would last as long as we would. Wrong! During our latest leak problem, we were advised our roof could no longer be repaired due to the tile shingles slipping down, and that we need a new roof.
We were told by the Hernando County Building Department that there was no code requirement for this type of roof, and that the roofing contractor should follow the manufacturer's installation specifications. We called the tile manufacturer and were advised there was no firm installation procedure. The tiles in question all came with nail holes. However, no nails were used, which raises the question, why does the building department not have its own set of rules?
Three homes within one-quarter mile have had roofing problems. Is this problem widespread?
The tile shingle roof is probably the most common roof south of the Mason-Dixon line, yet our local guardians of the quality of construction of homes in Hernando County has in place no installation requirements for a tile shingle roof. That's scary. Makes you wonder. Perhaps the county, out of the goodness of its heart, plans to pick up the bill for these new roofs.
If any homeowners out there have the same problem, let's hear about it. Perhaps a class-action lawsuit would be appropriate.
-- Robert W. La Rose, Brooksville
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