Veterans of Foreign Wars Department California http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/ en-us Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:01:45 -0500 Policlicks LLC The Home Depot has once again revised their grant program which is now entitled “Building Healthy Community Grants.“ VFW Posts are eligible to apply for up to $2,500 in Home Depot gift cards to be used for remodeling activities to their Post building. Visit Department of Wisconsin to learn more. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/221621/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:32:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/221621/ Recommended Mailing Dates to APO/FPO Addresses WASHINGTON — For military service members stationed around the globe, holiday gifts are a big morale boost. To help the families and friends of U.S. military personnel, the Postal Service offers a discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box. The recommended mailing date for the most economical postage to overseas military installations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, is Nov. 13. Mail sent to overseas military addresses is charged only domestic mail prices. The domestic mail price for the Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is $13.95, but for packages to APO/FPO addresses overseas the price is reduced to $11.95. Additional discounts are available for customers printing their Priority Mail postage labels online at Click-N-Ship. Flat-Rate boxes are free at any Post Office, or can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online any time using Click-N-Ship. The Postal Service continues to show support to those serving in the armed forces by offering free Military Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by phone by calling 1-800-610-8734 and asking for the Care Kit. Each kit includes two “America Supports You” large Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, four medium-sized Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, six Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape and six customs forms with envelopes. For online ordering of the Large Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate boxes featuring the “America Supports You” logo and APO/FPO addressing block, Click here. More information about mailing letters and packages to military destinations is available online at Supporting Our Troops. “Mailing holiday gifts to service members early will help insure that a piece of home arrives in plenty of time to make the celebration complete," said Pranab Shah, vice president and managing director, Global Business. To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be entered no later than the mailing dates listed below. Mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally require customs forms. To see an online table of updated APO and FPO addresses and mailing restrictions by individual APO/FPO ZIP Codes, Click here, select “Pull-Out Information” and click on “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail.” MILITARY MAILING DEADLINES Military Mail Addressed To Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/ First-Class Mail® Letters and Cards Priority Mail® Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/ Space Available Mail (SAM)3/ Parcel Post® APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 Dec-18 Dec-11 Dec-11 Dec-4 Nov-28 Nov-13 APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 N/A Dec-4 Dec-4 Dec-1 Nov-21 Nov-13 APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 Dec-18 Dec-11 Dec-11 Dec-4 Nov-28 Nov-13 APO/FPO AA ZIP 340 Dec-18 Dec-11 Dec-11 Dec-4 Nov-28 Nov-13 APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 Dec-18 Dec-11 Dec-11 Dec-4 Nov-28 Nov-13 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/220180/ Tue, 3 Nov 2009 08:47:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/220180/ In This Issue: 1. Health Care Victory for Veterans 2. VFW Testifies on Bills 3. House VA Subcommittee Hearings   1. Health Care Victory for Veterans: Key House leaders have agreed to offer an amendment that will put to rest any concerns that VA health care will change under the nation health care reform debate.  VFW has been in talks with House VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) and Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-IN) on this important issue.  The amendment being offered will ensure that veterans enrolled in VA are automatically deemed as having qualified health care coverage, and also allow veterans using VA health care to purchase other types of insurance through the health insurance exchanges.  VFW will continue to monitor health care reform legislation in the House and Senate. Read more Washington Weekly http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/214511/ Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:12:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/214511/ VFW Checkpoint Magazine - http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/211665/ Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:58:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/211665/ In This Issue: 1. VFW Protects Health Care Programs 2. Vet Bills Update 3. New GI Bill Benefit Begins 4. Senate Hearing on Disability Compensation 5. Congress on Recess   1. VFW Protects Health Care Programs: VFW is working closely with House leadership to ensure national health care reform legislation does not change the way veterans, military retirees and their families receive their health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs or the military's TRICARE program.  Key VFW-supported amendments adopted by the House include: Exclude TRICARE from all reform movements; Exclude VA health care from all reform movement, and maintain the VA secretary's current authority to operate the organization as he deems appropriate. Give veterans using VA health care the option of purchasing additional insurance under the new national health care plan. This would expand, not restrict, health care coverage available to them and their families; VFW will continue to work closely with Congress to ensure that neither VA nor TRICARE are adversely affected under the national health care reform proposal.  