Announcement

10th Annual International Conference on Family Violence

September 18 -21, 2005
Town & Country Resort and Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Online registration and program information: www.fvsai.org Tel:
858-623-2777 x 403

A multi-disciplinary comprehensive event for over 1500 practitioners,
advocates, researchers, policy-makers, survivors and students focused
on

Domestic Violence =B7 Child Maltreatment =B7 Elder Abuse =B7 Youth
Violence =B7 Sexual Assault =B7 Trauma

=B7 Meets Licensing/Certification requirements for domestic
violence, child abuse, aging/elder care, ethics, child custody and
traumatic stress

=B7 Up to 27 hours of CE credits for Pre-Conference, Conference and
Post-Conference sessions

=B7 Up to 16 hours of CE credits for the Affiliated Training
Institutes for Psychologists, Nurses, MFTs, LCSWs, Counselors,
Attorneys, CAADAC

=B7 Pending approval for Physicians, Child Custody Evaluators, DV
Offender Treatment Providers and Law Enforcement

16 conference tracks, with over 300 faculty presenting, including:

Clinical Techniques * Advocacy/Prevention/Policy Collaboration *
Best Practices/Interventions * Children Exposed to Family Violence *
Child Maltreatment * Elder Abuse/Vulnerable Adults/Disability *
Healthcare/Substance Abuse * Multicultural/Ethnic Diversity/Faith * Law
Enforcement/Criminal Justice * Offenders * Legal
Interventions/Judicial/Child Custody * Current Research/Assessment *
Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse/Sex Crimes * Trauma/Education *
Victims/Victimization/Survivors * Youth Violence * Video Session


Special Appearances:
Victor Rivers, actor (The Mask of Zorro, CSI Miami ...), survivor,
activist, author Marilyn Van Durber, former Miss America, survivor,
activist, author "Miss America By Day" Angela Shelton, survivor,
filmmaker "Searching for Angela"


Affiliated Training Institutes and Mini-Conference: Sept. 16-17

Register Early for Conference Discounts: www.fvsai.org

Cost Effective Pricing starting from $300 with special package rates

SPONSORED BY: Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute
Alliant International University Children's Institute
International

Jordan Riak, Exec. Dir., Parents and Teachers Against Violence in
Education (PTAVE), P.O. Box 1033, Alamo, CA 94507-7033. Web site:
"Project NoSpank" at www.nospank.net Telephone: (925) 831-1661

=== This is a Foster Parent Support newsgroup. Give
it back to the foster parents and stop with the
childish, inane crap. Do not go away mad, just go
away;
wrote in message
ups.com...
10th Annual International Conference on Family Violence

September 18 -21, 2005
Town & Country Resort and Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Online registration and program information:
www.fvsai.org Tel:
858-623-2777 x 403

A multi-disciplinary comprehensive event for over 1500
practitioners,
advocates, researchers, policy-makers, survivors and
students focused
on

Domestic Violence · Child Maltreatment · Elder Abuse ·
Youth
Violence · Sexual Assault · Trauma

· Meets Licensing/Certification requirements for
domestic
violence, child abuse, aging/elder care, ethics, child
custody and
traumatic stress

· Up to 27 hours of CE credits for Pre-Conference,
Conference and
Post-Conference sessions

· Up to 16 hours of CE credits for the Affiliated
Training
Institutes for Psychologists, Nurses, MFTs, LCSWs,
Counselors,
Attorneys, CAADAC

· Pending approval for Physicians, Child Custody
Evaluators, DV
Offender Treatment Providers and Law Enforcement

16 conference tracks, with over 300 faculty presenting,
including:

Clinical Techniques * Advocacy/Prevention/Policy
Collaboration *
Best Practices/Interventions * Children Exposed to
Family Violence *
Child Maltreatment * Elder Abuse/Vulnerable
Adults/Disability *
Healthcare/Substance Abuse * Multicultural/Ethnic
Diversity/Faith * Law
Enforcement/Criminal Justice * Offenders * Legal
Interventions/Judicial/Child Custody * Current
Research/Assessment *
Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse/Sex Crimes *
Trauma/Education *
Victims/Victimization/Survivors * Youth Violence *
Video Session


Special Appearances:
Victor Rivers, actor (The Mask of Zorro, CSI Miami
....), survivor,
activist, author Marilyn Van Durber, former Miss
America, survivor,
activist, author "Miss America By Day" Angela Shelton,
survivor,
filmmaker "Searching for Angela"


