The ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” has become the
internet sensation this summer. Your Facebook account probably has received
dozens of these videos and challenges designed to raise money for ALS or Lou
Gehrig’s disease. You may have seen former President George W. Bush
participate in the challenge which made broadcast news. The DOD has now declared that military personnel
cannot participate in such a challenge in uniform because it may be construed
as an implied endorsement of support by DOD. Ok, that is overreacting, without
thinking the problem through.
DOD should know that
ALS afflicts US Military Veterans at twice the rate of the civilian
population. The data which VA, ALS, Harvard University and many medical schools
have reviewed supports this conclusion. The reason for the startling
medical fact is unknown at this time.
In fact, no one knows why U.S. military veterans are twice as likely to
develop ALS than the general population, or why those who deployed during the
Gulf War in 1990-91 may be twice as likely to get the disease as other troops.
Although it’s still a rare illness, affecting about 30,000 people across the
country, it is so devastating to its victims and their families that the
Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have made a mission out of trying
to reduce their suffering.
Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/08/3682151/more-vets-suffer-from-als-but.html#storylink=cpy
VA will treat ALS as a
presumptive disease for veterans disability compensation purposes. So
after viewing the 100th bucket of cold water being dumped on
friends, relatives and celebrities, the challenge is getting a little tedious.
However, it is raising money for necessary medical research.
I just wish that DOD & VA would use this opportunity to let veterans and
the general population know that this is a situation that is inflicting our
veterans at twice the normal rate. Did you know that? Think about
that or “paste” the above comment into your Facebook page next time a friend
sends you one of those videos.
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