The U.S. Senate called on Iran to immediately release the Marine veteran in a unanimously passed resolution. Hekmati was arrested while visiting relatives in Iran and he was accused of being an American spy. He and his family have continually denied that allegation.

Michigan’s senior Senator Debbie Stabenow said on the Senate floor: “Iran has a long track record of arresting Americans and using trumped-up charges to hold them. Amir is a hero who proudly served this country.”

Specifically, the resolution calls on President Obama and his administration to use every diplomatic tool at their disposal to secure Hekmati’s release. While such resolutions have no legal effect, advocates hope this will encourage Iranian leaders to consider Hekmati’s release in the ongoing nuclear program negations between Iran and the United States.

Hekmati was originally accused of espionage and sentenced to death, but the Iranian Supreme Court later threw out the charge. On retrial, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the charge of “practical collaboration with the American government.”

Hekmati’s family has said his basic needs are no longer being met and have reported horrifying conditions in prison, including no heat, rat infestations, and parasite-filled food. They have called for the Red Cross to be given access to visit him in prison. The White House said it continues to request access to the detained Americans in Iran through the Swiss government to determine their well-being.

Amir Hekmati served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005, and was stationed in Iraq as a translator as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 to 2004. He was discharged as a sergeant and awarded the Combat Action Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal. A 2001 graduate of Flint Central High School, Hekmati also attended the Naval Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and joined the United States Marine Corps after graduating.

You can visit the website in support of freeing Amir Hekmati here: http://freeamir.org/

For now, we can only continue to hope and pray that this fellow Michigander and Marine veteran who courageously served our country is brought back home.

Read more on the Senate’s resolution calling for Hekmati’s release in the Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/05/11/release-hekmati-resolution/27152263/

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your PTSD, TBI, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, TDIU, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Eric Calley, a Marine veteran who spent two tours in Iraq and now advocates for other returning veterans, was on a trip from Florida to Detroit when flight attendants began unnecessarily taking issue with his service dog during some turbulence. The conduct of the attendants sparked complaints from a fellow veteran on the flight, as well as others.

Calley – who is the brother of Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley – was sent an apology from US Airways because, “it appears our airport personnel didn’t handle the situation with the quality customer care we expect.”

Calley’s first service dog, sadly, passed away last year. His new service dog, Sun, was made possible by a fundraiser.

“She helps me just leave the house,” he said. “She helps me deal with people. Dogs are 10 times more intuitive than humans. They pick up things way more than we do. If you have a flashback, and say you’re dreaming you’re overseas and you wake up, you still think you’re over there for a while. She helps you get out of that. She brings you back to real time.”

Calley also wants people to know that there is a two-year waiting list for veterans who need service dogs, and the list is growing ever longer. But you can help.

Eric Calley works with a program called Liberty’s Legacy in honor of Calley’s first dog to provide more service dogs for Michigan veterans. Calley said his goal for 2015 is to bring “as many dogs as possible” to Michigan.

Liberty’s Legacy works with schools to set up penny drives to raise money for veterans who are waiting for dogs. Literally, Calley says, every penny counts.

If you’re interested in setting up a penny drive at your local school to sponsor a Michigan veteran, contact Lansing State Journal columnist Louise Knott Ahern, who wrote the story on Calley and his service dog, at lkahern@lsj.com. She will put you in touch with Eric Calley.

You can read the full article on the Detroit Free Press website, here:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2014/12/22/eric-calley-veteran-service-dog-sun-us-airways/20762173/

Legal Help for Veterans members Paul Bohn and Kristina Derro have been big supporters of service dogs for veterans.  Paul is on the board of Stiggy’s Dogs in Howell, Michigan.