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From YouTube: Veterans Advisory Commission 12-12-2018
Description
Public hearing of the Veterans Advisory Commission held Wednesday, December 12, 2018.
A
A
Well,
I'd
like
to
welcome
people
who
are
here
the
last
meeting.
We
had
we
had
snow
and
was
worried
about
the
number
of
people,
but
there
was
more
people
here
then.
So
maybe
this
meeting
will
be
quick
today,
but
in
any
case
thank
you
for
coming.
I'd
like
to
start
with
the
introduction
of
commissioners,
a
brief
bio
of
who
we
are
and
what
we've
done.
My
name
is
Jorge
kinder
there
presently
I'm,
the
chairman
of
this
commission
I'm
a
military
retiree
with
25
years
active
duty
and
served
in
Vietnam
and
was
a
combat
wounded,
veteran.
B
Good
afternoon
the
name
is
Jill
Melendez
a
serve
in
Vietnam,
with
a
United
States
Army,
I
retired,
from
the
search
from
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
I
was
a
chief
inspector
with
the
police
department.
I
am
not
very
active
with
the
VFW
American
Legion
and
the
DAV
and
I'm,
also
in
the
Advisory
Council
of
the
Medical
Center
and
Louis
J
seracini
operation
clinic.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
E
E
Have
over
30
years
of
service
both
enlisted
and
officer,
active
Reserve
and
National,
Guard,
all
combat
arms,
artillery
tanks
and
mech
infantry,
just
a
reminder
to
everybody
we're
all
volunteers.
This
is
a
this
commission
is
unpaid,
we're
thankful
to
be
here
by
the
city
to
help
resolve
veterans
issues
at
the
lowest
level
possible
and
to
provide
information,
which
is
what
you
guys
are
doing
for
us
and
to
maybe
get
some
answers
for
you
from
us.
So
thank
you
all
for
being
here
and
I
understand.
There's
more
people
coming
in!
So
thanks
for
being
here.
A
Alright,
let's
get
started
with
the
on
the
the
speakers
making
testimony
today
our
first
person
that
we
had
Carlo
the
director
of
the
veterans,
Advisory
Commission,
he
was
called
away
on
a
family
emergency,
so
he
will
not
be
attending
today.
But
we'll
move
right
on
is
Tiffany
keen
here
today,
Tiffany.
If
you
would
come
up
to
the
desk.
A
F
My
name
is
my
name:
is
Tiffany
makini
I'm,
the
assistant
director
of
veteran
services
at
Drexel
University,
so
I
am
here
today
just
to
kind
of
highlight
some
critical
issues
that
our
veteran
students
oven
facing,
and
these
are
in
direct
correlation
to
the
ongoing
problems
that
the
VA
has
recently
experienced
due
to
some
of
the
updates
to
the
new
forever
GI
bill.
Do
the
IT
systems
crashes
that
the
VA
experienced
our
entire
post
9/11
GI,
both
student
population
and,
as
many
of
you
are
probably
aware,
it's
not
just
regional.
F
It's
nationally,
they
were
faced
with
delays
and
receiving
their
monthly
housing
allowance.
So
this
in
turn
created
major
financial
hardships
for
a
lot
of
these
people.
The
only
fix
that
was
being
related
to
us,
as
well
as
to
our
students,
was
just
to
have
them
file
a
hardship
with
the
VA.
However,
in
doing
that,
it
created
another
backlog
and
that
system
which
already
had
a
processing
time
of
a
few
weeks.
So
these
students
were
facing
immediate
hardships.
Some
of
them
were
facing
eviction.
F
Late,
rent
loss
of
any
housing
accounts
going
into
collections
among
other
different
issues
as
well.
So
we
as
a
community
or
just
looking
for
possible
routes
of
advocacy
in
these
immediate
situations,
currently
we've
actually
joined
together
with
other
institutions
within
the
region
and
surrounding
areas
to
create
a
consortium,
and
our
primary
goal
is
to
share
some
of
our
best
practices,
knowledge
and
different
experiences
that
we
have
to
advocate
on
behalf
of
our
military-connected
students.
F
We
have
had
one
meeting
so
far,
so
if
there
is
anyone
else,
who'd
like
to
learn
more,
if
there
was
any
other
people
that
would
like
to
join
in
the
consortium,
they
can
contact.
Dr.
Rebecca
widen
celexa
University,
whose
heads
of
it
and
then
any
additional
assistance
or
information
that
you
all
can
give
us
as
well
to
advocate
in
these
situations,
will
be
greatly
appreciated.
So
thank
you.
Thank.
C
You
leave,
and
the
commissioners
may
have
some
questions,
but
could
you
give
us
your
information
as
far
as
either
websites
emails,
telephone,
etc,
to
where
people
can
reach
out
to
you
how
to
get
in
touch
and
more
specifically,
what
it
is
that
we
can
do
to
help
you
and
I'm
curious
as
this
problem
continuing
and
have
they
gotten
their
payments
that
were
due,
say
last
month,
etc?
Are
they
caught
up
or
is
it
still
industry
so.
F
Regards
to
the
issues
they
have
from
what
I've
seen
speaking
to
a
lot
of
my
students,
they
have
started
to
catch
up.
A
lot
of
them
have
finally
received
housing
allowance.
Now
these
are
coming
in
lump
sum
payments,
so
they
hadn't
received
housing
allowance
for
two
to
three
months,
because
the
way
they
do
initially
pay
is
that
it's
the
month
prior
the
month
following
when
they
start.
F
C
F
So
my
phone
number
at
work
is
two
one:
five,
five,
seven
one
four
five,
seven
three
and
that's
my
office
and
then
my
email
address
at
work
is
tango,
Lima,
Delta,
seven,
seven
at
drexel,
ddu
and
then
I
can
forward
on
any
communications.
Anything
like
that
to
dr.
widen
saw,
who
can
then
send
it
out
to
the
rest
of
the
consortium.
Good.
E
F
Not
so
dr.
Wyden
saw
and
Hank
Gillen
from
st.
Joe's
University
kind
of
came
together
just
to
gather
the
local
universities.
I
know
we
have
communications
with
del
Oro
Valley,
but
it's
not
in
direct
correlation
with
them.
So
we
just
kind
of
came
together,
pulled
certifying
officials
and
different
advocates
from
the
universities
just
to
kind
of
form.
Another
way
of
advocating
for
the
students,
instead
of
just
our
own
single
universities,
sure.
D
Okay,
well,
I
mean
I
just
wanted
to
say
something
real
fast,
that
there
is
two
funds
that
I
know
that
really
help
out
with
these
lapse,
and
payments
and
I
know
that,
for
a
few
of
my
friends
when
they
change
their,
their
bank
accounts
that
it
did
it.
The
payment
didn't
come
through
for
a
month
for
two
months
and
they
kind
of
got
backed
up
on
that.
I
know
that
the
separate
Semper
Fi
fund
is
one
of
them
and
the
Army
Relief
Fund
is
one.
D
F
B
A
G
Afternoon
my
name
is
jacob
de
rosa
junior.
I
serve
as
a
combat
medic
with
the
2nd
battalion
medical
detachment,
12
Infantry
Regiment,
the
4th
inventory
IV
division
I
participated
in
all
5
major
campaigns
in
Europe
during
World
War.
Two
I
am
here
to
represent
the
Delaware
Valley
veterans
of
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge
several
years
ago.
Our
group
realized
that
Philadelphia
does
not
have
a
moment
or
Memorial
in
respect
to
all
the
men
and
women
from
Philadelphia
who
served
this
country
during
World
War,
two,
which
is
often
called
the
greatest
generation.
G
Our
Battle
of
the
Bulge
committee
had
put
memorials
in
Arlington
National
Cemetery
at
Valley
Forge
Military
Academy
in
Wayne
Pennsylvania
another
in
state
of
Maine.
Our
chapter
is
trying
to
erect
a
monument
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
I,
don't
know
if
you
are
knowledgeable
about
the
bowel
of
the
ball
during
World
War
two.
