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VA Expecting More Than
150,000 Vets To Submit Agent Orange Claims In Near Future. In
continuing coverage, the Times Of
Northwest Indiana (11/8, List, 86K) noted that Vietnam
vet Gene Burkat and "many more like" him have "submitted
claims and are waiting for a decision" from the US Department of Veterans
Affairs, which recently "began distributing disability benefits to
veterans exposed to Agent Orange based on an expanded list of health
conditions." The Times went on to say VA "said it expects more than
150,000 veterans to submit Agent Orange claims within the next 12 to 18
months." This has been welling upâmay be worth putting some coins in this
bankâthey don't know anythin about VA claims. As an asideâI still don't understand how he touts himself as an "SDVOSB Legal Firm"
when Tully is still active and I can't imagine Greg has 51 percent controlâthings
that make you go hmmmm Eric S. Montalvo Attorney at Law 1800 Diagonal Road Suite 210 Alexandria, VA 22314 eric@puckettfaraj.com (703) 706-9566Â Phone (540) 840-7717Â Cell (202) 318-7652Â Fax DC × CA × MI × VA From: Marcelyn Atwood
[mailto:fhorn2nav@hotmail.com] E/D/N - I get regularly get these Emails
from one of the old Vets on news about Veterans. See Wayne's para that
sums up this news listing... Obviously, Ali Skinner from Tully is working this
angle... Thought you'd be interested. More data points for the
"campaign" Tully seems to be waging... :) M From: wgatewood@qualitysupport.com Greetings
good people. Tomorrow is the 235th Birthday of my beloved United States
Marine Corps. Happy Birthday to all Marines
everywhere!! General Amos Birthday message. http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/cmc/Documents/US%20Marine%20Corps%20235th%20Birthday%20Message.pdf Semper Fi. For
you Maryland Troops and Veterans, Katie Sonntag at the State of Maryland
Department of Veterans Affairs has sent in the Link to the Fall 2010 Maryland
Vets Newsletter. It is as follows: Can
you use a half hour of free legal consultation? Received following from
Ali Skinner at Tully Rinckey, a SDVOSB Legal Firm.
"Hi Wayne! Iâm
hoping you can help get the word out about an important service
Tully Rinckey PLLC is offering to veterans on Veterans
Day. Weâre remaining open and offering free  hour consultations at
both the firmâs Albany and D.C. offices. I know thereâs
limited time to spread the news â Iâm hoping you can help? Attached are two press releases, one
for DC and one for Albany." Wishing
everyone a peaceful Veterans Day come Thursday, November 11, 2010.
Following the last News article below, is a complete History of Veterans
Day (taken directly from the VA website). Prayers
and blessings to you and your loved ones and to our selfless Troops and their
loved ones everywhere. Sincerely................Wayne --------------------------------------- VA News for Tuesday, November 9 ,2010 1.
Study Led By VA Researcher Warns Of Risk For Early Dialysis. HealthDay (11/9,
Reinberg) reports, "Putting people on dialysis early, while their kidneys
still have adequate function, may increase the chances that they'll die in the
year after the procedure is started, a new study suggests." The lead
researcher on the study, which is "published online Nov. 8 in Archives of
Internal Medicine," is Dr. Steven J. Rosansky, a "senior research
fellow at the Dorn Research Institute" of the William Jennings Bryan Dorn
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina. HealthDay
adds, "Doctors and patients need to discuses dialysis, including when it
would provide the most benefit...said" Dr. Kirsten L. Johansen of the San
Francisco VA Medical Center, "who wrote an editorial that accompanied
publication of the study." 2.
Survey, VA Doctor Highlight Importance Of Knowing Family's Medical Health
History. According to the AP
(11/9), a government survey by the Cleveland Clinic's Genomic Medicine
Institute that compared "which method best uncovered an increased risk of
cancer helps confirm the value of what's called a family health history."
The survey, however, "estimated less than a third of families have one -
and time-crunched doctors seldom push their patients to remedy that." The
AP adds, "'Family history remains the best genetic tool we have, but
health care providers are not taking advantage' of it, says Dr. Maren Scheuner
of the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Los Angeles, who is leading a
pilot project to add family cancer histories to...VA's electronic medical
records at two area clinics." 3.
Wisconsin VA Secretary Scheduled To Speak At Veterans Day Ceremony. The
Madison
(WI) Capital Times (11/9, Novak) says Thursday is a "day
of remembrance and thanks," as the "nation honors all who have served
in America's military. Veterans Day ceremonies are planned around the state,
including ceremonies at the State Capitol in Madison and the 47th annual parade
in Milwaukee, according to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of
Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Day observance at the Capitol will begin at 10
a.m.," with Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Secretary Kenneth Black
"scheduled to speak." 4.
Board: Federal Career Intern Program Being Used To Circumvent Vets' Preference
Statute. In his "Federal Diary" column for
the Washington
Post (11/9, 605K), Joe Davidson writes that the Merit Systems
Protection Board (MSPB) has "sharply undercut a federal hiring program,
saying it violates the employment preference Uncle Sam gives to those who have
served in uniform." The decision is a "victory for organized labor,
which has long complained that some agencies use the Federal Career Intern Program
to circumvent the statutory preference given veterans seeking US government
employment." Davidson adds that Department of Veterans Affairs file clerk,
Larry Evans, brought a "case against...VA," which helped lead the
"MSPB to find 'a violation of appellants' veterans' preference rights' in
the operation of the intern program." 5.
Federal Agencies Turn To Connect-Powered HIEs For Sophisticated Clinical
Information Sharing. Government
Health IT (11/9, Mosquera) reports, "Federal agencies are forging what
some experts call 'industrial-strength health information exchanges,'
high-level, standards-based HIEs that will provide public- and
private-sector healthcare providers the tools necessary for sophisticated
clinical information sharing." A group of 26 health agencies, including
MedVirginia, HealthBridge and Regenstrief Institute, "have
developed increasingly detailed versions" of Connect powered HIEs, which
"are now up and running between the Defense and Veterans Affairs
departments." The Connect program is also being employed by the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services "to gauge the changes in the health of
patients as they move across chronic-care settings, such as from a hospital to
a skilled nursing facility and back to the nursing home." 6.
Couple Accused Of Defrauding VA. The AP
(11/9, Olsen, 363K) reports, "Joe B. Phillips, a 71-year-old Houston
lawyer and former VA employee, now stands accused of stealing more than $2
million from at least 28 Texas veterans and hiding those thefts with faked bank
statements, padded expenses and even imaginary accounts verified with forged
signatures, according to dozens of civil suits and a 2010 federal court
indictment." After noting that Phillip's "70-year-old wife and legal
assistant, Dorothy Phillips, faces identical charges," the Chronicle adds,
"The fraud appears to be the largest ever detected" in Veterans
Affairs' "enormous guardianship program." The Chronicle notes that a
spokesperson for the Houston VA Regional said it is "fully
cooperating" with an investigation by the US Attorney's Office and VA's
Office of Inspector General. 7.
VA Reps To Speak At Town Hall Event. Near
the end of a story on local events for veterans, the Grass
Valley (CA) Union (11/8, 16K) reported, "Comfort Keepers
is hosting a Veterans Town Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at the Yuba
County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 915 8th St., Suite 109, Marysville."
Guest speakers, including "members from Veterans Administration Benefits
Division Oakland, VA Health Division Sacramento, National Cemetery Services and
California Department of Veteran Services," will address the topic of
"Presumptive Diseases related to Military Service." 8.
Conflict Between Medical Marijuana Laws "Largely Resolved" By VA. USA
Today (11/9, Dorell, 1.83M) says many "patients with cancer,
chronic pain and other maladies who say smoking marijuana helps their
condition" are "trapped between state laws that allow medical pot
smoking and federal laws that do not." The US Department of Veterans
Affairs, however, has "largely resolved the conflict at its hospitals and
pain clinics" by allowing "veterans in states where marijuana is
approved for medical use" to "submit documentation showing they have
legal access to pot, which means a patient who tests positive will not be
denied treatment." 9.
