Veterans-For-Change Newsletter
A Voice of the Veterans
Week Ending Sunday, December
02, 2012
Volume 3, Issue
49
This-N-That
This past week
has been both good and bad. We're in the end stretch of our Homeless Heroes
annual Back Pack Program.
After months of
trying to find a major sponsor to replace Southern California Gas after they
withdrew, sadly we were not able to locate one, however at the same time we've
been working on a major sponsor for 2013.
Our goal for
2011 was 300, but thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Greater Garden Grove we passed
our goal by an additional 48 back packs.
This year we had
150 Back Packs donated by the O.C. Freedom Riders and the VA felt our program
was worthy and they too jumped to support us and donated 800 more back packs,
hats, wrist bands, and cases of information for Veterans to get off the streets,
into housing, enrolled into the VA healthcare program, and more.
Although we
won't meet the lofty 2012 goal we will assemble approximately 100 plus thanks to
another organization called Angel Wings and a very dedicated and hard working
woman who has asked to remain anonymous.
Obama and
Shinseki have vowed to end Veteran Homelessness, but that goal line has been
moved so many times now, my expectations of them doing anything is rather bleak,
that's why it's up to individuals and organizations nationwide to step up and
help.
Our program
isn't a copyright or a trademarked program and anyone who belongs to an
organization or association is more then welcome to a copy to bring it to their
community to help us end Veteran Homelessness. Just E-Mail me and ask for the
information.
VA Claims
processing delays hits an all new 20 year high, no surprise is it?
The time needed
to process veterans' disability claims shot up by nearly 40 percent last year
despite years of effort by federal officials to streamline and shorten the
process, records show.
In fiscal 2012,
the average days to complete a VA disability compensation or pension claim rose
to 262 days, up from 188 days in fiscal 2011, according to a recently completely
VA performance report.
Secretary
Shinseki when he took his office promised to end this nightmare within two
years. Now he's saying by 2016.
The VA's IT
Department is staffed with family members of the IT Director, who was brought to
light having done so at VA Expense, sent them to school at VA Expense, and
received all but a hand slap for using VA funds to fly back and forth to Florida
to buy her new home. All of these so-called IT people are as inept as can be
when it comes to writing a software program to do a job.
My question is
why not use a program that's been around for nearly 30 years, improved annually,
works great and does multiple tasks that could be easily modified to handle
claims processing without human intervention?
During the
holidays please remember those less fortunate, donate time, or what you can to
help.
On behalf of the
Board of Directors, Advocacy Group Members and Volunteers nationwide, we wish
you and your family good health!
Respectfully,
Jim
Davis
Founder &
CEO
PS: If you
are interested in documents regarding Common Fraud Schemes, Organizations offering
Assistance
to
Veterans, Child ID Kit, Veterans Benefits by State and VA Benefits Calculator please send me
an E-Mail with the document name in the subject line.
TRICARE Rx Fee Hike
Decision Looming
Congress is set to
decide how much military pharmacy fees will be raised in 2013 when the final
language of the fiscal 2013 Defense Authorization Act in the next few weeks.
Their decision will have an impact on the out-of-pocket costs for military
families and retirees who rely on TRICARE network of retail pharmacies to have
prescriptions filled. Under the House version of the plan, co-pays for formulary
drugs would increase to $17 and non-formulary drugs would increase to
$44.
To feel the
concept of how giving to others in little ways can change the world in larger
ways, consider watching the movie Pay It
Forward. Like the movie Pay it Forward, Veterans-For-Change will
lift your spirits, break your heart, make you look at the world in a new way,
and just perhaps change your life.
Sometimes in
life, people want to give help to others, but don't have large amounts of money
or know how to donate. Other times, one just needs a little lift to get back on
their feet but doesn't know how or where to get help. Everyone else's problems
may seem bigger or more worthy. It can feel embarrassing to ask for a handout.
But with Veterans-For-Change, people can offer help when they are strong, and
ask for assistance when life seems overwhelming. What a wonderful
trade-off.
Even if you're
not able to commit to a monthly donation, a one time or annual donation is very
much appreciated. And if you've been blessed to never have problems, please
consider the movie "Pay it Forward!"