Affiliated Training Institutes and Mini-Conference:
Sept. 16-17

Register Early for Conference Discounts: www.fvsai.org

Cost Effective Pricing starting from $300 with special
package rates

SPONSORED BY: Family Violence & Sexual Assault
Institute
Alliant International University Children's
Institute
International

Jordan Riak, Exec. Dir., Parents and Teachers Against
Violence in
Education (PTAVE), P.O. Box 1033, Alamo, CA 94507-7033.
Web site:
"Project NoSpank" at www.nospank.net Telephone: (925)
831-1661

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (AP) -- William Lawson looked every bit the
retired Marine general this summer as he stood before a crowd of 200
people, demanding that a cemetery properly dispose of the American
flags placed at the graves of veterans.

He had on khakis, the Marines' summer service uniform, complete with a
general's stars and row after row of medals, including the Silver Star,
Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. He even wore an eye
patch.

It turns out, however, that Lawson wasn't a general at all -- or even a
World War II combat veteran. His 19 months in the Marines were all
spent stateside -- he ended boot camp after Iwo Jima -- and he never
rose above the rank of private first class.

Lawson, 78, admitted the charade after being confronted with his
records in interviews with The Marine Corps Times and The (Shreveport,
Louisiana) Times. The media checks occurred after Lawson appeared at
the flag rally in late June...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/10/fak....ap/index.html


Doan

On 10 Aug 2005 wrote:

10th Annual International Conference on Family Violence

September 18 -21, 2005
Town & Country Resort and Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Online registration and program information: www.fvsai.org Tel:
858-623-2777 x 403

A multi-disciplinary comprehensive event for over 1500 practitioners,
advocates, researchers, policy-makers, survivors and students focused
on

Domestic Violence =B7 Child Maltreatment =B7 Elder Abuse =B7 Youth
Violence =B7 Sexual Assault =B7 Trauma

=B7 Meets Licensing/Certification requirements for domestic
violence, child abuse, aging/elder care, ethics, child custody and
traumatic stress

=B7 Up to 27 hours of CE credits for Pre-Conference, Conference and
Post-Conference sessions

=B7 Up to 16 hours of CE credits for the Affiliated Training
Institutes for Psychologists, Nurses, MFTs, LCSWs, Counselors,
Attorneys, CAADAC

=B7 Pending approval for Physicians, Child Custody Evaluators, DV
Offender Treatment Providers and Law Enforcement

16 conference tracks, with over 300 faculty presenting, including:

Clinical Techniques * Advocacy/Prevention/Policy Collaboration *
Best Practices/Interventions * Children Exposed to Family Violence *
Child Maltreatment * Elder Abuse/Vulnerable Adults/Disability *
Healthcare/Substance Abuse * Multicultural/Ethnic Diversity/Faith * Law
Enforcement/Criminal Justice * Offenders * Legal
Interventions/Judicial/Child Custody * Current Research/Assessment *
Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse/Sex Crimes * Trauma/Education *
Victims/Victimization/Survivors * Youth Violence * Video Session


Special Appearances:
Victor Rivers, actor (The Mask of Zorro, CSI Miami ...), survivor,
activist, author Marilyn Van Durber, former Miss America, survivor,
activist, author "Miss America By Day" Angela Shelton, survivor,
filmmaker "Searching for Angela"


Affiliated Training Institutes and Mini-Conference: Sept. 16-17

Register Early for Conference Discounts: www.fvsai.org

Cost Effective Pricing starting from $300 with special package rates

SPONSORED BY: Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute
Alliant International University Children's Institute
International

Jordan Riak, Exec. Dir., Parents and Teachers Against Violence in
Education (PTAVE), P.O. Box 1033, Alamo, CA 94507-7033. Web site:
"Project NoSpank" at www.nospank.net Telephone: (925) 831-1661

"Doan" wrote in message
...

"SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (AP) -- William Lawson looked every bit the
retired Marine general this summer as he stood before a crowd of 200
people, demanding that a cemetery properly dispose of the American
flags placed at the graves of veterans.

He had on khakis, the Marines' summer service uniform, complete with a
general's stars and row after row of medals, including the Silver Star,
Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. He even wore an eye
patch.

It turns out, however, that Lawson wasn't a general at all -- or even a
World War II combat veteran. His 19 months in the Marines were all
spent stateside -- he ended boot camp after Iwo Jima -- and he never
rose above the rank of private first class."

