VFW SC Post 5877 - Aiken

VFW Checkpoint Magazine March-April 2011

Posted at 06:23 PM on Friday, April 15, 2011 by post5877

VFW Checkpoint Magazine Mar/April 2011 -

VFW Washington Weekly - March 18, 2011

Posted at 09:36 AM on Monday, March 21, 2011 by post5877

4. Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans: The U.S. Senate declared March 30 as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day,” agreeing unanimously to a resolution introduced by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  On March 30, 1973, U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris.  The Senate is encouraging everyone this March 30 to recognize Vietnam veterans for their service and sacrifice.  For the senator’s remarks, go to http://www.veterans.senate.gov/rankingmember/ranking-press-releases.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=5406b369-9d62-4ce8-9b33-217abc5ed373.

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The American Veteran - March 2011

Posted at 09:35 AM on Monday, March 21, 2011 by post5877

(via The Pentagon Channel)

VFW Washinton Weekly - March 11, 2011

Posted at 02:52 AM on Saturday, March 12, 2011 by post5877

In This Issue:
1. VFW Legislative Conference Wrap-up
2. Caregiver Hearing
3. GITMO Trials to Resume
4. VFW Invited to Buckles Funeral
5. Five WWII MIAs Identified

1. VFW Legislative Conference Wrap-up: More than 600 VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members attended the annual VFW Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. Highlights ranged from the selection of Kelsey Woo from California as the 2011 Voice of Democracy winner to presentations from VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. James Cartwright, USMC, as well as VFW members meeting with their U.S. representatives and senators. VFW National Commander Richard Eubank hosted 100 wounded warriors and their families to dinner, and met with the Coast Guard Commandant and Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, and with the Marine Corps Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, before testifying Tuesday before a joint hearing of the House and Senate VA Committees. He met with President Obama on Wednesday to discuss issues important to America's veterans, servicemembers and families.

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For more information, and other video, go to www.vfw.org.

VFW Takes Veterans' Issues to the Hill

Posted at 08:16 AM on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 by post5877

Since 1949, VFW's annual National Legislative and Youth Scholarship Conference has provided an opportunity for VFW’s Commander-in-Chief and other key leaders to testify on behalf of veterans on Capitol Hill.

Topics covered this year will include: minimizing the VA claims backlog, decreasing veteran unemployment, improving VA health care and many more.

Also at the event, the winners of the Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen scholarship contests will be announced. Each national winner will read their winning essay before conference delegates and will then be presented with their winnings.

For the second year in a row, VFW will stream live video from the National Legislative and Youth Scholarship Conference in Washington D.C., March 5-9, on www.vfw.org.

Streaming will begin with the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Parade of Winners at 6:00 p.m. (EST) on March 6.

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VFW Against TRICARE Increase Plans

Posted at 12:55 PM on Thursday, February 17, 2011 by post5877

WASHINGTON (February 16, 2011) — In the rollout of their fiscal year 2012 budget submission, the Department of Defense on Monday announced plans to offset huge Tricare medical program expenses by increasing the annual enrollment fees paid by working-age military retirees — first by 13 percent, then by linking future increases to double-digit medical inflation.  The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is against both plans. 

VFW National Commander Richard L. Eubank, a retired Marine and Vietnam combat veteran from Eugene, Ore., believes tying future increases to medical inflation is an escalator clause that will raise Tricare premiums so high that retirees will disenroll and look elsewhere for coverage. 

"Asking someone to voluntarily give up 20 or more years of their youth on the simple promise of a pension and lifelong medical care for themselves and their spouses is a cost this nation and our government should be more than willing to bear," he said.  "Any changes to how military retirees are treated will send an ominous signal to hundreds of thousands of servicemen and women who may be contemplating military careers." 

(via VFW.org)

Budget Proposal a Starting Point for VA

Posted at 12:52 PM on Thursday, February 17, 2011 by post5877

WASHINGTON D.C., Feb. 15, 2011 — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is appreciative of the funding increase President Obama proposed Monday for the Department of Veterans Affairs, but he has some serious concerns about proposed reductions in programs ranging from construction and infrastructure to medical and prosthetic research. 

"The VFW appreciates the proposed increase because it recognizes that the proper care and treatment of wounded and disabled veterans are ongoing costs of war," said Richard L. Eubank, who leads the 2.1 million-member VFW and its Auxiliaries.  "Our concern, however, is that the total discretionary request of almost $62 billion is just not enough for VA to improve all the programs and services on their watch." 

The proposed VA budget for fiscal year 2012 is $132.2 billion, of which $70.3 billion is for mandatory benefits such as disability compensation and pension.  The remaining $61.9 billion is discretionary funding, primarily for the Veterans Health Administration, which represents about a 10-percent increase over FY 2010 funding, but just 3 percent more than the proposed but never passed FY 2011 budget.   

In contrast, the Independent Budget recommends $65.3 billion, or 14.4 percent above 2010 levels and 8 percent about 2011.  The VFW coauthors the Independent Budget—now in its 25th year—with AMVETs, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America.  

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