Tid
Bits of Interest
Updated
8/22/08
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Link
to USS New
York a
very interesting ship that use a bit to scrap iron
from the World Trade Center in it's construction!
Click here http://www.ussnewyork.com/
The
national headquarters has released a promotional video asking American
Legion posts and riders chapters to conduct local or regional fundraising
efforts on behalf of The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.
Materials and information tailored specifically for fundraising
is available from The American Legion at the contact listed below.
Information
and online registration will open in January 2008 at www.legion.org/legacyrun
or download the PDF registration form here.
“We encourage all interested Legionnaires and indeed all supporters
to register in support of the Run,” said Conatser, “to
help us help the children of our fallen heroes.”
The
American Legion Legacy Run helps to provide a full college education
for the children of military personnel who died on or after September
11, 2001.
You
may make your tax-deductible contribution online, or if you prefer,
mail a check to:
The
American Legacy Run
PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206
You
may also donate via our Secure
Online Form. (This will open in a new browser window. Pop-up
blocker must be disabled for proper functioning)
National
Commander Marty Conatser will present a National Commander's Certificate
for every organization or business that donates $500 or more to
The American Legion Legacy Fund through The American Legion Legacy
Run.
Click
here to read about The American Legion Legacy Scholarship and
Scholarship Fund.
More than 3,000
soldiers from the Oklahoma National Guard were able to spend the
Christmas and New Years holidays at home thanks to the efforts of
The American Legion's Department of Oklahoma. The American Legion
family in the Sooner State became the rallying point for businesses
and citizens to contribute money and resources to bring the soldiers
from the 45 Infantry Division home from Fort Bliss. Texas where
they were in final training prior to departure for Iraq. More than
60 buses delivered their precious cargo on December 23rd to sites
in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and McAlester to the arms of grateful family
members. Approximately $600,000 in donations of money, buses and
services was required to make the effort possible. The soldiers
returned to Fort Bliss on January 2nd on the eve of their deployment
to Iraq. View the touching video here.
Taken
from the Department of Oklahoma LEGIONNAIRE September 2007
September
11, 2007
Honor
Flight by Marcia Schonberg
Earl
Morse was working as a physician assistant in 2004 at a U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs medical clinic in Springfield,
Ohio, when he asked a simple question that changed his life.
Morse asked one of his patients, 78-year-old World War II veteran
Leonard Loy, whether he’d thought about visiting the National
World War II Memorial, which recently had opened in Washington,
D.C.
I hope
this information will be of interest to all the Vetereans who
have not yet signed up for benefits. I am also sending
you another piece about benefits that I have received from the
Catholic War Veterans people. Both are very interesting.
Thanks
Skiy Rajnowski
SENATE
VETS' COMMITTEE VOTES TO RE-OPEN VA TO PRIORITY GROUP 8 VETERANS
-- Sen. Patty Murray:
"This
bill restores the promise we make to all veterans when they sign
up to serve."
The
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs has voted to allow Priority
Group 8 veterans to, once again, enroll for VA healthcare.
This
has been a hot topic lately. Here is a story on the House Vets'
Committee hearing on this matter...
In
the hearing, Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) tried to block this move.
From a story in the Marine Corps Times: "By a 10-6 vote, the veterans?
committee rejected an attempt by Craig to gut a committee proposal
in S 1233, a health care bill that orders the Department of Veterans
Affairs to reopen enrollments in the VA for so-called Priority
8 veterans, those with no service-connected disabilities and incomes
of at least $27,000 a year." Complete story here...
Senator
Murray Advances Legislation that Opens the VA to All Veterans
Veterans'
Affairs Committee passes bill that would make 242,000 veterans,
whose VA enrollment was cut off by the Bush Administration, eligible
for care again
For
Immediate Release:
Wednesday,
June 27, 2007
(Washington,
D.C.) ? Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) helped pass legislation
that makes all veterans eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) healthcare through the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
The legislation, S.1233 - The Veterans? Traumatic Brain Injury
and Other Health Programs Improvement Act, includes a Murray-sponsored
provision that restores care to Priority 8 veterans - whose VA
health care eligibility was cut off four years ago by the Bush
administration. Priority 8 veterans are those veterans with non-service-connected
disabilities whose income is above a modest level that varies
across the country.
"This
bill restores the promise we make to all veterans when they sign
up to serve," said Senator Murray. "It says that regardless of
how much money you make or when your health declined, you will
be entitled to VA medical care."
"This
legislation will reverse the administration's flawed decision
four years ago to close the doors of the VA to Priority 8 veterans.
I believe that changing the rules on these veterans after their
service is just plain wrong. My bill will ensure that Priority
8 veterans are no longer treated as second class citizens in the
eyes of the VA."
On
January 24th, 2003 the Bush administration announced that health
care enrollment for new Priority Group 8 veterans would be suspended
in order to reduce the backlog and alleviate a longstanding funding
crisis within the VA.