If you're able
to make a tax deductible donation of $10, $20, $50, $100 or more, please click
the link below to be taken direct to the PayPal site, or if you prefer you can
mail checks or money orders to the address below:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=WGT2M5UTB9A78
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit, Tax ID #27-3820181
CA Incorporation ID #3340400
Veterans-For-Change, Inc.
11901 Samuel
Garden Grove,
CA 92840-2546
If
Veteran's don't help Veteran's, who will?
Most Veterans Still
Unaware of Benefits
More than half of
America's veterans say they have little or no understanding of the benefits due
them, despite efforts over recent years to match returning soldiers with the
help and services they need. One major change came last week when a new law will
mandate all departing servicemembers go through a series of detailed benefits
sessions. For more information, read the full article on Military.com and visit the Department of Veterans
Affairs Veterans Services webpage at www.va.gov/landing2_vetsrv.htm.
What is in the Future
As I set down
and begin writing my opinions I am always aware that there is a certain group of
people that will not agree. That is fine. But I can assure you that the
majority of my opinions are based on published facts. I have had people come
back with comments that didn't question the facts but were critical that I
didn't refer to Obama as President Obama. Technically the person is correct.
However, watch the news media and read the papers, and he is referred to as
"Obama" or "Mr. Obama" a majority of the time. I do respect the Office of the
President, it is not always that I respect the person in that office. So feel
free at any time to research the facts and figures that I outline in my
articles.
What happens in
the next couple of months in Washington will effect each and every citizen in
the United States. Including all Military Personnel. All military pay is
subject to Federal Income Taxes, Social Security Taxes and Medicare Taxes. This
is a fact regardless where in the world the person is stationed, other than in a
Combat Zone, in which it is only exempt as long at the person is in the "Combat
Zone".
Ok, I give,
President Obama wants to eliminate the tax cuts and bring them back to the level
prior to President Bush. That is about 4% of which I believe 2% is attributed
to Mr. Bush and the other 2% to President Obama. President Obama wants to raise
taxes even higher on the wealthy. Which he said he is one of them because he
makes over $250,000 per year. [This is a factually incorrect statement.]
Okay, here is a
fact. In 2010, President Obama had a total income of $1.75 Million dollars.
$400,000 was his Presidential Pay. He had an adjusted income after donations of
which he gave $131,075 to the Fisher House. He donated $15,000 to the Clinton
Haiti Fund. Along with other donations. After these donations, this put him in
the 35% to37% tax bracket. After taking advantage of all the other tax code
loopholes President Obama paid just shy of 25% in taxes for 2010. He wants to
raise the taxes on the wealthy to 39% or more beginning in 2013. President
Obama has already proven that he will take full advantage of the tax codes, just
like every person in the United States does including the wealthy. He doesn't
want to tackle the tax codes, because that would be to much work and then would
effect all U.S. Citizens. And yes all the tax codes do effect Veterans and
Veterans families. Current and recent studies inidcate that 45% of U.S.
Households pay no taxes because of the current tax laws. Don't forget, the last
time I check the wealthy make up less than 5% of the people in America. But at
the same time and in the same breath President Obama doesn't want to lower
spending. Recently he stated that he wants Congress to increase funding to
Israel so they can beef up their missile program.
Stop and think
about this. Why are the American Taxpayers responsible to support the world in
funding and money when we have the mess we have in this country? I contend that
foreign aid needs to be cut drastically. Are all these countries really our
allies, or are they just sitting over there and getting fatter and fatter off
the Untied States? The majority of funding to foreign countries doesn't even
get to the people, it is absorbed by dictators and other radical governments to
fatten themselves. The government needs to shut it all down and fix what is
going on in America and support America and use only the excess after we are
stable and prosperous before sending money overseas. Why should we keep raising
the National Debt all the while we are supporting most of the world? If we
can't afford it then don't borrow it. Isn't this part of the reason for the
housing collapse, people were in mortages that they couldn't afford.
You may or may
not agree with Senator Tom Coburn, [Republican] Senator from Oklahoma. He has for years
brought forward wasteful spending by the federal government. Here is just a few
that he has published and Washington keeps ignoring. These represent federal
tax dollar spending.
1)
$300,000 to promote caviar
consumption.
2)
$505,000 to promote specialty
shampoo and other beauty products for cats and dogs.
3)
$350,000 to study how golfers
might benefit from envisioning the hole as actually bigger that it
is.
4)
$325,000 to build a robotic
squirrel and see if rattlesnakes are interested in eating it.
5)
$516,000 to fund "Prom Week", a
video game that allows the player to relive prom night.
6)
$25,000 to fund a promotional
tour by the 2012 Alabama Watermelon Queen.
7)
$91 Million dollar Tax loopholes
for the NFL, NHL, and PGA.
8)
$27 Million from the U.S. Agency
for International Development that included Moroccan pottery classes.
9)
$1.3 Million in "corporate
welfare" for PepsiCo, the worlds largest snack food producer.
10)
$10,000 for Michigan State police
to buy talking urinal cakes that warn people against drunken driving?
11)
$947,000 to study foods
astronauts could eat on Mars, although no one's planning on going to Mars?
12)
The Defense Department's Foreign
Comparative Testing program, which was created to equip soldiers with the
weapons they need, has spent $1.5 Million "to develop savory snacks" including a
better beef jerky.
Senator Coburn
points out that DoD could save over $67.9 Billion dollars over a 10 year period
if it cut out things from the defense budget that has nothing to do with
defense. How about the Pentagon's reality cooking show, "Grill Sergeants",
featuring two "Grill Sergeants" who performed a 46-minute cooking video. What
do you think that cost?
These are all
real and are only a small sampling of wasteful spending.
Senator Coburn
goes on the state that he believes in peach through strength, but we cannot be
strong militarily unless we are strong economically. Do you realize that since
1913, there have been over 37 Tax increases to the Tax code. That is a period
of almost 100 years or an average tax increase every 2 to 3 years.
Just who are the
Veterans fighting for? I believe that it is not for just one group of people
but for America. This includes the wealthy.
We the People of
the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general
Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America.
Shouldn't
America come first. Contact you Congresspersons and Senators and demand that
they get real and fix America so that Veterans and others may have jobs in the
future. Wasteful spending needs to come to a halt, and that includes reducing
the Corporate Tax so that companies come back to America to create jobs for
Americans.
Homer "Cris"
Ford
Veterans
Advocate
More Army PTSD Cases
Reevaluated
Stars and Stripes newspaper reports
that a comprehensive review of behavioral health diagnoses at Madigan Army
Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis/McChord in Tacoma, Washington, was closed in
September. Reports indicate that Army doctors changed more than half of the
cases they evaluated, giving 150 service members new diagnoses of post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD).
The review followed complaints about a
team of Madigan forensic psychiatrists who sometimes adjusted PTSD diagnoses.
Dozens of re-evaluations are still outstanding. Former patients can still have
their diagnoses reviewed by contacting Madigan. Patients would be referred to
the hospital's Integrated Disability Evaluation System. They also can call an
Army Medical Command hotline at 800-984-8523.
Government Accountability Office
(GAO) Reports
Tinnitus Affecting
Veterans
A recent report from
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs revealed more than 10 percent of all
veteran disability claims in fiscal year of 2011 were due to tinnitus, an early
sign of hearing loss. In the military community, the most common cause of
tinnitus is noise exposure. Second to tinnitus, actual hearing loss is the next
most claimed disability, with 60,229 veterans - or 7.5 percent of all disability
claims - citing hearing loss in FY 2011. A similar study in 2011 is available in
VA's Journal of Rehabilitative Research and
Development.
Texas Study Seeks Returning Combat
Vets
Researchers at the Michael E. DeBakey
VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas are
currently looking for returning combat Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) who are interested in participating in a study testing a new
medication in conjunction with exposure therapy. The study focuses on the use
of an anti-hypertension medication to determine if it reduces the effects of
PTSD-related symptoms.
Researchers are currently looking for
returning combat veterans who served between 1990 and 2011. If you are between
the ages of 18 and 55 years, have experienced PTSD symptoms in the past month,
and do not have any current substance abuse, you may be eligible for the study.
The study lasts two weeks. For more information including how to enroll, call
toll-free 1-877-228-5777.
VA Releases New PSA Targeting Women
Veterans
"The Right Place" Assures Female
Vets of High-Quality VA Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs
has developed a new public service announcement (PSA) to let women Veterans know
they've come to "The Right Place" when seeking VA health care.