It
started
on
16th
December
1944
a
Saturday
morning.
The
Germans
started
shelling
up
front.
Seventy-Five
miles
wide
about
5:30
a.m.
this
area
was
the
fended.
By
to
new
division
from
the
states
and
to
depleted
divisions.
G
During
this
battle,
more
than
1
million
men
took
part
as
follows:
600,000
Americans,
500
thousand
Germans
55,000
British,
the
casually
Germany
100,000
Americans,
81
thousand,
including
19,000
killed
British
British
I
have
1,400,
including
200
killed,
and
their
German
losses
were
800
tanks
and
1,000
aircraft
Americans
lost.
They
turned
to
theis
this
battle.
The
Battle
of
the
Bulge
got
its
name
from
the
Germans,
pushing
the
front
line
back
for
me
in
the
shape
of
a
bulge,
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge
turned
out
to
be
the
largest
land
battle
the
United
States
Army
ever
put.
G
It
is
time
for
our
current
and
future
generations
to
know
where
their
freedom
came
from.
Are
you
often
asked
what
if
we
lost
this
battle,
it
was
closer
than
people
realize.
Thank
you
for
your
time,
and
maybe
you
will
have
some
ideas.
How
we
can
expedite
our
memorial.
I
was
going
to
introduce
a
veteran,
but
he
was
put
into
a
nursing
home
yesterday,
but
not
Rikuo,
who
was
supposed
to
be
here
today,
he's
a
young
99
years
old
I
still
like
them
and
I
want
to
thank
everybody
for
your
patience,
didn't
help.
Thank
you.
A
A
G
A
G
We
were
trying
to
get
a
little
by
the
Franklin
in
speak
to
the
nearly
aviation
area
there
or
the
air
or
the
plainest,
and
we
got
different
replies
on
a
night
so
which
weren't
favorable
so
we're
still
trying
to
put
in
and
said
you
somewhere.
But
we
would
think
it's
about
time
that
city
it's
almost
75
years,
74
years
this
year
and
next
year,
we'll
be
set
our
75th
year
and
still
no
monument
the
world
war.
Two
in
the
city,
which
is
a
disgrace
Jake.
A
G
G
B
E
South
Broad
Street,
so
there's
two
websites,
if
I
understand
correctly
Jake
one
is,
if
you
do
a
Google
search
for
veterans
of
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge,
it's
a
dot
org
website
and
then
the
second
one
that's
to
find
out
more
information
in
the
second
website
is
for
funds
that
are
specifically
being
handled
specifically
for
the
monument
through
the
American
Legion
Post
405
at
the
at
the
unique
measure
of
Franklin
Post.
So
there's
there's
two
websites
to
go
through
of.
G
E
G
G
G
A
H
Michael
would
e360
leadership,
I'm,
retired
Army
Ranger.
Twenty-One
years
of
service
combat
tours
in
Iraq
and
Panama,
I
retired
out
of
Temple
University
actually
did
an
internship
in
his
building
right
there,
mr.
Wolfe
Carter
and
then
I
graduated
as
a
42
year
old
veteran
and
went
on
to
get
my
MBA
at
Villanova.
H
Since
then,
I
decided
to
start
my
own
business,
which
is
three
six
year
old
leadership
and
I.
Take
the
military
concepts
that
learned
and
learned
in
a
that
I
learned
in
it
military
to
train
leaders
and
translate
that
for
the
civilian
sector.
What
that
does
is
actually
takes
people
on
a
pipeline
from
learning
leadership
in
the
classroom
to
exponential
exercises
outside
where
they
can
be
evaluated
to
assur.
They
got
the
lessons.
H
What
that
does
is
help
bridge
the
gap
between
military
and
civilian
actually
helps
employ
a
lot
of
veterans
who,
even
if
they
don't
have
a
job,
they
know
the
standards
of
leadership
and
evaluation
if
they
had
a
leadership
position
inside
the
military,
and
it
opens
avada
opportunity
with
that
as
a
veteran
who's
to
say,
you
know,
disabled
veteran,
that
goes
through
their
vocational
rehab
here
at
the
VA
I'm
entitled
to
a
self-employment
benefit.