Since
Democrats assumed control of the Congress in January, Senator
Murray has helped to lead the effort to make funding veterans
care a top priority. As the second ranking member of the Senate
Budget Committee, she helped to include a $3.5 billion increase
over the President's budget for veterans funding in the 2008 Budget
Resolution. As a member of the Senate leadership, Murray helped
to add $1.78 billion for veterans care in the Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations bill which was signed into law last month. And
just last week, Murray used her seat on the Military Construction
and Veterans Affairs (MILCON-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee to
deliver a $3.6 billion increase in VA spending for 2008.
In
addition to allowing the VA to meet the needs of service members
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the recent increases in funding
will also help reopen the VA to Priority 8 veterans.
According
to a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, the VA
estimates that if the enrollment freeze was lifted, approximately
273,000 Priority 8 veterans would have been eligible to receive
medical care from VA in FY2006, and 242,000 Priority 8 veterans
would be eligible in FY2007.
OTHER
IMPORTANT MURRAY VETERANS PROVISIONS PASSED TODAY:
Today,
Senator Murray also included the following provision in S. 1315,
The Veterans? Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 which passed the
Veterans Affairs' Committee.
*
A provision requiring an Institute of Medicine (IOM) study of
the connection between Gulf War service and Multiple Sclerosis,
among other things.
*
A provision adding Osteoporosis as a presumptive disability for
former-POWs with PTSD
All
legislation passed today in the Veterans' Affairs Committee
will now move to the full Senate for consideration.
God
Bless
Jose
M. Garcia
National
Commander
Catholic
War Veterans,USA
josegarcia4@sbcglobal.net
This
is the other article......
Task
Force Aims at Improved Services for GWOT Veterans
Nicholson
- Veterans ?Should Not Have To Fight For Benefits Earned?
WASHINGTON
(April 24, 2007) ? Military personnel returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan can look forward to more timely receipt of benefits,
better information and more streamlined processes, thanks to
streamlined federal procedures announced today by Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson, who chaired a presidential
task force.
?The
federal government must be responsive and efficient in delivering
our benefits and services to these heroes,? Nicholson said during
a speech to the National Press Club. ?They should not have to
fight bureaucratic red tape for benefits earned by their courageous
service.?
On
March 6, President Bush appointed Nicholson to lead the Interagency
Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes, which reviewed
federal benefits and processes for changes that could quickly
improve veterans? access to services and programs.
Nicholson
went to the White House April 23 to personally brief President
Bush about the task force?s recommendations.
The
Task Force brought together top officials from the departments
of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Health and Human Services,
Housing and Urban Development, and Education, as well as the
Office of Management and Budget, the Small Business Administration
and Office of Personnel Management.
The
task force focused on improvements that could be made within
the authority of the individual departments or agencies, using
existing resources. The panel specifically targeted health
care, benefits, employment, education, housing and outreach
activities.
The
report includes 25 recommendations to improve delivery of federal
services to returning military men and women. The government-wide
action plan contains steps for individual department and agency
activities and incorporates cooperative interaction among those
providing complimentary services.
Recommendations
focus on increasing awareness of available benefits among service
members and their families and improving the process for receiving
them. Eighteen recommendations will involve collaborative
efforts among several federal agencies to improve the timeliness,
ease of application, and delivery of services and benefits.
The
task force report is available on VA?s Website at: www.va.gov. A fact sheet highlighting
the recommendations is attached.
Taking
Care Of America?s Returning Wounded Warriors
Interagency
Task Force On Returning Global War On Terror Heroes
On
April 19, 2007, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson
Submitted The Report Of The Interagency Task Force On Returning
Global War On Terror Heroes To The President. The Task
Force identified and examined existing Federal services provided
to returning Global War on Terror service members, identified
gaps in those services, and sought recommendations from appropriate
Federal agencies on ways to fill those gaps quickly and effectively.
The
Report Includes Recommendations To Improve Delivery Of Federal
Services To Returning Military Men And Women. The government-wide
action plan contains steps for individual Department or Agency
commitment and incorporates cooperative interaction among those
providing complimentary services. Recommendations focus
on improving the process for receiving services and increased
awareness of available benefits among service members and their
families. Recommendations involve collaborative efforts
among several federal entities to improve the timeliness, ease
of application, and delivery of services and benefits to those
who earned them.
Improving
The Process Of Meeting The Needs Of Returning Service Members
·
Health Care
·
Develop a system of co-management and case management for returning
service members to facilitate ease of transfer from Department
of Defense care to VA care.
1
Screen all GWOT veterans seen in VA health care facilities for
mild to moderate Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
2
Assist the VA enrollment process by modifying the VA 1010EZ
form for GWOT service members, enhance the on-line benefits
package to allow a GWOT service member to self-identify, and
expand the use of DoD?s military service information to establish
eligibility for health care benefits.
3
VA will require each Medical Center Director and Network Director
to provide full support at Post-Deployment Health Reassessment
for Guard and Reserve members to enroll eligible members and
schedule appointments.
4
Standardize VA Liaison agreements across all Military Treatment
Facilities.
5
Expand VA access to DoD records to coordinate an improved transfer
of a service member?s medical care through patient ?hand-off?.
6
Enhance the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to more
specifically track GWOT service members.
·
Develop a Veterans Tracking Application and identifiers to improve
monitoring of returning GWOT service members.