LOL, Kane is a Pussy First Class Act!
Dan is the Child Abuser Defender Asshole!
A l
_ _
"If you don't recall, I have helped people who did abuse or neglect their
children get their children back from CPS."
- Dan Sullivan ascps http://tinyurl.com/7yoql

"Lawson, 78, admitted the charade after being confronted with his
records in interviews with The Marine Corps Times and The (Shreveport,
Louisiana) Times. The media checks occurred after Lawson appeared at
the flag rally in late June..."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/10/fak....ap/index.html


Doan

On 10 Aug 2005 wrote:

10th Annual International Conference on Family Violence

September 18 -21, 2005
Town & Country Resort and Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Online registration and program information: www.fvsai.org Tel:
858-623-2777 x 403

A multi-disciplinary comprehensive event for over 1500 practitioners,
advocates, researchers, policy-makers, survivors and students focused
on

Domestic Violence · Child Maltreatment · Elder Abuse · Youth
Violence · Sexual Assault · Trauma

· Meets Licensing/Certification requirements for domestic
violence, child abuse, aging/elder care, ethics, child custody and
traumatic stress

· Up to 27 hours of CE credits for Pre-Conference, Conference and
Post-Conference sessions

· Up to 16 hours of CE credits for the Affiliated Training
Institutes for Psychologists, Nurses, MFTs, LCSWs, Counselors,
Attorneys, CAADAC

· Pending approval for Physicians, Child Custody Evaluators, DV
Offender Treatment Providers and Law Enforcement

16 conference tracks, with over 300 faculty presenting, including:

Clinical Techniques * Advocacy/Prevention/Policy Collaboration *
Best Practices/Interventions * Children Exposed to Family Violence *
Child Maltreatment * Elder Abuse/Vulnerable Adults/Disability *
Healthcare/Substance Abuse * Multicultural/Ethnic Diversity/Faith * Law
Enforcement/Criminal Justice * Offenders * Legal
Interventions/Judicial/Child Custody * Current Research/Assessment *
Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse/Sex Crimes * Trauma/Education *
Victims/Victimization/Survivors * Youth Violence * Video Session


Special Appearances:
Victor Rivers, actor (The Mask of Zorro, CSI Miami ...), survivor,
activist, author Marilyn Van Durber, former Miss America, survivor,
activist, author "Miss America By Day" Angela Shelton, survivor,
filmmaker "Searching for Angela"


Affiliated Training Institutes and Mini-Conference: Sept. 16-17

Register Early for Conference Discounts: www.fvsai.org

Cost Effective Pricing starting from $300 with special package rates

SPONSORED BY: Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute
Alliant International University Children's Institute
International

Jordan Riak, Exec. Dir., Parents and Teachers Against Violence in
Education (PTAVE), P.O. Box 1033, Alamo, CA 94507-7033. Web site:
"Project NoSpank" at www.nospank.net Telephone: (925) 831-1661

This is a Foster Parent Support newsgroup. Give it
back to the foster parents and stop with the childish,
inane crap. Do not go away mad, just go away;

"Doan" wrote in message
...

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (AP) -- William Lawson looked
every bit the
retired Marine general this summer as he stood before a
crowd of 200
people, demanding that a cemetery properly dispose of
the American
flags placed at the graves of veterans.

He had on khakis, the Marines' summer service uniform,
complete with a
general's stars and row after row of medals, including
the Silver Star,
Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. He
even wore an eye
patch.

It turns out, however, that Lawson wasn't a general at
all -- or even a
World War II combat veteran. His 19 months in the
Marines were all
spent stateside -- he ended boot camp after Iwo Jima --
and he never
rose above the rank of private first class.

Lawson, 78, admitted the charade after being confronted
with his
records in interviews with The Marine Corps Times and
The (Shreveport,
Louisiana) Times. The media checks occurred after
Lawson appeared at
the flag rally in late June...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/10/fak....ap/index.html


Doan

On 10 Aug 2005 wrote:

10th Annual International Conference on Family
Violence

September 18 -21, 2005
Town & Country Resort and Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Online registration and program information:
www.fvsai.org Tel:
858-623-2777 x 403

A multi-disciplinary comprehensive event for over
1500 practitioners,
advocates, researchers, policy-makers, survivors and
students focused
on

Domestic Violence · Child Maltreatment · Elder Abuse
· Youth
Violence · Sexual Assault · Trauma

· Meets Licensing/Certification requirements for
domestic
violence, child abuse, aging/elder care, ethics,
child custody and
traumatic stress

· Up to 27 hours of CE credits for
Pre-Conference, Conference and
Post-Conference sessions

