Veterans United for D.C. Statehood, an organization chaired by veteran Hector Rodriguez, organized the Veterans Day Freedom March for D.C. Statehood, which began in Freedom Plaza and ended at a near the U.S. Capitol.

鈥淲e have American citizens who have served this country, many who have given that last full measure of devotion, who come back, sometimes in a box draped with a flag that doesn鈥檛 even have a star for the place that sent them,鈥� said shadow Sen. Paul Strauss, D-D.C. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 let this continue.鈥�

In April, the House passed a , introduced by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-
D.C., that would make the District a state with two senators and one representative with voting ability in Congress.

Norton, who鈥檚 represented D.C. as a non-voting delegate in the House since 1991, introduced a House Tuesday aimed at recognizing D.C. veterans and calling for the passage of the D.C. statehood bill.

鈥淚n all, 200,000 District of Columbia residents have served in the military since World War I,鈥� she said Thursday. 鈥淭here is no way to observe Veterans Day in the District of Columbia without noting our progress on D.C. statehood.鈥�

At one point during the march, Rodriguez joked that if people didn鈥檛 support D.C. statehood, they鈥檇 be hit by an eagle and see 51 stars. At another, he raised a fist in front of the Trump International Hotel and chanted, 鈥淪tatehood now.鈥�

Kreft, who served the U.S. Army more than two decades ago in Saudi Arabia, said she normally commemorates Veterans Day in some way every year.听

鈥淔or the numbers that D.C. generates as far as population, GDP, federal tax base, with us not having representation — voting members of Congress — seems shameful,鈥� the 12-year D.C. resident said.

Bo Shuff, executive director of DC Vote, an organization fighting for D.C. statehood, said it鈥檚 鈥渁bhorrent鈥� that veterans in D.C. don鈥檛 have congressional voting representation.

鈥淥f all of the people in the District who face not having representation, not having an equal voice, it feels like it鈥檚 most impactful to those who serve the country,鈥� said Shuff, who previously served as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser鈥檚 campaign manager.

In January, Bowser released a calling on lawmakers to get statehood to President Joe Biden鈥檚 desk within the first 100 days of Congress being in session. That didn鈥檛 happen.

In April, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Miss., released a arguing that D.C. would be relatively small compared to other states and it would be hyperpartisan. (D.C. voted for Biden by in the 2020 election.) In June, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing to discuss the issue, but the Senate statehood bill hasn鈥檛 been brought for a vote.

Cassandra Likouris, president of Students for D.C. Statehood, said she鈥檚 troubled by the fact that D.C. residents per capita than any state but don鈥檛 have voting representation in Congress.

鈥淚t鈥檚 ridiculous,鈥� she said.

Sharece Crawford, at-large committeewoman for D.C.鈥檚 Democratic Party, said Thursday that her grandmother wasn鈥檛 able to vote in presidential elections. D.C. residents weren鈥檛 allowed to vote in federal elections until the 23rd Amendment gave them that right in 1961.

鈥淢y children and their children will be able to vote for a congresswoman that has a vote in Congress,鈥� Crawford said. 鈥淥ur children today — our future children — will be able to have the rights and liberties as full citizens because of all of you today.鈥�

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Veterans Day celebrates and remembers U.S. military veterans and active service members. But many still wonder why their basic needs aren鈥檛 adequately met.

鈥淣o person should ever go hungry in America,鈥� said Chair Jahana Hayes from Connecticut, in her opening statement to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations. 鈥淗owever, it is especially galling to see those who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation struggle to put food on the table.鈥�

More than 37,000 veterans experienced homelessness last year, making up 8% of all homeless adults, according to a by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

鈥淢ilitary and veteran families have been allowed to go hungry on your watch,鈥� Mia Hubbard, vice president of programs at , a Jewish organization fighting hunger, told lawmakers. 鈥淵our inaction has allowed this situation to persist for years…which has contributed to the worsening of diet-related diseases, loss in productivity and even spikes in suicide rates.鈥�

In a by RAND, a public policy think tank, researchers found that 14% of veterans who rated their health as 鈥渇air or poor鈥� said they were also food insecure. The report also showed that 35% of veterans struggling with their mental health said they had limited access to food.