Vet Center Reps To Present At Conference For Vets And Their Families. According
to the Wilkes-Barre
(PA) Times-Leader (11/8), Family Service Association of
Wyoming Valley will "present a conference, 'When Families Reunite:
Overcoming Trauma after Military Service,' honoring veterans and their families
from 12:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Genetti Hotel and Conference Center, East
Market Street." The Times-Leader goes on to say that among those
presenting at the conference will be David Ulkowski and
Karen Lenchitsky of the Scranton Vet Center. 10.
VA Expecting More Than 150,000 Vets To Submit Agent Orange Claims In Near
Future. In continuing coverage, the Times
Of Northwest Indiana (11/8, List, 86K) noted that
Vietnam vet Gene Burkat and "many more like" him have
"submitted claims and are waiting for a decision" from the US
Department of Veterans Affairs, which recently "began distributing
disability benefits to veterans exposed to Agent Orange based on an expanded
list of health conditions." The Times went on to say VA "said it
expects more than 150,000 veterans to submit Agent Orange claims within the
next 12 to 18 months." 11.
Vietnam Vet Praises New US Army Recruits. The Albany
(NY) Times Union (11/9, Yusko) notes that on Monday, a
ceremony for 13 new US Army recruits "from the Capital Region" was
held in the Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. One of those who
"heaped praise" on the recruits was 64-yerar-old Vietnam vet Bud
Abare, who has "donated more than 5,500 hours to the VA hospital, where he
undergoes treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and a hip
replacement." 12.
Museum In Wisconsin One Of 17 Nationwide Hosting WWII Photos Exhibit. According
to the AP
(11/8), the Waukesha County Museum in Wisconsin is "hosting a national
tour of World War II photos taken by Associated Press photographers."
After noting that the exhibit "opens on Veteran's Day" and is
"named 'Memories of WWII,'" the AP pointed out that the Waukesha
County Museum is "one of 17 venues nationwide hosting the exhibit."
The Waukesha County Museum also will "create displays of artifacts from
its collection and feature firsthand accounts of four surviving WWII
veterans." 13.
Palo Alto VA Doctors Develop Test For Vision Problem In Returning Vets. In
the "Quest" blog on its website, KQED-FM
San Francisco, CA (11/5, Standen) said that because of work done by Dr. Greg
Goodrich, a vision researcher at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Palo Alto,
California, and Dr. Glenn Cockerham, chief of ophthalmology at the same
facility, "far more" vision problems in Iraq and Afghanistan vets
"are being diagnosed," which "means more vets are getting
treatment." After noting that the vision problems stem from hemianopsia,
which causes the brain to fail to "recognize signals
from...visual fields," KQED pointed out that Goodrich
and Cockerham "have invented a new, advanced vision test"
for hemianopsia that is "now part of the routine screening...veterans
receive when they come" to the Palo Alto VA hospital with major injuries. 14.
Pittsburgh VA Treating Iraq Vet For PTSD. In
continuing coverage, the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette (11/9, Fuoco, 205K), running the third story in a
four-part series on the mental health challenges for veterans of combat in Iraq
and Afghanistan, reports, "Like thousands of other veterans" from the
two wars, 27-year-old Mike Cranmer has learned that he has "post-traumatic
stress disorder, or PTSD, an anxiety disorder some people acquire after living
through or witnessing an event that causes intense fear, helplessness or
horror." Cranmer has received therapy at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare
System and "been bolstered by the support of Marine Gunnery Sgt.
Michael Palarino of the corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment," who
"checks on Mike regularly and makes certain he is receiving all the
benefits he has earned." Separately, the Post-Gazette
(11/9) notes that vets with PTSD can "call the Veterans Suicide
Prevention Hot Line at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)" or visit PTSD
specialists at VA care facilities. 15.
Despite Recent Election Results, Drop In Number Of Vets In Congress
Continues. The current issue of the Army
Times (11/15, Maze, 104K) says that while at "least 18 people who
served" in the US "military â including nine who served in
Afghanistan or Iraq â were elected to Congress in the Nov. 2 election,"
the "overall number of veterans on Capitol Hill continues to decline. Paul
Rieckhoff, president and founder" of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America (IAVA), is "glad that young veterans are seeking and winning
office, but said that 'when you have such big turnover, there's a learning
curve'" for finding out about the Veterans Affairs Department. According
to the Times, the "nonpartisan IAVA has criticized the current
Congress for failing to pass important veterans-related legislation." 16.
Veteran's Day. An editorial on the WTVM-TV Columbus,
GA (11/8) website. 17.
Celebrating Veterans Day. A letter to the editor of the Chicago
Tribune (11/9, 488K) by Kevin J. Cavanaugh, a resident of Wheaton,
Illinois. 18.
Traditional Vets Groups Turn To Social Media. The
current issue of the Army
Times (11/15, Ryan). 19.
Took Kit Guides Employers In Hiring Veterans. The
current issue of the Army
Times (11/15). 20.
How Can Colleges Help Student Veterans? The
"Campus Overload" blog for the Washington
Post (11/9, Johnson, 605K). 21.
Fallen Soldier Honored With Memorial Run In Holmdel. The
Asbury
Park (NJ) Press (11/9, McConville). 22.
On the Hill for November 9, 2010: House: The House is not in session and will reconvene at 2 p.m.
Nov. 15 after the elections for a lame-duck session. Senate: The Senate is
holding a series of pro forma sessions over the next month to prevent President
Obama from making recess appointments. 23.
VA Hearings as of November 9, 2010: Hearing
on November 18. SVAC will hold a hearing on IDES. 24. Today in History:
------------------------------------------ VA News
for Monday, November 8, 2010 1.
Shinseki Maps Broader Attack On PTSD. The Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette (11/7, Fuoco, 205K) begins a four-part series on
the mental health challenges for veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan,
noting that "Record numbers of veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraqi
wars are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because the conflicts
are the longest combat operations in America's history and they contain
elements that provide fertile ground for fermenting the condition." As a
result, "government and military services are responding to the growing
problem. In February, President Barack Obama proposed a 2011 budget of $125
billion for the Veterans Affairs Department, including $5.2 billion for mental
health, an 8.5 percent increase over current spending. VA Secretary Eric K.
Shinseki said that 20 percent of the patients seen last year in VA health care
facilities had a mental health diagnosis. He noted the department had added
more than 6,000 mental health professionals since 2005, bringing to 19,000 the
number of employees dedicated to mental health care. The increased budget will
allow the department to continue its expansion of programs dealing with PTSD,
which Mr. Shinseki called 'central to VA's mission.'" The article also
notes the easing of evidence that veterans must show to win a diagnosis
of PTSD to receive treatment and disability benefits, as well as greater
military attention to diagnosing and treating PTSD. 2.
Burn Pit Held Responsible For Iraq Veteran's Injuries. The
website of the Tampa
Tribune (11/5, Altman, Carson, 162K) reports, "Bill McKenna served
two tours as a U.S. Army sergeant in Iraq. No bullet ever hit him, no shrapnel
from an improvised explosive device ever pierced his skin. But sitting on the
couch of his Spring Hill home, it's obvious he's suffering from the wounds of
war: He's blind in one eye, is missing some teeth and his head is scarred. He
has cancer, knee problems, doesn't hear well and has been diagnosed with Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder. McKenna's cancer, according to him and to his
doctors at the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital, is directly attributable to
constant exposure to the thick, acrid smoke that wafted almost every hour of
every day across Balad Air Base in Iraq where McKenna was stationed for
about 18 months." The article says that at bases throughout Iraq and
Afghanistan, burn pits produced thick, toxic smoke are they combusted
"body parts, Humvee parts, human waste, plastic meal trays and other
garbage," with jet fuel added. It also notes that burn pit-related health
problems became so pervasive that the VA "took the unusual step of issuing
a 25-page training letter to VA claims examiners about the dangers of burn pits
and what to look for when dealing with claims." While the VA, which says
it is taking claims on a case-by-case basis, originally denied McKenna's claim
"on the basis that there are no scientific studies linking the disease to
his exposures in Iraq," the agency reversed that stand after receiving a
medical opinion linking his condition to exposure to the chemicals and toxins.