We have also received assurances from the President that veterans and servicemembers will be safeguarded under any bill passed by Congress. Continue reading Washington Weekly http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/207879/ Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:51:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/207879/ WASHINGTON, August 4, 2009 - The national commander of the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries called this week's implementation of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill a significant milestone for military servicemembers, their families and the entire country. "The original World War II GI Bill opened higher education to the masses and produced U.S. presidents, scientists, scholars, and captains of industry who were directly responsible for America's tremendous era of growth and prosperity in the second half of the 20th century," said Glen M. Gardner Jr., a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas. "The new 21st century GI Bill will provide today's warrior with that same access to a first class education, and it's all due to the leadership and determination of Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.)," he said. "The VFW is proud to have been an early supporter of his landmark legislation through the advocacy work of our Washington Office on Capitol Hill and the grassroots efforts of our members in every congressional district. Education changes lives, which in turn strengthens families and our communities and nation. We are proud to have helped this bill become reality." Read more http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/207383/ Wed, 5 Aug 2009 10:32:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/207383/ http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/204067/ Fri, 3 Jul 2009 02:10:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/204067/ In This Issue: 1. House Committee Marks up Vet Bills 2. Healthcare Bill for Women Veterans Cleared 3. House VA Committee Hearings 4. Japan Apologizes to American POWs 5. McHugh Tapped for Army Secretary   1. House Committee Marks up Vet Bills: Several VFW-supported bills cleared their respective subcommittees this week.  All of the bills now move to the full committee for consideration. HR 952 would expand the meaning of combat with the enemy to mean active duty service in a combat theater during a time of war not just during actual combat. The bill aims to shorten the claims process for many veterans suffering from psychological injuries.  HR 2270 would establish a compensation fund for certain WWII veterans who were not eligible for readjustment benefits.  Those eligible would receive a monthly payment of $1000 HR 1037 would authorize $10 million annually to implement a five-year pilot program to expand work-study activities for veterans on campuses. HR 1098, The Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009 would increase educational assistance for veterans pursuing internships or on-the-job training. It also increased the monthly training assistance for eligible veterans and their dependents under the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance program. HR 2180 would waive housing loan fees for veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active duty. HR 1821, The Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009 would extend VA's Vocational Rehabilitation program to 15 years following discharge or release from active duty. It also authorizes single parents participating in the program up to $2000 a month for child care services.  For more information on any of the bills cleared visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/ OR type the bill # into the box at http://thomas.loc.gov/ Read more Washington Weekly http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/199341/ Sun, 7 Jun 2009 09:15:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/199341/ In an open letter, VFW Commander-in-Chief Glen Gardner is urging his 1.6 million members to help OEF/OIF veterans cope with the stresses of war. Dear Comrades: There is an enemy in our midst that is having a devastating effect on our servicemen and women in the field and at home. That enemy is stress. Since 9/11, more military personnel and veterans have committed suicide than the total dead from both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined, and this tragedy is occurring despite the best of intentions and programs offered by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. That is because the need has overwhelmed the capacity of government and civilian mental health centers. It's also because some people simply refuse to admit they need help. After incurring 11 suicides since the beginning of the year, the 101st Airborne Division commander at Fort Campbell, Ky., ordered a three-day standdown of activities this week so that his soldiers could refocus on the mission of healing themselves and each other. This is a very positive initiative, but more needs to be done to overcome the stigma that's unfortunately attached to seeking help, which Army Secretary Pete Geren called a significant challenge to the culture of the Army that places "a premium on strength: physically, mentally, emotionally." Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen even asked his military leaders to set an example for lower ranking personnel. "You can't expect a private or a specialist to be willing to seek counseling when his or her captain or colonel or general won't do it," he said. Since then, general officers as well as sergeant majors have admitted publicly to mental health counseling. And even though few of them would be seen manning remote outposts, and still fewer would be at risk of being separated from the military due to "preexisting personality disorders," their personal testimonials do help to lessen the stigma attached to seeking help. Continue reading http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/198375/ Sat, 30 May 2009 05:56:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/198375/ In This Issue: 1. VA Appropriations Update 2. House VA Committee Hearings 3. Merchant Mariner Bill Passes House 4. GI Bill Registration Update   1. VA Appropriations Update: In testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki reaffirmed the Administration's support for advanced appropriations, a VFW top priority goal.  Advanced appropriations would ensure funding for veterans healthcare is sufficient, timely and predictable for all who use the system by funding the system one year in advance.  H.R. 1016 and S. 423, sponsored by House VA Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) and Senate VA Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI), respectively, still needs your support.  VFW asks you to contact your legislators and urge them to co-sponsor these critical bills.  To send a message to your legislators, visit the VFW website at: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=13251881. Read more Washington Weekly http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/195998/ Mon, 18 May 2009 10:47:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/ca/dist14/195998/