All four witnesses before the subcommittee expressed the urgent need to address this issue, which has persisted for decades. Shawn Lightfoot, a chef at in Washington, D.C., is taking matters into his own hands.

Lightfoot provides nutritious meals to veterans daily with hopes of alleviating the challenges some veterans face by fueling them with fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and proteins rather than fried and sugary foods.

鈥淭hink about what you鈥檙e putting in their bodies that help fuel them and help make them feel better and get them through the day a little healthier,鈥� Lightfoot said in an interview.

At the hearing, Navy veteran Tim Keefe told lawmakers about his personal experiences with homelessness and hunger. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cut him off after three months, forcing him to fend for himself.

He explained that he presented Department of Labor paperwork to SNAP officials, showing he was medically unable to work. But they told him he did not qualify for disabled status.

While experiencing homelessness and hunger, Keefe said he lost so much weight that he had to punch seven holes to his belt to keep his pants up. 鈥淭here were more days than I care to remember where there was nothing to eat,鈥� he said.

His emotional testimony drew the attention of lawmakers, who thanked him for his service and expressed appreciation to him for sharing his story.

Keefe explained that when he joined the military years ago, he never thought he would experience hunger. Now, he seems disturbed more has not been done to address this issue 鈥� one that he and thousands of other veterans, service members and their families face.

鈥淲hen I joined the Navy in Boston, I was ready and willing to give my life for this country,鈥� Keefe said. 鈥淎nd it seemed like during this time, I couldn’t even get a sandwich from them.鈥�

Other witnesses and lawmakers discussed the (BAH), which also prevents some veterans from qualifying for SNAP.

Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., said, 鈥淭he Basic Allowance for Housing is currently considered as income when determining service members eligibility for SNAP,鈥� presenting a barrier to some veterans if it pushes them over the eligibility requirement.

Adams asked Hubbard of MAZON why SNAP does not exclude the housing allowance as income.

鈥淸BAH] is not counted or considered income for federal income tax purposes,鈥� but it is for SNAP, Hubbard said. 鈥淔or most federal assistance programs, it’s not treated as income. And so, it really seems to be an oversight. And it may have been unintended, but it’s persisted,” she said.

What Hubbard said may have been unintended has had major consequences for veterans. Nipa Kamdar, a registered nurse who works with veterans experiencing food insecurity, explained what she has learned from them, using pseudonyms.

鈥淪ome like Haley, a 35-year-old Army veteran and single mother of three, had tried to increase their food supply,鈥� Kamdar said.听鈥淗aley applied for SNAP four times but never qualified. Ultimately, she stopped applying. She said, 鈥業’ve been burned so many times. I don’t try it anymore.鈥欌��

David Kurtz, executive director of and an Army veteran himself, aims to help veterans in the D.C. area become self-sufficient. The program provides housing and meals as well as case management to assist veterans with employment, health care and their own bank accounts.

鈥淎nybody who comes into our facility, we provide them with basic needs,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e also maintain a food pantry and clothes closet to support people in need.鈥�

Both Kurtz and Lightfoot take pride in the work they do in the community. Lightfoot said many veterans respond positively to his program, and he hopes people treat them with the respect they deserve.

鈥淲hen you think about a shelter, I believe that [people there] should be treated just like anyone else should be treated, and that鈥檚 how I try to treat them when I feed them,鈥� Lightfoot said. 鈥淚 want them to feel like they鈥檙e getting home-cooked meals.鈥�

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Roughly one in four veterans experienced at least some difficulty in adjusting to life after the military, a rate that nearly doubles among the post-9/11 generation, according to a .

The unemployment rate among veterans is also increasing, according to . Since the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, unemployment among veterans rose in October from 3.9% to 4.2%.

鈥淔inding a job isn’t as easy [for veterans] as it is for my civilian friends,鈥� said Varintorn Wandeevong, U.S. Navy cook based in Bethesda, Maryland. Wandeevong described himself as an advocate for people exiting the military.

