Deepest Gratitude on Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day (and be sure to view some Arizona events to commemorate the day).

Marine at Vietnam Memorial on 4th July 2002 (via Wikimedia Commons, photo by Meutia Chaerani – Indradi Soemardjan)

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Memorial Day Events in Arizona Honor Those Who Served

Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, Phoenix

With any luck, you’re already well into planning—or enjoying—your Memorial Day weekend. On this Change of Venue Friday, I share a few events in Phoenix and Tucson that commemorate the service of those in the armed services.

First, in Tucson.

On next Monday and the weekend before, both South Lawn and East Lawn Palms Cemeteries will hold events to recognize those who sacrificed for their country. Details vary, but each cemetery will include guest speakers delivering remarks. All the background is here.

And in Phoenix, the Pioneers’ Cemetery Association will be hosting that cemetery’s 30th annual Memorial Day observance. That event on Monday, May 27, will include remarks by Marshall Shore, the Hip Historian, among others.

More detail on the Phoenix event can be seen below.

Have a wonderful weekend.

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In Spirit of Memorial Day, Some Videos on Veterans Services by @courtpio

Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery

Last week, I reposted a video created by the Maricopa County Superior Court. It highlighted a terrific event: the one-year anniversary of a court dedicated to veterans issues.

You can view that video at the bottom of this post.

But on Memorial Day, I was pleased to come across another MCSC video from February. It featured the activities surrounding the recent Arizona StandDown. At the event, veterans who have a variety of legal issues are able to have them addressed and resolved, all in a setting that is less intimidating than a courthouse visit.

Here is the video.

And as we watch the next video, regarding the Veterans Court one-year anniversary, it’s hard not to consider the Memorial Day that slipped by yesterday. How heartening it is to see so many members of the legal profession stepping up to create solutions to help those who have served.

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Memorial Day a Time for Thanks, Memories

Happy Memorial Day. Here’s hoping you have a wonderful and thanks-filled day.

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Memorial Day’s True Meaning

Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery

Over the past week, the State Bar of Arizona website has undergone another in a series of transformations. A few months ago, the “public” portion of the site was completely revamped. But more recently, the “lawyer” side got the same treatment.

We are still developing some needed changes on the Arizona Attorney Magazine portion of the site, but one thing I was pleased to finally land was a true magazine news page, separate and apart from the print magazine’s web page. The Arizona Attorney Magazine News Center is now live, and you can see it here.

We have spotted a few bugs that need to be worked out. But it has been (and will continue to be) my great and maddening daily privilege to populate the page with new content—news links, video links, and blog content.

Andy Rooney

Yesterday was Memorial Day, so you may have missed something I posted there. And so I am sharing it here today.

If you are like me and most everyone I know, you have mixed feelings about Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes’ fame, because he can annoy as often as he can illuminate. But yesterday I posted his previous musings on the true meaning of Memorial Day. I think it was quite well done.

I know, Memorial Day is over. But I think watching this will be two minutes and 37 seconds well spent.

 

Memorial Day Marks Launch of ABA Site To Benefit Vets

Happy Memorial Day. I am hoping that you are spending some wonderful time with friends and family. That is always a high point of the Memorial Day weekend.

Somewhere in there, here’s hoping we all take a moment—or more—to remember why the holiday exists. In my job, I’ve been privileged to report on recent efforts to assist military members (see here and here). And today, there is news of a great initiative launched by the American Bar Association—its “Home Front” website that provides resources for servicemembers and their families.

Here is the concept, as described by the ABA. Please pass it on to anyone you think may benefit from it.

American Bar Association

Division for Communications and Media Relations

http://www.abanow.org

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

ABA Home Front Provides Resources for Understanding Legal Issues and Obtaining Law-Related Assistance

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 17, 2011 – The American Bar Association has launched a new website, ABA Home Front, dedicated to providing servicemembers and military families with resources for understanding legal issues and obtaining law-related assistance for the problems they face every day. This site features an Information Center, a Directory of Programs and a Military Pro Bono Center, all designed to deliver legal information and expert assistance to military families.

“Being in the military is a 24/7 commitment that takes its members and their families across the country, and around the world,” said ABA President Stephen N. Zack. “That’s where the online legal center comes in. At any time, someone can access basic information on the legal issue they’re dealing with — whether it’s a family law matter, tax question or problem with a creditor.”

The Information Center consists of easy-to-understand resources about Working with a Lawyer and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which provides legal protections for active-duty military and their families. The site also has a Family Law section that explains law-related implications and options in such areas as marriage and divorce, domestic violence and custody disputes.

“The center offers information on a number of legal topics,” Zack said. “We will continue to grow it in response to what servicemembers tell us they need.”

The Information Center will be expanded to include additional materials about landlord-tenant disputes, health law, immigration, contracts and leases, tax, and employment law.

The Directory of Programs can help military families find services in or near their community with state-by-state listings of legal programs and organizations. Programs can include military legal assistance offices, legal aid and pro bono organizations, lawyer referral and information services, and military-specific programs where available. Although many of the programs are pro bono, some may require payment of some costs or impose income-eligibility limits.

The Military Pro Bono Center is a resource for lawyers interested in providing pro bono representation for military members or in providing pro bono lawyer-to-lawyer consultation with military legal assistance attorneys.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.