"We want to send a very clear
message to women Veterans that VA is here to meet your health care needs," said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "It is important that women
Veterans receive the high-quality health care and benefits they have earned
through their service."
The number of women using VA health
care has doubled in the past decade and that number is expected to double again
soon. The 30-second video PSA, produced by VA's Women's Health Services office,
addresses key themes defined by Secretary Shinseki.
Key messages in the PSA include:
assuring women Veterans that VA is ready to serve them; encouraging viewers to
rethink assumptions that all Veterans are male; and reminding Americans that
women Veterans are coming home, separating from service, or returning to Guard
or Reserve status.
The PSA was developed for nationwide
release along with a new employee awareness video created as part of VA's
ongoing efforts to change its culture to be more understanding and accommodating
of women Veterans. It also promotes the recognition of women Veterans around
Veterans Day, honoring their service to our country.
"Not all women who served their
country identify as Veterans and many women Veterans are unaware that VA offers
high quality women's health care," said Dr. Robert Petzel, Undersecretary for
Health, Veterans Health Administration. "One of the most important aspects of
our efforts to serve women Veterans is to make sure each one of them knows we're
here."
Women serve in every branch of the
military, representing 15 percent of today's active duty military and nearly 18
percent of National Guard and Reserve forces. By 2020, VA estimates women
Veterans will constitute 10 percent of the Veteran population.
Get
a List of Your Military Benefits
The Military.com
Benefit Calculator is designed to quickly and easily connect you with your
benefit information based on your military service and status. Get a list of
Federal Benefits, State Benefits, National Guard State Benefits, Special
Military Discounts and more. Find Your Benefits Now.
New Members Appointed to VA
Committee on Women Veterans
Five new members
have been appointed to the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on
Women Veterans, an expert panel that advises VA on issues and programs affecting
women Veterans.
"VA relies on
the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to provide insight on key issues that
impact the women Veteran population. The Committee's recommendations provide
guidance that direct VA's efforts to identify and address the diverse needs of
women Veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "VA
welcomes the newest members."
Established in
1983, the committee makes recommendations to the Secretary for administrative
and legislative changes. The new committee members, who are appointed to
two-year terms, are: Gina Chandler, Bryant, Ark.; Larri Gerson, Dunedin, Fla.;
Mary Morin, Raymond, N.H.; Charlotte S. Smith, Farmington, N.M.; and Mary
Westmoreland, Bronxville, N.Y..
"Women serving
in the military continue to demonstrate their dedication in defense of our great
Nation," Shinseki added. "VA remains committed to providing women Veterans with
equitable, quality benefits and services that appropriately meet their
needs."
Women Veterans
are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veterans population. Of the
approximately 22 million living Veterans, about 1.9 million are women. They
comprise nearly 9 percent of the total Veterans population and nearly 5 percent
of all Veterans who use VA health care services.
VA estimates
that by 2020 women Veterans will comprise 10 percent of the Veteran population.
VA has women-Veterans-program managers at VA medical centers and women-Veterans
coordinators at VA regional offices to assist women Veterans with health and
benefits issues.
New Members
VA Advisory Committee on Women
Veterans
- Gina Chandler,
Bryant, Ark. A Veteran of the U.S. Air Force; currently serves as a Veterans
service officer, women-Veterans coordinator for the Arkansas Department of
Veterans Affairs, and secretary of the National Association of State Women
Veterans Coordinators.
- Larri Gerson,
Dunedin, Fla. A Veteran of the U.S. Air Force; currently serves as a claims
examiner for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, and webmaster for the
National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators; former state
women-Veterans coordinator for the Florida Department of Veterans
Affairs.
- Mary Morin,
Raymond, N.H.; A retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant; currently serves as the
Director of the New Hampshire Office of Veterans Services, and a member of the
National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators.
- Charlotte S.
Smith, Farmington, N.M.; A Veteran of the U.S. Army; currently serves as a
Veterans service officer, state women-Veterans coordinator for the New Mexico
Department of Veterans Affairs, and a member of the National Association of
State Women Veterans Coordinators.
