VFW NC Post 4203 - Rockingham

VFW Commander-in-Chief Defends Modernization

Posted at 07:58 AM on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

Robert F. Dorr's December 1 commentary, "VFW, Legion must modernize in order to thrive" is interesting reading but regrettably focuses on archaic stereotypes that are simply re-hashing many of his embedded misunderstandings of what veterans service organizations really accomplish.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U. S. was founded in 1899 by Spanish-American and Philippine War veterans who returned home to a government that bore little responsibility to care for wounds or rehabilitation. Since then, and through every war and conflict in the 20th and 21st centuries, the VFW has led the way to promote strong military and veterans' legislation.

Our accomplishments are significant, from helping to create the Department of Veterans Affairs, the World War II GI Bill, and Agent Orange and Gulf War undiagnosed illnesses legislation, to leading the way to today's traumatic injury disability insurance and the new better GI Bill for the 21st Century.

We would not be celebrating our 110th birthday next year if we were stuck in the past. We incorporate the best practices from each generation and move forward, yet some practices are sacrosanct: we stand for the flag of our country, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem. We open our meetings with prayers, just as military units did and continue to do before going out on missions. This is not Old School; this is what real, caring Americans do..."

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VFW Member Receives Bronze Star 63 Years Later

Posted at 07:18 AM on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

Sixty-three years after he helped liberate captives in three Nazi concentration camps and one POW camp in Germany and Austria, veteran Raymond Callanan (left) of Farmington, Missouri is getting his Bronze Star medal.

Visit VFW Post 5896 for more.

The American Veteran - December Edition

Posted at 08:17 AM on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

VA Sends Latest Gulf War Illness Report to IOM for Review

Posted at 07:46 AM on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

WASHINGTON (Dec. 1, 2008) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has sent the October 2008 report from the VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses to the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) for review and recommendations.

The October report from the advisory committee identified potential causes for -- and asserted that research supports the existence of -- a multi-symptom condition resulting from service in the 1990 - 1991 Gulf War, which the committee identified as Gulf War Illness (GWI).

Because VA has traditionally and by law relied upon IOM for independent and credible reviews of the science behind these particular veterans' health issues, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake has asked IOM to review the advisory committee's report before VA officially responds to the report's conclusions.

"I appreciate the committee's work on this report, and I am eager to see the results of further independent study into their findings," Peake said. "Of course, VA will continue to provide the care and benefits our Gulf War veterans have earned through their service, as we have for more than a decade."

VA has long recognized conditions, granted benefits and provided health care to Gulf War veterans suffering from a broad range of symptoms, even though these conditions have not been scientifically recognized as a specific disease or injury or GWI.

These include chronic fatigue, persistent rashes, hair loss, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, neurologic symptoms, neuropsychological symptoms (such as memory loss), respiratory system symptoms, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms,
abnormal weight loss and menstrual disorders.

Grassroots 2008 December Survey

Posted at 08:26 AM on Monday, December 1, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

BUDDY POPPIES: PANHANDLING? SAY IT AIN'T SO!

Posted at 08:45 PM on Sunday, November 30, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

(via Dept of Wisconsin)

VA Announces Travel Reimbursement Increases for Eligible Veterans

Posted at 11:36 AM on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

(via VA Press Release)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that eligible veterans will see an increase in the mileage reimbursement they receive for travel to VA facilities for medical care.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake announced that he will use his authority to raise the mileage reimbursement from the 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile for all eligible veterans.

"We owe it to our veterans to give them the best care possible," said Peake. "The increase will once again provide assistance to our veterans, especially in these difficult economic times, to help offset gasoline costs and to assist veterans with access to the VA's world-class health system."

Congress, which mandates such increases, recently provided funding to VA to increase the reimbursement rate, which goes into effect on November 17, 2008. Service connected veterans, veterans receiving VA pensions, and veterans with low incomes are eligible for the reimbursement.

"As I have travelled the country and spoken with many of our veterans, they have expressed the need for such an increase," added Peake. "We are pleased to be able to provide them with the increase needed and we will continue to work with our veterans to ensure they receive the quality care they need."      

While increasing the payment, the current deductible amounts applied to certain mileage reimbursements will remain frozen at $7.77 for a one way trip, $15.54 for a round trip, and capped at a maximum of $46.62 per calendar month.  On January 9, 2009, these deductibles will decrease to $3 for a one way trip, $6 for a round trip, with a maximum of $18 per calendar month.  Deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran.

VFW Launches Campaign to Attract Women Veterans

Posted at 11:34 PM on Monday, November 24, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

VFW Chief Calls on Vietnam Veterans Help in MIA/POW Mission

Posted at 11:18 AM on Monday, November 24, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

VFW National Commander Glen Gardner visits a MIA recovery site to dig for possible remains. Photo via VFW.org

VFW Commander-in-Chief Glen Gardner is once again calling upon veterans of the Vietnam War to search their memory and files for any information that might be of value in determining the fate of Vietnam’s 300,000 MIAs and might be of assistance in the recovery of their remains.

Providing information of this nature to the Vietnamese government helps to generate good will among its people and further assists U.S. efforts in its investigative and recovery operations for America’s MIAs. Information is also needed for the Laotian and Cambodian governments to help account for their missing.

VFW Commander-in-Chief Glen Gardner requests Department, District, Post, and VFW member assistance in gathering information that would help identify Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian gravesites.

Such information or material may include veterans’ statements; photos and locations of battles or burial sites; battlefield souvenirs, especially if they contain names or other identifying information; personal effects, such as photos, letters or identification documents taken from casualties; sketch maps, etc.

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VA Expands Protections for Veterans with Missing Paperwork

Posted at 11:13 AM on Friday, November 21, 2008 by Harry M. Coble, Quartermaster, VFW Post 4203

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) [Monday] announced special procedures for processing claims from veterans, family members, and survivors whose applications for financial benefits from VA may have been mishandled by VA personnel.  

These special procedures come after an audit by VA's Inspector General found documents waiting to be shredded at some of VA's regional offices that, if disposed of, could have affected the financial benefits awarded to veterans and survivors.  

"I am deeply concerned that improper actions by a few VA employees could have caused any veterans to receive less than their full entitlement to benefits earned by their service to our nation," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.  

"In rectifying this unacceptable lapse, VA will be guided by two principles -- full accountability for VA staff and ensuring veterans receive the benefit of the doubt if receipt of a document by VA is in question," he added. 

VA worked with the six largest veterans service organizations in developing these special new procedures.  The procedures will assist veterans and survivors in establishing that an application or another document was previously submitted to VA, but was not properly acted upon by VA and was not retained in the veteran's records.   

The special procedures cover missing documents submitted by a veteran or other applicant for VA benefits during the 18-month period between April 14, 2007 and October 14, 2008.  

VA will process any missing applications or evidence resubmitted under these special procedures as if the document had been originally submitted on the date identified by the claimant.

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