DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

Information Central for Marine Vets and Their Families

Bureau for Veterans Affairs

Pennsylvania State Veterans' Commission

Please visit our website and see what Pennsylvania does for its veterans!à www.paveterans.state.pa.us

Click on the links above for ongoing info for PA Veteran's. Check back often.

19 June 2009

Dauphin County Veterans Expo flyer - June 25

Click here for more info

19 June 2009

Here’s a look at some of the current news events that will impact Pennsylvania’s Veterans. If you have any items you’d like to pass on, please send them to our Office for inclusion in the next digest. The contact information is at the bottom of this message. Please feel free to forward this to others.

STATEWIDE VETERANS EXPO BRIEFINGS AIR ON PCN TV – Missed the Statewide Veterans Expo this week? You’ll have a chance to see it on Saturday, June 20^th at 6:00 PM on PCN TV. Check your cable listings for the PCN channel in your area. Schedules are subject to change.

VIRTUAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR DISABLED VETERANS - On Sept. 15, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) will hold the first-ever virtual march for disabled veterans. You won’t need to travel to participate. You won’t need to spend any money to have your voice heard. You don’t even have to be online the day of the march, so no need to check your calendar. The DAV is working to ensure this will be the easiest and most convenient way ever to stand up for veterans. (read more)

WAYMART DISPLAYS PATRIOTISM AT PARADE - On Saturday, June 13th, the 2009 Waymart Pride and Patriotism parade kicked off promptly at 2 p.m. and continued for almost exactly the next hour. (read more)

SKYTOP, TROUT UNLIMITED HONOR VETS BY TEACHING THEM TO FISH - Stan Whitehead sat along the stream bank, talking about his days fishing as a young man on Long Island Sound. On Friday, the U.S. Navy veteran and 16 of his fellow veterans took up a new hobby — fly fishing. Healing Waters and the Stanley Cooper Sr. chapter of Trout Unlimited, in conjunction with Skytop Lodge, hosted the event Friday afternoon as veterans of the Iraq, Vietnam and Korean Wars fly fished on the creek. (read more)

NEW VETERANS ADVOCATE AT TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT from the Tobyhanna Reporter - Joseph Lilik, a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, is the depot’s new Veterans Advocate. He succeeds Ron Pugliese, who recently retired. The advocate serves as the depot’s point of contact for veterans’ programs and issues, such as insurance, education, VA loans and other non-personnel issues.

Lilik will also track legislative and policy issues that may affect veterans’ benefits. Lilik, an electrical equipment repairer in the Power Source Branch, Electronic Services Division, Systems Integration and Support Directorate, has worked at Tobyhanna since 1978. He is an active member of the Tobyhanna Veterans Council, helping to bring the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall here several years ago, and in raising funds for the POW/MIA Memorial. He is currently serving as Sergeant-at-Arms for the group.

“I get questions all of the time about veterans issues, if I don’t have the information, I’m happy to research it,” Lilik said. “I look forward to taking up where Ron Pugliese left off and continuing to assist our veterans.” While the advocate deals with benefits-related issues, the Tobyhanna Civilian Personnel Advisory Center will continue to be the organization that ensures that veteran’s preference and other personnel-related issues are properly applied and enforced.

For more information email joseph.e.lilik@us.army.mil.

WWII VETERAN AUTHOR TO VISIT PENNSYLVANIA VETERANS’ MUSEUM - Norman Bussel will visit the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum (PVM) noon-2 p.m., Saturday, June 20 to discuss and sign his memoir “Liberated Body, Captive Mind: A World War II POW’s Journey.” Bussel’s book chronicles not only his year in a German prison camp, but the decades following with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other struggles. He speaks on PTSD also with a view to support troops returning from Iraq. The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Museum is located at the Media Armory, 12 East State Street in Media. For more information, call (610) 566-0788 or visit www.paveteransmuseum.org.

