VFW MS District 10

A Christmas Message from VFW National Commander

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 09:07 AM

by dist10

Anyone who has worn a uniform overseas knows this is the most difficult time of year to be separated from family and friends.

"It is easy to say 'let us remember our troops' during the Christmas season, but how many of us really understand the painful nobility of this sacrifice?" Bruce Kluger asked in USA Today last Christmas. "For those on active duty in the Middle East, the business of battle knows no holiday."

I could not have possibly said it better. But this writer did not stop there. "Equally heartbreaking—and incomprehensible—is the wrenching vacuum that war inflicts on families on the home front," he wrote.

Christmas celebrations in Afghanistan and Iraq are, by necessity, subdued. More quality food, special church services and private thoughts of loved ones usually constitute this most beloved of holidays in the war zone. Yet these gestures never seem to be enough.

On Dec. 25, 2007, McClatchy News Service was one of the few media outlets to report on the troops directly from the field. At Patrol Base Warrior Keep in southwest Baghdad, two of its reporters interviewed soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, to sample their sentiments.

"If I didn't feel like this is where I needed to be, I think it'd be horrible," Chaplain Eric Light told them. "Our holidays are so tied to our families, it's nearly impossible to re-create them here."

What we can do as veterans is to remind those around us of the emotional importance of this time of year to the troops thousands of miles from home. After all, they are "honoring our nation with their service while fighting wars whose consequences have nothing and everything to do with the humanity at the heart of the holiday," Kluger aptly pointed out.

While we are keeping them in our thoughts, let's not forget the other GIs on far-flung fronts that never make newspaper headlines. From Kosovo in the Balkans to South Korea in Northeast Asia, tens of thousands of Americans maintain lonely vigils. Still others prowl the seas, protecting our shores from afar. Their missions should never be taken for granted or forgotten.

The debt of gratitude we owe the tiny percentage—less than 1%—of Americans who bear the burden of our freedom can probably never be adequately paid. But the least we can do is to give them more than a passing thought. As we enjoy Christmas revelry, keep in mind that someone in uniform is making that possible. Chances are that it might even be a family member. If so, you need not be reminded of the sacrifices being made.

As the mother of one Afghanistan soldier said, "Each American should remember during this season that our soldiers are fighting the battle over there so we can be safe here at home."

In that spirit, let my wife, Jean, and me wish all veterans a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a great New Year.

Glen Gardner
VFW Commander-in-Chief

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VFW Washington Weekly - November 14, 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 08:08 AM

by dist10

NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Navy to Design New GI Bill Software

NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. JPAC Goes to India
2. Military Healthcare Online Town Hall Meeting
3. Reserve Component Mobilization

NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE

1. Navy to Design New GI Bill Software: A navy command center in Charleston, SC, has been chosen to design the new GI Bill software which VA will use to implement its education benefits.  The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) has experience with sophisticated software that can perform some of the complex calculations that are required under the new law.  The benefit rollout is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2009.  The new education benefit will pay full tuition up to the cost of the most expensive four-year public college or university in the state where a service member or veteran attends school.  It also pays a living stipend based on zip code and other fees for the student veteran.  SPAWAR is still awaiting funding from VA in order to begin the initial stage.

Click here to read more

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VFW Washington Weekly - November 7, 2008

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 10:06 PM

by dist10

In This Issue:
1. 2008 Election
2. IB Releases Critical Issues for 2010
3. 2009 Retired Pay COLA
4. Lower Tricare Reserve Select Premiums
5. Guard/Reserve Debt Relief Act of 2008

1. 2008 Election

The 2008 election is one for the history books, with 136.6 million people, or 64.1% of eligible voters turning out. This exceeds the previous records of 122.3 million voters in 2004 and 63.8% of eligible voters in the 1960 elections. The Democratic Party also extended its majority lead in both the House and Senate, despite a few races that have yet to be decided. VFW congratulates everyone and looks forward to working with them when the 111th Congress convenes in January. VFW remains steadfast in our fight to increase VA funding and to help those transitioning from active duty to veteran status. Linked here are VFW's 2009 Legislative Priority Goals, which are the result of resolutions adopted at the 109th VFW National Convention. We ask that you become familiar with them. Any grassroots action that you take to educate your legislators on them will benefit all us all.
For a list of the 2009 priority goals, go to: http://www.vfw.org/legislative/2009prioritygoals.pdf.
To sign-up to receive our VFW Washington Weekly e-newsletter and join our advocacy team, go to: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup/

