 |
Dedicated to our husbands who did not have the “foresight" to die on or after the date set by the government of February 6, 2006 |
 |
|
|
||
|
|
Dedicated to our husbands who did not have the “foresight" to die on or after the date set by the government of February 6, 2006 |
|
|
|
||
|
***CLICK HERE*** Please Click Here To Sign Our Petition For Fair Treatment We would like to thank If interested in joining our group or starting your own group in your area, please call: Bette Hudson Our meetings are held monthly, at the St. Johns Anglican Church in Oromocto, NB. Located on the Broad rd, across from the hospital. |
***Update*** Widows on a Warpath May & June 2009
Our next meeting is July 14 at the Anglican Church Hall, Oromocto. At our meeting on May 12, 2009 our trip to St. Stephens was discussed, as well as our upcoming trip to Ottawa. Bringing you up to date, we joined with the Agent Orange Association, Agent Orange Alert, and other interested people May 19th: In St. Stephens. We had a good representation of 14 widows. We rallied at the St Croix Library, listened to speeches by Art Connolly, Agent Orange Alert, Gary Goode, Agent Orange Association, David Coon, Conservation Council of N.B. Bette Hudson, Widows on a Warpath. A representative of Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party also spoke. M.P. Peter Stoffer, Veterans Affairs critic for the N.D.P. spoke, as well as an ex marine from the U.S.A. Gary Goode presented a list of demands to Mr. Thompson’s assistant. Hopefully the government of Canada will take serious notice, as nobody is going to give up......... On May 31, a group of 8 widows met at the Lincoln Big Stop to head to Ottawa. We were met there at 8a.m. by Danny Feighery who had driven from New York City to catch and film us as we prepared to leave. We made a stop in Woodstock, N.B. to pick up Gwen Knox, one of our members. We travelled to Ottawa, filming all the way. Monday June 1 we met with former M.P., Paul Zed at 11 a.m. We were given passes to the House of Commons Question Period for Monday pm. We also had a chance meeting and a photo op. with Jack Layton, leader of the NDP. Tuesday, June 2, we met with M.P. Judy Sgro, Veteran’s Affairs critic, Liberal Party. Ms. Sgro listened to each widow’s story, it was a very emotional. After the meeting with Ms. Sgro, we did a short demonstration on Parliament Hill, veils, placards and orange ribbons in place. Ms. Sgro’s office had given us passes to attend the House unfortunately; we had an appointment with Senator Joseph Day at the same time. She provided us with copies of her presentation in the House. At 3 pm we met, after a short visit to the Senate, with Senators Day, Pepin, Banks and Atkins. Many questions were asked. We were asked if we were able to come to Ottawa to testify should there be an inquiry, of course our answer was yes. We had many photo ops with Mr. Zed, Mr. Layton, Ms. Sgro, and one special photo with Senator Day at the statue, "Five Famous Women". All in all, it was a very productive trip. In attendance in Ottawa were the following widows: Carletta’ M. Abby M., Bette H., Rose P. (N.S), Margie H., Judith W., Kay P., Melina C., Joan W. (our Ottawa widow), Gwen K. Special Thanks to Leo and Danny.
Submitted by: Kay Peters and Melina Colbourne
The Orange Ribbon The ribbon is worn to honour military and civilian husbands who died too soon from health conditions and diseases as a result of the spraying of Agent Orange at Base Gagetown. The Colour Orange represents the name of the chemical approved by our government for the use of spraying. As a result of this approval and use, our husbands got sick and they were taken away from us too soon. The Center of the Ribbon represents a tear drop from our hearts as a result of our loss. The pain from the loss of our husbands, and fathers of our children, the loss of a valuable member of our family remains with us still. The Pin that attaches the ribbon represents our everlasting connection to our husbands, our connection to each widow who knows all to well what our husbands went through during their sickness. The total Orange Ribbon represents our commitment to honour our husbands and to continue the fight to our government for the fair treatment and compensation on our husbands’ behalf. They will not be forgotten and we will never give up. Our military and civilian husbands lived in the area as neighbors. They worked together at Base Gagetown and supported the cause for our government. Now the military and civilian widows are neighbours helping neighbours and are working together as a unit, “Widows on A Warpath” on behalf of our late husbands’ cause. Please support us any way you can. Please sign our online petition and show the government the unfair treatment must stop. Thank you, Widows On A Warpath If you are a widow or know of a widow who has lost their husband from the spraying of Agent Orange, we can help.
Call Bette Hudson at (506) 446-5195
|
|
What is the “Agent Orange Ex Gratia Payment”? In June 1966, and June 1967, CFB Gagetown conducted testing of various chemicals for defoliants and desiccants. Included in these chemicals was the defoliant by the name of Agent Orange. After the testing, it had been discovered that Agent Orange was contaminated with tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), a dioxin that is a toxic and persistent substance. As per a Toxicological Risk Assessment conducted by Cantox Environmental for Health Canada in July of 2006, there is evidence of an association between exposure to Agent Orange, "amung vietnam veterans who participated in defoliation and chemical spraying (Operation Ranch Hand), and health outcomes including cancer (several forms including soft tissue sarcoma, non-hodgkin lymphoma, hodgkin disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, respiratory cancers, prostate cancer); chloracne; peripheral neuropathy; porphyria cutanea tarda; type 2 diabetes (mellitus); and, spina bifida." The Agent Orange Ex Gratia Payment is a one-time, tax-free payment of $20,000 to individuals alive on February 6, 2006 who meet the following criteria; Eligible recipients must have been in the process of being diagnosed with any of the above health problems between 1 June 1966 and 6 February 2006, are diagnosed with any one or more of those medical conditions no later than April 1, 2009, and can prove they were in the affected area during the specified time of training. This was announced on 12 September 2007, by the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs. If the recipient dies on or after 6 February 2006, the payment will be issued to the “primary care giver”
|
Our Goal The Agent Orange Ex Gratia Payment, seems to show a impression of responsibility taken by our government in the many lives affected by the mistake made in the testing of Agent Orange. But how does the government get away with excluding soldiers who died before 6 February 2006? How can a date be set on who gets compensated for a life of unhealthiness due to a mistake made by the government? The aim of the “Military Widows on a War Path”, is to fight for the soldiers who lost their lives before 6 February 2006 and ensure they receive the recognition and compensation they deserve, for the pain and suffering they have went through. And also ensure, they are not, Forgotten! |
