On this day, we pause to honor our nation's Veterans - the brave men and women who have served our country, past and present.  We marvel at the depth of their sacrifices and height of their great accomplishments.  We owe them our unwavering appreciation.

Our Veterans of past wars are aging.  Many Veterans of our present war have been disabled, some totally. NASGA's focus is on those Veterans whose youth or strength have gone and those suffering from mental disability who may now find themselves recipients of unlawful or abusive guardianships as a result of their vulnerability.

Gary E. Harvey served in the Army as a Special Forces Ranger during the Vietnam War.  He was honored with a National Service Defense Medal and as an expert M16 rifleman.  He was honorably discharged in 1971.  Over three years ago, after surviving a serious injury, he became a ward of the state. Chemung County was appointed as his guardian.

He has been institutionalized ever since - even though his wife pleads to be allowed to take him home and care for him.  All medical decisions, including those of life and death, are made by strangers - instead of Mr. Harvey's wife. His wife is only allowed to visit himon a strict schedule - and always "under guard."  She recently learned even supervised visitation is in jeopardy; she may not get to see her husband at all. She is not given timely and complete medical information regarding Mr. Harvey's condition and is not allowed to view his medical records.  In effect, the county has "divorced" the previously happy couple.

This spring, the County attempted to terminate Gary Harvey's life, putting him on DNR status and removing his feeding tube, in effect to kill him by starvation and dehydration.  Mrs. Harvey was informed of the deciison, and when she asked for her husband's medical records and for a second opinion, her request was denied.

She then took her husband's plight to the court of public opinion:  the medial.  Her husband rallied and the County was forced to relingquish. SHe saved her husband's life but has been unable to change his circumstances.

He remaqins under th econtrol of the very people who attempted to end his life. All she wants to do is bring her husband home where he can spend his final days in the comfort of familiar surroundings with the love of his wife and friends. But the County won't allow it.

Why?

Today, NASGA asks that you remember and pray for Gary E. Harvey and the other Gary Harveys who suffer the same nightmare.

Pray for Gary Harvey's life, his wife's strength, and for justice to prevail.

On October 20, 2009, the Eufaula Tribune reported that out-of-town developers closed a deal on the “former Walker properties,” planning a 40-unit apartment complex for low-income residents.

The limited details of the transaction, as reported in the article, are very troubling. \ [1] / 

Look at this astounding timeline:

9/25/09 - Eufaula, Alabama resident Henry David Walker, Jr. (37) was arrested and incarcerated for failing to appear in response to a traffic violation.

A petition, filed by local attorney Courtney Potthoff, requesting appointment of an "emergency guardian and special conservator" was approved by Barbour County Probate Judge Nancy Robertson in order to "bring the real estate deal to fruition."  Walker did not appear at the purported hearing.

9/28/09 - Barbour County Sheriff LeRoy Upshaw was appointed as "emergency" guardian/special conservator.

9/29/09 - While Walker was incarcerated the Sheriff sold his real property to the out-of-town developer.  

HIS PROPERTY WAS SOLD WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF HIS INCARCERATION ON A TRAFFIC CHARGE!

NASGA questions, as should the citizens of Eufaula, whether Walker's rights were protected and where he is now.  NASGA wrote Judge Robertson and inquired as to Walker’s current whereabouts:  no response.

Emergency guardianships are designed to protect vulnerable/incapacitated people in cases of real emergencies where they are a potential danger to themselves or others.  Mr. Walker was incarcerated.  NASGA questions: 

  •  What danger was Henry Walker to himself or others when he was incarcerated?   
  •  What was the rush to sell his property?
  •  Where is Mr. Walker now?
  •  How were his rights protected?
  •  Was he examined for mental incapacitation? 
  •  Why wasn’t he at the hearing?
  •  Where is his personal property?

Just as important:  who is investigating the seemingly suspicious relationship of the parties involved in Mr. Walker’s “emergency” guardianship?

The complete facts of this case are not known but what we are told via the 10/20 article cries out for total transparency and accountability.  Since "protective statutes" are promulgated in the public interest, the court proceedings should be available on line.

The citizens of Eufaula need someone to answer these questions.

For more information on unlawful and abusive guardianships / conservatorships, visit NASGA at www.StopGuardianAbuse.org & http://NASGA-StopGuardianAbuse.blogspot.com.

And Be Warned!!!


Over 30,000 Americans have been injured to date during the current war on terror - a war that may continue for years. Many have returned to service but others have been disabled, some very severely.

Our heroes of past wars also fall victim to unlawful and abusive guardianship / conservatorship, either as a result of disability or advanced age.  The numbers continue to grow.

The pirates target our young disabled Veterans - lured by their veteran’s benefits, disability pensions, and now even their Social Security benefits.   Our aging Veterans are even more tempting - perhaps they have well-managed, nice-sized estates to go with their pensions. 

After years of service and sacrifice to our country, is this what our Veterans have to look forward to?  Denied the very rights and liberties they fought for?  Confined in nursing homes, left to languish, receiving perhaps just a pittance for their personal use from their guardians?

Supporting the troops and our fallen heroes should mean supporting them not only when we need them - but also when they need us.  And they need us fighting for them when they become vulnerable.

NASGA is a civil rights organization comprised of victims and families working to expose and end unlawful and abusive guardianships/conservatorships. 

For more information on unlawful and abusive guardianships/conservatorships, visit NASGA’s website at  http://www.StopGuardianAbuse.org and the NASGA blog at http://NASGA-StopGuardianAbuse.blogspot.com.

In this month dedicated to older Americans, NASGA focuses attention on an ironic form of abuse perpetrated on our elderly and vulnerable citizens by uncaring or corrupt judges: 

NASGA is a civil rights organization comprised of victims and families working to expose and end unlawful and abusive guardianships/conservatorships. NASGA advocates for protection – physical and financial - of wards and their families –through education and outreach.