The
self-employment
benefit,
allows
veterans
the
opportunity
to
forgo
going
to
school
or
going
to
college
and
just
work
on
getting
their
business.
H
However,
that
benefit
is
very
unrefined
and-
and
actually
the
people
here
do
not
know
how
to
put
it
together.
So
I'm
kind
of
the
the
wind
dummy
to
have
that
execute.
So,
even
though
I'm
in
business
I've
been
trying
to
access
that
benefit
for
some
time
now,
I
would
tell
you
it's
probably
been
about
two
and
a
half
years.
I've
been
trying
to
access.
That
benefit
is.
E
Sorry
woody
you
brought
to
my
attention:
self-employment
benefit
from
the
VA
and
after
two
and
a
half
years,
you're
able
to
kind
of
streamline
that.
My
understanding
is
that
you
now
know
the
process
pretty
well
and
a
lot
of
veterans.
As
you
inform
me,
are
not
aware
of
this.
Self-Employment
VA
benefit,
that's
a
you
know
available
to
them.
So
there's
a
lot
of
veteran
owned
businesses
like
yours,
your
veteran
owned
business,
360
leadership
and
there's
a
lot
of
these
veteran
owned
businesses
that
aren't
aware
of
it.
They
can
apply
for
it.
That's
correct
right!
That's.
H
Correct
there
has
been
a
lot
of
movement
to
help
veterans
start
businesses.
There
are
a
couple
organizations
here
in
universities
to
help
with
decelerator
programs.
However,
if
a
veteran
has
20%
just
a
disability
related
to
service,
they
are
entitled
to
the
self-employment
benefit.
I,
myself
I've
actually
had
my
graduate
school
paid
by
the
vocational
rehab.
However,
being
a
my
disability,
my
disability
is
PTSD
and
some
situations
are
harder
for
me
than
others.
Self-Employment
is
beneficial
to
me,
but
the
VA
here
is
not
practiced
in
putting
that
together.
H
That's
related
to
starting
a
business.
What
that
would
do,
it
would
help
a
whole
bunch
of
contractors
that
would
help
their
business
so
as
money
that
a
veteran
would
kit
that
goes
right
back
into
the
economy,
and
then
you
start
a
whole
population.
That
veterans
are
starting
businesses,
but
they
also
tend
to
employ
other
veterans
and.
E
H
A
H
Interesting
question
because
I've
been
trying
to
track
this
down
for
two
years
and
have
had
the
same
counselor,
and
there
is
a
time
limit,
however,
because
the
the
institution
is
not
practiced
in
putting
it
together,
they
have
not
put
the
network
for
it
together.
They
have
not.
They
don't
know
the
services
they
don't
even
know.
What
to
do
and
I
would
love
to
blame
my
counselor
and
the
manager
over
there,
but
the
VA
has
not
trained
these
people
on
what
to
do
so.
H
There
are
whole
bunch
of
opportunities
for
veterans
to
from
window
cleaning
to
open
their
own
brokerage,
but
they
can't
get
due
to
process,
and
so
what
I
did
is
I
came
up
with
a
process
myself
because
I'm
going
to
it
myself
and
I
know
exactly
what
key
points
need
to
be
hit,
what
they
need
to
say
in
the
business
plan
and
how
they
need
to
approach
the
Small
Business
Development
Center.
In
order
to
streamline
that
to
get
in
access
to
they
don't
get
money
just
like
how
do
you
pay
tuition?
H
They
would
get
somebody
to
the
VA.
Counselor
is
supposed
to
pay
for
the
equipment,
whether
it's
for
office
or
the
extra
things
they
need.
They
don't
get
the
cash
so
that
contractor
that's
helping
the
veteran
getting
furniture
or
whatever,
like
I,
said,
that's
money
that
goes
right
back
into
the
economy,
and
it
helps
enable
that
that
that
business
that
go
forward
and,
as
we
know,
there's
a
huge
veteran
community.