· Up to 16 hours of CE credits for the
Affiliated Training
Institutes for Psychologists, Nurses, MFTs, LCSWs,
Counselors,
Attorneys, CAADAC

· Pending approval for Physicians, Child Custody
Evaluators, DV
Offender Treatment Providers and Law Enforcement

16 conference tracks, with over 300 faculty
presenting, including:

Clinical Techniques *
Advocacy/Prevention/Policy Collaboration *
Best Practices/Interventions * Children Exposed to
Family Violence *
Child Maltreatment * Elder Abuse/Vulnerable
Adults/Disability *
Healthcare/Substance Abuse * Multicultural/Ethnic
Diversity/Faith * Law
Enforcement/Criminal Justice * Offenders * Legal
Interventions/Judicial/Child Custody * Current
Research/Assessment *
Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse/Sex Crimes *
Trauma/Education *
Victims/Victimization/Survivors * Youth Violence *
Video Session


Special Appearances:
Victor Rivers, actor (The Mask of Zorro, CSI Miami
...), survivor,
activist, author Marilyn Van Durber, former Miss
America, survivor,
activist, author "Miss America By Day" Angela
Shelton, survivor,
filmmaker "Searching for Angela"


Affiliated Training Institutes and Mini-Conference:
Sept. 16-17

Register Early for Conference Discounts:
www.fvsai.org

Cost Effective Pricing starting from $300 with
special package rates

SPONSORED BY: Family Violence & Sexual Assault
Institute
Alliant International University Children's
Institute
International

Jordan Riak, Exec. Dir., Parents and Teachers Against
Violence in
Education (PTAVE), P.O. Box 1033, Alamo, CA
94507-7033. Web site:
"Project NoSpank" at www.nospank.net Telephone:
(925) 831-1661

This is a Foster Parent Support newsgroup. Give it
back to the foster parents and stop with the childish,
inane crap. Do not go away mad, just go away;

The "Conference" Kane posted about was funny enough!
Did you notice all of the stuff about the ACTORS
showing up, and the parts about how this boondoggle
counts for PROFESSIONAL Continuing Education Units??

Golly, will they start giving the system suckups
professional credits for going to their neighborhood
MOVIE THEATRE and watching FICTION??

Perhaps they can start giving out CEU's for every
DVD they rent or check out of a library?

After all, the ACTOR from the mask of Zorro counts!

Additionally, since this crap meets "certification requirements" for
various so-called professions, just
what the heck ARE the requirements, that such crap conforms?

I pointed out long ago in this newsgroup that
CPS caseworkers have actually watched an NBC or ABC
"Movie of the Week" depicting Munchhausens or
Satanic ritual Child Abuse and then the idiots
see themselves as QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS!

The description of the ""Conference"" that Kane
posted truly supports this idea, that COMMERCIAL
FICTIONAL or DRAMATIZED entertainment actually
passes as PROFESSIONAL TRAINING to these morons!

Clearly the standards for PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
are incredibly pathetic!

....Town & Country Resort and Convention Center San Diego, CA

....Meets Licensing/Certification requirements for domestic violence,
child abuse, aging/elder care, ethics, child custody and traumatic
stress

....Up to 27 hours of CE credits for Pre-Conference, Conference and
Post-Conference sessions
....Up to 16 hours of CE credits for the Affiliated Training Institutes
for Psychologists, Nurses, MFTs, LCSWs, Counselors, Attorneys, CAADAC

....Special Appearances:
Victor Rivers, actor (The Mask of Zorro, CSI Miami, survivor, activist,
author Marilyn Van Durber, former Miss America, survivor, activist,
author "Miss America By Day" Angela Shelton, survivor, filmmaker
"Searching for Angela"



They're onto you Commander McBrag!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/10/fak....ap/index.html
Man admits posing as general
Wednesday, August 10, 2005; Posted: 8:31 a.m. EDT (12:31 GMT)
William Lawson, wearing a Marine a uniform full of medals, speaks at a
funeral home in Shreveport, Louisiana, on June 22.

It's something that snowballed.
-- William Lawson
It just tears me up. It's heartbreaking.
-- Veteran Elmo Norton

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (AP) -- William Lawson looked every bit the
retired Marine general this summer as he stood before a crowd of 200
people, demanding that a cemetery properly dispose of the American
flags placed at the graves of veterans.

He had on khakis, the Marines' summer service uniform, complete with a
general's stars and row after row of medals, including the Silver Star,
Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. He even wore an eye
patch.

