Below is a column of mine that was published Nov. 7, 2012. My good friend Robert “Bob” Rosebrock, who graduated with me from Southport in 1960, is still doing his best to get the changes made that will help so many homeless veterans in Los Angeles.
With all the national attention being given to the Veterans Administration because of the terrible problems with VA hospitals around the country, I’m sure that Bob is working night and day to get the proper changes made and the terrible justice rectified in Los Angeles. He hasn’t missed a weekly protest in more than 300 weeks.
Veterans everywhere deserve our support and thanks every day.
More than 125 years ago, 400-plus acres of land were patriotically deeded to establish the National Veterans Home in West Los Angeles. The facility provided a permanent home, medical care and rehabilitation for our veterans.
The campus still has a hospital that provides outpatient services but no long-term supportive housing for the desperately ill veterans who live and die on the streets.
Much of the property is used for other things, and none of the income from the leasing of it is used to help the homeless veterans. Some of the land has become a public park, and a private school leases a parcel for an athletic field and tennis courts. Veterans are not allowed access to any of these facilities.
As many of us did in the mid-1960s, Rosebrock spent time in the military. He is now the backbone of the effort to help support homeless veterans in Los Angeles.
He organized the Veterans Revolution and the Old Veterans Guard, whose members have gathered for the past 230-plus Sundays to protest the abuse and misappropriation of home’s land.
Rosebrock and his family lived on West Epler Avenue when we were in school, and his father and uncle owned school buses just as my father had at the time. We have missed him returning for class reunions and visits, but after reading his articles and going to the websites that he has mentioned, I understand why.
Many of his stories have been published in veterans newspapers and on-line newsletters, and he is involved in litigation to convert the entire property into a veterans home.
Our friend and classmate is on a mission. As a veteran, I am so proud of him and have a desire to help. I hope others feel the same way.
More information is available by visiting www.veteransrevolution.com and www.veteranstoday.com/2012/10/04’va-has-no-money-for-homeless-shelter/. You can also Google Robert Rosebrock.
Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport, a’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools.
With all the national attention being given to the Veterans Administration because of the terrible problems with VA hospitals around the country, I’m sure that Bob is working night and day to get the proper changes made and the terrible justice rectified in Los Angeles. He hasn’t missed a weekly protest in more than 300 weeks.
Veterans everywhere deserve our support and thanks every day.
More than 125 years ago, 400-plus acres of land were patriotically deeded to establish the National Veterans Home in West Los Angeles. The facility provided a permanent home, medical care and rehabilitation for our veterans.
The campus still has a hospital that provides outpatient services but no long-term supportive housing for the desperately ill veterans who live and die on the streets.
Much of the property is used for other things, and none of the income from the leasing of it is used to help the homeless veterans. Some of the land has become a public park, and a private school leases a parcel for an athletic field and tennis courts. Veterans are not allowed access to any of these facilities.
As many of us did in the mid-1960s, Rosebrock spent time in the military. He is now the backbone of the effort to help support homeless veterans in Los Angeles.
He organized the Veterans Revolution and the Old Veterans Guard, whose members have gathered for the past 230-plus Sundays to protest the abuse and misappropriation of home’s land.
Rosebrock and his family lived on West Epler Avenue when we were in school, and his father and uncle owned school buses just as my father had at the time. We have missed him returning for class reunions and visits, but after reading his articles and going to the websites that he has mentioned, I understand why.
Many of his stories have been published in veterans newspapers and on-line newsletters, and he is involved in litigation to convert the entire property into a veterans home.
Our friend and classmate is on a mission. As a veteran, I am so proud of him and have a desire to help. I hope others feel the same way.
More information is available by visiting www.veteransrevolution.com and www.veteranstoday.com/2012/10/04’va-has-no-money-for-homeless-shelter/. You can also Google Robert Rosebrock.
Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport, a’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools.
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