Advocates like Wandeevong say access to opportunities and commitment to new life paths is vital to success after leaving the service. But they say some veterans struggle with transferring their expertise into marketable skills, as well as finding purpose or passion for vocations outside of the military

Redefining identity

Part of the problem is the severed emotional connection some veterans have to the military lifestyle, according to Eileen Huck, a government relations official for the National Military Family Association.

Most civilians understand the financial hardships some veterans face when leaving the military, Huck said, but issues stemming from the loss of that connection are not as widely acknowledged.

One such issue, Huck said, is the need for veterans to redefine their personal identities.

鈥淓ven after a short period in the military, the sense of mission and camaraderie is so strong that it can be difficult to establish who you are and what you want after you leave,鈥� Huck said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a challenge to think what comes next.鈥�

Huck, whose husband recently retired after 29 years in the Navy, said part of that challenge is due to the amount of newfound freedom.
Where one lives, wardrobe and hairstyle choices, daily social interactions – decisions that active duty personnel generally don鈥檛 grapple with on a regular basis, Huck said.

鈥淭he ability to make those personal choices is freeing, but can also be intimidating,鈥� Huck said.

Federal services make help available

U.S. Navy veteran Ray Meinhardt uses services offered at the VA, but said he frequently experiences high wait times. He argues the amount of available services is crucial to help veterans succeed.

鈥淎ccessibility is the most important part,鈥� Meinhardt said.

According to Wandeevong, one such overlooked federal program aims to help the thousands of former service members secure jobs. The Veterans’ Employment & Training Service, or VETS, provides free workshops for veterans and military spouses with the goal of reaching consistent employment.

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) first enrolls veterans in a one-day employment preparation workshop, according to its website.
鈥淏efore a service member transitions, they are taught everything that was provided within the military, what the civilian counterparts are and how to apply,鈥� Wandeevong said

The Department of Labor-funded program typically takes place two or three weeks before service members process out of the military, according to Wandeevong. Veterans participate in the workshop with their peers, allowing them to coordinate with each other or their instructors.

Following the initial mandatory workshop, veterans have the opportunity to participate in two additional TAP programs, according to the program鈥檚 website. One program is for career exploration and technical career preparation, while the other is for general employment preparation.

That preparation is crucial, Huck said, because a hurdle that veterans often face when searching for employment is converting their military experience into relevant skills.

An Army infantry veteran for example might have trouble explaining to employers how their tactical or leadership expertise might translate to daily office responsibilities, Huck said.

鈥淢ilitary culture is just different from corporate culture,鈥� Huck said. 鈥淚t takes understanding from both sides to make that transition work.鈥�

Another federal program with the goal of aiding the transition is HIRE Vets Medallion Program, which recognizes more than 800 businesses that invest in recruiting and employing veterans. According to the program鈥檚 website, it is the only federal veteran鈥檚 employment award that honors organizations鈥� commitment to veteran employee retention and professional development.

Wandeevong says that while he advocates for peers to have an employment plan upon exiting the military, job opportunities are not always accessible.

鈥淎ll I can understand right now is that the job market isn’t as open as it’s put out on the news,鈥� Wandeevong said. 鈥淚t’s like pulling teeth sometimes to get an interview.鈥�

Wandeevong said he encourages veterans to use services like VETS and HIRE, which work in tandem to find solutions veterans may need.

The post Life after service: 鈥業t鈥檚 a challenge to think what comes next鈥� first appeared on 91茄子.

Federal statistics reflect Rayne鈥檚 concern. The rate of veteran suicide in the United States is over 50% higher than the rate for civilians, according to a from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Biden Administration recently called this issue 鈥渁 public health and national security crisis.鈥澨�

鈥淪ince 2010, more than 65,000 veterans have died by suicide 鈥� more than the total number of deaths from combat during the Vietnam War and the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan combined,鈥� read a released by the White House last week. The press release announced a comprehensive new being implemented to reduce military and veteran suicide.听听

This includes using professionally-developed public service announcements and paid media promoted via social media platforms, according to the prevention strategy.

In conjunction with these efforts, last month the VA launched a nationwide ad campaign called 鈥�Don鈥檛 Wait, Reach Out.鈥� The campaign encourages veterans to seek support before they reach the point of experiencing a mental health crisis.

