VIRGINIA BEACH
It started out as a nice gesture toward war heroes and ended, in the parlance of one retired admiral, as a slap in the face to all veterans.
Now the issue is parked - once again - before the City Council.
Two months ago, the council adopted an ordinance that allows some veterans to park for free at city Oceanfront lots or metered spaces.
In part to make it simpler to administer, the honor was limited to veterans who display license plates that denote awards including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Navy Cross. It also extended to Pearl Harbor survivors, Medal of Honor recipients and former prisoners of war.
"What we veterans refer to as our war heroes," said Councilman Bill DeSteph, a retired Navy intelligence officer who crafted the parking perk.
"... those who were the special veterans."
Veterans groups saw it differently.
The free parking, they argued, would unfairly apply to just a few of their ranks. And not just those few who received certain honors - but those who then chose to display part of their service record on a license plate.
"A veteran is a veteran," said Fred Metz, a retired rear admiral and member of the Hampton Roads Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation. "Everybody's a war hero."
Bill Moran, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 392, said basing an honor on who has a particular license plate makes little sense.
"You have a guy with a Purple Heart who has a Vietnam license plate or a VFW license plate - now he can't park down there?" Moran said. "I have to look out for all my members, not just a selected list of them."
Veterans' frustrations were vented last week at Moran's VFW hall off London Bridge Road.
In a back room, a half-dozen veterans debated the issue with DeSteph and Mayor Meyera Oberndorf.
"Some people are being left off who are just as deserving," said retired Navy Capt. Jim Joyner, commanding officer of the Hampton Roads Squadron.
So Moran suggested a solution: If the city wants to offer free parking to veterans, it could create a sticker they can buy for $5 or $10.
To be eligible for the sticker, veterans would simply have to show their discharge papers and the city could then treat all service members equally, veterans said.
Moran said people who are uncomfortable displaying their war records on their cars could then take advantage of the parking in a more private way.
"Let the vets choose," said Dave Yemington, president of the Virginia Beach chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America.
"You won't get that many people," Moran added. "It's just the idea that you get it."
DeSteph said he would ask city staff to study the concept to determine whether a broader program would have any fiscal impact on the city. He said he wouldn't apologize for the original ordinance, because "I still think it's a great idea."
Oberndorf said the council - which adopted the parking ordinance unanimously - only wanted to provide a bonus for veterans.
"I don't think any of us ever meant to cause anyone to feel demeaned," Oberndorf said. "I guess it's called unintended consequences."
At Metz's prodding, Oberndorf added that she would be happy to get more veterans involved with the mayor's advisory committee on veterans issues.
That group could then review ideas such as free parking - before some veterans feel insulted.
"It was meant well," Metz said. "But this is such a military community... it's a slap in the face."
Richard Quinn, (757) 222-5119, richard.quinn@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Free Parking For Vets
Those who served, who died or were wounded as I was, did not do it for perks and privileges, like the free parking nonsense. If you want to honor us then Governments, from City Counsel to Washington can stop the extreme partisanship and seek common ground for the common good, stop pandering to special interests, outlaw indirect and direct foreign political contributions, stop squandering our money on pork barrel projects, and do the things necessary to restore our fiscal strength, our unity, our respect for government institutions, and our sense of national identity and common destiny.
Americans who want to honor us can put an end to the victim and entitlement mentality. Government owes all of us nothing but honesty, fairness, secure borders, a strong defense, and frugal use of our tax money. I think most of my fellow vets don't want or need any special parking perks except for the handicaped, which we already have.
A Vietnam Vet
no, give MEE a break
Hey Its time, in your zeal to paint the military as a bunch of freeloaders undeserving of apparently anything in your view, you exaggerated or told some ... untruths ...in your post. Allow me to clarify some things. The retirement is half of base pay, which means for enlisted folk you still have to work. It isn't a true retirement (I'd get about 22k if I retired now). The "shopping centers and rec facilities" are not tax payer subsidized and haven't been for years - they are all self sustaining by law. Contractors don't serve, they have a job they can quit and come home whenever they want. Civil servants get a bonus that works out to a 70% increase in pay when they go to Iraq or Afghanistan - a hell of a nice chunk of change, especially considering that they are paid so much better than military to begin with. "Outsource the military to people who will do the work at less cost." If we could find such people the military wouldn't be having such a recruiting problem. BTW, I don't need free parking at the Beach. I haven't been there in years and am in no hurry to go back.
suck it up
to be honest im a veteran and a va beach homeowner. why anyone would go to the unfriendly to the locals oceanfront from may till mid sept is beyond my own belief. but i dont think anyone should get a free ride im supprised that the naacp isnt demanding that all people on food stamps or free lunch shouldnt be able to enjoy the free parking. i cant wait till my house is sold so i no longer have to claim that im a resident of this pathatic city you people will still be calling home.
by the way the house is 1470 sq brick ranch with 4br 1.5 baths with real hard woood floors new centeral ac gas heat with a patio and screened in porch if anyone wants to help me leave at the affordable price of 225000
Give me a break
Free parking, what's next.. free valet service, free shoeshines! In case you haven't noticed it, military is overwhelmed with a cornucopia of benefits. The recent issue of Army Times had a 61 page insert just to list them all. A free inflation protected retirement after only twenty years, free medical care for life, a network of taxpayer subsidized/tax free grocery stores, shopping centers, recreation facilities, and all manner of freebies paid for by the taxpayers is not enough. Of course you serve duty in the Iraq war: but so do contractors, civil service, and other foreign military. Its time the government started taking the lead of all our businesses who have decided that US citizens are too expensive. Outsource the military to people who will do the work at less cost and won't demand free parking.
