SHOULDN'T EVERY MILITARY VETERAN AT THE ISCC RECEIVE A SPECIAL MEAL ON VETERAN'S DAY (AND NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGED FEW?)
At the ISCC, inmates who are members of the American Legion (and the buckle-bunny-esk) Sons of the American Legion*, receive special privileges, meals and treats (including popcorn, sodas, movies, etc.) throughout the year, even to the point where they have their own barbeque area, section of the visiting room, and special refrigerators in the prison kitchen to keep their special fare.
But what about military veterans who are not members of the Legion, a group who many describe as nothing more than another prison gang that receives special privileges and accommodations in return for their "services" to prison administrators? Shouldn't the service members who actually deserve the recognition be honored for their military service and sacrifices at least once a year?
It is unclear exactly how many prisoners at the ISCC are HONORABLY discharged military vets (unlike most of those in the Legion/Sons who have dishonorable discharges or are otherwise not legally or morally considered veterans), but it is easily determined. The IDOC maintains records of military veterans (primarily the DD214 paperwork), and most vets will have copies of their own records (or can receive them from the Department of Defense free of charge). The DD214 specifies the "character of service" - be it honorable, dishonorable or OTH (other than honorable) in addition to the type of discharge (Administrative Separation, Punitive, General, etc.).
While the American Legion - outside the prison - is a wonderful organization that does wonderful work, not so in the prison. Yea, they refurbish bicycles, make paper poppy flowers, and raise/lower the colors (flag), but that is merely a means to an end - that being to receive special privileges. With outside assistance, these inmates have also accumulated thousands of dollars which are unaccounted for, and are not monitored by the Department.
Many vets at the ISCC (like most other prisoners) look upon those in the Legion/Sons with disdain and disgust, refusing to be part of a group of inmates who are nothing more than sycophants to administration for personal gain and recognition and who, as an organization, pay other prison gangs for protection of their members.
Because the American Legion is actually a corporation, there is no requirement under law for the Legion to allow any person, even though qualified and wanting to become members, to become a member of the Legion/Sons. Based on this, one inmate, (the post "commander") can exclude allow anyone from being part of the prison chapter of the Legion/Sons based on his personal bias, prejudice and politics. This despite prison policies which prohibit such authority to be vested in one prisoner over another.
So why couldn't HONORABLY discharged veterans - WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION/SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION receive one special meal on Veteran's Day (November 11, 2023) this year? A memo sent to the prisoner population that any military veteran who has an honorable military discharge document on file with the Idaho Department of Correction (or a certified copy of same) can sign up for (and receive) a special meal to honor their service and sacrifices would go a long way in treating these veterans with at least a little dignity and respect. These records can be verified by unit case managers and submitted to administrators for final approval.
Oh, and if the prison chapter of the American Legion/Sons were as supportive of veterans and the community as they try to appear, they can pay for the food/drink for those veterans either excluded from membership in the Post, or have otherwise chosen not to be part of their gang with the thousands of dollars stashed in their coffers.
If you believe that military veterans who have been HONORABLY discharged and not part of the Legion Post at the ISCC or any other Departmental facility should receive a special meal on Veteran's Day, contact the IDOC via their website at www.idoc.idaho.gov, or the Warden at the specific prison (see the IDAHO PRISON FACILITY INFORMATION link in the sidebar of this page for contact information).
* Sons of the American Legion is a group that does not require members to have served in any branch of the United States military, but are given the same deference/special privileges as the American Legion members at the ISCC.