FROM NAVY CAPTAIN TO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER - The retired Navy captain, who had commanded hundreds of troops with a single word, was having a little trouble with the eighth graders. (read more)

VIETNAM VETERANS TO BE HONORED SATURDAY - Bucks County will honor veterans of the Vietnam War on Saturday at noon with a ceremony on the 25th anniversary of the Bucks County Vietnam War Memorial. (read more)

WALK FOR WOUNDED HONORS VETS ON SUNDAY IN ROSE TREE - Operation First Response will host the Second annual Pennsylvania Walk for the Wounded Sunday, June 14, at Rose Tree Park. (read more)

AT WAR WITH PTSD - The Department of Defense has taken major steps to help military personnel returning from deployment. The Veterans Administration offers counseling and treatment for soldiers suffering from the effects of combat, including post-traumatic stress disorder. (read more)

TRIPLE AMPUTEE SHARES MESSAGE OF GRIT, HOPE - It was his second tour of duty in Iraq, as sergeant, Bryan Anderson was busy training military police. But in October 2003, he was injured by an explosive device that resulted in the loss of both legs and his left hand. (read more)

THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES SB 192 - This bill sponsored by Senator Baker grants spouses of active duty members, military leave from their education benefits while their spouse is on active duty. The bill also entitles the spouse of a National Guard member to restoration of their educational status prior to their spouse being called to active duty. This legislation gives spouses flexibility to care for children, relatives, or to get a job when their spouse goes on active duty. It allows them to continue or place their education on hold while having the flexibility to take care of other issues that arise during a deployment. Ensures they will not be penalized for taking care of their family during a deployment. The act shall take effect in 60 days.

FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS INVITED TO JOIN PA HERO WALK - Members of the Franklin County Military Outreach Program are inviting area residents to join them Saturday (June 27) as they host the PA Hero Walk which will stop in Chambersburg en route from Philadelphia to New Kensington, Westmoreland County, to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. Local supporters will meet the Hero Walk participants at approximately 3 PM, Saturday, at Taormina’s Italian Restaurant on Lincoln Way East in Fayetteville. Those wishing to support the walk may also join the walkers anywhere along the route to Gateway Center. Walkers will address the crowd at the Gateway Center at the conclusion of the day’s walk and then retire to the Four Points Sheraton. FCMOP is paying for their stay. For those who wish to contribute to the Wounded Warriors Project canisters have been placed at Taormina’s, the Knights of Columbus in Chambersburg and at the Four Points Sheraton. Donations will also be accepted at the Gateway Center.

LEWISTOWN VETERANS MEMORIAL HISTORIC STONE GETS A FACE-LIFT - If the white stone at the base of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial on Monument Square in downtown Lewistown never caught your eye before Tuesday, it should now. (read more)

NATIONAL GUARD VETERANS REUNITE IN MILTON - Members of the 1950 Pennsylvania National Guard 3rd Battalion 109th Infantry 28th Infantry Division joined together Sunday for their fifth annual reunion, held at the Milton Moose. (read more)

HONORING THE SACRIFICE OF SERVICE MEMBERS' FAMILIES - The women stood together after the ceremony and the speeches, as the crowd left to find lunch and workers took apart the public address system. Raeann O'Connor's son, Pfc. Timothy Markle Jr., is serving in Iraq with the 56th Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. (read more)

EAST, WEST STARS READY FOR MILITARY - Players from both the East and West squads will get a better idea of what military life is like today, when the East squad makes a visit to the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home and the West team visits the James E. Van Zandt Medical Center on Pleasant Valley Boulevard. (read more)

CITY FLAG DAY MARCH DRAWS RECORD NUMBERS - Veterans and community members alike turned out in support of the flag Sunday evening, during the city's 26th annual God, Country and Community Flag March. (read more)

FRANKLIN COUNTY VFW POSTS RAISE MONEY FOR SOLDIERS - Area Veterans of Foreign Wars posts raised $1,250 for soldiers in Iraq during a fundraiser the last weekend of May at the visitors' center on Interstate 81 near Greencastle. (read more)