It turns out, however, that Lawson wasn't a general at all -- or even a
World War II combat veteran. His 19 months in the Marines were all
spent stateside -- he ended boot camp after Iwo Jima -- and he never
rose above the rank of private first class.

Lawson, 78, admitted the charade after being confronted with his
records in interviews with The Marine Corps Times and The (Shreveport,
Louisiana) Times. The media checks occurred after Lawson appeared at
the flag rally in late June.

"It's something that snowballed," he said in stories that appeared in
both newspapers this week.

Lawson did not answer his home telephone Monday when called by The
Associated Press.

The Marine Corps Times said Lawson could face federal charges for
wearing unearned medals and false rank insignia, and the Marine Corps
inspector general is investigating.

According to the published reports, Lawson said he lived in Florida
most of his adult life after his discharge in August 1946 and that he
worked in the insurance, plastics and manufacturing fields until he
retired and moved to Louisiana in the 1990s to be closer to his wife's
family.

He said he transferred his American Legion membership and somebody at
the Shreveport post thought he was a retired general -- he said he
doesn't know why. He went along with it, eventually agreeing to make
public appearances at various Shreveport-area veterans' events.

For Elmo Norton, a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War and the new
commander of the American Legion Post, the news was crushing.

"It just tears me up," Norton said. "It's heartbreaking."

Lawson had passed out coins -- the kind of metal tokens generals and
some senior enlisted give out in a long-followed military tradition. He
even passed out coins at a recent post event to Marines from Bravo
Company who just returned from a yearlong mobilization in Iraq.

"I'm shocked," said Shayne McGinty, a captain with Bravo Company. "It's
not right, when there are Marines over there getting killed. It angers
me and shocks me that he would do this."

Greegor wrote:
The "Conference" Kane posted about was funny enough!

You think conferences on child abuse are funny?

Did you notice all of the stuff about the ACTORS
showing up, and the parts about how this boondoggle
counts for PROFESSIONAL Continuing Education Units??

greegor continues developing his reading comprehension skills. Did you
miss why they were there as presenters?

Golly, will they start giving the system suckups
professional credits for going to their neighborhood
MOVIE THEATRE and watching FICTION??

Oh, maybe when they are about reality, as the conference was. I doubt,
unless they parallel reality the 'FICTION' presentations will pass. On
the other hand, I wouldn't give a nickel to see your story as either
one, fiction or fact. For it's really neither. It's a lie, perpetrated
on Lisa. From the very beginning.

Perhaps they can start giving out CEU's for every
DVD they rent or check out of a library?

Why would they do that? As compared to attending a conference of and by
professionals and to hear former victims of parental child abuse speak
out?

After all, the ACTOR from the mask of Zorro counts!

Didn't bother to see what his background was, did you, greegor? He is a
former victim of child abuse. That comprehension thing just doesn't
jell for you, right?

You see the words but you don't integrate their meaning.

Additionally, since this crap meets "certification requirements" for
various so-called professions, just
what the heck ARE the requirements, that such crap conforms?

Pretty high, actually. A conference such as this would amount to only a
very small portion of the annual needed requirements, in total, to
certify.

I pointed out long ago in this newsgroup that
CPS caseworkers have actually watched an NBC or ABC
"Movie of the Week" depicting Munchhausens or
Satanic ritual Child Abuse and then the idiots
see themselves as QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS!

The question would be, and should be, how accurate was the movie? The
few videos I saw were of actual mothers actually poisoning or otherwise
risking their child's lives in hospital.

The description of the ""Conference"" that Kane
posted truly supports this idea, that COMMERCIAL
FICTIONAL or DRAMATIZED entertainment actually
passes as PROFESSIONAL TRAINING to these morons!

Oh? Please point to those passages that suggest commercial fiction or
dramatized entertainment was presented at this conference.

Clearly the standards for PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
are incredibly pathetic!

Clearly your comprehension is pathethic because you have never attended
a professional development conference. You have no idea what is said or
done by whom for whom at such events.

...Town & Country Resort and Convention Center San Diego, CA

Let's take a look:

...Meets Licensing/Certification requirements for domestic violence,
child abuse, aging/elder care, ethics, child custody and traumatic
stress

Consider your assumption that this is all it takes to become certified.


...Up to 27 hours of CE credits for Pre-Conference, Conference and
Post-Conference sessions

Oh, "Up to." Does that not suggest considerably more is required than
this conference to become certified? Or does that tax your
comprehension abilities?