A VA study with the Institute of Medicine on the long-term effects of burn pit
exposure, begun in November, is due in May. 3.
City Of Montgomery, State DVA Host First Veterans Day Parade. WNCF-TV
Montgomery, AL (11/6, Blackwell) reports, "The City of Montgomery, along
with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs will host the Inaugural River
Region Veterans Day Parade on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 11 am. The theme
of the parade is 'A Tribute to Freedom.'" Participants will include
"Veterans Service Organizations, VA groups, marching bands, honor guard
marching units, all branches of the military, MPS, Boy Scouts of America
and JROTC units," among others, and Gov, Bob Riley and the mayor of
Montgomery will speak. 4.
Wisconsin DVA Will Hold Veterans Day Observance. The
Superior
(WI) Telegram (11/5) reports, "The Wisconsin Department of Veterans
Affairs observes Veterans Day at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Northern Wisconsin
Veterans Memorial Cemetery." The keynote speaker will be Col. U.S. Army
Reserve (Ret) Peter Moran, vice-chairman of the Wisconsin Board of Veterans
Affairs, a 30-year Army veteran. 5.
Statewide Veterans Conference To Be Held At University Of Iowa. The
AP
(11/8) reports, "Officials say a statewide veterans conference is planned
at the University of Iowa" on Tuesday. The event is "hosted by the
university's veterans office and student organizations, among others." 6.
Duckworth Address Veterans In Peoria. WHOI-TV Peoria, IL (11/5, 6:33 p.m. EDT) reported that local
veterans "welcomed a Purple Heart recipient today. Tammy Duckworth spoke
today at the Sunrise Veterans Day observance luncheon." Appearing on
camera, Duckworth urged that veterans be thanked publicly for their service,
and suggested that "You can watch out for those family members that have
someone deployed. If they need a little extra help around the home. A service
member in Iraq or Afghanistan doesn't need to worry about who's helping to
shovel the snow off the walkways so their family can get in and out." The
report noted Duckworth's VA position and that she "continues to serve as a
major in the Illinois Army National Guard. WEEK-TV Peoria, IL (11/5, 7:04 p.m. EDT) offers a similar report. 7.
VA Palo Alto MD Co-Authors Study On More Effective Stroke Preventative For
Cardiac Patients. A medical column in the Philippine
Daily Inquirer (11/5, Castillo), addressing cardiac
irregularities and stroke, highlights research published in the New England
Journal of Medicine, of a study by two doctors, one of them from the Veterans
Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, showing that a new drug, dabigatran, more
effectively prevented stroke among patients with atrial fibrillation than
did the standard treatment. 8.
San Francisco VAMC Doctor's Study Finds Pain Common In Last Months Of
Life. USA
Today (11/7, Gordon, 1.83M) reports that nearly half the public reports
moderate or severe pain in their last four months of life, and a quarter report
it during their last two years of life. The study, whose lead author is Dr.
Alexander K. Smith, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of
California, San Francisco and a staff physician at the San Francisco VA Medical
Center, was published in the November 2 issue of the Annals of Internal
Medicine. While many studies have been done of pain linked to specific
conditions, this "may be the first to address pain from all conditions
toward the end of life." 9.
Study Of VA Patients Finds Improved Fitness In Diabetics Lower Mortality
Risk. The Philippine
Star (11/7, Chante, 260K) reports that a study of 2,690 patients in VA
hospitals in Palo Alto and Washington, DC found that middle-aged men with type
2 diabetes can reduce their long-term mortality through exercise. The finding
found improvement in mortality risk for all patients, regardless of their
body-mass index, from attaining a higher level of fitness. 10.
Merit Board Ruling Undercuts Intern Program Criticized As Violating Vets'
Preference. The Washington
Post's "Federal Eye" blog (11/5, Davidson) reports, "A
Merit Systems Protection Board decision significantly undercuts the Federal
Career Intern Program, which organized labor has long claimed violated the
statutory preference given veterans seeking U.S. government employment. In two
cases brought by veterans, one against the Office of Personnel Management and
the other against the Veteran Affairs Department, MSPB found 'a violation
of appellants' veterans' preference rights.' The decision is an important
victory for federal employee unions and has serious implications for a program
widely used by some agencies to fill vacancies." Some agencies have used
the federal career internship program to fill jobs without publicly advertising
them. The entry noted that, in the case against the VA, plaintiff Larry Evans
"charged the department with violating his veterans' preference when it
used the intern program to fill all nine openings for veterans' service
representatives in its Columbia, S.C. facility. Two federal unions sided with
Evans, whom the MSPB ruled "is entitled to reconstruction of the
hiring process" to see if he "would have been selected for the
position he sought." The article also notes that the VA "had no
immediate comment." 11.
VA's ESSENCE Data Monitor Is Biosurveillance Tool. Government
Health IT (11/5, Buxbaum) reports, "Protecting the health and welfare
of military veterans is the primary aim of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
But making good on that mission is more than providing clinical services,
hospital beds and pharmaceuticals to the sick and infirm. It also means
knocking down health threats with sophisticated biosurveillance systems
used to track diseases and infections." The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and the VA "cover much of the waterfront of potential
pandemic trouble spots," and VA every night sends CDC a package of data
derived from its data monitoring system, Electronic Surveillance System for
Early Notification of Community- based Epidemics (ESSENCE), from over 150
veterans treatment facilities nationwide. 12.
Solar-Energy Project In California One Of Many For VA. The
Vallejo
(CA) Times-Herald (11/7, Burchyns) reported, "A crew of
construction workers has been busy for about a month installing solar panel
arrays" at the US Department of Veterans Affairs' "outpatient clinic
on Walnut Avenue." This year, VA "awarded more than $20 million to
install solar-energy systems at 18 medical centers across the country,
including the Vallejo campus," while solar "feasibility studies are
under way at 31 more." The Times-Herald noted that VA Secretary Eric
Shinseki "called the solar effort 'the future of our department' and a way
to 'help transform the VA.'" 13.
VA Works To Meet Female Vets' Health Needs. NPR
(11/7, Morris) reports, "The number of women serving in the military has
mushroomed in recent decades to more than 200,000 active duty, not counting
National Guard and reservists. This growing population faces many of the same
problems as men -- but also health and mental issues that are unique to female
veterans." It notes that as recently as three years ago, women's health
services were available in only about one-third of VA facilities. But Patricia
Hayes, VA's national director of women's health services, "says it's come
a long way in the past couple of decades," adding that soon all VA
facilities will provide women's health services. One 10-year female Army
veteran, who only recently learned that women's health services were available
at the VA, pronounced them "so far... really good." 14.
Law Firm Offers Compliance Advice On Veteran Set-Aside Programs. Legal
website Lexology
(11/2, White) offers a report advising on "how to keep the rules straight
and steer clear of trouble" with two distinct separate set-aside programs
for service-disabled veteran-owned small business. The short article,
contributed by the PilieroMazza PLLC law firm, notes that
participating firms are "rightly" confused, for three reasons. First,
some changes have been made, such as by the VA's new VetBiz registration,
with further changes in a new law enacted last month. In addition, some
confusion occurs "because old rules are being newly enforced." On top
of that, "two separate agencies, the VA and the SBA, are running two
separate programs with two separate sets of rules." 15.
VA Helping Vets Suffering From PTSD. The Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette (11/7, Fuoco, 205K) began a four-part series on the mental health
challenges for veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, stating that for
veteran Derrick Earley and "thousands of returning soldiers like him,
there are no visible wounds, but they are casualties of the Iraqi and
Afghanistan wars nonetheless," suffering from "post-traumatic stress
disorder, or PTSD." Earley, who was "medically retired from the
Marines for his PTSD" and for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), "regularly
receives one-on-one PTSD counseling and TBI treatment primarily"
at the James E. Van Zandt Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Altoona,
Pennsylvania. The Post-Gazette quotes Earley, who says VA is helping him
"out a lot." 16.