Mytle Beach has a bunch of available parking
Quit the complaining, It like a tom thumb re-run.. "Please may I have some more free stuff, because I'm a military member" 32 years of service and I have never seen such an area of beggers in my life. Your income is on average higher then the non-military and thier not getting free stuff. Sad, sad, day.....
more than just navy
There's more than just navy people who are retired military folks, me being one. Army vet here and not whining about anything!!
Free parking entitlement
Maybe because there are so many retired Navy, but i have never heard sommuch "givemes" from any military group in my life. They usually are the first to complain about entitlements, but they are first in line when they want something. Parking is already at a premium but some vets are quick to say forget others, "I want therefore I deserve". Given the ratio of support to front line troops, I'lle bet bet most vets were never in harms way. Leave the new policy as it is.
Really should be all residents
If they're going to go through all the expense of administrating a sticker program, it really should also include all the local residents or least Va Beach. With the sticker fee, it would probably be about the same as the $1 residents get charged now at the lots and garages. It's basically just bringing back the old city sticker.
free parking for all veterans...everyday, everywhere
Hey, while we were out fighting wars and making very very little money serving our country (I didn't do it for the money) many of us got behind (me, 4 years) in our income earning capacity. I think it would be nice to get back what I lost, 25 cents at a time. Or is that too much of a payback. Also, I dont like to wear, on my sleeve or my licence plate, what I gave to My Country, but I don't fault those who do. Why not let all those with Virginia plates park for free, we pay most of the taxes anyway. To my comrades and WAR HEROES, THANK YOU!!!
Are you kidding me?
It's hard for me as a Vietnam veteran to believe that people are whinning over a parking spot or the availability of one. We served our Country with pride and dignity and never did it because we wanted a free parking place. This has to be one of the most assinine issues I have ever seen. No one owes you anything other than their thanks for a job well done.
A very nice idea
But with all the veterans in this area, if a good number that do like going to the beach would do it and use it, VB would see such a drop in income from the parking garages, they'd have to rescind it or modify it in some way.
Still, it is a good idea for those that want the perk and use the beach on a regular basis.
Stickers
Stickers would be better. Why force real heroes (pearl harbor, purple heart, CMH, etc) to have to display themselves on a license plate. Most of those who sacrifice at that level didn't do so because they wanted to advertise to the world on a license plate. Allow the humility that drives heroism and just require a sticker and not a license plate.
Are all vets heroes?
According to the article they are.
But we had a draft until 1977. Does that mean EVERY able bodied male (who couldn't weasel out of the draft) was a hero? If everyone is a hero, is anyone a hero?
I like the system where people identified as true heroes (medal winners) get the perk.
But just because you served in the military does not make you a hero. If we are going to give free parking to former military members, what about former policemen, firemen, EMS workers, nurses, school teachers, doctors? Which jobs get you free parking? And why?
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others?
Veterans Parking
I do not display my United States Navy career on my license plates. A sticker may be okay if there's space on your window to place i. There's parking, inspections, base stickers and other miscellaneous crap. Yeah, I'll take a free-parking "something." The city council has active duty and veterans to thank for their population.....
Not offended and I don't have a special plate
As a retired Navy Vet, I'm not offended that those who have special plates get free parking. A slap in the face? You really have to be kidding. Maybe we're just a little bit dramatic... Remember this: We willingly served our country with honor and dignity because we believe serving our nation is the highest calling in life. Now we seek "special perks" for doing it? Not this kid...
A parking sticker or a special plate seems to be the same thing to me. If you want the perk, then put on a plate and stop whining. I take pride in my fellow vets but sometimes you just have to wonder where folks are coming from.
And to the council: Remember "No good deed goes unpunished" and "You can't please 100% of the people 100% of the time." You did a wonderful thing that you can all take pride in even if some folks remain unhappy. That is life…
RENO
Re-elect no one on City Council. Especially the Mayor. Very seldom does Virginia Beach City Council get it right on the first try. This is yet another example. They seem to back peddle all the time. It would be interesting to see what background information Jim Spore, City Manager, gave City Council on this issue before they voted.
Sticker?
I'd get a sticker if there'd be a place to park. Problem is, there isn't usually when it's a nice beach day, nice idea though.
VB is not worth it
Nothing at the VB oceanfront is worth fighting over.