1
Create a Polytrauma identifier to increase recognition of additional
needs of those injured service members.
2
Create a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) database to track patients
who have experienced TBI.
3
Create a DoD / VA interface for health care providers to have
access to data on combat theater injured service members.
·
Create an embedded fragment surveillance center to monitor returning
service members who have possibly retained fragments of materials
in order to provide early medical intervention.
1
Enhance capacity for GWOT service members to receive dental
care in the private sector as VA continues to improve their
capacity for dental services at their facilities.
2
Enhance Information Technology interoperability between VA and
HHS Indian Health Service.
3
VA and HHS will collaborate to improve access to returning service
members in remote or rural areas.
·
Benefits
·
Develop a joint DoD / VA process for disability benefit determinations
by establishing a cooperative Medical and Physical Evaluation
Board process within the military service branches and VA care
system.
1
Extend VA?s Vocational Rehabilitation Evaluation Determination
Time Limit of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program
beyond 12 months to allow additional time for returning service
members to better understand their rehabilitation needs.
2
Expedite handling of adapted housing and special home adaptation
grant claims by notifying the returning GWOT applicant within
48 hours of rating decision.
·
Jobs, Education & Housing
Expand
eligibility of the Small Business Administration PatriotExpress
Loan to provide full range of lending, business counseling and
procurement programs to veterans, service-disabled veterans,
reservists and families if the desire for a returning service
member or family is to obtain self-employment.
DoD
and the Department of Labor will collaborate to improve Civilian
Workforce Credentialing and Certification allowing for greater
exposure of a service member?s military experience to civilian
opportunities.
The
Department of Labor will work with DoD to develop a Wounded
Veterans Intern Program to gain valuable work experience while
they serve on medical hold and are transitioning to departure
from military service.
The
Department of Housing and Urban Development will expand access
to the National Housing Locator (NHL) to be used by service
members and veterans through DoD and VA. The NHL was initially
launched as a response to needs for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
By expanding its use, returning service members will have a
resource that provides safe, disability accessible if needed,
and affordable housing to ease in the potential re-location
to a new area.
Reaching
Out To Service Members And Their Families About Available Benefits
And Services
Increase
attendance at the Transition Assistance and Disable Transition
Assistance Programs (TAP / DTAP) for active duty, guard and
reserve.
The
Department of Education in cooperation with the Department of
Labor will participate in DoD job fairs to provide returning
service members and their families with an awareness of the
post-secondary education benefits available.
The
Department of Labor, through the Veterans? Employment and Training
Service (VETS), will participate in the Workforce Investment
System in every state and territory and partner with over 120
private and public sector job fairs to expand the number of
employers involved in active veteran recruitment.
The
Department of Labor and DoD will promote awareness of the Uniformed
Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA) rights
to improve active duty, Guard, and Reservists understanding
of their rights at entry to, during, and exiting from military
service.
The
Department of Education will provide education benefits training
to the 211 Transition Assistance Program sites which service
more than 150,000 transitioning service members annually.
The
Office of Personnel Management will expand their military treatment
facility outreach to promote the availability of federal employment
and veterans? preference rights.
The
VA Global War on Terrorism newsletter, mailed quarterly to returning
service members, will be modified to provide consistent summaries
and awareness of available federal services and benefits.
Background
On The Task Force Work And Next Steps
The
President Directed U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Secretary Jim Nicholson On March 6, 2007 To Establish An Interagency
Task Force On Returning Global War On Terror Heroes. The
Task Force brought together top-level officials from the U.S.
Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Health and
Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education,
as well as the Office of Management and Budget, the Small Business
Administration, Office of Personnel Management and General Services
Administration. The Task Force was focused on improvements
using existing executive authority and resources.
God
Bless
Jose
M. Garcia
National
Commander
Catholic
War Veterans,USA
josegarcia4@sbcglobal.net
Our
Flag has Three Colors
Red for the Blood Shed to Gain Our Freedom.
White Represents the Bandages used on Wounds Suffered
in the Conflict.
Blue to Repersent the Purity of Heart of Oour Cause.
The Stars are for Each State and Signify that there
is
No Limit Under Heaven to Their Achievement.
If
I die before you wake Click the
above image
It is a moving and heartwarming.
Volunteers
needed for War Archives
NSU will be the host for a new archive of war related materials
contributed by veterans from Oklahoma , and voluneteers are needed
to help establish the collections. NSU and community veterans are
needed to donate memiors, letters and other memorabillia from all
wars which Oklahomans have participated, as well as to help collect,
classify and promote the collection.
Much of the archival material will be available online so that scholars
and the public won't have to travel to Tahlequah to conduct research.
The archive plans to establish two online journals, one for the
memiors of the veterans and one for scholarly study of war. The
website will have graphics covering various aspects of war, uniforms,
campaigns and links to other sites.
If
you would like to participate in this worthy event please call Dr.
Sharon Winn at (918)456-5511 ext. 3605 or e-mail her at winn@nsuok.edu
, or Tony Oseland at ext. 3606 or e-mail at oseland@nsuok.edu .
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