That's
prepared
to
welcome
these
veteran
businesses
in
just
my.
A
A
H
You
know
is
very
ambiguous
to
be
honestly.
Like
I
said:
I
I've
actually
been
trying
to
do
this
for
two
and
a
half
years.
I
do
have
a
memorandum
like
a
floor
to
you
a
link,
it
has
all
the
it.
Just
basically
tells
the
counselor
how
to
address
certain
parts
of
the
program,
but
because
they're
not
qualified
a
lot
I'm
trying
to
do
by
starting
a
program
is
basically
get
a
whole
bunch
of
people
knocking
at
the
door
and
forced
them
to
understand
that.
There's
a
benefit
that
these
veterans
can.
C
H
Thank
you,
I
did
contact
the
governor's
office
to
mayor's
office
and
my
congressman's
office
when
I
couldn't
get
any
traction
and
what
happened
last
year
was
I
wound
up
in
a
governor
Wolf's
veterans
advisory
panel
and
addressing
the
state
representatives
on
some
of
the
veteran
issues.
It's
still
a
problem,
because
the
Entrepreneurship
for
veterans
services
is
a
great
good
story.
However,
when
you
look
around
and
you
talk
about
veterans,
you
also
talk
about
a
lot
of
the
problems.
No
problems
seem
to
clout.
What
good
things
that
veterans
are
doing?
H
I
could
go
all
day
about
that,
but
you
ask
me
another
question
about
the
leadership
training.
I.
Do
it's
catered.
I
do
one-hour
training
sessions.
I
do
three
eight
three
hour
two
days
just
assist
me:
I
have
a
network
of
veterans.
I
have
access
to
actually
it's
nationwide
and
what
I
do
is
I
program,
an
event.
I
get
them
in
get
them
trained,
and
then
we
move
forward,
and
we
just
do
good
ole
I,
would
say
army
stuff
from
there.
H
H
H
I
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
Jose
Morales
I
am
a
small
business
owner
and
an
Army
veteran,
and
only
the
owner
of
filly
firearms
Academy
I'm.
Here
at
the
request
and
invitation
of
Director
Otacon
CEO,
who
felt
that
individuals
should
know
a
little
bit
about
my
particular
firearms
organization.
What
we
do,
I
focus
on
firearm
safety,
training
and
education
for
civilians
primarily
but
I
have
a
passion
for
our
veterans
as
well.
I
Given
the
hot-button
topic
that
firearms
are
in
our
society
and
all
of
the
gun,
violence
that's
out
there
and
the
fact
that,
in
my
opinion,
all
firearms
tragedies
can
be
avoided
through
education
and
through
dialogue,
I
wanted
to
come
and
just
and
introduce
myself.
Let
you
guys
know
that
there
is
a
firearms
instructor
and
an
organization
that
just
trains,
civilians
and
individuals
on
firearm
safety
and
the
laws
having
to
do
with
use
of
that
gun.
A
lot
of
our
veterans
in
particular
come
back
with
PTSD.
I
They
have
licenses
to
carry,
they
get
firearms
and
that's
their
constitutional
right.
But,
along
with
that,
there
are
no
resources
that
I
see
out
there
that
teach
them
the
laws
having
to
do
with
the
use
of
that
gun.
And
it's
really
what
we
don't
know,
both
our
civilians
and
as
as
veterans
that
are
going
to
get
us
in
trouble,
especially
if
we're
Second
Amendment
advocates
and
we're
just
trying
to
protect
ourselves.
So
again,
I
just
wanted
to
introduce
myself
say
a
little
bit
about
what
I
do
and
I
would
be.
I
I
I
say
this,
because
I
was
fortunate
enough
to
be
invited
to
Albert
Einstein
Medical
Center,
to
present
to
the
pediatric
department
on
firearm
safety,
and
it
really
came
about
because
in
a
conversation
one
of
the
administrators
was
speaking
to
an
individual
that
worked
in
a
Pediatrics
department
and
the
physicians
didn't
know
that
gun
locks
came
with
every
single,
legally
purchased
firearm,
and
so
they
said
well,
I,
don't
fire
instructor?
