LSC Board Chair John G. Levi Releases Veterans Day Statement
Contact
Carl Rauscher
Director of Communications and Media Relations
rauscherc@lsc.gov
202-295-1615
WASHINGTON 鈥 LSC Board of Directors Chair John G. Levi released the following statement in observance of Veterans Day:
Today we honor 16 million exemplary men and women who bravely served in our country鈥檚 armed forces, as well as their families who have shared in that noble endeavor.
When so much of our attention is drawn to what divides us, it is of the utmost importance that we come together to recognize the incredible gift of freedom that our veterans have bestowed upon our nation and the value of the rule of law which their service has upheld.
As LSC celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, our focus is 鈥淧rotecting the Promise鈥 of equal justice鈥攁nd that promise, of course, extends to our veterans. Words of appreciation are simply not enough to pay respect to these cherished members of our communities. Instead, we must take action to provide veterans the support that they need to prosper when they are safely back at home. Veterans deserve access to good jobs, legal assistance, medical care and other social services that address the hardships they too often face in civilian life.
The 成人抖阴 (LSC) is committed to serving the civil legal needs of low-income veterans. In 2023, legal aid organizations funded by LSC served 34,142 veteran households. There are 1.8 million veterans who are eligible for LSC-funded legal help, and we remain dedicated to supporting legal assistance for low-income veterans across the U.S.
One such veteran is Mr. D, who joined the Marines when he was just 17 years old. While serving in Vietnam, he was injured three times and received two Purple Hearts. When he came back to the United States, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. Because of the shame he felt battling his illness, Mr. D went absent without official leave (AWOL).
Unable to work due to his disabling illness, he struggled to make ends meet, even with Social Security early retirement benefits. Mr. D finally reached out to Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida for help. Coast to Coast attorneys helped him obtain his Social Security Disability benefits, which increased his income right away. Coast to Coast also represented Mr. D at his hearing before the Board of Veteran Appeals (BVA). In recognition of his service, the Judge ruled that he was entitled to an honorable discharge with full benefits. Mr. D can now proudly display his service without shame.
In addition to cases like these, LSC and its grantees have also served the veteran community by launching , the first national website focused on helping veterans and military families; establishing medical-legal partnerships with veterans鈥 health centers; operating legal hotlines for veterans; sponsoring and participating in Stand Down events and Military Mondays; and furnishing our own Veterans Task Force in 2021 to raise awareness of veterans鈥 legal needs.
On November 19, LSC will host its seventh annual Veterans Day forum, where Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough and other leaders will speak about making sure our veterans have access to the justice that their own brave service protected.
Today we recognize the brave and generous contributions of our veterans鈥攁nd every day, we must work to ensure their access to justice.