As an Operation Desert Storm (90-91) and Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet (03-04) I am very moved that my state would care and create this Issue...Thank You! I hope this passes... I remember while serving in ODS (90-91) I found out that many other Reservists were getting tax free status from their states during their deployments, but not Ohioians. Do Ohio vets deserve this or can Ohio afford this? We could argue this till' the troops come home...and that doesn't look like it will be happening soon. (I believe there are other items in the state budget that will NOT have the positive impact this issue will have if it passes) (Argue, no...but I am grateful and privileged that I can share my opinion as the others here...I love this country!) First a great deal of those in Ohio who will get a boost from this Issue are the Reservists and National Guard members who tax payers from this state. They kept the US from the draft by being a renewable source of military for full time military. Some of the Reserve forces immediately volunteered for this service in the desert...some were already in the Reserves and NG by/in fulfilling past commitments. But even those with prior Reserve commitments did not take them without understanding the possibility of going in harms way. ODS in 1990-91 taught those who were serving in the Reserve Forces that signing on the line meant the real possibility of leaving home, job and family to serve in difficult settings will be part of their current and future commitments. After ODS I witnessed many who got out because this was more that they thought they bargained for, but most stayed! Today's Reserve Force members have many motives to serve but the one that is very much part of their commitment is to serve whenever and wherever our Nation needs them....and I was very proud to be part of this dedicated Force. (My son is a SSG in the USAR and has been deployed twice since 9/11. He turned down academic scholarships to volunteer after HS graduation in 2002 because he wanted to do something for his country after 9/11 - read here Proud Papa!) I am now 56 years old and a Disabled Veteran living on a VA check of $601 per month. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and lost my wife of 32 years as well as my ability to work at the level I did before my last deployment because of this ailment. Yes, I will get my Reserve retirement of $1400 a month (for 22 years in the USAR with three deployments - minus my disability pay) when I turn 60 (an issue that Congress needs to tackle). I will live on this VA check until then. I know many vets who are in similar lifestyle settings. I want to thank those who voted "YES" on this issue . This is my first post on this issue and I know the polls close soon and it will have little effect on any voters. But to those who voted "Yes" on this issue I say "THANK YOU". You voted for something important to many! V/R
Vote yes on Issue 1 to give Ohio veterans a bonus
As an Operation Desert Storm (90-91) and Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet (03-04) I am very moved that my state would care and create this Issue...Thank You! I hope this passes...
I remember while serving in ODS (90-91) I found out that many other Reservists were getting tax free status from their states during their deployments, but not Ohioians.
Do Ohio vets deserve this or can Ohio afford this? We could argue this till' the troops come home...and that doesn't look like it will be happening soon. (I believe there are other items in the state budget that will NOT have the positive impact this issue will have if it passes)
(Argue, no...but I am grateful and privileged that I can share my opinion as the others here...I love this country!)
First a great deal of those in Ohio who will get a boost from this Issue are the Reservists and National Guard members who tax payers from this state. They kept the US from the draft by being a renewable source of military for full time military. Some of the Reserve forces immediately volunteered for this service in the desert...some were already in the Reserves and NG by/in fulfilling past commitments. But even those with prior Reserve commitments did not take them without understanding the possibility of going in harms way.
ODS in 1990-91 taught those who were serving in the Reserve Forces that signing on the line meant the real possibility of leaving home, job and family to serve in difficult settings will be part of their current and future commitments. After ODS I witnessed many who got out because this was more that they thought they bargained for, but most stayed!
Today's Reserve Force members have many motives to serve but the one that is very much part of their commitment is to serve whenever and wherever our Nation needs them....and I was very proud to be part of this dedicated Force.
(My son is a SSG in the USAR and has been deployed twice since 9/11. He turned down academic scholarships to volunteer after HS graduation in 2002 because he wanted to do something for his country after 9/11 - read here Proud Papa!)
I am now 56 years old and a Disabled Veteran living on a VA check of $601 per month. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and lost my wife of 32 years as well as my ability to work at the level I did before my last deployment because of this ailment. Yes, I will get my Reserve retirement of $1400 a month (for 22 years in the USAR with three deployments - minus my disability pay) when I turn 60 (an issue that Congress needs to tackle). I will live on this VA check until then. I know many vets who are in similar lifestyle settings.
I want to thank those who voted "YES" on this issue .
This is my first post on this issue and I know the polls close soon and it will have little effect on any voters. But to those who voted "Yes" on this issue I say "THANK YOU". You voted for something important to many!
V/R
November 3, 2009 at 6:01 p.m. permalink suggest removal