This was posted on the following list and thought I should post all that
Carolyn wrote. As it is all relitive to the subject.
Here is a chance we have to Honor another branch of our service men that
helped keep our Freedoms alive. If you do not wish to participate that is your
call and just delete this post.
Other wise read and give our service men added Honor for what they gave to
the rest of us with no strings attached and no pension or remuneration after the
war. Beej--Fireflower
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 12:04:20 -0800
From: "Carolyn McDaniel" <cmacdee(a)centurytel.net>
Subject: [AMXROADS] WWII Merchant Marine Benefits
Dear Cousins,
I have received a message from the people who created and maintain the US
Merchant Marines website. It is, in my estimation one of the very best sites I've
encountered on the internet, regardless of category. Through this site I was
able to find information about the fate of my uncle, George W. Smith, a
Merchant Marine who perished in 1944 off the coast of Mindoro in the Phillippines
in WWII. Although I posted information about this in October 2002, perhaps some
of you new to the list might be interested in reading that posting. To find
it, or any previous AMXROADS postings, you can go to our archives at Rootsweb.
You can do the same with any message list hosted by Rootsweb.
AMXROADS-L searchable archives
http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=AMXROADS
AMXROADS-L threaded archives
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/AMXROADS
The message from the Merchant Marines site is fairly self-explanatory, but I
should add, those who served in the Merchant Marines in WWII were never
properly repaid for the sacrifices they made in order to secure the freedom we enjoy
today as US Citizens. More than fifty years after the fact, efforts are now
underway through the Congress to secure benefits for Mariners and their widows.
It is too late for most, but nonetheless, finally a token recognition, if it
is passed. Please take the message to heart.
Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn
Dear Shipmates and Friends,
Ask your Member of Congress to Co-sponsor H.R.3729 - Belated Thank You to
Merchant Mariners of World War II
Go to our URGENT page -
http://www.usmm.org/urgent.html - click on your
State, and select your Member of Congress to find their phone, fax, e-mail,
and a sample message.
Get your friends, relatives, members of your organization, etc. to do
the same. In fact, you can ask your friends for permission to send an e-mail in
their name.
Each person should also send a hand written Post Card -- [bring some
blank ones to your next club meeting]. Post Cards are effective now because of
current security problems with closed mail.
A Post Card message could be:
"Please cosponsor HR 3729: Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of
World War II Act (Bob Filner CA sponsor). During World War II, mariners suffered
the highest rate of casualties of any service. After the war, they received no
benefits. HR 3729 would grant $1,000 per month to mariners or widows to help
make up for that. See
http://www.usmm.org/hr3729.html
[name][home address]
In addition, please call the U.S. Capitol switchboard toll-free at
1-877-762-8762 and ask for your Member of Congress. Also call their local office,
which is listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone
directory under United States Government Offices - Congress.
Make sure the Aide or Volunteer writes down the following information
about the Bill: HR 3729: Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World
War II Act, Sponsor's name - Bob Filner, YOUR NAME and ADDRESS.
Be Persistent!
Dan and Toni Horodysky
American Merchant Marine at War -
www.usmm.org
If you wish to support our research and our website which documents the
History of the American Merchant Marine at War, please send a contribution to:
D. Horodysky, POB 2361, Berkeley, CA 94702-0361
______________________________