- Mary
Westmoreland, Bronxville, N.Y.; A retired U.S. Army Colonel, with service in
Desert Shield/Desert Storm; currently runs a pro bono consulting company that
focuses on coaching, mentoring, and organizational strategic planning for
government and nonprofit organizations.
VFC Website
Update
If you've not
visited our newly designed website, maybe you should! We have been open and
on-line now for a month. Visit today and subscribe, it's 100% FREE of charge to all! Just be sure to use a
valid E-Mail address so the system can send you an authentication
E-Mail.
Eventually we
will have the largest One-Stop-Shop Veterans website available that is user
friendly, offers a host of information on many topics, several forums,
Frequently Asked Questions and answers, etc.
We now have a
licensed Mental Health Worker on board and you can go to that forum post
questions, get answers or direction, and the same will apply for many of the
other forums.
We now
have:
- Document
Library (over 6,100 documents now on-line, another 1,000 will be added
soon)
- Forums (with
Licensed Mental Health Worker Moderator)
- Memorial
Pages
- News
- Polls
- Sponsors
The documents
library was opened with 20 different categories, but we're still working hard on
it every day and hope to add more categories within the week.
Eventually there
will be more than 50 million pages of information, forms, and more.
There are forums
for all Eras of service and one just for Women Veterans, which we'll lock to use
by women only.
The Memorial
Pages are open now, and if you have a loved one or a buddy you've lost and would
like for them to be added to our Memorial Pages, please send a photo, First and
Last Name, Rank, Branch of Service, DOB and DOD, and allow us 2-3 days to
install on the proper page. (Send to: VFC2006@ATT.NET)
You also have
the ability to comment and rate all NEWS articles which would be very helpful
for us so we know the types of information you'd like to see on our
website.
There is no
charge to use the site, or to become a member. Members have full access where
non- members will have limited access. Access has not been set yet, we wanted
everyone to see what we're doing and what is available to them.
And we could
still use your help to keep the site up to date and fully operational
If you're able
to make a tax deductible donation please click on the link below be taken direct to our PayPal
account:
And we sincerely
thank you in advance!
Doc Fix Update
The Hill newspaper reports that the
Congressional Budget Office has estimated that if Congress delays the scheduled
cut to physicians Medicare reimbursement fees for another year, it will cost $25
billion.
Doctors are scheduled to see a 26.5
percent drop in their Medicare payments at the end of the year unless Congress
once again steps in to delay the cuts.
Because the "doc fix" is now wrapped up
with the end-of-year "fiscal cliff," there's a chance Congress might stop short
of fixing it for a full year, postponing the Medicare cut — along with other
parts of the fiscal cliff, the $600 billion of tax increases and spending cuts
set to hit in January — until March, and trying to work out a longer solution
then.
A
two-year doc fix would cost $41.5 billion, CBO said, while freezing doctors'
payments for 10 years would cost nearly $244 billion.
Tinnitus Most Common
Disability
A
recent report from the VA revealed more than 10 percent of all veteran
disability claims in fiscal year of 2011 were due to tinnitus, an early sign of
hearing loss.
In
the military community, the most common cause of tinnitus is noise exposure.
Second to tinnitus, actual hearing loss is the next most claimed disability,
with 60,229 veterans - or 7.5 percent of all disability claims - citing hearing
loss in FY 2011. A similar study in 2011 is available in VA's Journal of Rehabilitative
Research and Development.
TRICARE Update
Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Marco
Rubio (R-FL) have offered an amendment that would increase copays for retail and
mail-order prescriptions. The Reed-Rubio amendment (SA 3017) would tie TRICARE
fee increases to the cost of living adjustments for TRICARE beneficiaries.
The Reed-Rubio amendment aims to
protect military beneficiaries from excessive out-of-pocket increases in their
co-payments. In brief, it would stop the steep out-of-pocket prescription drug
costs planned by the Department of Defense for TRICARE beneficiaries. NAUS
supports the amendment and urges you to use our CapWiz system to send a
message
to your elected
officials.
Source:
NAUS
Pitney Bowes Vet Jobs
Website
Pitney Bowes Inc.
announced today that it has set up a special website targeted at military
veterans and their families so that they can more easily find work at the
company. The new website at www.pb.com/careers allows military veterans to
map their training and skills to a roster of actual job openings listed on the
Pitney Bowes site. Simply selecting one's military job title on the site will
call up every Pitney Bowes job opening with a skills requirement similar to that
of the selected military title, according to the company.