Would
your
department
be
interested
in
learning
a
little
bit
about
firearm
safety,
and
you
know
the
rest
really
just
kind
of
worked
itself
out.
I
I
was
able
to
present
to
both
interns
and
residents
at
ethic
pediatric
center
and
the
day
after
I
received
a
really
wonderful
email
saying
that
they
were
more
productive
in
their
interviews
with
their
patients
than
have
ever
been
before,
because
we
took
the
time
to
just
discuss
a
hot-button
topic
and
a
topic
that,
unfortunately,
is
all
too
driven
by
emotion
and
not
by
logic
and
education.
So
I
don't
want
to
hold
up.
I
You
know
your
the
proceedings
any
longer
and
ramble
anymore,
but
again
I
just
wanted
to
introduce
myself
and
let
you
guys
know
that
there
is
such
a
resource
in
the
event
that
you
need
annum
by
opinion
and
information
on
firearms
and
all
those
hot-button
topics.
They
say,
I
have
a
question.
What
is
your
background?
I
am
an
Army
veteran
with
over
25
years
of
educational
and
teaching
experience
I'm
a
certified
firearms
instructor
I'm,
also
a
certified.
I
What's
called
a
training
counselor,
which
is
an
instructor
of
instructors,
I'm
a
certified
to
instruct
and
to
certify
certified
firearms
instructors
and
pretty
much
every
discipline
from
pistol
rifle
shotgun.
I'm,
not
gonna,
go
over
my
CVS
and
my
website.
I
can
actually
mention
it
to
you.
But
that's
you.
I
Sir
just
range
certified
instructors:
every
certifies
you,
the
National,
Rifle
Association,
offer
certifications.
If
you
meet
the
requirements,
you
become
a
certified
instructor
under
the
oldest
organization
that
established
firearm
safety
and
training.
I,
don't
work
for
the
NRA
I'm
just
certified
by
the
NRA.
It's
some
of
my
instructor
ships,
I.
B
I
They
are,
they
are
responsible
for
what's
called
a
lethal
weapons,
training
act
2:35,
yes
right,
which
is
a
it's.
It's
security
guard
training,
it's
actually
just
lethal
weapons;
training
for
individuals
that
carry
firearms
in
the
course
of
their
duties;
I'm,
just
certified
firearms
instructor
and
a
safety
instructor
for
civilians.
I,
don't
claim
to
be
a
military
law
enforcement
instructor.
Sir.
B
C
I
It's
Philly
gun,
training,
calm,
ph,
IL,
ly,
gun
training,
calm.
My
email
is
Jose
Jo,
se
at
Philly
gun,
training,
comm
and
I'm,
currently
located
in
Willow
Grove.
So
don't
do
anything
for
you
will
train
anybody
in
Philadelphia
used
to
be
actually
right
across
the
street
from
the
gun
permits
unit
at
992,
Spring
Garden
Street
at
the
old
Coliseum
was
gun
store
till
about
a
year
and
a
half.
Two
years
ago
we
moved
to
Willow
Grove,
okay,.
E
J
Afternoon
I
am
Chris
Whittle
today
I'm
here,
to
represent
the
Greater
Philadelphia
veterans.
Network
I
am
a
Navy
veteran
left
active
service
in
1999
as
a
rescue,
swimmer
and
helicopter
crewman.
So
I
wanted
to
let
you
know
what
GPP
ends
doing
and
we've
been
serving
the
Greater
Philadelphia
veteran
community
since
2011.
J
We'd
like
to
see
Philadelphia
become
the
premiere
destination
for
veterans
and
employers
of
veterans,
as
they
look
for
new
territory
to
expand
or
may
transition
out
of
the
military.
So
we'd
like
to
thank
a
couple
of
council
members,
David
o
for
supporting
our
veteran
community
and
speaking
at
some
of
our
events
and
Councilman
Darrell
Clarke
for
his
support
and
the
annual
veteran
is
fair.
