Georgia Spouse HERO Scholarship Passed

On April 19, 2007 Georgia House Bill HB-131 was sent to Governor Purdue for his signature. This bill would allow the widow of a fallen Georgia National Guard soldiers to collect their dead husband’s scholarship from the state of Georgia. On June 1, 2007 Governor Purdue signed this bill into law. If you remember: Robert Stokely, father of Sgt Mike Stokely, was a driving force behind this bill.

On Tuesday, May 29, 2007 Laura Armstrong writing at the Marietta Daily Journal had this to say:

From the misery of Valley Forge in 1777-78 (Martha Washington froze along with the rest that winter), through the long separations of World War II, to the extended or repeated deployments of today, it's always been a difficult life for camp followers. Yet always they endure.

But who looks out for them? During the Revolution, there were those who thought provisions should not be shared with them, despite those who picked up arms alongside their mates, fetched water or nursed the wounded.

Ironically, as some conditions have improved, others have worsened. Life insurance has increased for military families, and more private and charitable organizations are helping, but provisions for educating military widows and kids haven't kept up. The G.I. Bill, for example, that paid my entire four years at UGA, is no longer enough to
pay college costs, which have increased 35 percent just since the war started.

This Memorial Day, there's one Georgia father who's all too aware of this and has worked hard to make a change at the state level to fulfill a promise to his beloved son - looking out for the widows of Georgia's activated guard and reserves.

His name is Robert Stokely, a Coweta County prosecutor whose son, Sgt. Mike Stokely, died in Iraq in 2005. We should know about his chivalrous efforts.

According to Stokely, whom I spoke with recently, Georgia has about 26 National Guard widows, young women mostly, left behind to carry on with courage. Not all of them want or need a college degree, but Stokely and the Georgia legislature feel they deserve some help with that if they want one.

Stokely pushed, with help from State Reps. Billy Horne (R-Newnan) and Ronald Forster (R-Ringgold), to pass unanimously H.B. 131 - a measure that extends Georgia's HERO Scholarship grants to Guard and Reserve widows. Driven by grief, duty and most of all love, Stokely also helped push the bill through the state senate, where it was championed by Sen. Seth Harp, a Vietnam vet from Midland.

The final version cleared on April 19th, which would have been Mike's 25th birthday, and now awaits Governor Perdue's signature.

A passionate Stokely believes this action is a sure way to honor Georgia's fallen, and help their brave widows who've sacrificed so much.

"It's a matter of honor," Stokely says, and the legislature apparently agrees.

Two days later Governor Purdue signed the bill into law instead of letting it become law without his signature. In an email to me Mr. Stokely had this to say:

I was just a pest who would not go away, but didn't have a vote in the matter. Mike and Niki did more than will be known - I made a flyer using the last known picture of Mike in Iraq (holding the IV bag tending a wounded soldier, smiling as he always did) and Niki as the funeral ended and holding the folded flag that had just draped Mike's casket.

When I had the chance to speak at the State Capitol before the Senate Higher Education Committee (chaired by Sen. Seth Harp, I didn't know he was a Vietnam Vet), I had carried Mike's combat boots sent back from Iraq, with the dog tag still on his left boot lace. I set those boots on the table as I spoke and told them of my question to Mike the day before he left for Iraq - "son, why is that dog tag on your lace?" His comment, with a somewhat curled smile was "[D]ad, where we are going guys get blown apart and it helps them match us back up."

I then told the Committee that is what Niki, as a 20 year old wife of ten days endured as she watched her high school sweetheart march to war, watching and waiting night and day for news of his safety, and return, only to learn after three months of marriage that she was a widow of war. As I said to the Committee, she has endured enough, paid more than most, and certainly deserves the HERO scholarship, as does the others like her.