Senate Debate Starts (Finally) on
NDAA
On
Wednesday, the Senate began debate on its version of the fiscal 2013 National
Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254). The House passed its version in
June.
As
expected several NAUS supported amendments have been offered. We must caution
though that they have not yet been debated nor added to the NDAA. They include
an amendment from Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) to eliminate the SBP/DIC offset. His
amendment would also restore SBP eligibility to widows who had previously
transferred the earned benefit to one or more children. Please send a
message to your Senators urging their
support.
Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), Sen. Scott Brown
(R-MA) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) introduced, as an amendment, their new
Stolen Valor Act. The amendment makes it very clear that anyone who represents
themselves as having been awarded any decoration, medal, ribbon or other device
authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces for the purpose of tangible benefit
or personal gain, may be fined or imprisoned or both.
One other amendment, that has been
voted on and passed,
offered by John
Cornyn, (R-TX),
would require the VA secretary to submit a plan to Congress to reduce the
current backlog of pending claims for veterans' benefits. NAUS supports this
amendment very vigorously and will work for it to be included in the final
NDAA.
Source:
NAUS
Recall of Generic
Lipitor
WebMD Health Newsreports Ranbaxy
Pharmaceuticals, a major maker of generic Lipitor, has issued a massive recall
of the cholesterol-cutting tablets, which may be contaminated with tiny glass
shards.
The recall covers 41 lots of atorvastatin,
the generic version of Lipitor. Each lot contains thousands of
pills.
The recall includes 10 mg, 20 mg, and
40 mg dosages. It does not include 80 mg atorvastatin
tablets.
No
injuries have been reported from the "small glass particles approximately less
than 1 millimeter in size."
Ranbaxy, an Indian firm, is owned by
Japan's Daiichi Sankyo Co. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ranbaxy's
generic Lipitor makes up 44% of the U.S. market for atorvastatin, including
generic and name-brand products.
Earlier this year, Ranbaxy entered into
a consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department preventing the company from
selling various generic drugs on the U.S. market until it addresses
manufacturing and quality-control flaws at several plants. Those plants did not
make the generic Lipitor now being recalled.
The FDA is working with other
atorvastatin makers to prevent a shortage of the popular cholesterol-lowering
pills.
"The FDA is currently working with the
other manufacturers to address any potential shortage as a result of the ongoing
recall. We are monitoring the situation," FDA spokeswoman Sarah Clark-Lynn says
in an email.
Army Docs Reevaluate
More PTSD Cases
Stars and Stripes
reports that a wide-ranging review of behavioral health diagnoses at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington
closed in September with Army doctors changing more than half of the cases they
evaluated, giving 150 servicemembers new diagnoses of post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). The review followed complaints early this year about a team of
Madigan forensic psychiatrists who sometimes adjusted PTSD diagnoses. Dozens of
re-evaluations are still outstanding. Former patients can still have their
diagnoses reviewed by contacting Madigan. They would be referred to the
hospital's Integrated Disability Evaluation System. They also can call an Army
Medical Command hotline at 800-984-8523.
Veterans-For-Change on Facebook
& Twitter
You can now
track us, meet fellow vets and their families and friends on our Veterans-For-Change page, come "LIKE"
us!
Come join us,
follow us and friends, make new friends, share useful information and
more!
Follow us on
Twitter too: @VeteransForChng
VA Purchases Land for Two New
National Cemeteries in Florida
The Department of Veterans Affairs
has announced that it has purchased land for two new national cemeteries in
Florida.
"We are pleased to expand burial
service to families in the Sunshine State where so many Veterans live," said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Acquiring this land is a key
step forward in bringing these national shrines to Florida."
VA plans to construct one of the
cemeteries in central eastern Florida between the cities of Daytona and
Melbourne, and the other in northwestern Florida, in the Tallahassee area.
Together, the facilities will serve an estimated population of 247,000 Veterans
and family members who are not currently served with an open national, state or
tribal Veteran's cemetery within 75 miles of their residence.