Read more Washington Weekly

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New Law Authorizes Veterans' Salutes during National Anthem

Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 12:25 PM

by dist10

WASHINGTON (Oct. 30, 2008) -- Veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect this month.

"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed forces," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag."

The new provision improves upon a little known change in federal law last year that authorized veterans to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but it did not address salutes during the national anthem.  Last year's provision also applied to members of the armed forces while not in uniform.

Traditionally, members of the nation's veterans service organizations have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization's official head-gear.

The most recent change, authorizing hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel, was sponsored by Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, an Army veteran.  It was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed on Oct. 14.

The earlier provision authorizing hand-salutes for veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which took effect Jan. 28, 2008.

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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY - Oct. 16, 2008

Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 12:42 PM

by dist10

In This Issue:

NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Election Day

NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. President Signs Defense Bill
2. VFW Leaders Travel to Europe
3. Reserve Component Mobilization

NATIONAL VETERANS SERVICE
1. Retirees and Disabled Veterans Receive 5.8% Increase

NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE

1. Election Day: The election is fast approaching (Nov. 4), so now is a
great time to volunteer to work at your local polling place or to
volunteer to provide transportation to others who may need help getting
to the polls.  The VFW encourages everyone to be educated on the issues
and to exercise their constitutional right to vote.  The October 2008
issue of VFW Magazine covered both presidential candidates and their
positions on issues important to veterans.  That link is at
http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/partyplatforms.pdf.

Read more Washington Weekly

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USPS Sets Holiday Mailing Deadlines for Military

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 02:27 PM

by dist10

Washington, DC  -Holiday gifts from home are a big morale boost for military service members stationed around the world. To help the families and friends of military personnel, the Postal Service is offering a discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat-Rate box.

Mail sent to overseas military addresses is charged only domestic mail prices. The domestic mail price for the largest Flat-Rate Priority Mail box is $12.95, but for packages to APO/FPO addresses overseas the price is reduced to only $10.95. Flat-Rate boxes are free at any Post Office, or can be ordered online at usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online any time using Click-N-Ship at www.usps.com/clicknship.

"Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes offer the best bargain in holiday shipping," says Paul Vogel, managing director, Global Business and senior vice president. "The contents can be any weight for one low rate. If it fits, it ships."

The Postal Service continues to show its support 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 Priority Mail boxes, six Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, eight Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape and eight customs forms with envelopes.

"The best support for the troops this holiday season is a gift that's on time, so mail before the deadline," Vogel advises.

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VFW Salutes Passage of 2009 VA Budget

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 03:28 PM

by dist10

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2008--The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is saluting the 110th Congress for providing $50.2 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs fiscal year 2009 budget.

As part of the $634 billion Continuing Resolution signed by President Bush yesterday, VA discretionary funding is increased $4.5 billion over last year, which meets Independent Budget recommendations for healthcare funding. The Independent Budget is a detailed analysis of VA operations that the VFW has co-authored for the past 22 years with AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

VA budget highlights include $3.8 billion for mental healthcare, $584 million for substance abuse programs, $510 million for medical and prosthetic research, $250 million to improve access for veterans in rural areas, and additional funding for homeless grants, the hiring of 2,000 additional claims adjudicators, and to raise the mileage reimbursement rate from 28.5 to 41.5 cents per mile.

“We are very grateful to the president and to congressional leadership for keeping to their pledge to take care of our veterans,” said VFW National Commander Glen Gardner, a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas. “And we hope the delivery of an on-time budget is the start of a trend that will continue into the next administration and Congress.”

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