At that time an effort had been made to attach a "remarriage penalty" to the bill and I told the committee that they had paid enough and should not now be asked to choose between education and the chance for happiness that comes with going on with life. Senator Harp and others were outraged that such an attempt was being made and removed the opportunity for the remarriage penalty and even amended the bill so it would be more available to the current widows’ time frame wise.

Mike Stokely couldn't walk in that committee room that day, but he left footprints that spoke even 21 months after his death. Niki wasn't there, but her picture holding that flag said it all. All they needed was a mailman and that I could do.

Thank you [Laura Armstrong] for your time and efforts to highlight the families - especially the wives and children (and now a days, the husbands although fewer in number) whose spouse/soldier goes to a far away place and serves our country. Certainly, this war has had tremendous impact on them, and the impact doesn't end when the soldier comes home, for that is a new beginning of an entirely different impact, and for some, one without end. But they give without holding back, especially those whose soldier died in combat.

Now, Georgia has shown that it will give to the fallen by helping their families ease the cost of college, and for that, Georgia can hold its head up having put its checkbook where its words were.

The State of Georgia has done the right thing; it has not abandoned its Gold Star families for the sake of petty politics or fiscal mismanagement. Congratulations go to Mr. Stokely from every contributor and friend of The Thunder Run for his successful campaign. Its good that you are finally being highlighted in the media for only doing what you have always done…supporting your children in all their endeavors.

One More State Legislature Puts Finances Before its Troops

Mr. Robert Stokely father of Sgt Michael Stokely who was killed in action on August 16, 2005 in Iraq updates us on the progress of Georgia HB 131 - Surviving Spouse HERO benefit. What seems so obvious to so many is being slowly squeezed to death by greedy politicians. He writes:

Just wanted to share about my work with others to allow the widows (including my son's) to draw their State HERO scholarship benefit. The HERO scholarship was established by Georgia to provide college grants and assistance to our Georgia National Guard soldiers going to Iraq in a massive call-up and deployment - our 48th Brigade. The HERO did not have a surviving spouse benefit, and obviously, the surviving spouse - currently all widows - need this worse than ever. As I said in a Georgia Senate Higher Education Committee meeting today, women have come from being "diaper changers" and "supper getter uppers" to being significant wage earners. Widows of war are now the sole wage earner. However, you would think this would be a no brainer right? Wrong, our Governor, Sonny Perdue, working through others, primarily the State Senate Veteran's Affairs Chairperson, John Douglas, wants to condition the benefits on their remaining unmarried. State Senator Seth Harp, who chairs the commitee reviewing the legislation (which passed our State House 165-0) stood up for us today, but we are a long way from being out of the woods yet. You can look at the actual bill by google "georgia legislature" and a box will show "find legislation" (and HB usually defaults) so put in 131 in the blank box to the right. My thoughts on this remarriage penalty are summed up in my thank you letter to Senator Harp. We have a week to go and then see what is passed and whether the Governor would sign it. His best committment to me was "I will give it consideration". Wow, what courage it would take to sign such a bill that will cost the State of Georgia less than $150,000 total - and this after he told us grieving families at a State callled prayer vigil two years ago "We are here for you."

Robert Stokely

Mr. Stokely correctly notes that the remarriage penalty, is simply another method by which the state can keep more money for itself. Niki Stokely and the other widows have paid a dear price for their state and this country and would not be facing this "remarriage" issue but for the untimely widowing they have suffered. I'm sure that their husbands would want them to go on, to be happy, to eventually remarry and would not jealousy cloak them with further unhappiness and grief.

Mr. Stokely further asks:

Would our Governor and others now go against such a selfless love these fallen sons of Georgia had for their wives and thereby possibly one day force these widows to choose between the HERO grant or a new life through the sacred bond of marriage? Never mind such a remarriage penalty, at best, encourages untruthfulness or cohabitation outside of marriage. For what benefit would our State engage in such derisive policy? At best, such would save so few dollars for the State as to be near impossible to calculate in the face of our current State surplus or the yearly State Budget. Have not these widows endured and paid enough already without being subjected to such a futile and fruitless fiscal pay back?