Ads direct viewers to a hosted by the VA containing a variety of suicide prevention resources 鈥� including a 24/7 crisis hotline, local resources and materials for family and friends.听

The website first presents users with an array of personal struggles described with sentences like 鈥淚 am bothered by traumatic memories鈥� and 鈥淚 miss being part of my community.鈥� The site then customizes the resources it suggests based on which statements the user found most relatable.

鈥淚 really want us to make it safer and more survivable to experience a mental health crisis,鈥� said Dr. April Foreman, executive board member for the American Association of Suicidology. Foreman said she is very familiar with the new campaign but was not personally involved in its formation.

The VA partnered with the in crafting and implementing the advertisement strategy. The Ad Council is a prominent nonprofit known for iconic advertising campaigns like 鈥淔riends Don鈥檛 Let Friends Drive Drunk,鈥� 鈥淟ove Has No Labels鈥� and Smokey Bear.

鈥淲hen we ask people to call a crisis line, we鈥檙e asking for something that鈥檚 really hard to do,鈥� Foreman said, pointing to the stigma many veterans feel reaching out for help. This makes creating an engaging communications strategy vital for an effective campaign, something Foreman said has been difficult in the past.

Thirty-four-year-old retired Marine Wes Rhodes said, 鈥溾�嬧�婭 put off getting support for a long time because I thought it was something that made me weak.鈥� Rhodes served from 2012 to 2017 as a Special Operations Capabilities Specialist for the Marine Raiders.听

As suicide rates worsened, Rhodes said a consensus emerged in the military community that 鈥渨e needed to do something different鈥� when talking about mental health.听听

Rhodes, who served as copywriter in the ad campaign鈥檚 development, said his team tackled this stigma by incorporating the voices of the veteran community throughout the creative process. As the only veteran involved in the campaign鈥檚 production, he said he also served as unofficial consultant.

His team gathered countless first-hand stories and experiences from veterans and active service members to inform decision-making. They then conducted internal testing with large groups of veterans to gauge the product’s effectiveness.

“We were really thrilled with the response,” Rhodes said.听听

The goal was to craft a message 鈥溾�嬧�媑rounded in real experiences鈥� that makes veterans feel seen and understood, Rhodes said, instead of presenting them with stale 鈥渕agic pill of happiness鈥� messaging.听听

The ads depict veterans adapting to civilian life and experiencing gradually worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety. A narrator describes the temptation to disconnect and suppress emotions as an easy way out of dealing with mental health struggles.听听

鈥淏ut you鈥檝e never been interested in easy,鈥� the narrator says. 鈥淢ake no mistake 鈥� reaching out is hard. Do it anyway. You鈥檙e not alone.鈥澨�

The ads visualize the strength it takes for veterans to reach out for help when they’re in a dark mental space. (Courtesy of Ad Council)

Thirty-eight-year-old Ciara Rayne served as a Navy Corpsman for five years. When she speaks with military friends struggling with mental health, she said she often appeals to their training. She said in the Navy they were taught never to enter dangerous situations without sufficient back-up.听听

鈥淵ou go in there knowing your shipmates have your back,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hy does that vanish when we leave?鈥�

Rayne expressed serious doubts that an ad campaign alone will effect meaningful change. However, she said if the initiative can help veterans recognize that getting help is not a sign of weakness, it will be worthwhile.听 听

鈥淭he fact of the matter is, it鈥檚 the opposite of weakness,鈥� Rhodes agreed. 鈥淕etting support is a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of strength and courage.鈥澨�

The post Veteran suicide prevention efforts ramp up to combat 鈥榩ublic health and national security crisis鈥� first appeared on 91茄子.

鈥淭here’s no one fix that would intervene in a successful way every single time,鈥� Burditt said.

The campaign, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Wait, Reach Out,鈥� is part of the department鈥檚 response to an increase in death by suicide among military members, the Department of Defense in 2020. Despite the good intentions of the campaign, veteran resource groups outside the VA still believe the department could be doing more to support veterans鈥� mental health.