Tennessee Guardsmen Honored For Serving In Iraq. The AP
(11/6) reported, "More than 1,000 soldiers from the Tennessee National
Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment" were to "be honored this
weekend for their service in Iraq." Ceremonies were to be held in
"Smyrna and Springfield on Saturday, and Crossville and Cookeville on
Sunday." 17.
VA Leases Space In Northeast Washington, DC. In
continuing coverage, commercial real estate firm The CoStar
Group (11/4, Forbes) reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs
has "inked two 10-year deals for 122,756 square feet at 1100 First St. NE
in Washington, DC." The LEED Gold certified building owned
by Tishman Speyer will be 44% occupied when the VA moves in by July; the
other tenant thus far is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 18.
VA Orders 600,000 PCs From Dell. The
"What's Brewin'" column in Nextgov
(11/5, Brewin) reports that on October 22, the Veterans Affairs Department
"put out an RFP to buy 600,000 PCs, a solicitation that was amended
yesterday, and caught my attention. This is twice the number of PCs VA ordered
under its last big computer contract, a $248.4 million lease deal awarded to
Dell in 2007 that expired in August. Based on that pricing, the new contract
could be worth $500 million. The VA said it needs more hardware today than
three years ago due to the increase in the number of health clinics it operates
and the overall requirement for more PCs to support its mission. The contract
will run for eight years, with hardware orders in the first four years and
support only in the last four." 19.
Firm Wins $6.6 Million Utah VA Contract. In
continuing coverage, the Worcester Business
Journal (11/5, Brown) reports that Ameresco Inc., the
Framingham-based energy efficiency contractor, has been awarded a $6.6 million
contract to design and build a solar power system for the Veterans
Administration Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah." 20.
Veterans Groups Say More Women Among Homeless Veterans. WHBF-TV
Rock Island, IL (11/5) reports, "Veteran organizations are seeing more
homeless female vets. Workers from the VA Homeless Outreach Center in Rock
Island are adjusting their military programs to accommodate all the women
serving in the armed forces. The center now has a laundry room, food pantry,
and offers treatment programs." The article cites national statistics that
say women comprise 5 percent of about 200,000 homeless veterans. 21.
As Hassan Faces Hearing, Evidence Of Preparation Undercuts Possible Insanity
Plea. On the first anniversary of the Fort Hood shootings by military
psychiatrist Major Nidal Hassan, two networks revisit that story. NBC Nightly News ( 11/5, story 7, 2:05, Shanlian, 8.37M) covers the dedication on a
monument there, reporting, "When it was over, 13 were dead. Fathers, sons,
daughters and one, a mother-to-be. Today, their families wept in front of a
block of granite, etched with those 13 names." The report notes that a
military hearing "resumes here next month to determine if there's enough
evidence to go forward with the trial. In the months after, most of the injured
soldiers set aside their grief and waded back into war. Some are in Afghanistan
with shrapnel still in their bodies from the battlefield back at home. The two
officers who stopped Hasan are also back on the job. More than a memorial,
first responders were honored, soldiers and civilians who by risking their own
lives, saved countless others." CNN.com
(11/5) reports the "commemoration of the anniversary of the shootings
began with an awards ceremony honoring more than 54 soldiers and civilians
whose actions went beyond the call of duty." The Associated
Press (11/5, Brown) also reports briefly on the dedication. 22.
A Year After Fort Hood Shootings, Suicide Has Killed More There. The
CBS Evening News (11/5, story 8, 2:55, Teague, 6.1M), after briefly noting the
anniversary of the Fort Hood attack, then devotes most of its report to the
issue of military suicides, noting that Fort Hood has seen more soldiers have
died at Fort Hood from suicide in the year since the shooting than were
killing in the year-ago attack. It notes that, "The Army suicide rate is
now double the national average. Fort Hood has had a record 20 confirmed or
suspected suicides this year, four in just one week in September. And while
it's clear the stress of nine years of war contributes to the problem, it's not
the only cause. At Fort Hood, the majority of the victims had never been in
combat or served only one tour and none were connected to the mass shooting of
soldiers here one year ago." 23.
PTSD, TBI Expert Will Give Lecture. The North
County (CA) Times (11/5, Rogers) reports that a leading
authority on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain, Navy Captain
Paul S. Hammer, who heads the Navy's research on those subjects, will speak
Tuesday at Cal State San Marcos on "The Ancient History of a Modern
Problem." 24.
Returned Veterans Fight PTSD, The "Enemy Within." A
Los
Angeles Times columnist (11/7, Lopez) profiles three veterans returned from
Iraq and Afghanistan with whom he "gathered on a recent Saturday morning
in an office at the VA in West Los Angeles to watch a short, powerful film
about their service, their death wishes and their struggle to stay alive."
As they view the film, the head of the VAMC's suicide prevention program,
who wants to use the documentary as a suicide prevention tool and training
material, watches the veterans' reactions, at times stopping it "to make
sure they're OK and to remind them they don't have to do this." 25.
Traumatic Brain Injury Is "Signature" Of Iraq, Afghan Wars. KVAL-TV
Eugene, OR (11/5, Koopmans) reports that Harvey Jay Leal, a 100% disabled
Oregon National Guardsman who survived multiple mortar attacks in Iraq,
"remembers how and when Iraqi insurgents blew up his convoy, but it's hard
for him to remember how our conversation even started. 'I go off and can't
remember the question, said Leal. "I have no idea what I'm talking
about." Soon after returning home, he "received disability for leg
and back injuries immediately after returning home from Iraq but it would take
four years and dozens of doctors to finally identify his most debilitating
injury: Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI." The article notes that TBI
screening did not become mandatory for returning troops until 2005. 26.
Scranton Vet Center Will Hold Session For Spouses On PTSD, TBI. The
Wayne
(PA) Independent (11/5, Compton) profiles a Vietnam veteran's
difficulties with PTSD and TBI, and notes that the VA's Scranton Vet
Center will hold an educational session for military spouses on November 13. 27.
Community For Homeless Vets Set Up In Massachusetts. The
Boston
Globe (11/8, Abel, 253K) says that in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the
"nation's first community of its kind for homeless veterans" is
"part of a new approach to fighting homelessness: Instead of moving those
without homes into overcrowded emergency shelters or transitional places far
from services, the $6.1 million project that looks like a high-end condo
complex provides them with attractive one-bedroom and studio apartments for as
long as they want to stay." Disability checks or other income resident
vets might have pay for rent at the complex, which "was the idea of the
directors of Soldier On, a local nonprofit provider of services for homeless
veterans." The complex, which was "built beside a shelter for
veterans and includes an array of mental-health and addiction services,"
is "named the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community, after the former
deputy secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs Department," who
"served from 2005 to 2008 and helped build support for the project." 28.
VA Helping Fund Salvation Army Housing Projects. Crain's
Detroit Business (11/8, Welch) reports, "The Salvation
Army Eastern Michigan Division plans to break ground in the spring on two new
buildings to help meet rising demand for transitional housing for homeless
veterans in the metro Detroit area." The "projects are among
several" the US Department of Veterans Affairs is "helping to fund to
meet the needs of an estimated 3,500 homeless veterans in the region." 29.
New Criminal Investigation Underway At Arlington National Cemetery. In
continuing coverage, the Army
Times (11/7, Tilghman, 104K) said the US Army has "launched a new
criminal investigation into problems at Arlington National Cemetery, where
previous inquiries found hundreds of troops were buried improperly and millions
in taxpayers' dollars were wasted. The latest investigation began after the
executive director of the Army Cemeteries Program, Kathryn Condon, 'became
aware of some questionable practices that took place' at the cemetery,"
said Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Command,"
who "declined to say when the investigation began or provide any other
details." 30.
VA Invites Public To Ceremony At Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. The
lead "Community Calendar" item for the Dallas
Morning News (11/7, 257K) reported, "The Department of Veterans Affairs
and Texas National Cemetery Foundation invite the public" to a free
"Veterans Day ceremony at 3 p.m. Thursday at Dallas-Fort Worth National
Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas." 31.