The State of Georgia should do the right thing and pass this legislation for those that have been left behind, the Gold Star Mothers, Fathers and Spouses of their fallen heroes deserve it.

Goergia State Hero's Legislation

After the jump there is important information about the current program and contact info for the GA state reps.

Mr. Stokely sends news that the GA State Hero's Legislation is in need of some help to amend it to include the wives of the 26 GA National Guard Soldiers that died in OIFIII. He writes:

Brief History of events on the Hero Legislation: original bill passed the GA legislature in 2005, effective May 3, 2005 to honor and reward our GA NATL Guard soldiers and Reservists called up to combat tour of duty, particularly IRAQ, and prompted by the massive call-up of the 48th Brigade. Would give a $2,000 a year grant for up to four years attendance to college / tech school to in-state institutions - maximum $8,000 pro-rated if part-time attendance. This benefit also would be given any child of the soldier (less than 27? or so) including any child born nine months or less after the soldier returned from tour of duty. When Mike died three months later and I was checking to see about surviving spouse benefit for his wife, discovered no such benefit. Further, I discovered if he had children they would not have qualified because he died 3 months into his combat tour and did not serve the mandatory qualifying 180 days tour of duty; such 180 day tour of duty would have also disqualified the two soldiers with Mike the night he died that were seriously wounded and sent home, as well as their children.

I asked my state senator (Sebaugh) to see if these matters could be amended and he got with the bill's original author (John Douglas) and they co-sponsored a new bill in the 2006 session to amend the 2005 law to incude soldiers who died or were wounded / sent home before 180 day mark and to include provision for surviving spouse to use the fallen soldier's benefit to better their education. Sailed through the State Senate, and then quietly, for whatever reason (misunderstanding I hope) the surviving spouse provision was eliminated by the House Higher Education Committee, sent to the House Floor where it passed (again may have been misunderstanding) and then in the last day or so, sent back to the Senate for approval. Senate's hands were tied - take the partial amendment to make eligible those soldier's who died or were wounded before 180 days, or not do anything. Senate passed the partially amended bill. Now, I have asked my State Representative Horne (and co-sponsor is Ronald Forster) to introduce an amendment to add back the surviving spouse clause - HB 131 - SEE LINK BELOW. Bill is pending in House Higher Education Committee - if we can get it favorably reported out of committee, voted to approve by the full House, and it goes to the Senate, I would think that the Senate would overwhelming approve it and the Governor would sign it.

Here is the action plan I need you to help me execute, and to get as many you know to execute. It is going to take a litte of your time - hopefully one hour or less. It is going to take a little of your pen, paper, and postage, and a phone call or two. But, I am going to say this, not that you need to hear this yourself, but that others might need as encouragement to want to help - 26 48th Brigade soldiers - our loved ones, friends, and patriots of patriots - gave their whole life for our State and our Country. Not all of them were married, but in honor of all of them, especially those that were married, let's give a little of ourselves to see that their surviving spouse is able to go have this grant in place of their fallen spouse and thus be better able to provide for themselves and their families, especially those who now bear alone the burden of supporting children of these fallen soldiers. Had these 26 come home and used their grant, the cost to the State of Georgia would have been $208,000 (two hundred and eight thousand dollars) - a small pittance to a state that has $600,000,000 (six hundred million surplus) and a gabillion yearly budget. Since not all 26 were married, and even if all of the surviving spouses of those 26 went back to school and used the entire $8,000 each, the cost would still be less than the $208,000 the State was willing to spend on the fallen soldier to help that soldier be better able to provide for their family in the future and to thank that soldier for their service. Again, the surviving spouse - all of them wives, now widows, could certainly benefit from this money and deserve this thank you on behalf of the husbands they lost in the service of our State and our Country.

