A veteran is someone who,
at one point in his/her life wrote a blank check
Made payable to "The United States of America "
for an amount of "up to and including their life"
1 Mar Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day
2 Mar Vietnaam War Began1965
3 Mar "Star Spangled Banner" made US National Anthem 1931
19Mar Operation Iraqi Freedom began 2003
7 Oct War on Terror Began 2001
13 Oct US Navy Birthday, 1775
10 Nov US Marine Corps Birthday, 1775
11 Nov Veterans Day WW I Armistice 1918
7 Dec Pearl Harbor Day 1941
8 Dec War declared on Japan 1941
31 Dec Official End of WW II 1946
12 Feb Lincoln's Birthday
22 Feb Washington's Birthday
Lodge Veterans' Committee
If you are interested in joining this important committee, please send your name to the webmaster e mail address.
Veterans' Right to Salute:
Changes to both the National Defense Authorization Acts of fiscal year 2008&2009 have extended the etiquette and right of Veterans and Military not in uniform to render the hand salute during playing of the National Anthem and during raising, lowering, or passing of the National Flag.
Lou Gehrig Disease (ALS):
The VA has determined that any veteran who has served 90 days or more of continuous active service and develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will have been determined to have a disease which is a presumptively compensable illness for all such vets. This is a major change and effects all vets diagnosed with the disease. Any veteran previously denied benefits for ALS should contact the VA.
Tis information was obtained from the Elks South District News Letter.
Toll-free number for South Jersey Veterans Clinic
Philadelphia VA Medical Center officials have established a toll-free telephone number for the Gloucester County VA Outpatient Clinic. The number, 877-823-5230, is now the primary number to reach the clinic, although the local 856-401-7680 number will still be able to receive calls.
This new toll-free number is actually part of the Philadelphia VA’s main switchboard. So, in addition to adding more incoming lines and providing a toll-free call for South Jersey Veterans, another benefit is that the Gloucester County VA clinic is now connected directly to departments and services at the main VA medical center in West Philadelphia.
The Gloucester County VA Clinic is part of the county’s complex at Five Points in Sewell, which was expanded earlier this year and offers Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Social Work, Cardiology, Podiatry, Optometry, Driver’s Rehabilitation, and specialized Women’s Health. There are plans to add Audiology in early 2010. More than 4,700 Veterans had 15,000 medical appointments at the clinic in fiscal 2009.
VA Assisted Living Benefits:
The following information is taken from an article published April 16, 2009 in Newsok, the web page of the Oklahoman Newspaper , OK City OK. The web link to the article is http://newsok.com/article/3344150.
“A little-known veterans’ benefit for long-term care expenses is available to wartime veterans and their spouses. But the benefit is being overlooked by thousands of families, industry observers say .The Special Pension for Veterans’ Aid and Attendance pays up to $1,644 a month, $19,736 annually, toward assisted living, nursing homes or in-home care for veterans 65 and older who served at least 90 days and one day during wartime — stateside or overseas. Veterans and their spouses can receive up to $23,396 annually and spouses of deceased veterans, $12,681. "Literally hundreds of thousands don’t even know about it,” Soard said. "Due to incomplete information, many disqualify themselves on income or assets or find the paperwork too burdensome.”The process is streamlined for vets who are blind or have memory issues and widows with medical needs, he said. Most applicants qualify and payments are retroactive, Soard said. The few who are denied on excessive liquid assets can seek financial advice to qualify, he said.
The process is streamlined for vets who are blind or have memory issues and widows with medical needs, he said. Most applicants qualify and payments are retroactive, Soard said. The few who are denied on excessive liquid assets can seek financial advice to qualify, he said.”
Citizen Soldiers National Guard: Back Home From Iraq
Remember the members of our National Guard and Reserve who have been called to active duty and are serving in the Iraqi/Afganistan areas of operations. Both the NJ Army National Guard and PA National Guard have Brigade's currently deployed. Our lodge has provided assistance to several deployed local military families. We also provided assistance to a severely injured NJ guardsman's family. The New Jersey Guard will be completing their overseas deployment in May. Members of the New Jersey 50th Brigade arrived back home in late June. The PA Army National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade, headquarted in NE Philadelphia,arrived home in August and Sept 2009. Welcome Home!
Additional Deployments
WE all know Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines are deployed in Mid East. Not commonly known is that there are three to four Coast Guard Cutters on patrol duty in the area. In Addition, the UPHS, Uniformed Public Health Services Personnel, have been deployed in medical and engineer support in theatre.
Group 8 Benefits for Vets
The 2009 VA budget has been increased and wording raises income thresholds for middle income vets with non service-connected health problems. New income threshold will be in the area of $32,343 for single vets and approx $2200 additional per dependent. The following is the link to the VA eligilibity calculator. You can also complete application for health benefits on line by going to VA.com or http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/apps/enrollmentcalculator/index.asp
GI Bill
New/Updated Educational Benefits for Veterans effective 1Aug2009 for Vets who served 36 months or more, on active duty after Sep 10, 2001. If service was less than 36 months, a prentage of the maximum benefits is available. This is a new and expanded version of the GI Bill, and will cover various training programs, udergrad and graduate level. Also available are monthly stipends for housing, books and supplies. REference for more info at www.gibill.va.gov.
A bill for a proposed constitutional amendment to protect physical desecration of the flag of the United States has been introduced in both the US House of Representatives and US Senate. Source: American Legion Magazine July 2009.