VA completed acquisition of the
central eastern Florida property on July 31 and paid $2 million for 318 acres of
land. The property, formerly known as Acosta Groves, is located on U. S. Route
1 in northern Brevard County in Scottsmoor, approximately two miles from
Interstate 95.
VA purchased the Tallahassee
property for $6.8 million on Aug. 14. The 250-acre parcel is in Leon County with
frontage along U.S. Highway 27 (Apalachee Parkway). VA purchased the land from
the St. Joe Company, one of Florida's largest real estate development firms.
The cemetery will also serve Veterans in southwestern Georgia and southeastern
Alabama.
VA has opened three new national
cemeteries in Florida over the past five years including Jacksonville National
Cemetery (2009), Sarasota National Cemetery (2009) and South Florida National
Cemetery (2007).
Florida National Cemetery in
Bushnell opened in 1988 and is now the second busiest VA national cemetery in
the country with 6,728 interments completed in fiscal year 2011. Of VA's 131
cemeteries across the nation, the state of Florida is home to six national
cemeteries that rank among the top 32 busiest by interment workload.
Barrancas National Cemetery in
Pensacola, established in 1868, serves Florida's western panhandle and southern
Alabama. A recent expansion of the historic cemetery ensures that it will
remain open with a full range of burial options for decades to come.
Bay Pines National Cemetery was
established in 1933 and has been closed to first interment casketed burials
since 1989. The facility still offers cremation burial sites. St. Augustine
National Cemetery, established in 1881, has been closed since 1997.
Veterans with a discharge issued
under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent
children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Also eligible are military
personnel who die on active duty, their spouses and eligible dependents. Other
burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they
are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag,
a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker.
Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker
when remains are not available for interment.
In the midst of the largest
expansion since the Civil War, VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states
and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3.8 million
Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA's
national cemeteries on more than 20,000 acres of land.
Information on VA burial benefits
can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov, or by calling VA regional offices
toll-free at 800-827-1000. To make burial arrangements at any VA national
cemetery at the time of need, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at
800-535-1117.
A Veterans Advocacy
and Assistance Organization
The purpose of
Veterans-For-Change is to make major changes in the treatment and rights for all
veterans. In benefits claims, appeals, medical care and treatment, VA
Facilities, PTSD, Agent Orange issues (including Toxic Dioxin resulting in
Diabetes, Cancers and numerous other health problems), POW MIA recoveries, TBI
and dioxin poisoning during current and past Combat Operations in the Persian
Gulf region.
Members combine
their talents, information, ideas and suggestions and contribute to a monthly
letter that's sent to all 535 members of Congress expressing the concerns over
various issues and offers possible solutions.
This is in an
effort to make change within the VA system, to streamline, expedite and insure
claims are honored to the best possible rating, to insure all medical facilities
are using the best equipment in the most modernized facilities with a properly
trained and fully licensed and compassionate medical staff.
Additionally we
circulate petitions for various pieces of legislation to promote their being
presented on the floor and voted on.
We conduct
research, develop ideas, solutions, and programs and do our best to make sure
they're put into action. We also provide guidance and assistance to veterans,
spouses, their children and widows with their claims and appeals and the support
of all veterans who seek assistance.
We must
guarantee the rights of every single veteran and gain the rights and benefits
promised!
If you can
volunteer 30-60 minutes per month, from the comfort of your own home and
computer, please join us in this tremendous fight and make your voice heard loud
and clear.
Veterans who served in Korea &
along the DMZ your help is
needed!
The research
questionnaire response so far has been good, but we still need more veterans who
served in Korea to participate.
Veterans-For-Change is distributing a questionnaire
to veterans pertaining to service in Korea to help us gather statistical
information in our ongoing efforts to correct the wrongs and to assist in
declassifying many missions in Korea so that veterans such as you will be able
to gain the benefits and services needed from the VA System.
This
questionnaire is anonymous, you do not need to provide personal contact
information if you're not comfortable with this.
However, if you
do provide personal contact information it will be kept 100% confidential, will
not be given to any member of Congress, the VA or the DoD, nor will it be sold
to any company for any reason what-so-ever.
Statistical
information will be used to compile a report to submit to various members of
Congress in our efforts to declassify all missions 25 or more years ago so that
all veterans can apply for and gain the much needed benefits and medical
care/services needed and long over due.
