Veterans' issues talk show to hit airwaves Monday
John Blanchard, executive director of National Association of Systems Administrators Education Corp., announced that the first episode of "Muster America," the nonprofit organization's talk show that focuses on veterans' issues, will be telecast at 7:30 p.m. Monday on Comcast Public Access Channel 17 in Comcast's Crystal Lake, McHenry, Prairie Grove and Carpentersville markets.
The first episode features guest Eric Behler, NASA Education program director. Blanchard hosted the episode, which gives a general orientation to NASA Education and its services.
Footage from the Stand Down for Veterans in October, and the auto mechanics facility at NASA Education's headquarters in Crystal Lake, is shown.
A new episode featuring an interview with L. Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, will debut in the same time slot on Jan. 21 and be repeated Jan. 28.
Future episodes will include interviews with federal, state and local leaders of veterans' organizations, and coverage of community events of interest to veterans and their advocates.
"The debut of Muster America is an important milestone for NASA Education and for veterans," said Blanchard, who founded NASA Education, a nonprofit organization, in 1999.
"Muster America" has been under development since last summer.
"It gives us a voice. People assume that soldiers can take care of themselves, and they can while they're soldiers," Blanchard said. "But while young people are in the military, their food, their clothing, their housing -- all of that -- is provided for them.
"When they are discharged from the military, all of that is cut off and they're on their own. Their pay while they are in the military is small, and they don't have the opportunity to save money for an apartment, a car or other necessities.
"If they don't have support from their families to provide these things when they get out, they are at risk for becoming chronically homeless. This is our national disgrace -- the young men and women who served our country deserve better than chronic homelessness. They protected our freedom and all of us, and now they need our help."
NASA Education has two major programs: Project Fresh Start, a comprehensive work-force and community reintegration program for U.S. veterans who are newly discharged, displaced, disabled, homeless or otherwise in transition; and the semiannual, two-day Stand Down for Veterans, which provided 110 veterans in need with services in October.
The next Stand Down will be held March 31 and April 1 at YMCA Camp Algonquin, 1889 Cary Road, Algonquin.
For information about Muster America, Project Fresh Start or the Stand Down for Veterans, call Kathy Chwedyk at (866) 338-4968 or e-mail kathy_chwedyk@ nasaeducation.org.