NOW - REMEMBER - THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE ANYBODY IN WASHINGTON DC, CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT, OR THE VA. This is a State of Georgia matter and only concerns Governor Perdue, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, your Georgia Legislature where your State Representative and your State Senator serve at the State Capitol in Atlanta (everybody in Georgia has a State Representative and a State Senator). This is a State of Georgia issue and if you write somebody in Washington, they are not going to have any idea what you are talking about.

Now to the plan: 1) use the General Assembly Link below and go through the House side of the screen and go to the Committee link and click House Higher Education Committee and you will see who serves on that Committee. There is an address listed as well as a phone number. Let's cover them up with a personal letter (if handwritten, be sure they can read it) and a personal phone call (number is on the Committee's web page). Write each member especially the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. Email is not as effective in my opinion, but if you want to send an email or fax, then at least do that.

2) Go ahead and do the same as above with your State Representative, and remind them you live in their district and don't be bashful about pointing out you vote as well as your family (non threatening of course). Contact them now and ask them to ask the Committee to favorably report this out of Committee with the provision that it relate back to the date the survivings spouse incurred expense of education following the soldier's death, and that it become law when the Governor signs it or such later time as the law provides.Call them as well. (State Directory Assistance 404-656-2000). If you are not sure who represents you call your county voter registration office and they can assist, or contact me.

3) Go ahead and contact your State Senator and do the same as your State Representative, and ask that they step across the hall and talk to their collegeaus in the State House of Rpresentatives to support HB 131 and to then support it when it gets to the Senate and not to let it get gutted and lost in the shuffle.Call them as well. (State Directory Assistance 404-656-2000) If you are not sure who represents you, call your county voter registration office and they can assist, or contact me.

4) Go ahead and contact House Speaker Glenn Richardson (he presides over the House/very powerful) and LT. Governor Cagle (he presides over the State Senate/very powerful) and ask them to use their influence and power to get this bill through their respective bodies and on to the Governor to sign.Call them as well (State Directory Information is 404-656-2000) Mailing address to get to each is State Capitol , Atlanta GA 30334.

5) Go ahead and contact Governor Perdue. Room 201 State Capitol Atlanta GA 30334 and to call is State Directory Assistance 404-656-2000. Don't let it be lost on the Governor how much power he has to make things happen below and how he can influence expediting getting a bill to his desk to sign.

This is important to me personally. I promised my boy, SGT Mike Stokely, I would look after his wife and I consider getting this bill part of that promise to him. But, it goes beyond that now, having had the chance to meet and get to know some of the wives of other fallen soldiers and their children.

My boy went to Iraq rather than taking a recruiting job cause he said he wouldn't run out on his guys. Well, every time I think of his words, I feel a new incentive to not run out on his wife, and the wives of his guys, and those throughout the 48th BDE. I am one person with one voice, and I can only ask others to join me with their voice and make our voices loud enough together to be heard on behalf of the widows of the fallen 48th BDE soldiers. I would consider your voice, your time, and your postage a big favor and certainly I would appreciate that help a lot.

The main link to the General Assembly is:Georgia General Assembly.

The link to the legislation is:House Bill 131.

Sorry for this very long post, but I wanted you to have all the informaton and be able to explain why you support HB 131, and to be able to decide whether this is a cause you wish to be a part of, and to ask your friends, co-workers, church and others to support. And let me forewarn you, it is not a "NO BRAINER" because if it were, it would not have been cut out in the 2006 amendement to the 2005 law. So, we need to make sure the message and importance is communciated. Squeaky Wheels do get greased at the State Capitol, and the louder the squeak, the sooner the grease comes out. But time is of the essence - there are fast approaching time lines that can cause this bill to not make it through the process, even if everyone in the process were willing to support it.

Thanks for letting me call on you.

Robert Stokely
rrwmastokely@aol.com (o.k.to give out to others)
cell: 678-416-1387 (o.k. to give out to others)