Task Force Established To Help Vets Develop Small Businesses. MSNBC's Your Business (11/7, 7:41 a.m. ET) broadcast that while "many small
business owners have had to put their ventures aside to serve" in the US
military, some of those vets, "as well as some of those who want to start
businesses upon returning from duty, often find it a challenge to get
support." MSNBC pointed out, however, that this year, President Obama
established an "interagency task force on veteran small business
development." When MSNBC asked Marie Johns, who chairs the task force and
who is a "deputy administrator for the Small Business
Administration," what advice she has for veterans who would like to start
a small business, she encouraged them to go to her agency's "website,
www.sba.gov." 32.
Telethon Raises Funds For Veterans. The Army
Times (11/6, Maze, 104K) noted that this past weekend, veteran Laura
Kennedy, a "New York consultant on business startups," put together a
"24-hour virtual telethon for veterans" that was streamed live on the
Internet. The telethon was a "way to share information about veterans
programs and raise a little money for support organizations." Kennedy, who
runs the "Flag Still Stands for Freedom Campaign," organized the
"around-the-clock webcast of entertainers, authors and veterans advocates
as part of an effort that evolved out of her view that the American flag wasn't
being displayed enough in everyday life." 33.
A Full Slate Of Veterans Day Observances. Although
the official holiday is on Thursday, Veterans Day observances have already
begun and will be active this weekend, and continue through the week. 34.
Documentary Debuts On Vietnam Experiences Of Louisiana Vets. The
Monroe
(LA) News Star (11/5, Temple, 30K) reports on the premiere
of a documentary featuring the experience of 20 northeastern Louisiana veterans
of the Vietnam War. The movie, "Some Call Them Baby Killers -- We Call
Them Heroes," was "funny at times and emotional at others," the
account noted. "As the movie progressed from the veterans describing the
draft and leaving home, muffled cries could be heard in the audience as the
documentary hit a more serious note. The veterans talked about watching their
fellow soldiers disintegrate after stepping on booby traps, losing limbs from
flying shrapnel and wearing their fellow soldiers blood on their uniforms
following a deadly blast." Proceeds from the event will benefit The
Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, now on display locally. 35.
New Memorial Will Be Unveiled This Weekend For Hawaii WWI Veterans. The
Associated
Press (11/5) reports, "A memorial stone is being unveiled this
weekend in honor of World War I veterans interned at Puukamalii Cemetery
but no longer have grave markers. The stone will be revealed during a ceremony
Saturday at Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific, and then it will be
moved to Puukamalii Cemetery in Alewa Heights in time for Veterans
Day on Thursday. It will be inscribed with words memorializing Hawaii World War
I infantrymen whose final resting place remains unknown." The article
notes that Senate Veterans Affairs chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI), "who got
approval for the stone from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National
Cemetery Administration, plans to speak at the ceremony." 36.
Marine Missing In Vietnam For 44 Years Will Be Buried In Ohio. The
Associated
Press (11/5, Albrecht) reports, "Samuel Hewitt grew up in the
Indiana heartland of corn and soybeans, lettered in high school sports, gave
his girl a pearl engagement ring, then went off to war and never came back.
Soon, this Marine who has been missing in action in Vietnam since 1966 will
finally return to be buried in an Ohio heartland of fallen veterans. Hewitt's
remains were discovered in June and identified this month through dental
records. His mother and sister, who now live in Medina, plan to have him buried
at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman on Nov. 19." 37.
World War II Merchant Mariner Supports Pension Bill. The
Longview
(WA) Daily News (11/5, McCorkle, 20K) reports on a local
resident's support for legislation to create a federal military pension for
those who served in the US Merchant Marine during World War II. He argues that
those who risked their lives carrying supplies to US troops in wartime ought to
receive such recognition. 38.
Memorial Dedicated For Hawaiian World War I Veterans. In
continuing coverage, the website of KITV-TV
Honolulu (11/6) reports on the dedication of a memorial plaque commemorating
Hawaiian World War I veterans, noting that it was the outcome of a long
campaign by a local woman who discovered broken and unmarked graves in an Oahu
cemetery. 39.
Memorial Honoring Black WWI Soldiers To Be Unveiled On Veterans Day. The
AP
(11/6) reported, "'Forgotten Legacy: Soldiers of the Coalfields," an
"interactive exhibit and website honoring black World War I soldiers from
West Virginia's southern coalfields," will "debut Veterans Day."
While the website for the West Virginia University School of Journalism project
launches that day, the "exhibit opens Nov. 13 at the Kimball War Memorial
Building in McDowell County." Kimball "hosts the nation's only war
memorial honoring the 400,000 black soldiers who fought" in WWI. 40.
Shared Pride Unites Iraqi Veteran With Those Of Earlier Generations. The
Wichita
(KS) Eagle (11/6, Tanner) finds a common thread of shared
experience in two veterans several generations apart. It reports that Tracy
Brooks "has served twice in Iraq and would go again because she misses the
normalcy of war. But for now, Brooks, 30, works for the Veterans of Foreign
Wars in Wichita's VA Medical Center, helping veterans process their disability
claims. 'I miss it,' Brooks said. 'I miss it a lot. I miss dealing with my
soldiers, taking care of them and training.'" Brooks, who headed a convoy
security team, shared a sense of service and challenge with two other veterans
briefly profiled. One, a Marine aircraft maintenance worker in Vietnam, later
suffered from PTSD and became involved with drugs, alcohol and crime
before seeking help from the VA, but still speaks of a sense of honor from his
service to the nation; the other, a 93-year-old Navy World War II veteran of
the Pacific theater, is separated from Brooks by at least six decades, but
"both echo the same message: 'It is an honor to serve one of the greatest
countries in the world,' Brooks said. 'To a lot of us, it was a job we signed
up for. We volunteered to do what we did, and we did it proudly.'" 41.
Homeless Iraq Combat Veteran, Infant Son Find Housing Through VA, Local
Non-Profit. KOAA-TV Colorado Springs, CO (11/6, Stafford, 12:03 a.m. EDT)
reports on homeless combat veterans, focusing on the case of Iraq veteran Jesse
Thomas, who had been living in his care with his five-month-old son. It notes
Thomas and his son found housing "through help from Veterans Affairs. They
were able to get Thomas things his baby needs, but most importantly a roof over
their heads. A local non-profit, Homefront Cares, helped make the payments
to get Thomas and his son into the apartment." A spokesperson for the
non-profit noted that its budget for such assistance this year was about $1
million lower, due to the tough economy. 42.
American Legion Commander Visits Togus VAMC. WLBZ-TV
Bangor, ME (11/6, Delage) reports that the American Legion national commander
"paid a visit to Maine Saturday to meet with local veterans." He
"visited legion posts in central Maine and toured the Togus VA
hospital and long-term care facilities. He spoke with veterans about the
importance of military funding, member recruitment, and taking care of the
nation's veterans. He asked patients at Togus about the care they are
receiving. He says it's one of his top priorities as commander." 43.
More Vietnam Vets Eligible For Agent Orange Benefits. On
its website, KOLO-TV
Reno, NV (11/7, Harrington) said that "more Vietnam veterans are becoming
eligible for disability benefits," because the US government is
"adding three...diseases to the list of those presumed to be caused"
by Agent Orange. At an "event in Reno Saturday at Idlewild Park,
veterans displayed quilts honoring other veterans who have suffered from the
effects of the chemical." After noting that the this "event travels
the country," KOLO added, "Presenters said the display will help
veterans know many are eligible for help." The Leesburg
(FL) Daily Commercial (11/7, Ruck) also took note of
the expansion of the Agent Orange presumptive illnesses list. 44.
Woodcarvers Make Canes For Injured Iraq, Afghan Veterans. The
Contra
Costa (CA) Times (11/6, Jordan) reports on the Tri-Valley
Woodcarvers Guild, whose members are hand carving canes for veterans with
combat-related leg injuries. They are part of a national Eagle Head Cane
Project, "involving woodcarver guilds in 28 states that are making
individualized memorial canes for veterans wounded in Iraq and
Afghanistan." 45.