That's
held
each
year
in
the
bedroom.
J
Parade
I
also
like
to
thank
Carlo
who's,
not
here,
because
he's
been
instrumental
in
bringing
together
various
veterans
service
organizations
to
serve
the
community,
and
it's
been
great,
collaborating
with
him
on
various
initiatives.
Our
motto
is
our
tools,
your
mission,
and
that
speaks
volumes,
we're
at
the
center
of
a
network
of
veterans,
business
owners,
professional
CEO
students,
transitioning
veterans
and
our
roles
complex.
But
it's
very
simple.
J
We
help
determine
what
the
goal
is,
whether
we're
working
with
a
veteran
we're
working
with
an
employer
who
wants
to
hire
veterans
and
we
use
our
tools,
our
network,
our
resources
to
make
that
happen,
and
some
of
the
tools
and
programs
that
we
use
for
veterans.
We
student
veterans,
we
use
speed,
networking
and
interviewing
to
hell
and
learn
those
skills
for
employers.
We
have
take
a
vet
to
work
day,
exit
backs
for
the
veterans
and
the
employer,
so
we
have
to
take
a
vet
to
work
day
and
take
an
employer
to
abase
day.
J
J
So
sorry,
so
one
of
our
most
recent
initiatives
is
our
veteran
business
referral
network,
and
so
this
is
something
that
we
do
on
a
quarterly
basis
where
we
bring
40
veterans
are
so
together
and
it's
it
ends
up
being
six
times
a
year,
and
we
developed
this
because
50
percent
of
veterans
were
leaving
their
first
position
out
of
the
military
within
the
first
two
years
and
that's
an
adjustment
issue
from
military
to
civilian
employment.
So
you're
from
service
of
being
employed
and
service
to
the
profit
makes
a
big
difference,
and
so
what
we
did.
J
We
created
this
network
to
address
it,
and
so
these
professional
veterans
who
are
currently
employed
come
together
to
increase
their
skills,
building
a
personal
brand,
expanding
the
better
Network
and
giving
them
more
tools
to
be
successful.
We
bring
in
subject
matter
experts
on
topics
revolving
around
resilience,
networking
leadership
and
more
and
the
sessions
result
and
stronger
retention
of
better
employees,
because
they've
increased
confidence,
a
broader
network
and
greater
resources.
For
example,
we
did
a
program
on
leadership
where
Michael
Wooley
behind
me
here
the
CEO
of
360,
our
leadership.
J
He
came
in
and
did
talk
to
our
group
on
leadership
and
what
it
means
to
be
a
leader.
We
had
John
Titus
of
Comcast,
a
retired
Navy
captain
work
with
our
group
on
staying
later
outside
the
military.
We
brought
Erica
Webster
CEO
of
dub
fitness
and
to
talk
about
creating
and
managing
your
brand
as
a
veteran.
So
those
are
some
of
the
things
we
do
most
recently
we
just
wrapped
up
our
signature
event,
which
is
the
veteran
shark
tank,
and
this
is
our
sixth
event
and
we
kicked
off
army
navy
week
with
it.
J
It
was
a
sold-out
crowd
at
the
Union
League
and
what
it
does.
It
brings
veterans,
competitors
and
judges
and
spectators
from
across
the
country
to
Philadelphia,
so
we've
become
a
national
event
and
they
compete
for
$25,000
in
cash
and
business
services.
So
it's
twenty-five
dollars
in
cash
and
business
services.
On
top
of
that,
and
they
become
a
part
of
our
network
for
life
and
the
next
year's
event
will
be
even
bigger.
We've
created
an
all
roads
lead
to
Philadelphia
format
for
this
year,
we're
going
to
regional
competitions
in
Chicago,
Los,
Angeles,
New,
York
and
Florida.
J
Regional
winners
and
sponsor
spectators
will
come
back
to
Philadelphia
to
the
Fiddler's
club
and
they're.