If you're
interested in participating, please E-Mail VFC2006@ATT.NET and request a
copy. In the Subject put Korean Service.
New
Vet Jobs Website in Georgia
Georgia Gov. Nathan
Deal and the Governor's Office of Workforce Development recently launched the Operation: Workforce website at www.operationworkforce.com to help returning
veterans find jobs. Job listings from companies across Georgia looking to fill
positions with veterans are posted on the website. The website also includes
information on resources and services available to veterans. For more
information, visit the Operation: Workforce website.
VFC
Memorial Wall
If you have a
loved one you lost to service in the Military, and would like to have their name
added, please do let us know.
And for those
listed below, keep their families in your thoughts and prayers.
|
Rank
|
Name
|
Branch of
Service
|
Year of
Passing
|
|
Msgt.
|
David Graves
|
Air Force
|
2011
|
|
Msgt.
|
John Kenneth Smallwood
|
Army
|
2010
|
|
MgySgt.
|
Lesley Davis
|
Marine Corps
|
2006
|
|
Colonel
|
Melvin Killian
|
Air Force
|
1965
|
|
SPC
|
Michael Evans
|
Army
|
2012
|
House Holds Vet Jobs
Hearing
The Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity of U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs recently held
a hearing on finding opportunities, and reviewing existing programs, to help
unemployed veterans find meaningful employment. The hearing examined how the
federal government can better connect resources for unemployed veterans at the
state level, reaching veterans in communities across the nation. Testimony and a
transcript of the hearing are available on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website.
New VA Cemeteries in
Florida
The VA has announced that purchase of
land for two new national cemeteries in Florida.
VA
plans to construct one of the cemeteries in central eastern Florida between the
cities of Daytona and Melbourne, and the other in northwestern Florida, in the
Tallahassee area. Together, the facilities will serve an estimated population
of 247,000 veterans and family members who are not currently served with an open
national, State or tribal veterans cemetery within 75 miles of their residence.
VA
completed acquisition of the central eastern Florida property on July 31 and
paid $2 million for 318 acres of land. The property, formerly known as Acosta
Groves, is located on U. S. Route 1 in northern Brevard County in Scottsmoor,
approximately two miles from Interstate 95.
VA
purchased the Tallahassee property for $6.8 million on August 14. The 250-acre
parcel is in Leon County with frontage along U.S. Highway 27 (Apalachee
Parkway). The cemetery will also serve veterans in southwestern Georgia and
southeastern Alabama.
Texas Study Seeks
Returning Veterans
Researchers at the
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) and Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston, Texas are currently looking for returning combat Veterans with
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who are interested in participating in a
study testing a new medication in conjunction with exposure therapy. The study
focuses on the use of an anti-hypertension medication to determine if it reduces
the effects of PTSD-related symptoms. Researchers are currently looking for
returning combat veterans who served between 1990 and 2011. If you are between
the ages of 18 and 55 years, have experienced PTSD symptoms in the past month,
and do not have any current substance abuse, you may be eligible for the study.
The study lasts two weeks. For more information including how to enroll, call
toll-free 1-877-228-5777.
If you received this Newsletter as a forward or as a
Courtesy Copy and would like to continue to receive this FREE weekly
newsletter, click on link below:
Complete all information, and select the appropriate
box at the bottom of the form. You will then receive an automated
authentication E-Mail, follow the instructions and you will then be added to the
weekly distribution list.
Our mailing list is never sold, traded or shared with
anyone ever, and is held in the strictest of confidence.
With your help, Veterans-For-Change
and you can make a difference!
We Can
Win!
Better benefits, care, facilities,
medical professionals and equipment!
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to display image]
Veterans-For-Change Newsletter is a once weekly
publication deadline for submission is 5:00 PM PST on Thursday!
I predict future happiness for
Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the
people under the pretense of taking care of them.
~ Thomas Jefferson ~
Veteran's News Sources, Etc.:
Veterans-For-Change,
Inc.
11901 Samuel
Garden Grove, CA 92840-2546
Serving those who
served!
Please pass to all your
Veteran friends and family!
Distribution: 14,305
Courtesy 1 Time only Copies:
2,500
|
VFC NEWS-12-02-12.pdf (175K)
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