New York Town Honor Civil War With Marker, Memorial Service. The
Associated
Press (11/5) reports that this weekend, a granite
tombstone for a Union soldier from the Civil War killed in Virginia's Battle of
the Wilderness "will be unveiled in the cemetery plot next to his mother's
in his hometown of Crown Point, on Lake Champlain 90 miles north of
Albany." The remains of Sgt. Alfred Woods, originally buried on the
battlefield, were later exhumed and re-interred at the national cemetery in
Fredericksburg. The idea for a veteran's grave marker came from a retired state
parks employee, who purchased some the soldier's wartime diaries and donated
them to the New York State Library in Albany. 46.
Wisconsin Will Open "Paper Wall" Tribute To State's Dead/Missing In
Vietnam. WQOW-TV
Eau Claire, WI (11/5) reports that the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, plus a county
library and the state public television will hold a grand opening on the
rotunda of the state Capitol for "The Paper Wall," a visual tribute
to the 1,224 Vietnam citizens killed or missing in action during the Vietnam
War. The exhibit features obituaries and newspaper articles. 47.
Vietnam Wall Replica Is Coming To Texas. The
Plano
(TX) Star-Courier (11/5, Smith, 2K) reports, "Just in
time to celebrate Veterans Day, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is bringing
the traveling Wall That Heals to Grapevine." A half-scale model of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, the replica also travels with a museum
and information center providing a history of the Vietnam War. 48.
Badger Honor Flight Brings 101 Wisconsin Veterans To DC. The
Wisconsin
Dells Events (11/5, Steinke, 2K) reports on an October Badger Honor Flight
that brought 101 World War II veterans from Wisconsin from Madison to
Washington, DC. 49.
Family Joins Illinois Honor Flight. The Hillsboro
(IL) Journal-News (11/5, Slepicka, 8K) recounts a family's
experience accompanying a 91-year-old relative, a Army veteran of the European
theater of World War II, on a Central Illinois Honor Flight to the military
monuments in Washington, DC. 50.
Interest In Honor Flights High Among Iowa WWII Veterans. The
Waterloo
and Cedar Falls (IA) Courier (11/5, Kinney, 40K) reports,
"A local Honor Flight for World War II veterans may turn into several.
More than 200 vets in the Cedar Valley applied for a chance to fly from the
Waterloo Regional Airport to Washington, D.C., and see their national memorial.
The demand is so high that local organizers with Sullivan-Hartogh-Davis
American Legion Post 730 are contemplating a second and possible third Honor
Flight in 2011, organizer Craig White said." 51.
San Antonio Veterans Board Honor Flight. KENS-TV
San Antonio, TX (11/5) reports, "Local World War II veterans are on their
way to Washington D.C. for Veteran's Day weekend. Thirty-one members of the
Alamo Honor Flight left San Antonio International Airport Friday afternoon for
the nation's capital." 52.
Honor Flight Cleveland Takes 25 Ohio Vets To DC. The Cuyahoga
Falls News-Press (11/5, Wiandt) reports that 25 World War II
veterans from Ohio took an Honor Flight Cleveland trip to Washington, DC, all
but one using wheelchairs. 53.
Housing Vouchers Assist Homeless Veterans. WLOX-TV
Biloxi, MS (11/5, Thomas) reports at the Biloxi VAMC, staff "uses an
initiative by HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs to try to make a
difference" in the lives of homeless veterans. Beyond holding Stand Down
events to bring healthcare and cold-weather supplies to veterans, officials at
the VA facility have been providing some homeless veterans with housing with
vouchers from the HUD
Veterans Affairs Specialty Housing program. A Biloxi clinical social worker
says that she had 35 vouchers when the program started in March, and "they
were gone in four months." Now with another 25 vouchers, she notes she has
80 applicants. 54.
Dorn VAMC Hosts Veterans Stand Down. The Associated
Press (11/5) reports, "A South Carolina veterans medical center is
hosting an event to aid homeless veterans as well as those vets who might be in
danger of losing their homes. Veterans Administration spokeswoman Patricia
Creamer says Friday's event at the Tillis Family Life and Training Center
in Columbia is being held in cooperation with a number of government agencies.
Counselors at the morning session were helping provide food, shelter, clothing,
health screenings and advice on obtaining Veterans Administration and Social
Security benefits. Referrals to federal, state and local community agencies
that may provide help for employment and substance abuse treatment also will be
available. 55.
Bedford VAMC Upgrades Detailed. The Bedford
(MA) Minuteman (11/5, Ellis, 3K) reports on recent physical
plant improvements to the Bedford VAMC, part of 40 projects underway there. In
addition to digging up and replacing 350 feet of steam lines and building a new
water tower, the hospital has also upgraded electrical and sewer systems,
created a 10-bed hospice and a 340-bed long-term care center, expanded one
hospital unit and renovated and reopened another that had been closed since the
1990s. The facility's chief of engineering notes than the hospital dates back
to 1928 and predicts that a new boiler system will save $20,000 monthly in
energy costs. 56.
Salt Lake City VAMC Is Adding Solar Power. The Associated
Press (11/5) reports that the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt
Lake City "will add solar panels. Massachusetts-based Ameresco Inc.
says it won the contract to install rooftop and ground-based solar panels that
will produce hundreds of kilowatts of electricity. Ameresco says the $6.6
million project will take 10 months to complete." The AP notes that the
agency "is complying with a federal law that requires agencies to obtain
at least five percent of their electricity needs from renewable sources by
2012." 57.
Virginia Bar Association Launches Free Legal Aid For Veterans. The
Richmond
(VA) Times-Dispatch (11/5, 134K) reports that the Virginia Bar
Association "yesterday kicked off a statewide campaign to get veterans
free or reduced-cost legal services. The organization has designated November
as Veterans Legal Services Month. The bar association is asking members to
volunteer their skill to help returning veterans deal with legal issues they
might face. The association also is raising money for the Veterans Benefits
Clinic at the William & Mary Law School," where students help veterans
with filing claims for disability compensation with the Department of Veterans
Affairs." 58.
Former PGA Tour Pro Teaches Wounded Veterans. The Baltimore
Sun (11/5, Markus, 228K) reports on the Salute Military Golf
Association, a four-year-old organization run by former PGA Tour pro Jim Estes
out of Maryland's Olney Golf Park, that teaches golf to veterans who have been
wounded in combat. Starting from a "Salute Servicemen Day" in 2005
that golf pros gave lessons in exchange for donations to Disabled American
Veterans, two years later Estes had started the non-profit, with encouragement
from the DAV, which will honor him with its Patriot Award at its annual dinner
Saturday. 59.
Veterans/Retiree Appreciation Day. PoliticalNews.me
(11/5) reports that IN Sen. Richard Lugar (R), in cooperation with the Military
Veterans Coalition of Indiana, "encouraged Hoosier veterans to attend
Indiana Military Veterans/Retiree Appreciation Day on Saturday, November
13." Military affairs writer Col. (Ret.) Ralph Peters will deliver the
keynote address at the event. 60.
Mercer County Sets Veterans Workshop. The Trenton
(NJ) Trentonian (11/5, 31K) reports, "Veterans from across Mercer
County are invited to visit Mercer County Connection on Nov. 17 to discuss a
variety of issues related to benefits and services. Veterans can learn about
referral services for transportation to VA medical facilities; employment;
social services; emergency and transitional housing; affordable housing; and
counseling. Veterans can also bring their questions about enrollment for
benefits; disability claims and education; survivor benefits; and health care
services." The session will be held on November 17. 61.
U-Haul Announces It Will Sponsor Veterans Day Parade In Phoenix. In
a PR
Newswire release (11/5), U-Haul announces it will sponsor Phoenix's
Veterans Day Parade, which will include five trucks with special graphics
honoring the armed service branches. 62.
A Sampling Of Veterans Day Observances Nationwide. Communities
nationwide report a diverse range of activities this week honoring the nation's
veterans. Here is a representative sampling. 63.
