Ex High Rise Guy Serves Vietnam Veterans

Chuck Schryer, an ex-high-rise window washer stands in front of the van he drives.

Volunteer drives 250K miles for disabled veterans (Marion, IL) - A retired U.S. Army veteran has spent the past 10 years driving disabled veterans to and from the Marion, Illinois Veterans Affair's hospital. Chuck Schryer served in the Army's 173rd Airborne and three years overseas during the Vietnam War. The retired high-rise window washer spends his free time serving disabled veterans like himself.

Schryer said he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and receives care from the Marion VA. He said he wanted to make sure other veterans like himself can receive care. “It’s been hectic at times,” Schryer said.

Schryer helped found Chapter 80 of the non-profit group Disabled American Veterans Charity, that serves veterans in the 29 counties in southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, and western Kentucky. Chapter 80 started by fundraising for one van and has grown to own and operate 11 vans. “For the veterans. I figure if we don’t take care of one another, no one else will take care of us,” Schryer said.

The DAV brings 125 veterans to and from the Marion VA each month. Schryer has driven more than 250,000 miles over the past 10 years. “You hear a lot of stories from the vets when you’re in there… It’s an honor to do,” Schryer said.

The DAV serving the Marion VA is in need of volunteers. Anyone with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance can volunteer. If you’re interested you can call the Marion VA Hospital at 618-997-5311 and ask for volunteer services.

Vietnam

Time to forgive — Fifty years after the start of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and the rise of the antiwar movement that in part made the return home for soldiers less than welcoming, it is time to move on, said Chuck Schryer. “We both need to forget and forgive, the veterans and the people,” Schryer said. “There were a lot of harsh feelings when the Vietnam vet came home. He didn’t help the situation. We were called the bad boys, and we were the bad boys.

“It’s time to forgive.” Schryer, of Flora, served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970. He made his remarks at a Marion VA Medical Center event to honor veterans of the tumultuous era. The Defense Department’s Vietnam War Commemoration was set by a presidential proclamation on May 28, 2012, establishing a 13-year program to remember the veterans. “While no words will ever be fully worthy of their service, nor any honor truly befitting their sacrifice, let us remember that it is never too late to pay tribute to the men and women who answered the call of duty with courage and valor,” President Barack Obama wrote at the time.

According to VA information, there are more than 7 million living Vietnam veterans and 9 million families of those who served. Schryer also gave his thanks to the Marion VA, but he has been doing that for 10 years. In May, he will be recognized by the Illinois chapter of the Daugthers of the American Revolution for his volunteer service to the Medical Center, donating 150,000 hours of his time, the most at the VA.

Among his service, Schryer drives veterans across the region to and from the VA for the Disabled American Veterans charity, logging 250,000 miles. He put in a plug for the DAV, saying more drivers are needed. “The VA in Marion is probably one of the best there is,” he said.

Marriage On The Cards For UK Window Cleaners

Disabled Andrew’s race to give his vows before he becomes wheelchair-bound - A man with a degenerative condition wants to marry the woman of his dreams – before it’s too late for him to stand to give his vows. Andrew Mullen, 39, faces a race against time to say “I do” to Deborah Langley, 44, before he is permanently confined to a wheelchair.

They started a new window-cleaning business which was a huge success. But within two years, Andrew suffered from crippling pain in his legs. “My whole body would shut down and I would collapse on the spot,” he said. Test after test failed to find the cause. Andrew admitted: “Sometimes the pain was just a dull ache but at other times, I felt like I just wanted someone to chop my legs off. “I couldn’t live with it any more but as much as I did not want to live, I knew the reward of my family was worth it.” The couple moved to Hartlepool in 2009 so Andrew could be nearer the support of his family. It was only then that doctors diagnosed his string of related conditions – degenerative spinal disease, facet joint arthritis, mechanical back pain and nerve damage.

His constant support has been Deborah. The couple have nine children between them with two still living at home – 13-year-old son Down’s Syndrome sufferer Shay Mullen for whom Deborah is a full-time carer for, and seven-year-old son Samuel. “Despite the ups and downs with my health, Deb has been a rock throughout”, said Andrew. “If I could have only one wish, it would be to win this wedding as Debs really does deserve it.” Andrew is now on medication, can stand with the aid of a stick, and gets around using a wheelchair. But he wants to stand up as he takes his vows. He explained: “It is that last piece of independence. “Marriage is very important. When you give yourself, you give yourself fully to your partner. Part of that is a man standing up and looking into his partner’s eyes to give her his vows.”

