It’s that time of year to celebrate our independence as a nation, but we need not forget how that independence was won. It was won through the blood and sweat of men and women who fought for an idea. The idea that this country should be free from tyranny and dictatorship, that we as Americans should have the right to live our lives in the “pursuit of happiness”.

On this day of picnics and fireworks, we also shouldn’t forget our sons and daughters who are far away, fighting to defend and preserve those ideals for all Americans. So while we enjoy our families and food on this holiday weekend, let us keep those servicemembers and their loved ones in our hearts and thoughts.

As the members of SWAN celebrate this national holiday, we’re also at work planning for the months ahead. Our voices were heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill last month. SWAN has been invited back during the month of July to speak our piece again.

SWAN has made it a policy priority to advocate for improved VA health care and VA benefits for women veterans. We plan to pack the schedule with additional visits to members of Congress and their staff. We’ll talk with whoever will listen.

SWAN is growing in numbers and is stretching its reach to servicewomen, veterans and their families across the country. If you know a servicewoman or veteran who requires personal support, counseling, or legal advocacy, please send them our way.

The members of SWAN wish you a wonderful Fourth of July weekend. Please remember to keep those servicemembers deployed overseas in your thoughts and prayers.

Okay, so I know the VA is really a mask for Satan’s abyss full of torturous renegades, but I actually had a “decent” experience the other day. I’ve spent quite a lot of time complaining about my treatment there, so I thought I would share my one bright spot in the black sea of drowning veterans – in an effort to shine the spotlight on the hope that maybe they are actually “trying”.

I’d been fighting a cold for weeks. I felt like I was dying and at one point thought it would’ve been better if I had. I started to feel better, but then I woke up one morning and thought my head was going to explode due to the pressure. So, I dragged my mucus-laden self to work and after a few hours decided I couldn’t take it anymore. I called the VA to get an appointment (I knew better than to walk in to their “walk in” clinic – I’d be collecting social security before they ever got around to seeing me there).

I waited on hold FOR-EVER (which actually translates to about 35 minutes) – very typical VA response.

But, when I finally got rid of the “we appreciate your patience, someone will be available to take your call momentarily”, a chipper lady on the other end of the line scheduled an appointment for me with a doctor in two hours. TWO HOURS!!! Usually they tell you they can’t get you in until the second Tuesday three months from now. Anyways, so I went to the appointment 15 minutes early, like all well-trained veterans do, and they took me into the doctor EARLY!!! I did the initial check in (which I must say, I HATE their scale, but that’s another issue for another day) and then was promptly ushered into the doctor’s office. I expected to wait, but low and behold, about half a minute after the nurse left me, an upbeat doctor in her early 40’s walked in.

She did the normal evaluation stuff, explained to me that I didn’t have leprosy and I wasn’t dying, and explained all the medications she was prescribing – down to the side effects that are normal in women. Holy Crap! I actually got a doctor who knew that women react differently to medication and that we need to be treated differently!!!!

She put all my meds into the system and sent me to the lab for some lab work. By the time I was done with my lab work (which again, took only a few minutes), my meds were ready and I was on my way home to wallow in my antibiotics and snot rags.

While the creepy men that stare at you and call you “Darlin” still line the walls and the expansive smoking area at the VA medical center, I’m happy to say that my appointment went swimmingly well.

I have to give props where props are deserved and the VA actually seemed to “work” that day.

I know one good experience isn’t enough to hold out true hope that things are changing, but I think they’re trying.

Marti Ribeiro, OEF/OIF veteran

Army 1st Lt. Dan Choi served a tour of duty in Iraq. He is a West Point Graduate and an Arabic linguist.

And today he faces a military board, which will determine if Lt. Choi should be discharged under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy.

Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) strongly urges the Army to retain Lt. Choi, who has demonstrated solid leadership and dedication to his country by upholding his integrity and honor by challenging this discriminatory policy.

“SWAN stands with Lt. Choi’s decision to be open and honest about who he is,” said Anu Bhagwati, executive director and former Marine Corps Captain. “The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy threatens military readiness, damages our national security and disrupts unit morale by discharging service members with critical skills like Lt. Choi.”

The DADT Policy was passed by Congress in 1993. Since then, over 10,000 service members have been kicked out under this policy, including over 55 Arabic Linguists, which has cost tax payers over $200 million [DOD Figures, compiled by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), GAO report, February 2005].

President Barack Obama recently reiterated his commitment to repealing DADT in his remarks to the attendees of the first ever LGBT Pride Month Reception at the White House on June 29, 2009.

“And I said before — I’ll say it again — I believe “don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t contribute to our national security,” said President Obama. “In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security.”

-National Guard: Gay Iraq veteran must leave service: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/06/30/us.military.gays/

-Gay West Point grad testifies before Army: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090630/NEWS/90630029/-1/SITEMAP