The Los Angeles County Bar Executive committee unanimously voted this last week to approved the Armed Services committee for permanent status.  The motion now goes before the full board and hopefully I will be able to report shortly that all the hard work of the committee to draft a report citing the need for this committee on  a permanent basis will come to fruition.  As a former Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, I was more than happy to make a small contribution to this effort.  However, there are many others one the committee that deserve credit for making this happen.  With 25% of the homeless population of Los Angeles being veterans, we could not stand by without doing something.  A recent survey citing the 3 top needs of these veterans as being help with legal issues, we jumped at the chance to act.  A special thanks goes out to Adam Siegler of Greenberg Traurig, LLP for spearheading this group.  Although he is in the Army Reserve JAG Corps, I can’t hold that against him.  Especial after we keep beating them in football (sorry Adam ;-}, Go Navy! Beat Army!).

Although the work at getting the committee formed is almost completed, the real work is yet to begin.  To all the veterans, active duty, reserve and their families, we will do our best to provide you with the help you need.

I cannot express my gratitude enough to the committee members who made this happen, but even more to those that have, and are now serving this county.

I am personally working with others in Riverside county to try and expand this program and others to assist those who defend freedom.

Norman