Gonna
compete
for
a
$50,000
prize
and
business
services
and
they'll
hear
from
a
soon-to-be
new
scene
soon
to
be
named
keynote
speaker,
and
so
this
national
event,
combined
with
our
programs
and
veteran
community,
are
moving
Philadelphia
towards
that
being
the
premier
destination
for
Philadelphia
veterans.
And
so
we
appreciate
your
continued
support.
Your
volunteerism
and
you
can
learn
more
about
GP,
VN
@
GP,
VN
org,
and
you
can
learn
more
about
the
shark
tank
through
veteran
shark
tank
comm
I.
E
Understand,
GPB,
n
dot,
org
stands
for
Greater
Philadelphia
veterans
network,
that's
correct,
it's
your
overarching
organization
and
that
the
veterans
business
referral
network
is
one
of
your
new
initiatives
under
GPB
n
and
that
Carlos,
specifically,
the
city,
has
been
involved
at
that
very
early
on
the
veterans.
Shark
tank
has
been
going
on
for
six
years.
Yes,
and
it's
widely
successful
that
the
most
recent
winner
was
cowboy
crickets
in
this
and
it's
a
very
unique
product,
but
yeah
you
guys,
are
doing
a
great
job
you
and
Alex
or
Kowski.
Thank
you.
A
E
B
A
E
Patty
is
also
with
the
veterans
of
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge
and
has
been
a
staunch
advocate
for
them
for
a
very
long
time
and
as
mentioned
earlier
Matt,
who
just
recently
went
into
a
nursing
home.
Almost
oh
he's,
almost
a
hundred
years
old.
The
next
few
months,
Patty,
has
been
extremely
helpful
to
Matt.
K
K
That's
right,
yeah
I
say
you
have
my
contact
information
on
Day
speech
since
I
read
an
email
to
myself
dictated
sign
it
to
my
house
and
prayer.
Dome-Like
appeared
the
Historical
Society
of
Pennsylvania,
located
at
13th
of
Locust
Street,
has
21
boxes
of
3x5
cards,
which
list
which
lists
each
soldier
from
the
Philadelphia
area,
who
was
wounded
or
killed
in
World
War.
Two.
K
The
exact
number
I
am
here
today,
as
recording
secretary
for
your
veterans
of
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge
Association
Delaware
Valley
Chapter.
To
advocate
for
a
commemorative
memorial
of
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge,
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge
was
the
largest
land
battle
ever
fought,
counting
even
the
Battle
of
Gettysburg.
During
a
civil
war,
over
a
hundred
thousand
soldiers
died
during
a
bout
of
the
bolts.
K
Jake
has
more
accurate
figures
than
I
did
worked
at.
It
is
fitting
that
the
city
has
honored
its
fallen
veterans
of
Vietnam
and
other
Wars.
However,
we
still
need
a
monument
to
world
war
two
and
to
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge
in
particular,
and
I
wanted
to
say
you,
gentlemen,
are
probably
aware
of
the
world
war.
Two
memorial
Pennsylvania,
Station
I
was
looking
at
pictures
of
that
online,
but
that's
for
the
employees
of
the
Pennsylvania
Railroad.
G
C
C
K
I
think,
depending
on
the
size
of
the
monument
there'll,
be
it'll,
be
text
about
both
World
War,
two
and
and
the
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge
is
gonna,
be
text
describing
the
bowels
of
bones.
In
particular,
the
kneeling
soldier
in
a
foxhole
I,
think
that
would
apply
to
the
whole
European
campaign
and
Tabriz
were
the
ones
that
were
involved
more
in
a
specific,
so
it'll
probably
be
I
concentrate
on
the
European
theater,
but
I
mean
it
could
certainly
come
all.
C
K
E
A
Okay,
we'd
like
to
thank
all
our
speakers
today.
The
information
received
was
interesting
and
we
hope
it
will
reach
out
to
the
extend
your
veteran
community
also
via
the
telecast.
Our
next
meeting
will
be
a
March
of
2019.
The
date
will
be
established
at
a
later
time
again,
we'd
like
to
thank
everyone
for
coming
today,
travel
safely
and
have
a
happy
holiday
season.