...Up to 16 hours of CE credits for the Affiliated Training Institutes
for Psychologists, Nurses, MFTs, LCSWs, Counselors, Attorneys, CAADAC

Gosh, yet again, another clue that there are even levels of credit
given for the same material according to professional standards that
differ from field to field.

...Special Appearances:
Victor Rivers, actor (The Mask of Zorro, CSI Miami, survivor, activist,

Did you miss the word, "survivor" and its meaning in the context of the
conference subject....child abuse?

author Marilyn Van Durber, former Miss America, survivor, activist,
author "Miss America By Day" Angela Shelton, survivor, filmmaker
"Searching for Angela"

Hmmm...yet another child abuse "survivor," or did you think both these
folks were reality show participants?

Do you think these are the only presenters at this conference?

I hope it didn't tire them too much to give the following presentation
subjects:

"16 conference tracks, with over 300 faculty presenting, including:

Clinical Techniques * Advocacy/Prevention/Policy Collaboration *
Best Practices/Interventions * Children Exposed to Family Violence *
Child Maltreatment * Elder Abuse/Vulnerable Adults/Disability *
Healthcare/Substance Abuse * Multicultural/Ethnic Diversity/Faith * Law
Enforcement/Criminal Justice * Offenders * Legal
Interventions/Judicial/Child Custody * Current Research/Assessment *
Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse/Sex Crimes * Trauma/Education *
Victims/Victimization/Survivors * Youth Violence * Video Session"

Oh gosh, there it is again....a greegor comprehension glossing over the
words, "over 300 faculty presenting."

Do you suppose they are all movie and TV stars, greegor? R R R R R R R
R R

They're onto you Commander McBrag!

As a former military man with a very good record upon discharge I could
take offense, but then what would that serve other than to make a
bigger fool of you than you do of yourself? Hardly needed. And I'd have
to work pretty hard to top what you do to yourself, now wouldn't I?

So, let me see now. What's greegor's reading comprehension score today?
About 3 on a scale of 10 I'd have to guess.

0:-

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/10/fak....ap/index.html
Man admits posing as general
Wednesday, August 10, 2005; Posted: 8:31 a.m. EDT (12:31 GMT)
William Lawson, wearing a Marine a uniform full of medals, speaks at a
funeral home in Shreveport, Louisiana, on June 22.

It's something that snowballed.
-- William Lawson
It just tears me up. It's heartbreaking.
-- Veteran Elmo Norton

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (AP) -- William Lawson looked every bit the
retired Marine general this summer as he stood before a crowd of 200
people, demanding that a cemetery properly dispose of the American
flags placed at the graves of veterans.

He had on khakis, the Marines' summer service uniform, complete with a
general's stars and row after row of medals, including the Silver Star,
Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. He even wore an eye
patch.

It turns out, however, that Lawson wasn't a general at all -- or even a
World War II combat veteran. His 19 months in the Marines were all
spent stateside -- he ended boot camp after Iwo Jima -- and he never
rose above the rank of private first class.

Lawson, 78, admitted the charade after being confronted with his
records in interviews with The Marine Corps Times and The (Shreveport,
Louisiana) Times. The media checks occurred after Lawson appeared at
the flag rally in late June.

"It's something that snowballed," he said in stories that appeared in
both newspapers this week.

Lawson did not answer his home telephone Monday when called by The
Associated Press.

The Marine Corps Times said Lawson could face federal charges for
wearing unearned medals and false rank insignia, and the Marine Corps
inspector general is investigating.

According to the published reports, Lawson said he lived in Florida
most of his adult life after his discharge in August 1946 and that he
worked in the insurance, plastics and manufacturing fields until he
retired and moved to Louisiana in the 1990s to be closer to his wife's
family.

He said he transferred his American Legion membership and somebody at
the Shreveport post thought he was a retired general -- he said he
doesn't know why. He went along with it, eventually agreeing to make
public appearances at various Shreveport-area veterans' events.

For Elmo Norton, a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War and the new
commander of the American Legion Post, the news was crushing.

"It just tears me up," Norton said. "It's heartbreaking."

Lawson had passed out coins -- the kind of metal tokens generals and
some senior enlisted give out in a long-followed military tradition. He
even passed out coins at a recent post event to Marines from Bravo
Company who just returned from a yearlong mobilization in Iraq.

"I'm shocked," said Shayne McGinty, a captain with Bravo Company. "It's
not right, when there are Marines over there getting killed. It angers
me and shocks me that he would do this."