Burditt once worked for the VA in the hospice unit and now is senior manager at (TAPS), which helps family members of veterans who have died by suicide.

Burditt said that within the VA, it sometimes does feel like, 鈥�the left hand may not be in touch with the right hand,鈥� and veterans need easier accessibility to available resources.

The DOD report showed an average of 17 veterans die every day by suicide, and the suicide rate among active duty service members from 2015 to 2020. In 2020 alone, 580 members of the military died by suicide.听

Rafael Reyes, assistant campaign manager of the partnered with the VA on the project. He said the campaign came about 鈥�to try to eliminate the stigma of reaching out for help.鈥�

The campaign depicts real veterans at their most vulnerable deciding to seek outside assistance. All of the Public Service Announcements direct viewers to a portal on the, where they can select which issues they face and receive individualized guidance to available resources.

Burditt said that within the VA, it sometimes does feel like, 鈥�the left hand may not be in touch with the right hand,鈥� and veterans need easier accessibility to available resources.听

The suicide rate among veterans in 2019 was than among non-veterans according to a VA annual report. Reyes said the military culture hardens soldiers, creating a belief there is 鈥渨eakness鈥� in accessing mental health resources.听

He said the campaign will help to 鈥�bridge the gap between the veterans who need resources, and create a place where they could come together and find everything in one place.鈥�

COVID-19 and the war in Afghanistan have heavily affected veterans, said Diane McCall, who works as the Development Director at, an organization dedicated to providing resources to veterans and their families.

鈥淚t’s gone on so long, that they just feel more and more hopeless,鈥� she said, and they struggle to seek the resources available to them.听

McCall said the VA suicide prevention campaign could be extremely helpful but doubts it will reach its intended audience. She had not heard of the campaign until 91茄子 contacted her, even though it was released weeks earlier.

Burditt had also not heard of the VA campaign until 91茄子 contacted her. She said her husband, a veteran, has had good experiences with the VA but acknowledged that sometimes resources are hard to access 鈥渂ecause of its complexity.鈥�

Many of the veterans who speak with McCall no longer trust the VA, she said, because of continued negative experiences and miscommunications. Many of these veterans would likely never see the ad campaign and therefore not receive the services it offered.

鈥淲e hear veterans reach out to us and say, 鈥楳y VA is great,鈥� and then we have other ones reach out and tell us that they don’t think their VA is worth anything,鈥� McCall said. 鈥淪o it would be nice to see some continuity between them, where they were all getting that amazing support that they needed.鈥�

While the VA works to provide more mental health resources, McCall said she wants veterans to know that outside services, like those available through Mission22, existed.

Burditt said the VA needs to work on their PR campaign to regain the trust of some veterans. She said that this ad campaign is one way that they are attempting to become more accessible.听

Reyes said that the campaign was designed to reach out to those who need it most, like young veterans and women. The DOD report inspired the campaign鈥檚 focus on young veterans after it reported who died by suicide in 2020 were between the ages of 20 and 24.

The VA also recognizes the importance of being accessible to veterans who re-enter civilian life but did not see combat or were not injured.

鈥淸They] feel like they’re taking up space, and they’re not as deserving of help and services as other veterans,鈥� Reyes said.

The VA will assess the initial success of the campaign as early as the end of this year, Reyes said. The ad campaign is projected to run for about a year, and Reyes hopes it will reach as many of the 23 million veterans in the U.S. as possible.听

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Noticing his tense stance, another young man, slightly older than he, Nunez recalled, asked if Nunez was a veteran. Nunez didn鈥檛 respond.

鈥淒on鈥檛 tell anyone here that you are,鈥� the man said.

Nunez said he didn鈥檛 understand why.听

鈥淚’m in the United States. I’m glad I had served, but yet we’re not good enough,鈥� Nunez told 91茄子, recalling a decades-old pain.

On Wednesday, the day before Veterans Day, veterans and others at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial, three of the 17 monuments, museums and memorials in D.C. honoring those who have served in the military, said it鈥檚 important for younger generations to learn about the country鈥檚 past. They shared memories of war and family to emphasize the importance of documenting history.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The 鈥榳all that heals鈥�

When Nunez left the United States to serve in the Army during the Vietnam War, he said he went out the 鈥渇ront door,鈥� proud to be a soldier for his country. However, when he returned, he came in the 鈥渂ack door,鈥� troubled by the stigmas surrounding the war in Vietnam.

