The webmaster of this web page (Floyd Sears) does not condone and will not participate in the picketing of MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, MILITARY RECRUITING OFFICES/ACTIVITIES, or THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. The intent of the picketing activity described in this web page is to make the general public and the Congress aware of the plight of the military retirees in reference to the military retiree medical care broken promise issue. This web page and the picketing it describes is concerned with presenting the facts concerning promises made to the now retired military community while they were on active duty. If after hearing the facts the general public and the Congress condones the breaking of promises made to the military retirees and they are willing to accept the consequences then I will accept the consequences.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED - The 1st Mississippi Gulf Coast MILITARY RETIREE PICKET was held as schedule on 10 July 1999, from 0900 to 1100 hrs, in Biloxi Mississippi. Click Here to display the picket summary.
Watch this web page for details on the next Mississippi Gulf Coast MILITARY RETIREE PICKET.

A nationwide picket, being organized by ALLVETS INC, is in the planning stage. Click Here for details.

Even though the 10 July 1999 picket in Biloxi Mississippi is complete, this web page shall remain posted on the internet such that other groups wishing to organize a military retiree picket may use it as a guide. I will provoide assistance as need.

Mississippi Gulf Coast
MILITARY RETIREE PICKET PLAN

This web page was developed to formulate a picket plan by which the military retirees along the Mississippi Gulf Coast could focus attention on the military retiree medical care broken promise issue. The plan was presented as a web page such that military retirees could provide inputs. Those that wished to participate provided their name [example: John Doe, MSGT, USAF, 1950-1975, (Retired)], and indicated whither or not they wanted their name posted on this web page.

  • Click here to e-mail Floyd Sears - at fsears@bellsouth.net
  • Click here to see list of MS Gulf Coast Participants and National Supporters.
  • Click here to display a MS Gulf Coast Military Retiree Picket hand-out.
  • Click here to display a A Proposed Resolution for the Great State of Mississippi.

    Permission to picket has been cleared through Mayor A.J. Holloway's Office, Cathy Guthrie of the Biloxi Police Department, and Larry Manuel of the Biloxi Port Commission.

  • WHAT: Mississippi Gulf Coast MILITARY RETIREE PICKET

  • WHEN: Saturday - 10 July 1999.

  • TIME: 0900 to 1100 hrs.

  • WHERE: In Biloxi Mississippi, at the intersection of Beach Blvd (US-90) and Main Street, on the South East corner of the intersection. This area has a nice shade tree and is adjacent to the "Billy Guice Veterans Memorial Park". The Memorial Park is well marked by a portion of the super structure from the CL80 Cruiser BILOXI. Restrooms are nearby at the McElroy's Seafood Restaurant. There is also adequate parking in this area.

  • WHO: The military retirees along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding areas.

  • WHY: To keep the military retiree medical care broken promise issue alive. The summary section of a 12-page Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, 98-1006 F, Military Health Care: The Issue of "Promised" Benefits, dated Dec. 21,1998, states in part;

    And continues with;

    (2). Efforts to locate authoritative documentation of such promises have not been successful. Congressional report language and at least two recent court cases have rejected retiree claims seeking 'free care at military facilities.' These have held that the current medical benefit structure made up of military health care facilities, Tricare and Medicare provide lifetime health care to military members, retirees and their respective dependents. Nevertheless, claims continue to be made, particularly by those seeking additional benefits from the Department of Defense, or attempting to prevent the actual or perceived reductions in benefits."

    A FOCAL POINT: In (1). above, we know that we can take a strong exception to the use of the word "allege". Allege by definition is - to declare or assert to be true. The manner in which the word "allege" is used tends to indicate that the military retirees are lying when we say the medical care promise was made. We know that the medical care promise was made. We know that the medical care promise was more than an allegation. We know the truth and we need to focus on the truth. We also need to take a close look at the word "promise". Promise by definition is - a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something - to afford a basis for expecting. Many of our congressional members are looking at the words "alleged" and "promise" and are coming to the wrong conclusion. If they are not told different, they will conclude that the "promise" is nothing more than an "allegation" and we are lying. We can not let this happen.

  • OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

  • THE PICKET DETAILS:

  • The three goals of the PICKET plan is to:
    • 1. Educate our Members of Congress.
    • 2. Inform your fellow citizens about our loss of Medical Benefits.
    • 3. Utilize your local media (Newspaper, Radio, TV) to achieve the first two.

  • NOTE: We should consider our picket plan to be a subset of the picket plan which was devised by Lt Col Robert L. Reinlie (Ret), one of the Plaintiffs in the Ft. Walton Beach Class Action Lawsuit.

    • Key Member of the Class Act Group include:
      Col George E. Day (Attorney & Advisor)
      Lt Col Robert L. Reinlie (Plaintiff & Senior CAG Volunteer)
      Lt Col William O. Schism (Plaintiff )
      Col Robert L. Geasland (Archivist and Writer)
      Maj Tom Pentecost (WEB site and file audit)
      SMSgt Gaylord Hall (Volunteer)
      CMSgt John Schlegel (Office Manager)
      Lt Col Ted Raymond (Volunteer and Media advisor)

    The following military retirees and supporters have pledge to participate in and/or support the Gulf Coast Military Retiree Informational Picket.

    PARTICIPANTS: