AL VFW District 2

VFW Washington Weekly - April 28, 2008

April 28, 2008 at 6:03 PM

by BlogMaster

In This Issue:
1. Senate Passes Large Benefits Bill
2. House VA Committee Bills
3. Senate Hearing on VA/DOD Improvements
4. OIF/OEF Campaign Stars

1. Senate Passes Large Veterans Bill: The Senate passed 96-1 a large veterans' package that improves a wide-array of benefits, including life insurance, burial allowance and adaptive equipment grants. The package now moves to the House. Some of the VFW-supported provisions in S. 1315 would:
• Increase the maximum amount of supplemental Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance from $20,000 to $30,000.
• Expand eligibility for home improvement and structural alteration assistance to include permanently disabled servicemembers.
• Provide a specially-adapted housing grant to veterans and qualified servicemembers with severe burn injuries.
• Extend authority of the VA to assist individuals living temporarily in residences owned by family members.
• Provide automobile and adaptive equipment assistance to disabled veterans and servicemembers with severe burn injuries.
• Increase to $445 from the current $300 allowance for veteran burial plots.
• Provide a presumption of service-connection for osteoporosis for former POWs with post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Increase cost-of-living for additional dependency and indemnity compensation paid to certain surviving spouses with minor dependent children.
• Expand retroactive traumatic injury protection under SGLI (TSGLI) to include all servicemembers, not just those injured in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
For a complete listing of S. 1315 provisions, visit the Thomas website at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01315:

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VFW WebCOM Membership Forum: 1000+ Members Strong and Growing

April 8, 2008 at 4:09 PM

by BlogMaster

Late last evening, our 1,000th member joined the VFW WebCOM Membership forum!!!

We'd like to take a moment to thank you all for visiting the forum over the past year and taking the time to register to become part of the VFW WebCOM Community.

If you haven't visited the forum lately, we'd like to take this opportunity to invite you back to see what you've been missing. We now have over 7,400 entries in nearly 2,000 different topics. The forum has become a wealth of information about all sorts of topics relating to the VFW organization, the VFW community and veterans issues.

We'd also like to issue a special thank you to our top posters in the forum. These are the folks who stop by the forum on a regular basis and keep the information moving. Without them, we wouldn't be where we are today:


We'd also like to remind you that you can stay on top of all the latest entries to the forum, get updates on all the information moving thru the VFW WebCOM Network and support your department by downloading and installing the VFW WebCOM Departmental toolbar at http://toolbars.vfwwebcom.org

And finally, if you'd like to claim the weblog for your VFW Post or District, you can contact your state Blogmaster or IJK3770 in the forum  for assistance in getting your Post or District site up and running. We hope you've enjoyed your visit(s) to the forum and welcome your feedback in building a bigger and better community as we reach for our next 1,000 members.

Regards, The VFW WebCOM Membership Forum Team.

http://www.vfwwebcom.org/forum

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VFW Washington Weekly - March 7, 2008

March 8, 2008 at 9:43 AM

by BlogMaster

In This Issue:
1. VFW Commander-in-Chief Testifies Before VA Committees
2. VFW Members Storm the Hill
3. Veterans Disarmament Bill Doesn't Exist
4. GI Bill Update

3. Veterans Disarmament Bill Doesn't Exist: An allegation is being passed around the Internet that a new law the President signed in January would deny veterans diagnosed with PTSD or other mental health problems their constitutional right of gun ownership. The allegation is false; there is no legislation called the Veterans Disarmament Bill, and there are no validated instances of an otherwise eligible veteran being denied employment because of the the new law, which signed Jan. 7, 2008. A major supporter of H.R. 2640 was the nation's staunchest gun rights advocate, the National Rifle Association, who would have never backed a bill that overly restricted ownership rights. Bottom line: Gun ownership is a Second Amendment right, but exercising that right comes with inherent social responsibilities in a democratic society. If a court of law rules someone as mentally unfit and a danger to him/herself and to others, then the rights of society must outweigh individual rights. The new law is not anti-veteran legislation; it is common sense legislation.
Read the NRA position at: http://www.nraila.org//Issues/Articles/Read.aspx?ID=246
Read a Military.com article at: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,151321_1,00.html?wh=wh
Read the White House press release at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080108-7.html

Click here for stories 1, 2 & 4

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Meet Maj Dennis McCool and his "Resolve to Win"

February 27, 2008 at 5:18 PM

by BlogMaster

Major Dennis McCOOL......


.....and a core group of supporters have planned a 16 day "Resolve to Win" March to Washington, DC to demonstrate unwavering support for our Troops and their Families.

The starting line is the SC/NC border March 1, 2008 and will work its way up 301 though North Carolina to Highway 1 through Virginia ending at the Lincoln Memorial.

You can click here for March Route and Schedule.

This non-political effort has evolved through a swell of grassroots support of local VFW and American Legion Posts all along the planned Route.

Jim Clark, Department VFW NC Military Assistance Program (MAP), is Co-Chairing the event with Bob Sussan, Commander of Fairfax, VA American Legion Post 177.

You can follow the preparations and the journey in real time through the Resolve to Win blog:

http://vfwwebcom.org/resolvetowin/

and by checking back here for regular updates. The Veterans News Bureau is providing Video coverage support . They have established a dedicated channel to bring you the newest videos straight from the road.

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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY - February 8, 2008

February 8, 2008 at 11:23 AM

by BlogMaster

In This Issue:
1. Economic Stimulus Packaged Passed
2. FY 2009 Budget Released
3. House Hearing on VA Budget
4. VFW Wants Dole/Shalala Recommendation Blocked
5. Senate Holds Hearing on VA Rehabilitation Programs
6. FY 2009 Defense Budget

1. Economic Stimulus Package Passed: Congress passed a $168 billion Economic Stimulus package late last night (HR 5140) which included certain disabled veterans and senior citizens who had not been included in the first versions of the bill. The changes were made to the Senate version of the bill, and expand eligibility for the rebates to include low-income senior citizens as well as disabled veterans and survivors of veterans whose sole or primary income consists of VA compensation. On a 91-6 vote, the Senate added a provision to grant $300 payments to disabled veterans and veterans' widows who could show $3,000 in veterans' disability and/or Social Security benefits last year. The President is expected to sign the package, and rebate checks could be arriving as early as May. The VFW and its grassroots network came out in force in support of including veterans in the bill.

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VFW Washington Weekly - February 1, 2008

February 1, 2008 at 3:41 PM

by BlogMaster

In This Issue:
1. House VA Committee Hearings
2. President Signs Defense Bill
3. Veterans Small Business Bill Passes

1. House VA Committee Hearings: Two House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee hearings were held this week on healthcare practices and the VA claims processing system.
• The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations looked into quality of healthcare practices and patient care within the Veterans Health Administration. The hearing was held in response to the recent tragedies reported at the Marion VA Medical Center. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), who represents the southern Illinois district that includes Marion, testified that problems such as quality management, the credentialing process, the privileging process, and a lack of leadership by senior staff existed at the medical center, and may extend throughout VHA. Other witnesses testified that there was a critical need for a substantial revamping of the credentialing and privileging processes, as well as other institutional changes within VHA to assure quality healthcare.
• The second hearing, entitled "The Use of Artificial Intelligence to Improve the VA Claims Processing System," was held by the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Witnesses provided pros and cons to using AI to improve the claims processing system. Replacing the human factor with AI and the level of complexity to implement a new system within the Veterans Benefits Administration were just some of the concerns. Others believe that AI has the potential to significantly increase speed and accuracy during the first stages of the claims process. As of Jan. 25, 2008, there were 882,133 claims in the VBA backlog, a number that consists of 650,524 compensation and pension claims, 165,687 claims on appeal, 65,922 education claims. The backlog is more than 11,000 claims higher than the same time period a year ago.

For more on both hearings and to read witness testimony, visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/

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VFW Legislative Alert: Ask the President to Release Veterans Funding

January 2, 2008 at 4:34 PM

by BlogMaster

Background:
The large funding bill that Congress sent to the President's desk included a sizeable $2.9 billion increase for veterans health care and benefits. There is an additional $3.7 billion in potential veterans funding - funding that would fully meet the needs laid out by the VFW as part of the Independent Budget. VA will receive this funding, however, only if the President declares it "emergency spending." Without that declaration, VA will not get that additional increase.

Action Needed:
You must contact the President to ask him to release the "emergency" funding for VA. The current increase, while appreciated, is not enough, and VA must have the additional $3.7 billion to fully meet the needs of veterans.
The additional $3.7 billion (for a total increase of $6.6 billion) would allow VA to:
• Hire additional claims processors and train staff to reduce the ever-growing disability claims backlog
• Treat the tens of thousands of returning service members who put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing them with all the health care they need, including full mental health coverage and treatment for traumatic brain injuries and other war-related illnesses and disabilities.
• Care for the hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled veterans from other conflicts, particularly as many of them grow older
• Begin construction and improve maintenance on a number of VA health care facilities, expanding access and ensuring that veterans receive care in clean, safe, and comfortable locations that meet their needs.

How To Contact The President:
• Letters : The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
• Email: comments@whitehouse.gov
• Phone: 202-456-1111
• Fax: 202-456-2461

Contact Congress Too:
Let your Representative and Senators know that you appreciate their efforts and urge them to ask the President to release the full funding amount. Since your legislators are on break for the Holiday, phone numbers for their district offices can be found in your local phone book or you can look for contact info on their WebPages: www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.

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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY - December 21, 2007

December 21, 2007 at 5:18 PM

by BlogMaster

In This Issue:
1. Final VA Funding Passed
2. NDAA Sent to President's Desk
3. Senate to Stay in Pro Forma Session Over Break
4. New VA Secretary Sworn In
5. Task Force Wants TRICARE Fees Increased
6. WWI Veteran Dies

1. Final VA Funding Passed: Congress passed an historic funding bill that gives VA the largest increase in its history and fully meets the needs laid out by the VFW and the Independent Budget. The bill provides a total of $43.1 billion in discretionary funding for VA, which is $6.6 billion above the 2007 funding amount, and nearly $4 billion above the president's budget request. The funding includes:
• $37.2 billion for the Veterans Health Administration
• $3.5 billion more than last year for medical services, which includes $2.9 billion for mental healthcare, $130 million for homeless veteran programs, and money to treat more than 260,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
• $1.1 billion for hospital construction and $4.1 billion for medical facilities, which includes a $530 million increase for maintenance and minor repairs.
• Funding to hire an additional 1,800 disability claims raters to help reduce the intolerable backlog of claims.
• $2 billion, a $752 million increase, to help VA Information Technology improve the medical records system to better interface with DOD systems as we work towards a seamless transition.

The bill now moves to the president's desk, where it is expected to be signed. For VA to receive the full amount in the bill, however, the president would have declare $3.7 billion of it as "emergency" funding by Jan. 18. VA does not receive this additional funding - which is the amount above what he had requested in his budget blueprint - until he declares the emergency. We would hope that the president quickly signs the bill into law and release these necessary funds. VA clearly needs the funding. The VFW thanks the congressional leadership and Congress for their bipartisan efforts to ensure this nation properly cares for her veterans.

Read more VFW Washington Weekly

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VFW Washington Weekly - December 14, 2007

December 14, 2007 at 2:25 PM

by BlogMaster

In This Issue:
1. House VA Committee Hearings
2. SVAC Approves Peake Nomination
3. FY 2008 NDAA

1. House VA Committee Hearings: The House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing Wednesday on suicide and mental health issues facing veterans. VFW-supported legislation, The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Bill, which was recently signed into law, is already being implemented. VA announced it has made suicide prevention a priority and has developed a program based on increasing suicide awareness, prevention, and training to improve the recognition of suicide risk by its healthcare staff. Congress authorized a national suicide prevention hotline and suicide prevention coordinators program has been put in place in each VA medical center. Witnesses believed that these efforts are a good first step, but more must be done with regard to research on TBI and PTSD, as well as substance abuse which often leads to homelessness. The Committee plans to hold further hearings in the next session on this subject.
• Also on Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation held a hearing to examine outpatient waiting times within VA Medical Centers. Several witnesses were on hand to discuss VHA performance in scheduling outpatient medical appointments. According to a recent audit by the Inspector General, the goal for scheduling outpatient appointments is defined as the earliest date that the patient or clinician specifies the patient needs to be seen. In addition, VHA policy established a goal of scheduling appointments within 30 days of the desired appointment but not more than four months later. The IG found that the methodology in reporting wait times was inconsistent among many of the medical centers, and that there is sufficient evidence to support that only about 75% of veterans had been seen within 30 days of the requested appointment date. Subcommittee Chairman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) said "When our veterans' encounter long waiting times, their conditions go undiagnosed and serious disease go untreated. Until we have a clearer picture about waiting times, the VA can't improve the situation because we can't identify problem facilities or effectively allocate resources.
For more information on either hearing visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/

Read more of this week's Washington Weekly

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VFW Washington Weekly - December 7, 2007

December 7, 2007 at 3:44 PM

by BlogMaster

In This Issue:
1. Senate VA Committee Holds Hearing on Peake Nomination
2. VFW Testifies in Support of Vietnam Education Center
3. House Passes Small Business Legislation for Vets
4. Army Hotline Puts Soldiers First

 

1. Senate VA Committee Holds Hearing on Peake Nomination: On Wednesday, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee heard testimony from VA Secretary Nominee Dr. James Peake. Peake, a retired Army lieutenant general and the former Army surgeon general from 2000 to 2004, was nominated by President Bush in October after then VA Secretary Nicholson resigned.
The committee members questioned Peake on his positions on several critical issues facing today's VA to include VA funding, claims backlog, mental health, GI Bill, seamless transition and updating the VA ratings schedule.
A vote to confirm Dr. Peake by the Committee and full Senate has not yet been schedule but is expected to occur before Congress adjourns for the year.

For more on the hearing go to the Senate VA website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=16

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Send Some Cheer to Wounded Vets

November 26, 2007 at 6:05 PM

by BlogMaster

(Originally posted by VFW Department of Wisconsin)

Veterans of Foreign  Wars SIGN THE CARD NOW   FORWARD TO A FRIEND   DONATE TODAY   Brighten the holidays for wounded heroes at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida SIGN THE CARD NOW   Seasons Greetings VFW Supporter! This year, send joyful wishes to brighten the holiday season for wounded troops. Don't let Christmas feel like just another painful day for our brave heroes who have already sacrificed so much. Thousands will spend the holidays recovering from devastating injuries ... far from family and missing out on the many joys of the season. Help make their Christmas brighter and join us in sending cheerful wishes to our heroes. VFW will be delivering a giant Christmas card to the wounded troops recovering at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida, and we want your signature to be included. Simply sign the card now to have your name added. Be sure to add your name to the giant Christmas card to let these brave men and women know that we are deeply grateful for their sacrifices. We need all signatures by December 10th in order to deliver the card before Christmas. So, please sign the card today. Every signature means so much. Last year, we had more than 20,000 patriotic Americans sign our Christmas card for the wounded heroes at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas. This year we are hoping for 25,000 signatures. So please pass this on to your friends and family so we can deliver the biggest Christmas card ever and show our heroes that we haven't forgotten them. Thank you for supporting our troops and veterans. SIGN THE CARD NOW   FORWARD TO A FRIEND   DONATE TODAY

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Commander-in-Chief on Upholding Veterans Day

November 10, 2007 at 5:12 PM

by BlogMaster

via VFW.org and VFW Magazine

Remembering America’s warriors is often an afterthought for many Americans. It’s about time Nov. 11 is paid its proper respect.

Veterans Day, once a widely celebrated holiday, is increasingly forgotten by many Americans. One need only look at the poor turnouts at ceremonies on Nov. 11. With the percentage of citizens who have worn a uniform rapidly declining, appreciation for the sacrifices made by veterans is correspondingly diminishing.

To help counter this trend, VFW has long promoted Veterans Day as an opportunity to educate the public as to the meaning of this significant time each November. This task can best be accomplished by explaining the five “Ws.”

Who. As a nation, we remember all Americans who served on active duty in the armed forces. While those who died always remain prominent in our memories, they have a special time of mourning reserved for Memorial Day. Veterans Day is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of living veterans.

What. Collective as well as individual contributions to the nation’s defense is what we are remembering. The outcome of any given military campaign is irrelevant here—it’s the sacrifices made at the behest of the country that are important.

Where. Across the land, the grounds of virtually every state capitol and county courthouse host monuments, memorials and plaques honoring those who served. They date back as far as the American Revolution and are as recent as Iraq. But paying homage to veterans need not necessarily be in a public place. Every private home also should serve this purpose when appropriate.

When. For some Americans, remembering veterans is a daily act. But as a nation, it is essential that we preserve the integrity of November 11 as that one extra-special day for the American people as a whole to pause in silence or demonstrate public recognition.

Why. Remembering gives true meaning to sacrifice and service. Millions of Americans’ lives were forever altered because they donned a uniform to protect the freedoms and rights we take for granted. We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to them. And acknowledging Veterans Day is the time that debt comes due. It’s our way of keeping faith.

All of this is particularly relevant now, with the nation at war in Afghanistan and Iraq. There is no better example of how Veterans Day has moved from the public consciousness than in my home state of New Jersey. The state legislature and the New Jersey School Boards Association attempted to abolish mandatory teaching about the importance of Veterans Day. Thankfully, Gov. Jon S. Corzine vetoed that part of the bill dealing with this day.

This should serve as a reminder that vigilance is necessary. The 24 million veterans living in America deserve no less of us as an organization. It is often forgotten that legislative battles were waged over this day and its earlier version called Armistice Day in 1926, 1938, 1954 and throughout the 1970s. Let’s not take its value for granted.

God Bless America
George Lisicki
VFW Commander-in-Chief

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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY - Nov. 9, 2007

November 9, 2007 at 2:02 PM

by BlogMaster

1. Congress Clears Stopgap VA Funding Measure
2. President Signs Veterans COLA & Mental Health Bills
3. Senate Committee holds VA Appeals Court Hearing
4. House VA Committee Hearing
5. Veterans Day Proclamation
6. VFW Leaders on the Move
7. VA/DOD to Test Single Physical

1. Congress Clears Stopgap VA Funding Measure: Congress attached a $2.9 billion increase for VA funding to a continuing resolution that funds the government through December 14. That proposal itself is attached to the Defense Appropriation bill, which is headed to the President's desk, where he is expected to soon sign it.
The $2.9 billion increase represents the amount the President requested back in January, an amount far below what the VFW has called for, and below what each chamber of Congress has approved in their respective versions of the VA funding bill. To this point, leadership of the House and Senate have been unable to steer a clear VA funding bill through Congress, even though the new funding year began on October 1.
The $2.9 billion increase will serve as bridge funding until Congress can complete work on the full funding bill, which would provide a total increase of over $6.6 billion for VA funding. The VFW appreciates the temporary measure, but we urge Congress' swift action in passing the full VA funding bill, so that VA can properly plan and budget for the current year, allowing them to hire the best doctors, nurses and mental health specialists to address the growing demand for VA health care and services, especially by those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The $2.9 billion is a good first step, but we need to see real action and movement on the full funding bill.

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Posts and Districts: Claim Your Free Weblogs

November 7, 2007 at 10:51 PM

by BlogMaster

VFW Posts and Districts throughout the organization can now take possession of their free Web Sites/Blogs on the VFW WebCOM Network.

Effective today we are extending an open invitation for all Posts and Districts to claim their VFW WebCOM Network site. If your Post already has a web presence this would be a great way to expand it. If your Post does not have a web presence this is a no cost way for you to establish one and start sharing with the world what your Post does in the community and Organization.

To find out more, visit the VFW WebCOM Membership Forum.

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VFW Radiothon November 8-11

November 6, 2007 at 6:49 AM

by BlogMaster

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 5, 2007--In honor of Veterans Day and those who continue to put their lives on the line for our country, “The Rusty Humphries Show,” in conjunction with VFW's “The National Defense” and hundreds of radio stations across the country, will host a national fundraiser for the VFW Unmet Needs program, which provides emergency assistance to military families who face financial burdens, complicated and amplified by a family member's deployment.

“The Rusty Humphries Show”, recently ranked by Talkers Magazine as the 9th most listened to radio show in America, will host the VFW Unmet Needs program, radiothon November 8-11. During the 4-day event, listeners will be able to dial toll-free 1-866-437-9283 to donate to the valuable military support program.

Since 2003, the VFW Foundation’s Unmet Needs Program, has assisted more than 1, 250 military families by providing them with emergency aid such as mortgage assistance, rent, home repair, vehicle repair and maintenance, medical expenses, groceries, and transportation expenses. Thanks to corporate sponsor Vermont American Power Tool Accessories, 100 percent of all donations go directly to the military families in need.

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The American Veteran - November Edition

November 5, 2007 at 2:37 PM

by BlogMaster

From The Pentagon Channel

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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY - Nov. 2, 2007

November 2, 2007 at 5:46 PM

by BlogMaster

NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. President Nominates New VA Secretary
2. VFW Testifies on VA Construction
3. SVAC holds USERRA Hearing

NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. JPAC International Toll Free Number
2. Vietnam War MIAs Identified
3. Reserve Component Mobilization


NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE

1. President Nominates New VA Secretary: President Bush nominated former
Army Surgeon General and combat-wounded veteran Dr. James Peake to head
the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Based on his record of
accomplishments in uniform and in the private sector, VFW
Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki hopes Dr. Peake will be a strong
veterans' advocate.  "We hope he will bring that same level of passion
and drive into the VA, because he certainly has the prerequisite
credentials and organizational skills to lead the second largest federal
department."  To read the VFW Press release, go to:
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=434.

2. VFW Testifies on VA Construction: The VFW testified Thursday before
the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health on the VA s
construction process.  The VFW testified in support of full funding for
VA's construction priorities so that veterans can have first-rate health
care in clean, modern facilities.  The VFW also pointed out the need for
more funding for maintenance to prevent conditions at VA's aging
infrastructure from deteriorating.  For testimony and more on the
hearing, go to the House VA website at
http://veterans.house.gov/hearings.

3. SVAC holds USERRA Hearing: The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held
a hearing this week on the Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), a law that provides broad employment
and re-employment rights to members of the military.  The committee
asked witnesses to speak specifically on the number of USERRA claims
being filed by returning servicemembers in connection with their
employment in the federal workforce.  Chairman Akaka (D-HI) referenced a
recent law (P.L. 108-454), which provided a pilot program that gave the
Office of the Special Counsel authority to receive and investigate
federal sector USERRA claims.  Older federal and private  claims were
handled by the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training
Service (VETS).  GAO also reported to Congress the results of their
recent investigation on all federal sector USSERA claims being handled
by Labor or the Office of Special Counsel. GAO found the latter to be
better equipped to handle USERRA claims.  For more on the hearing, visit
the Senate VA website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/public.

NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS

1. JPAC International Toll Free Number: The Joint POW/MIA Accounting
Command unveiled another method to connect with those around the world
who may have information about missing service members: an international
toll-free telephone number.  The new number, 1-866-913-1286, allows
those overseas to call JPAC free of charge, and talk to historians and
military intelligence analysts about possible leads pertaining to
missing and unaccounted-for Americans.  The new method provides another
option, along with JPAC's online site reporting form and email on the
JPAC website at http://www.jpac.pacom.mil.  All calls will initially be
routed to JPAC's Public Affairs Office.  The office will then forward
calls and messages to the appropriate section.  Information gathered
from private citizens will be used to hopefully generate new case leads.
JPAC has linguists for most countries where MIAs are believed to be
located to interpret for callers who do not speak English.  JPAC's
mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of missing service
members from past U.S. conflicts. There are approximately 88,000
unaccounted-for since World War II.

2. Vietnam War MIAs Identified:  The Defense POW/Missing Personnel
Office announced that the remains of five U.S. Navy servicemen, missing
in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be
returned to their families for burial with full military honors.  They
are Lt. j.g. Norman L. Roggow, of Aurelia, IA; Lt. j.g. Donald F. Wolfe,
of Hardin, MT; Lt. j.g. Andrew G. Zissu, of Bronx, NY; Chief Petty
Officer Roland R. Pineau, of Berkley, MI; and Petty Officer 3rd Class
Raul A. Guerra, of Los Angeles.  On Oct. 8, 1967, Zissu and Roggow were
the pilots of an E-1B Tracer en route from Chu Lai Air Base, Vietnam,
back to the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany.  Also on board were Wolfe,
Pineau and Guerra. Radar contact with the aircraft was lost
approximately 10 miles northwest of Da Nang, Vietnam.  Adverse weather
hampered immediate search efforts, but three days later, a search
helicopter spotted the wreckage of the aircraft on the face of a steep
mountain in Da Nang Province.  The location, terrain and hostile forces
in the area precluded a ground recovery.  In 1993 and 1994, human
remains were repatriated to the United States by Vietnam, with
information that linked the remains to unassociated losses in the same
geographical area as this incident.  Between 1993 and 2004,
US/Vietnamese teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command,
investigated the incident more than 15 times.  In 2004 and 2005, the
joint teams surveyed and excavated the crash site, where they recovered
human remains and crew-related items. .

3. Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active
duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard
and Army Reserve is 73,034; Navy Reserve, 5,895; Air National Guard and
Air Force Reserve, 7,033; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,589; and the Coast
Guard Reserve, 347.  This brings the total number of mobilized Guard and
Reserve personnel to 93,898, an increase of 927 from last week.

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VA Clarifies Policy on Flag-Folding Recitations - Press Release

October 30, 2007 at 10:26 PM

by BlogMaster

"13-Fold"Ceremony, Other Scripts Approved

WASHINGTON (October 30, 2007) -- To ensure burial services at the 125 national cemeteries operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reflect the wishes of veterans and their families, VA officials have clarified the Department's policy about recitations made while the U.S. flag is folded at the gravesite of a veteran.

"Honoring the burial wishes of veterans is one of the highest commitments for the men and women of VA," said William F. Tuerk, VA's Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs.  "A family may request the recitation of words to accompany the meaningful presentation of the American flag as we honor the dedication and sacrifice of their loved ones."

Traditional gravesite military funeral honors include the silent folding and presentation of an American flag, a 21-gun rifle salute, and the playing of "Taps."

The clarification includes the following:

*       Volunteer honor guards are authorized to read the so-called "13-fold" flag recitation or any comparable script;
*       Survivors of the deceased need to provide material and request it be read by the volunteer honor guards; and
*       Volunteer honor guards will accept requests for recitations that reflect any or no religious traditions, on an equal basis.

Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a national cemetery.  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.

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VFW Hopes New Nominee is a Strong Veterans' Advocate

October 30, 2007 at 10:20 PM

by BlogMaster

WASHINGTON Oct. 30, 2007 – The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is hoping the president’s nominee for secretary of Veterans Affairs will prove to be as strong a veterans’ advocate as his past record of accomplishments indicates.

“Doctor James Peake is a combat-wounded veteran, a board certified surgeon, the former top doctor in the Army, and was the chief operating officer of a large international humanitarian relief organization and in private industry,” said the VFW’s George Lisicki, of Carteret, N.J. “We hope he will bring that same level of passion and drive into the VA, because he certainly has the prerequisite credentials and organizational skills to lead the second largest federal department.”

The VFW national commander said Peake will walk into tremendous challenges on day one, foremost being an assurance that veterans of past and present will receive quality healthcare and timely benefits in an era of uncontrollable claims backlogs and an unknown annual budget.

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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY - October 26, 2007

October 26, 2007 at 1:59 PM

by BlogMaster

In This Issue

1. House Passes Veterans' Bills
2. Senate VA Committee Hearing
3. House VA Subcommittee Hearings
4. Medal of Honor Presented Posthumously
5. Congress Ignores New War Funding Request

1. House Passes Veterans' Bills: The House passed several VFW-supported bills that target mental health care for veterans, condemn recent damages to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and encourage greater participation on Veteran Day.
HR 327 - "The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act," would develop and implement a comprehensive program to help reduce suicide among veterans.
H Res 680 - Condemns the actions on Sept. 7 when an individual(s) splashed an unknown liquid on several panels of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
H Res 237 - Supports and encourages greater support and participation for Veterans Day.
HR 1808 and HR 2408 - Would rename VA facilities in Georgia for former Rep. Charlie Norwood and in Wisconsin for Battle of the Bulge hero Milo C. Huempfner.
For more information on any of the bills, visit the Thomas website and type the bill number in the box under current Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/.

 

2. Senate VA Committee Hearing: The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on health-related legislation this week. Two of the pending bills, the Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007 (S. 2162), and the Veterans Pain Care Act of 2007 (S. 2160), were introduced by Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI).
S. 2162 - Would expand substance abuse treatment within VA, establish a pilot program for contracting mental healthcare in rural areas, and establish "centers of excellence" in treating PTSD.
S. 2160 - Would enhance VA's pain management program on a national level, calling for better clinical practices, research and professional education.
Other bills discussed included S. 38, the Veterans Mental Health and Outreach Act, and S. 2004, Epilepsy Centers of Excellence in VHA. VFW supports all the above mentioned legislation. For more on the hearing and the bills, go to: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/

 

3. House VA Subcommittee Hearings:
Wednesday: The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation held a hearing on the status of DOD and VA in creating a shared electronic medical records system. Recent commission reports and Congress both have called on VA and DOD to speed up their implementation, but despite considerable accomplishments that have been made in the past two years, the two agencies still cannot electronically share vital patient care information.
Thursday: The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held an oversight hearing on the Department of Labor Veterans' Employment Training Services and the role of DVOPs and LVERs within the program. The hearing was a follow-up to several other hearings held in the 109th Congress and one held on March of this year. The hearings focused on VSO concerns about funding levels, DVOP/LVER training, accountability and priority of service for our veterans.

4. Medal of Honor Presented Posthumously: President Bush presented the nation's highest medal to the parents of Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, of Patchogue, New York, who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. On June 28, 2005, Murphy's four-man SEAL team was searching for a key terrorist commander when it came under attack by some 50 Taliban fighters. The lieutenant is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates, according to a summary of action published by the Navy. Murphy is one of three servicemembers to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry in action during the war on terror. The other two recipients were Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, both of whom were killed-in-action in Iraq.

 

5. Congress Ignores New War Funding Request: On Monday, President Bush requested $196.4 billion to purchase 7,200 new mine-resistant vehicles, fill equipment shortfalls, repair damaged equipment, enhance roadside bomb countermeasures, fund military construction projects, and improve medical and rehabilitation programs for wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The media is reporting that House and Senate leadership will wait until next year before advancing the president's new request, the bulk of which would go to DOD. The request is in addition to the Defense Department's fiscal year 2008 budget, which is among the 12 major spending bills that the House and Senate have approved separately but have yet to consolidate for the president's signature.
The federal government's new fiscal year began Oct. 1. VFW Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki is not happy with Congress' nonchalant attitude towards President Bush's war funding request. "Our nation is at war, yet congressional leaders would rather continue to debate the administration's policies than fulfill their obligation to support the troops with adequate and timely funding."

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