Veterans of Foreign Wars Department Illinois Berwyn Post http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/ en-us Mon, 7 Dec 2009 01:42:44 -0500 Policlicks LLC WASHINGTON (Dec. 3, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a national survey of Veterans, active duty service members, activated National Guard and reserve members, and family members and survivors to learn if they are aware of VA services. "By hearing directly from Veterans and their family members, we gain valuable information to help us serve them better.  We hope those who receive the survey will respond to it," Secretary Shinseki said. In addition to assessing awareness levels, the National Survey of Veterans will collect important health care, benefits, employment, and demographic information that VA will use to inform policy decisions and improve benefits.  Recognizing a broader client base than just Veterans, this is the first time VA has included others, such as Veteran family members, in its survey population. VA is mailing out survey "screeners" to more than 130,000 households to identify potential survey participants.  The screener asks if anyone in the household is a member of one of the identified survey groups - Veterans, family members and survivors, active duty, Guard or Reserve members.  Eligible survey participants then may be requested to participate in a full-length survey. Participants will be able to select a preferred survey method: through U.S. mail, telephone or a password-protected Internet address.  VA expects approximately 10,000 Veterans to complete the full-length survey. This is the sixth VA National Survey of Veterans since 1978.  The information collected will help VA in its efforts to design and conduct outreach to Veterans.  In addition, it will provide a clearer picture of the Veteran population's characteristics to help evaluate existing programs and policies and measure their impact. The data collection is expected to be finished by the end of February and the final report released by December 2010. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/174028/ Fri, 4 Dec 2009 11:12:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/174028/ WASHINGTON, December 2, 2009 — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is strongly supporting the president's new strategy to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies. "President Obama set the conditions for success in Afghanistan, and he did it without lowering any bars" said Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis. "What we now need is for Congress and the American people to get behind him and destroy this global threat to world peace once and for all." Read more http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/173668/ Fri, 4 Dec 2009 11:09:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/173668/ By Thomas J. Tradewell Sr. Columnist Robert F. Dorr has once again missed the mark regarding the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. ["Some vets still more equal than others," Nov. 16]. His insinuation that we regard Cold War veterans as "second-class citizens" is disingenuous, and the facts reveal a different story altogether. The VFW is a membership organization that is open to all who currently serve or have served, provided they meet eligibility requirements as established by Congress through public laws. Founded in 1899, the VFW is America's oldest major veterans' organization, and with more than 1.5 million members, we are also her largest organization of combat veterans, an all encompassing category that includes those who went to war as well as those who deployed in support of contingency operations. All who have deployed into the unknown are forever bound by a common experience — regardless of service, conflict or MOS — and so, too, are our families. It is a "One Team, One Mission" concept that only we who have been there can understand. It is unfortunate that Mr. Dorr continuously refuses to understand this concept and its critical distinction. He used the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall to say we "betrayed" Cold War veterans because our membership requirements are more exclusive than inclusive, and he cites Korea in trying to validate his point. Had he checked VFW eligibility requirements, he would have discovered that those who served in Korea from the end of World War II forward are eligible. So, too, are those who flew clandestine reconnaissance flights over the former Soviet Union or its satellite states, provided hostile fire or imminent danger pay or an expeditionary medal was awarded. continue reading http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/173308/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:30:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/173308/ (via The Pentagon Channel) http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/172948/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:26:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/172948/ (Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Country Gentleman published December 1, 1917) The VFW WebCOM family would like to wish you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  We are especially grateful for our veterans and those actively serving in our military.  Thank you and may you have a happy holiday wherever you may be. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/172588/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:36:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/172588/ In This Issue: 1. VFW / VA Members Among Fort Hood Victims 2. VFW Legislative Priority Goals for 2010 3. No Tricare For Life Changes 4. White House Employment Initiative Good for Veterans: 1. VFW / VA Members Among Fort Hood Victims: Last week's tragic shooting at Fort Hood included VFW and VA members.  Staff Sgt. Justin M. DeCrow, 32, was killed by Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who allegedly murdered 13 and wounded dozens before being shot and apprehended by two civilian law enforcement officers.  DeCrow was a member of VFW Post 11016 in Songnam, South Korea.  He graduated high school in 1996 in Plymouth, IN, and leaves behind a wife and daughter at Fort Gordon, GA.  Two VA employees also slain were identified as: *        Dr. Russell G. Seager, Ph.D., a 51-year old Army Reserve captain who led a mental health team at the VA medical center in Milwaukee. *        Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, a 55-year-old Maryland National Guardsman who was a nurse practitioner at the VA medical center in Perry Point, MD.  She was a former member of VFW Post 8276 in Delmar, MD. VFW Commander-in-Chief Thomas J. Tradewell Sr. said, "No words can properly convey our condolences to the wounded and families of those murdered.  The entire military family is grieving right now.  I just want them to know they do not grieve alone. Our hearts and prayers are with them."  Read the VFW press release at http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5280. Read more VFW Washington Weekly http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/172227/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:54:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/172227/ (Via Dept of Wisconsin) " + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" scrolldown="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" print="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" gotopage="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" changefullscreenbutton="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" zoomtocoordinate="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" scrolltocoordinate="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" getpage="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" getzoom="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" getscrollxpercent="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" getscrollypercent="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }" togglefullscreen="function () { return eval(instance.CallFunction("" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + "")); }"> 2009 Europe Report - Press the "Full Screen" button to see a larger image and/or print the document. If the document above does not appear, you may need to update your Flash Player. Click here to update it. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/171867/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:50:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/171867/ To all who have served and those who are serving now, we thank you for your service and remember those who have fallen in defense of our freedom. - VFW WebCOM Network Staff http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/171507/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:05:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/171507/ WASHINGTON, November 10, 2009 — The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is applauding the president's new executive order for helping more military veterans get federal and private employment. "The president is serious about helping veterans get a job, and he is making sure the federal government is at the top of the hiring line," said VFW Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Richard L, Eubank, a Vietnam veteran from Eugene, Ore., who is in Washington to represent the organization at different national Veterans Day events. According to the White House, approximately 480,000 veterans work for the government, about one-fourth of the total federal workforce. While the executive order places emphasis on hiring veterans for both public and private employment, it is specifically focused on hiring veterans for federal positions. It created a special Council on Veterans Employment to encourage federal agencies to recruit and train military veterans. The council will be co-chaired by the secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs. Read more http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/171147/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:48:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/171147/ During Veterans Day Weekend, several retail businesses are raising money for programs, while other businesses are offering various discounts to veterans. VFW received the following notices about Veterans Day Specials: Sport Clips nationwide on Veterans Day, November 11, is supporting VFW Operation Uplink™ with "The Biggest Haircut Day of the Year." On that day, Sport Clips will donate a dollar for every haircut given in our 660+ stores. Show your support for troops and veterans by getting your next haircut at Sport Clips. Burger King restaurants in select states across the country are raising money for VFW Unmet Needs through November 30. More than 800 Burger King restaurants are participating in the “buy a burger; donate a buck” fundraiser in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin. Click here for the VFW's full list of participating businesses. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/170787/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:37:00 -0500 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post2378/170787/