In honor of Veterans Day 2013, Bordas & Bordas is proud to re-post the following blog entry from partner Geoff Brown, USMA 1994. Our thanks go to Geoff and all of our nation's veterans on this national day of remembrance. Today is Veterans Day, which always causes me to remember my own service with the United States Army. When I think back to that time in my life, I am proud to be able to say that I did a small part toward making sure that this world is a safer place. I consider myself very lucky to have served with some of the most dedicated young men and women any of us could ever hope to meet. These soldiers came from every corner of the country and from every imaginable background. Every one of them was able to put aside things that may have divided them at home in favor of serving the United States in uniform. We rightly call those who serve heroes for all of the right reasons. We rightly call them heroes because they make us safer.

I received a note on my front door this past weekend from Riesbeck's Food Markets about their sponsorship of the Boy Scouts of America's "Scouting for Food" project which will take place this Saturday, November 9, 2013. Maybe you received one too? Hopefully you did, and hopefully you will participate. It's really easy. Just place any canned goods or non-perishable items in a bag and place that bag on your front step by 9:00 a.m this Saturday. Members of the Boy Scouts of America will come door-to-door in your neighborhood and pick them up. The food is then donated to local food pantries. The Scouting for Food movement was founded in 1985, and has provided more than 47 million food items for families in need since its inception. Boy Scouts perform this service as part of their mission to do good deeds.

Chris and Stephanie Hallowich owned a 10 acre farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania where they were raising their two young children in a quiet, idyllic environment. However, all of that changed when Range Resources began massive gas drilling operations next to their farm, including four gas wells, gas compressor stations, and a water impoundment covering three acres. The effects of these operations on Chris, Stephanie and their little ones were immediate and devastating. Airborne contaminants caused a variety of ailments including burning eyes, sore throats, earaches, and headaches. More than that, the water supply was contaminated and their beloved farm devalued.

The Charleston Gazette recently published an article about Jim Strope, a former client and friend who trusted us with his case a number of years ago. Jim Strope's wife was killed as a result of the negligence of the Honda Motor Company to appropriately design, manufacture and put into production a seat that was safe and would protect its occupants from injury or death in a rear-end impact. He had the courage to bring the suit against Honda and to offer testimony as to the impact that this major automobile manufacturer's negligence caused. An Ohio County Circuit Court jury returned a multi-million dollar verdict on behalf of the Stropes. The article appearing in the Gazette is both interesting and informative: http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201310190050

Just a week before we celebrate Veterans' Day, hundreds of thousands of military families have taken another body blow from our country's failing leadership in Washington D.C. Over 900,000 American veterans rely on food stamps to feed their families. Nonetheless, their benefits will be cut because our leaders cannot bring themselves to focus our collective effort on helping those who need, and deserve, help the most. Most Americans do not know the role that poverty plays in the lives of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. In the midst of the worst national unemployment crisis since the Great Depression, veterans are disproportionately likely to be unemployed . Veterans are more than twice as likely as the average American to be living on the streets .

Many of our readers may have an interest in what really happens in lawsuits before juries and some of the things juries are not told by the courts and lawyers because they are prohibited at trial from doing so. Along these lines is an editorial printed in the Charleston Gazette written by Robert Angelone, an economist from New Jersey, who tries to clean up some of the "unknown." Our firm has linked to this story for your viewing. We hope you enjoy it.

In the midst of the recent government shutdown, a story emerged that a group of people receiving welfare through the "EBT" program unexpectedly found that their EBT debit cards suddenly had no limit . The computer glitch allowed these individuals, who are dependent on food stamps to live, to go to Wal-Mart and fill up carts full of groceries to take home. A commentator, titling his article " The Louisiana Heist " described the scene this way: There was no food left on any of the shelves, and no meat left. The grocery part of Walmart was totally decimated." One man even managed to spend $700.

Another school year has started again for thousands of children in the Valley. As all parents and grandparents know, there is nothing more precious to us than our children. I love seeing children with their mothers waiting for the school bus in the morning, talking to their buddies, holding their mother's hand and waiting for the bus dressed in their new school clothes with their new book bags and waiting to meet new friends and engage in new activities in school. When I was a child, I loved going to the store to pick out the new notebooks that I would be using in class with my favorite action adventure hero, sports star or movie hero on the cover. It was great fun getting new pencils and crayons and going shopping with my grandparents to get new shoes and clothes that I would be wearing for the first time the first week or two of school. Although I was not then particularly fond of school itself, I was very excited about starting a new year and seeing the friends I missed over the summer and meeting new friends.

Halloween is finally upon us, and trick-or-treaters will soon be knocking at your door. Piles of candy and amazing costumes make October 31 st a night of fun and excitement for so many families. However, as you take your children house to house, it is best to be informed of any potential dangers within your area. The Belmont County Sheriff's Department has gone the extra mile to help with this. For the citizens of this county, Sheriff Dave Lucas has created a sex offender registry website for easy access. This website will allow a user to determine if there are any sex offenders living within their neighborhood. It is important to note that, if you register, this website will also notify you of any future sex offenders that move into your neighborhood. Ohio residents living in other counties can obtain comparable information through the Ohio registry here . With this helpful information, parents can plan a safe trick-or-treating route for their children.

So next weekend I'm participating in Dancing With the Ohio Valley Stars . I'd be lying if I said I'd jumped at the opportunity. In fact, my first thought upon being asked involved flying pigs in a frozen Hell. After all, I don't know anything about dancing. I've never watched the ABC show and can't tell a Rumba from a Roomba. Plus, I'm not exactly built for speed when it comes to the dance floor. "Break a leg" is a phrase probably closer to prophecy than favor when it comes to my natural acumen, or lack thereof, as a dancer. But when it was explained that the event is a benefit for the Augusta Levy Learning Center , I quickly reconsidered and agreed to step way out of my comfort zone. After all Augusta Levy is a wonderful organization providing a host of valuable services for needy children. I know several who have benefitted from the organization's offerings, and I really welcomed the chance to participate for such a noble cause. As far as my being asked to participate, I still can't help but think that somebody on the selection committee must have lost a bet. I keep flashing back to Steve Carrel's character in "Dinner With Schmucks". But the flyers are printed, so they're stuck with me now.