Group Created To Thank Service Members Year-Round. The
Syracuse
Post-Standard (11/6, Groom, 97K) reports that Peter Allen of Oswego, New York
looks forward to Veterans Day, but "He believes those in the military
should be thanked more often, so he started an organization that does just
that." Thank a Service Member, a group of Central New York volunteers that
sponsors and attends veteran-related events, including Veterans of Foreign Wars
and American Legion programs, and visits veterans in hospitals to show that
gratitude. The group has also presented "Thank You For Your Service"
commemorative coins, designed by the group's founder, to about 4,000 veterans. 64.
Charity Hockey Games Will Fund Gift Packages For Troops Overseas. The
Bay
City Times (11/5, Wayland) reports, "A well-known care package drive in
the Great Lakes Bay Region for U.S. troops is teaming up with the Saginaw
Spirit hockey team this weekend to honor military veterans and those in active
duty. The sixth annual Send Santa to the Troops care package drive -- formerly
known as Help Send Santa to Baghdad -- is underway and Saturday organizers will
be on hand at Saginaw's Dow Event Center, 303 Johnson St., for the hockey
team's "Veterans Night." WNEM-TV Flint, MI (11/5, 6:41 a.m. EDT) reports that, before the
professionals take the ice, the "Guns 'N Hoses" charity hockey game
between members will match Saginaw police and firefighters, with part of the
proceeds be donated to the Department of Veterans Affairs. 65.
Golf Pro Honored For Program Teaching Wounded Veterans. In
continuing coverage, professional golf website PGA.com (11/7) reports the PGA pro Jim Estes of Germantown,
Maryland, the founder of the Salute Military Golf Association, "an
innovative program in 2007 that has served the needs of more than 500 members
of the nation's armed services, was presented the 2010 Patriot Award Saturday
at the 94th PGA Annual Meeting." 66.
West Palm Beach VAMC Residents Will Get Band Visit, Cards. The
Treasure
Coast Palm (11/6) reports that members of the Jupiter
High School Marching Warriors band "will deliver 120 cards to residents of
the Veterans Administration Medical Center in West Palm Beach" on Monday,
November 8. It's part of Kind Acts Performed, which "is mailing 2,170
cards/letters to 14 VA hospitals across the country." 67.
Non-Profit Provides Fly-Fishing Lessons For Wounded Veterans. The
Staunton
News Leader (11/7, Sorrels) reports on Project Healing
Waters Fly Fishing, which offers wounded veterans fly-fishing lessons for
therapeutic and recreational purposes. 68.
Navy SEAL Museum Stages Muster To Start Its 25th Year. The
Treasure
Coast (FL) Palm (11/6, Rodriguez) reports on a
ceremony marking the start of the 25th year of operation for the National Navy
UDT-SEAL Museum. Featuring "a mock mission, Black Hawk helicopters,
explosions and gunfire," the event drew a crowd of close to 10,000
spectators. 69.
San Diego Gets Ready To Open Veterans Park. The San
Diego Union-Tribune (11/6, Scharn, 264K) reports on
the scheduled Thursday grand opening of Poway Veterans Park, a project which
local veterans had sought for about 10 years. 70.
"Wall Of Honor" Unveiled In Front Of VA Hospital. On
its website, KFSN-TV Fresno, CA (11/6) reported,
"Thousands gathered in central Fresno to honor our valley's veterans. A
special dedication ceremony for the newest phase of a 'Wall of Honor' was held
in front" of the Veterans Affairs hospital "in Central Fresno
Saturday morning." The KGPE-TV Fresno, CA (11/7) website
published a similar story. 71.
VA Hospital Sponsors Veterans Day Parade. In
continuing coverage, the Charleston
(SC) Post And Courier (11/8, Munday) notes that on
Sunday, the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center sponsored
"Charleston's annual Veterans Day Parade." The parade's grand marshal
was World War II veteran Lee Hunt, who over 65 years ago "survived one of
the most vicious kamikaze attacks on any American ship in history." The
Post and Courier goes on to say the US VA "selected North Charleston as a
regional host site for this year's Veterans Day observances." WCBD-TV Charleston, SC (11/7, 11:53 p.m. ET) also aired a report on
the parade. 72.
Vets Ride With Supplies To VA Hospital. On its
website, WPMT-TV Harrisburg, PA (11/7, Layne)
reported, "Some Lebanon County veterans got on their motorcycles Sunday to
help their brothers and sisters in arms. About 50 people with the Post 910
American Legion Riders rode from their post near Jonestown" to the Lebanon
Veterans Affairs Medical Center. After noting that the riders "brought
more than $5,000 worth of supplies...to the veterans in the
hospital," WPMT added, "The ride ended at the Indiantown Gap
National Cemetery for the annual veterans day program at the cemetery." 73.
Elementary School Class To Visit VA Hospital. Early in
"Ed Watch" for the Topeka
(KS) Capital-Journal (11/8), it is noted that
"Mrs. Custenborder's class at Linn Elementary will be going
Tuesday" to the Colmery-O'Neil Veterans Affairs Medical Center to "present
convalescent veterans with drawings of veterans of the past." 74.
Americans Rush To Recognize Aging Veterans. The Columbia
(MO) Daily Tribune (11/7, Silvey, 18K). 75.
Vets' Honor Carved In Stone. The Honolulu
Star-Advertiser (11/7, Shikina). 76.
Bringing Them Home. The Medford
(OR) Mail Tribune (11/7, Miller, 26K). 77.
Two Local Marines Are Changed Forever. The Parkersburg
(WV) News & Sentinel (11/8, Dunlap). 78.
On the Hill for November 8, 2010: House: The House is not in session and will reconvene at 2 p.m.
Nov. 15 after the elections for a lame-duck session. Senate: The Senate is
holding a series of pro forma sessions over the next month to prevent President
Obama from making recess appointments. 79.
VA Hearings as of November 8, 2010: Hearing
on November 18. SVAC will hold a hearing on IDES. 80. Today in History:
---------------------------------------- From:
Kevin Secor at VA HQ Sent:
Monday, November 08, 2010 1:59 PM Subj: VA Celebrates
National Family Caregiver Month WASHINGTON â The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is marking
National Family Caregiver Month by honoring the service of family members and
friends who have dedicated their lives to caring for chronically ill, injured,
or disabled Veterans. âCaregivers are the family
members and loved ones who take care of the severely injured Veterans who need
assistance on a daily basis,â said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. âThese
mothers, wives, fathers, husbands and other loved ones make tremendous
sacrifices to be there every day for the Veterans who served this Nation.
They are our partners in Veteran health care and they deserve our support.â November is National Family
Caregivers Month, and VA medical centers nationwide will offer locally
sponsored events for caregivers. Because caregivers often experience
stress, burnout, or feel overwhelmed by the caregiving experience, planned
activities will provide useful information about VA and community resources
that offer support and assistance to caregivers and Veterans. Caregivers provide a valuable
service to Veterans by assisting them beyond the walls of VA medical facilities
with support such as accessing the health care system, providing emotional and
physical support, and allowing injured Veterans to stay in their homes rather
than living their lives in an institutional setting. Caregivers help Veterans
maintain a better quality of life and gain more independence. As the
Veteran population ages and continues to increase, the role of caregivers as
partners in supporting Veterans is even more prevalent. The Veteran population
aged 65 and older is expected to increase from 37.4 percent to 44.8 percent by
the year 2020. VA is also treating a new era of younger, severely injured
Servicemembers. Many Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will need lifetime
care. VA recognizes the support of their caregivers is vital for these
Veterans. On May 5, 2010, President
Obama signed into law the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act
of 2010. Passed by Congress, this law will allow VA to care for those who
provide supplemental help to family caregivers of the most severely wounded
veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. VA has been consulting with
Veterans organizations, as well as individual Veterans and their family
members, to ensure these new programs are implemented to provide the best
possible support for those who have sacrificed so much. These benefits will add to
the wide range of compassionate and practical programs for Veteran caregivers
that are already available from VA: In-Home and Community Based
Care: This includes skilled home health care, homemaker home health aide
services, community adult day health care and home based primary
care. Respite care: Designed
to temporarily relieve the family caregiver from caring for a chronically ill,
injured or disabled Veteran at home, respite services can include in-home care,
a short stay in a VA community living center or other institutional setting or
adult day health care. Caregiver education and
training programs: VA provides multiple training opportunities which
include pre-discharge care instruction and specialized caregiver programs such
as polytrauma and traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury/disorders,
and blind rehabilitation. VA has a caregiver assistance healthy living
center Web page on My HealtheVet, www.myhealth.va.gov as well as caregiver
information on the VAâs main Web page health site; both Websites include
information on VA and community resources and caregiver health and wellness. Family support
services: These support services can be face to face or on the
telephone. They include family counseling, spiritual and pastoral
care. Polytrauma Centers also offer family leisure and recreational
activities and temporary lodging in Fisher Houses. Other benefits:
VA provides durable medical equipment and prosthetic and sensory aides to
improve function, financial assistance with home modification to improve access
and mobility, and transportation assistance for some Veterans to and from
medical appointments. Caregivers should contact
their nearest VA medical center for caregiver activities in the local area.