鈥淚 was more afraid of people coming back to the states than I was in Vietnam,鈥� Nunez said.

At the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the veterans returning home weren鈥檛 greeted with 鈥榃elcome Home鈥� parades, but with . Although the war led to controversy across the nation, Vietnam War veterans visiting the memorial are proud to have served.

Opened in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial serves to commemorate those who died or are still missing from the war. The names of those who died in the war are identified with a diamond and those who are still missing, a cross. When someone is deemed no longer missing, the cross is altered to become a diamond.听

The black granite walls list the names of soldiers who fought in the war. Bill Walters, a volunteer at the memorial and a Vietnam Army veteran, said they were purposely designed by architects Mary Lin and David Osler to be reflective.

鈥淭his monument is about all the names. It鈥檚 about all the people,鈥� Walters said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 an awful lot of names.鈥�

Walters said he enjoys when school groups come to visit the memorial so they can learn more than what 鈥渢hey might have read in a history book.鈥�

Haartz first came to 鈥楾he Wall鈥� in 1996 with his original battalion. He said that if it weren鈥檛 for the group, he might have never come. The camaraderie and support he has had when coming to 鈥楾he Wall鈥� has 鈥渉elped鈥� his 鈥渄emeanor.鈥�

鈥淭he guys that don鈥檛 come to the wall don鈥檛 know what they鈥檙e missing,鈥� Haartz said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really a wall that heals.鈥�

When asked how it felt to come to the memorial, 鈥淜razy鈥� Karl Haartz, a Vietnam War Army veteran visiting from Campton, New Hampshire, who served alongside Nunez in the 5th Battalion 7th Cavalry, said it is nice to 鈥渂e together.鈥�

鈥淐oming to the memorial is…鈥� Haartz started.

鈥淪oothing,鈥� Nunez chimed in from the other side of the bench.

World War II: The deadliest conflict

Mary and Gary Brown visited the World War II Memorial Wednesday while in town celebrating their daughter鈥檚 birthday. The Arizona residents, who are retired, said both of their fathers served in the military during World War II, hers in the United States and his in northern Africa.

鈥淢y father was pretty quiet about his World War experience,鈥� said Gary Brown, standing in front of a fountain at the memorial鈥檚 center. 鈥淚 think being a flight engineer and being in planes so much he became pretty hard of hearing.鈥�

World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history, began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, triggering a six yearlong conflict involving most nations. Nazis murdered 6 million Jews during the Holocaust, which began in 1941, in addition to millions more.

Mary Brown said her mother served as a civil servant in Detroit, Michigan, during the war. She said memorials, like the one commemorating Americans who served during World War II, are important to remember 鈥渙ur history, our foundation.鈥�

For Gary Brown, the history of the war is personal in another way.

鈥淲orld War II was very significant, particularly in Europe because my ethnicity is — I鈥檓 100% Jewish,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was born seven years after the Holocaust.鈥�

Memorializing the Forgotten War

New York resident Juan Parra stood next to statues of soldiers Wednesday on his first visit to the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Parra, who described himself as a retiree of the delivery business, said while he finds war memorials interesting, he couldn鈥檛 help but think about what other kinds of historical sites may be missing.

鈥淲e鈥檙e supposed to have more monuments about peace,鈥� he said.

The United States, in an effort to keep communism from spreading, supported South Korea in the war after North Korea invaded the bordering nation in 1950, according to . The war, which never formally ended, left millions dead.

Parra also said the United States should have more memorials commemorating Black men who served.

His wife, Merrill Parra, said war memorials can help people learn more about the country鈥檚 history. Parra, who鈥檚 also retired, started a veteran鈥檚 program at Lehman College, City University of New York, where she served as director of Student Services.

鈥淚 bet you if you did a poll, people wouldn鈥檛 even know that we were in the Korean War,鈥� she said.

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