in America - anything is possible!

From Parade magazine for Independence Day 2009:

Senator John McCain said,
"When I graduated fifth from the bottom of my class at the Naval Academy, my old company officer would have been astonished to see Ensign McCain receiving the Presidential nomination of the Republican Party.
That shows that, in America, anything is possible."

SECNAV's Independence Day message

7/2/2009:
SECNAV Ray Mabus:
"Two hundred thirty three years ago today, 56 patriots gathered in Philadelphia to pledge their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the idea that all can live in freedom. The signers of the Declaration of Independence came from all walks of life, joining together as one to claim for themselves and their descendants the inalienable rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

The Continental Navy and Continental Marines played crucial roles in winning our nation's freedom. In the months after the declaration, Marines and Sailors serving together aboard naval vessels, like the continental frigate Bonhomme Richard under Capt. John Paul Jones took the fight to the enemy's home waters. Now, as then, you come from all walks of life to your calling on the front lines of freedom. You are taking the fight to the enemy, from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Horn of Africa and anywhere liberty is threatened.

Across the country, Americans gather on this holiday to celebrate the freedoms we all enjoy. As they do, their thoughts turn to you, who stand the watch on land and sea, beneath the waves and in the air. From the first state to the last frontier, Americans everywhere are thankful for your service, proud of your accomplishments and wish you Godspeed.

On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for giving your time and your talent in the service of our country. Happy Independence Day to you and your families."

TRICARE for Life (TFL) in jeopardy?

TRI-CARE for Life in Jeopardy:
Widest dissemination is encouraged for a retired benefit program that may be in extremis.
Note: your scribe slightly edited this entry to remove quasi-political statements of the originator:
=============================================================================
To: Military Retirees:

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has drafted legislation that would
basically reduce our TRICARE for Life [TFL] benefits to a system whereby we
pay deductibles and co-pay up to $6,301 the first year for you and your
spouse, with future years being indexed to increase with inflation.

What can we do? The article below, obtained from an Air
Force Association and written by BG Bob Clements, best describes what we
can do.
TRICARE FOR LIFE'S (TFL) FUTURE....
TRICARE For Life was instituted to correct the broken
promise that military retirees would receive free healthcare coverage
for life and it covers the Medicare co-pay. Now a heavy assault has
begun on Veterans'/Retirees' benefits to pay for other programs.
An item of high interest to Retired Military personnel is in
Article 189. If approved by Congress the first assault wave would hit in
2011 and would hit hard. It would initiate cost sharing to require
retirees to pay the first $525 of medical cost and 50% of the next
$4,725 for a first year cost of $2,888 per person. It would be indexed
to increase with inflation.
For those of you who are or will be covered by TFL you will want to
pay attention to what has surfaced about the
future of TFL.

On page 189 of the Congressional Budget
Office report, there is a strong recommendation to eventually
eliminate the TFL program as it is too
expensive.

You may visit the Congressional Budget Office Website to see this recommendation:
(www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9925)
a. Budget, Options, Volume 1: Health Care

1. click on the PDF button
2. search for TFL

There is a prospect that you might lose one of the best
healthcare benefits that Medicare-eligible retired military have. It
is short of the promises made that we fought so hard for back in the
late 90s and early 2000s but it is still the best healthcare program
that anyone in the United States has, bar none.

A way to help secure your benefits is to write to your
members of Congress and to keep writing and writing and writing.


Remember- TFL is an "Earned Benefit" that's been granted
by a previous Congress.

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And etc.,

3. Local Chapter's Summer Picnic - to be held at the Admiral Baker Field, Saturday August 29th.
Watch for email updates and visit our revamped website ( http://www.usnaaasd.com/upcoming-events/ ).
You don't want to miss the Mighty MO(wins) burgers and AIRDALE kegger.

4. Good luck - Class of 2013!
"I" Day for the Flower Children of '75 (including me) was only 42 years and 1 day ago.
Kudos to our local Blue and Golders that helped to produce one of the highest plebe and prep school "yields" in recent history.