VFW NC Post 9100 - Chapel Hill

Buddy Poppy Fun at NC Mid-Winter Convention

Posted at 10:23 AM on Monday, February 8, 2010 by post9100

VFW Applauds VA, National Security Budget Requests

Posted at 09:50 AM on Monday, February 8, 2010 by post9100

WASHINGTON - The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is applauding President Obama for submitting a fiscal year 2011 budget that strengthens defense and national security, and boosts programs for veterans, servicemembers and their families.

Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis., said the president's vision tracks with key VFW legislative goals that advocate for a strong and secure America, and for ensuring that those who serve in uniform are properly cared for by a grateful nation.

Voice of Democracy Winner Wows the Crowd

Posted at 05:01 PM on Saturday, February 6, 2010 by post9100

The event was the Voice of Democracy Banquet at North Carolina VFW Council of Administration Meeting at the North Raleigh Hilton.  The crowd included Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander-in-Chief Thomas Tradewell, many post commanders, state officers, and other senior VFW officers who gathered for the meeting.

You would think that an 11th grader standing before a huge audience of dignitaries, veterans, spouses, peers, and the most critical observers (his family and grandfather) would have exhibited signs of fear and nervousness.  Not so for Samuel J. Johnson.  He delivered his audio-essay with only an occasional reference glance to his notes. 

His voice was clear, distinct, and eloquent as he took us on a trip through American history.  He spoke of George Washington, combat veterans, Vietnam, and our current heroes serving today.  Each example built on the previous one to set the stage for the most critical point.  We, you and I, are free to write and speak without fear.  We can express our views in any crowd.  We can rest easy in our homes at night, but only because others have given their lives to make it possible.

An aspiring lawyer, Samuel is a member of a debating team and this is what got him into the Veterans of Foreign Wars'  Voice of Democracy contest.  To debate well, you need to know your facts and believe in what you are going to present.  Debates are not for the weak-kneed.

You will have to wait until March before we report the results off the national contest, but, from what we saw and heard yesterday, we have a strong contender. 

Chapel Hill, Post 9100 and the veterans of North Carolina are proud of Samuel and look forward to hearing great things about him in the future.

White House Seeks $125 Billion for Veterans in 2011

Posted at 07:27 PM on Monday, February 1, 2010 by post9100

WASHINGTON – To expand health care to a record-number of Veterans, reduce the number of homeless Veterans and process a dramatically increased number of new disability compensation claims, the White House has announced a proposed $125 billion budget next year for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Our budget proposal provides the resources necessary to continue our aggressive pursuit of President Obama's two over-arching goals for Veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "First, the requested budget will help transform VA into a 21st century organization.  And second, it will ensure that we approach Veterans' care as a lifetime initiative, from the day they take their oaths until the day they are laid to rest."

The $125 billion budget request, which has to be approved by Congress, includes $60.3 billion for discretionary spending (mostly health care) and $64.7 billion in mandatory funding (mostly for disability compensation and pensions).

"VA's 2011 budget request covers many areas but focuses on three central issues that are of critical importance to our Veterans – easier access to benefits and services, faster disability claims decisions, and ending the downward spiral that results in Veterans' homelessness," Shinseki said.

Reducing Claims Backlog

The president's budget proposal includes an increase of $460 million and more than 4,000 additional claims processors for Veterans benefits.  This is a 27 percent funding increase over the 2010 level.

The 1,014,000 claims received in 2009 were a 75 percent increase over the 579,000 received in 2000.  Shinseki said the Department expects a 30 percent increase in claims – to 1,319,000 – in 2011 from 2009 levels.

One reason for the increase is VA's expansion of the number of Agent Orange-related illnesses that automatically qualify for disability benefits.  Veterans exposed to the Agent Orange herbicides during the Vietnam War are likely to file additional claims that will have a substantial impact upon the processing system for benefits, the secretary said.

"We project significantly increased claims inventories in the near term while we make fundamental improvements to the way we process disability compensation claims," Shinseki said.

Long-term reduction of the inventory will come from additional manpower, improved business practices, plus an infusion of $145 million in the proposed budget for development of a paperless claims processing system, which plays a significant role in the transformation of VA.

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Chapel Hill Post Candidate is State Voice of Democracy winner

Posted at 09:53 PM on Saturday, January 23, 2010 by post9100

A Chapel Hill student has won the North Carolina Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy competition.  Samuel J. Johnson, an 11^th Grade student of Harbor Light Academy, entered the annual competition and was selected to represent Chapel Hill.  He went on to win district and then state competition. 

The Veterans of Foreign Wars State Department Quartermaster, Bruce Edwards, announced Samuel Johnson’s selection as the North Carolina State first place winner.  The First Place winner receives a $2,000 scholarship from the VFW North Carolina State Department and an additional $1,000 from the VFW Past State Commander James Black Foundation. 

Samuel Johnson will receive his award at an upcoming VFW State Council of Administration Meeting at the North Raleigh Hilton on Friday, February 5^th.  As part of that day’s event, he will also meet Governor Perdue and tour the North Carolina State Capital, tour the North Carolina State Legislature Building, and visit the North Carolina Museum of History.  He will be joined by second and third place Voice of Democracy winners and three Patriots Pen competition winners.

 “We are very proud to have a student from Chapel Hill win the State-wide Voice of Democracy competition,” said Lee Heavlin, VFW Post Commander, C.V. Cummings Chapel Hill Post 9100.  “His entry was a delight to listen to.  It was insightful, heartfelt and well presented.  We look forward to hearing Samuel present it again in Raleigh,” he continued. 

 His entry was an audio-essay recording entitled “Does America Still Have Heroes?”  His entry is now under consideration along with entries from every state.  Besides competing for the top award of a $30,000 scholarship, he is competing for other national scholarships valued at $1,000 to $16,000

VFW Washington Weekly - January 22, 2010

Posted at 02:24 PM on Friday, January 22, 2010 by post9100

In This Issue:

1. VFW Presents Legislative Goals

2. House VA Committee Hearings

3. Relief for GI Bill Payments Coming

4. Vets Employment Initiative Launched

 

1. VFW Presents Legislative Goals: The VFW presented its Top 5 legislative goals this week at a House Veterans Affairs Committee roundtable.  The issues we want Congress to highlight this year are the claims backlog, employment and training, oversight of VA health care, and military-to-veteran transition issues, to include education.  Committee members acknowledged that the VA claims backlog is among their top priorities, and they intend to hold oversight hearings on viable fixes to the critical problem.  The VFW's 2010 legislative priority goals can be viewed at http://www.vfw.org/PR/Legislative/2010PriorityGoals%20PROOF.pdf.

Click here to read more Washington Weekly

VFW Joins in Haiti Humanitarian Effort

Posted at 07:16 PM on Friday, January 15, 2010 by post9100

Kansas City, MO., Jan. 15, 2010 -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is assisting in humanitarian efforts in Haiti by providing U.S. service members — with relatives currently located in Haiti — with the funds necessary to purchase airline tickets to the devastated island, so that they may locate, assist or make burial arrangements for relatives affected by the recent earthquake. Funds also may be used to help provide sustenance or other necessities to sustain life.

The veterans' organization donation will be used to assist U.S. service members currently on active duty, in the Reserves or in National Guard units.

VFW National Commander Tommy J. Tradewell Sr., has asked VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary members to come to the aid of victims of the recent natural disaster by individually donating what they can to the VFW National Military Services program (NMS), either online [Donate now online], text [text "VFW" to 90999 - standard text messaging rates apply], or mail directly to VFW National Military Services, 406 W. 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.

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