Facility locators and contact information can be found at www.va.gov -------------------------------------- From: VA Media
Relations Sent:
Monday, November 08, 2010 12:59 PM Subj: VA Health System
Shines in Quality-of-Care Study WASHINGTON -- A report in the November issue of the national
publication Medical Care finds that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
health system generally outperforms the private sector in following recommended
processes for patient care. âThis report is strong
evidence of the advancements VA continues to make in improving health care over
the past 15 years,â said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
âThe systems and quality-improvement measures VA actively uses are second to
none, and the results speak for themselves.â A research team with VA, RAND
Corp. (a non-profit research institution) and two universities reviewed 36
studies published between 1990 and 2009. While the review did not include
studies of surgical care, it did cover a range of studies of diseases common
among Veterans, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. The study authors, led by
Dr. Amal Trivedi of the Providence, R.I., VA Medical Center and Brown
University, cite possible reasons for VAâs more positive performance, including
integration of health care settings, use of performance measures with an
accountability framework, disease-management practices and electronic medical
record or health information technology. Among the specific findings of
the review were: â
Nine studies comparing VA and non-VA care in general showed greater adherence
to accepted processes of careâor better health outcomesâin VA. â
Five studies of mortality following a heart attack or other coronary event
found similar survival rates in VA and non-VA settings. â
Three studies of care after a heart attack found greater rates of
evidence-based drug therapy in VA; one found lower use of clinically
appropriate angiography (blood vessel imaging) in VA. â
Three studies of diabetes care found VA to have
better adherence to guidelines. â
Three studies found higher rates of vaccination against flu and pneumonia for
the elderly in VA. To gain greater insight into
differences between VA and non-VA care and to also identify ways to improve VA
care even further, the authors recommend continuing research with even more
recent data. They also say thereâs a need for studies that compare VA
specifically to high-performing private health care systems, rather than to a
broad cross section of non-VA facilities. Collaborating
with Trivedi on the review were co-authors affiliated with RAND, the
University of California-Los Angeles and the Greater Los Angeles VA Medical
Center. For more information about VA
health care, visit www.va.gov/health. To learn more about VA research, go to www.research.va.gov ------------------------------------------- From:
Kevin Secor at VA HQ Sent: Tuesday,
November 09, 2010 2:44 AM Subj: HAVE YOU HEARD? VA is launching its first
official blog, opening a new line of communication between the Department and
its stakeholders. The debut marks VAâs latest outreach effort aimed at
improving the way VA and its clients engage online. Called VAntage Point
and edited by VAâs Director of New Media Brandon Friedman, the blog will launch
with two primary features: A main column of articles written each day by VA
staff and a section comprised of guest pieces submitted by other employees,
stakeholders, and the general public. Readers will be able to comment and
participate on all articles. VAntage Pointâs guest pieces will essentially
function as âletters to the editorâ. Whether from a VA physician, a student
going to school on the Post-9/11 GI Bill or a representative from a Veterans
Service Organization, all pieces will be considered for publication based on
their rationale and reasoned pointsânot on how closely their views align with
those of the Department. The VA blog is expands VAâs social media reach, adding
to its presence on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube. Each VA
administration has its own Facebook page and Twitter feed, and these platforms
are being adopted by VA medical centers. Currently, 51of 153 VA medical
centers maintain a presence on Facebook and 27 are operating Twitter
feeds. The Department currently has the largest Facebook subscriber base
among cabinet-level agencies with over 68,000 subscribers. To view the blog,
visit http://www.blogs.va.gov. For more information, visit http://www.va.gov -------------------------------- From: VA Media
Relations Sent: Tuesday,
November 09, 2010 12:49 PM Subj: VA Expands Support
for Families of Low-Income Veterans Communities and
Non-Profits Will Play Critical Outreach Role WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
announced today an important program designed to provide enhanced services to
low-income Veterans and their families who are at risk of being homeless.
Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, VA will provide
grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will
help break the cycle of homelessness among Americaâs Veterans at risk. The program will deliver
grants to community agencies for vocational and rehabilitation counseling,
employment and training service, educational assistance; and health care
services. Agencies will also provide
direct financial assistance for daily living, transportation, child care, rent
and utilities and other expenses. Agencies may also propose funding for
additional services in their supportive services grant application based on the
specific needs of their communities and local Veterans. âEnding homelessness for
Veterans and their families will require all segments of our communities to
work together,â said First Lady Michelle Obama. âI am pleased this new program
will help more local organizations support them when they need it most.â âThis new program will
provide valuable new tools in our campaign to end homelessness among Veterans
and their families,â said Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki.
âPartnering with homeless agencies across this country, we will attack the
problems that underlie homelessness and, for the first time, fund services for
the spouses and children of homeless Veterans.â By mid-December, VA officials
will provide local agencies with the instructions necessary to apply for grants
under the program. Eligible Veteran families
include those who are residing in permanent housing, are homeless and scheduled
to become residents of permanent housing within a specified time period, or who
have left permanent housing and are seeking other housing that is responsive to
such very low-income Veteran familyâs needs and preferences. The program is available for
public viewing at http://www.ofr.gov/ -------------------------------------- History of Veterans Day World War I â known at the
time as âThe Great Warâ - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was
signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles,
France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or
temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went
into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For
that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of âthe war to
end all wars.â Soldiers of the 353rd
Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of
hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918,
two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect In November 1919, President
Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with
the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day
will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the
countryâs service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing
from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America
to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the
nationsâ" The original concept for the
celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief
suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. The United States Congress
officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent
resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words: Whereas the 11th of November
1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching
war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of
peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be
severed, and Whereas it is fitting that
the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving
and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and
mutual understanding between nations; and Whereas the legislatures of
twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal
holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a
proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United
States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of
the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable
places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other
peoples. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S.
Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a
legal holidayâa day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be
thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was
primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after
World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors,
Marines and airmen in the Nationâs history; after American forces had fought
aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service
organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word
"Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans."
With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954,
November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. Later that same year, on
October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day
Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread
observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and
the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this
end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a
Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the
Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary
planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments
and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National
Committee in every way possible." President Eisenhower signing
HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne
Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla,
Howard W. Watts On that same day, President
Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of
Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day
National Committee. In 1958, the White House
advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator
as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA
Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level
department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's
chairman. The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public
Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to
ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national
holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and
Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage
travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial
and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and
continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates. The first Veterans Day under
the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite
apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and
patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September
20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479),
which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of
November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the
overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service
organizations and the American people. Veterans Day continues to be
observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls.
The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only
preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on
the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's
veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice
for the common good. --------------------------- Godspeed
all...................Wayne Wayne M. Gatewood, Jr. USMC (Ret) President/CEO Quality Support, Inc. A Service Disabled Veteran
and Minority Owned-Small Business 8201 Corporate Drive, Suite
220 Landover, MD 20785 301-459-3777 EXT
101 - Fax 301-459-6961 "The willingness
with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how
justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the Veterans
of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their Nation." - George
Washington |