Will you marry me? Susan pops the question - A woman is taking advantage of Leap Year to propose to her boyfriend. Susan Elizabeth Evans of Rhyl got down on one knee today as February 29 is traditionally the only day a woman can propose to her man. Prospective fiancee Susan, 32, has known her boyfriend “for ages”, but began dating David Gore, 34, when she clicked with him after a friend’s party five years ago. She said: “I did a brave thing last week. I only booked my wedding for next year but my fella has not even asked me to marry him yet! I just walked in the house and told him. He took it well to be fair. He said ‘you booked it, you should ask me!’ So this is my official proposal.”

Susan, former Rhyl high pupil and full time mother, said she would try to persuade David, a self employed window cleaner, to take a day off work to celebrate the first day of their engagement. She said: “He comes home with flowers quite a lot, but we haven’t got much time to be romantic or go out for meals because we have six children between us. It’s a busy household. “I’m not telling him I’ve spoken to the Rhyl Journal. If he gets today off, I’ll take him the paper and a plastic ring for now – or maybe buy a packet of Haribo and use of those rings. I’ll think of something!” The Susan, who was born and bred in Rhyl, and David who is originally from Liverpool, had their first child together last year.

Window Cleaners Attacked & A Window Cleaner Assault

Daniel Chandler, Jordan Grant and Sarah Mitchell-Cadel caught on CCTV cameras during the attack on window cleaners - using the window cleaners pole to attack them.

Four sentenced for violent attack on window cleaners in Barnet: Four yobs have been sentenced after randomly attacking two window cleaners in Barnet. Three were jailed at Wood Green Crown Court on November 17 for the attack that saw both victims treated in hospital. Sarah Mitchell-Caddel, 21, of Tarling Road, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with a six-month curfew. Daniel Chandler, 22, of Benedict Way, was sentenced to four years in prison, Danny Lee Thurgood, 20, of Juliana Close, was sentenced to two years in a young offenders institute and Jordan Grant, 21, of The Market Place, Falloden Way, was sentenced to three years in prison.

The group attacked the window cleaners in Ballards Lane as they worked on April 13 near the junction with Claverly Grove. When the victims, aged 45 and 51, asked them not to tamper with their equipment, Thurgood and Chandler attacked both men. One of the victims suffered a broken nose. Thurgood fled the scene and Chandler walked away but returned with Jordan and Mitchell-Caddel, who picked up a nearby cleaner’s pole and handed it to Chandler. He and Grant then beat the second victim.

A CCTV mounted in Ballards Lane captured the attack and the CCTV operator alerted the police. Chandler, Grant and Mitchell-Caddel fled the scene when the police arrived, leaving the second victim with severe cuts to his face and head. Grant and Mitchell-Cadel were quickly caught in the immediate area and Chandler and Thurgood were later identified and arrested. The first victim suffered a broken nose and the second victim needed 19 stitches to his face and head.

Window cleaner raped disabled woman: A Preston window cleaner followed a severely disabled woman home and sexually assaulted her before he returned the next day and raped her. Andrew Richardson, (pictured) 31, of Thornton Road, Morecambe, was jailed indefinitely on Wednesday for public protection after he admitted taking advantage of his "extremely vulnerable" victim who he met on Morecambe promenade. Sentencing at Preston Crown Court, Judge Norman Wright said the defendant took advantage of his victim as he subjected her to an "appalling and horrific" ordeal. Richardson pleaded guilty to rape and sexual assault at an earlier hearing but initially lied to detectives that sex had been consensual between the pair.

Duncan Birrell, prosecuting, said the woman, in her 50s, had been out walking her dog on June 18 when Richardson approached her and struck up a conversation. "The prosecution say that it would have been immediately obvious to the defendant that she was vulnerable," he said. He exposed himself to her and then followed her home where he effectively forced himself in and then sexually assaulted her. Richardson went back to her home the next day and again put his foot in the door as she opened it. He went on to rape her and the ordeal only stopped when the woman's care support worker called in. Richardson lied that he was a relative and left the address before the victim was found upstairs in her bath.

Michael Hayton, defending, said his client had lived a good life until the collapse of his relationship with his long-term partner and mother of his child. He lost his job as a manager at an estate agent in Morecambe through heavy drinking and had then set up his own window cleaning business. His pre-sentence report said the defendant had only shown a superficial understanding of what he had done and did not fully appreciate the effects of his actions. Mr Hayton said although the offences were "extremely serious" they could be treated as "a one-off" as he argued for a determinate sentence.

Judge Wright disagreed and said Richardson should serve at least four years behind bars before he could be considered for parole. Addressing the defendant, he said: "These are serious matters. They were horrific and appalling.and can provoke nothing but utter revulsion  from anyone learning what you did." He concluded that the absence of information on what triggered the offences meant he could not be satisfied that Richardson posed no significant risk to the public in future. Richardson also pleaded guilty to stealing a small amount of money from the woman on June 18 and was given eight months in jail, to run concurrently.