ROGER 'BILL' TERRY DIES AT 87; MEMBER OF WWII TUSKEGEE AIRMEN - Roger "Bill" Terry, the only member of the all-black group of World War II pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen convicted in what became known as the Freeman Field Mutiny, died of heart failure Thursday at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center. He was 87. (read more)

MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION RAISES MORE THAN $300,000 - The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation recently raised more than $300,000 at its 23rd Annual Washington Gala to benefit high school and college students from families of active-duty and former Marines. (read more)

ARMY MARKS 234 YEARS OF SERVICE, SACRIFICE - Citing the organization’s long history of selfless service and sacrifice, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III helped to commemorate the Army’s 234th birthday today at a Pentagon ceremony. (read more)

MEMORIAL RECOGNIZES THOSE KILLED IN NATO OPERATIONS - NATO officials dedicated a monument here today to personnel killed during alliance operations. (read more)

AIR FORCE OFFERS TELEPHONE NEWS SERVICE FOR RETIREES from the RAO Bulletin, 15 June 2009 - A 7/24 telephone news line has been set up for those retirees and surviving spouses who do not have computer access. By calling (800) 558-1404, retirees and spouses can stay informed using this new easy-to-use menu-driven service. Callers can select from several different topics that are compiled from various electronic news sources. Topics include pay and annuity matters, medical and health care, and other benefits and entitlements. This news line joins the e-Afterburner, Air Force Retiree News Service, and Air Force Retiree Web site at www.retirees.af.mil in providing the latest news and information to the service’s retiree community.

JAPAN APOLOGIZES TO BATAAN DEATH MARCH SURVIVORS from the RAO Bulletin, 15 June 2009 - Japan's Ambassador to the U.S. delivered his government's historic apology to the former POWs of Japan, their families, and friends at the last convention of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor (ADBC) on 30 MAY in San Antonio, Texas. In the Pacific Theater, during World War II sixty eight years ago, over 29,000 American military personnel were captured by the Japanese and forced by the Japanese Army to march 70 miles up the Bataan Peninsula, in the Philippine Islands. The 10 day march resulted in the death of an estimated 10,000 U. S. servicemen. Survivors of the march were shipped to Japan where they were forced into slave labor in coal mines owned by Japanese firms. The survivors of the Death March suffered constant beatings and abuse while fighting malnutrition and disease. Nearly 40% of those POWs died in captivity as a result of the Bataan Death March and the horrific conditions that existed in the Japanese POW forced labor camps and enslavement at private Japanese companies. The ADBC, for decades, has been pressing Japan for an apology for the inhumane treatment American POWs suffered under Japan's colonial rule during WWII. They also seek an apology from Japanese industry for their inhumane actions and to include the American POWs in a new and permanent Peace, Friendship, and Exchange Fund.

VA AND HHS COLLABORATE TO HELP OLDER VETS from the RAO Bulletin, 15 June, 2009 - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki announced 4 JUN a landmark collaboration to help the families of older Americans and Veterans with disabilities of all ages care for their loved ones in the community. This partnership builds on the similar missions of HHS and the VA with regard to caring for the populations they serve and has as its ultimate goal a nationwide home and community-based long-term-care support program to serve older Americans and veterans of all ages. Through this collaboration, many adults and veterans who would have previously been placed in nursing homes will be able to remain with their loved ones. HHS and VA are making $10 million in funding available to bring this initiative to 20 states. This partnership will implement the Veteran Directed Home & Community Based Service (VDHCBS) program through HHS’ aging and human services network, in coordination with the Administration on Aging’s (AoA) Community Living Program (CLP) which helps the family caregivers of individuals with ongoing need to keep their loved ones at home. Both programs allow participants to direct their own care, including having control over the types of services they receive and the manner in which they are provided. This includes the option of hiring their neighbors, friends and even some family members, to provide needed services. HHS’ national network of aging and community based organizations will work in close collaboration with the VA Medical Centers across the country to continue to develop and expand VDHCBS for veterans. The CLP, led by AoA, will help states and communities to assist individuals who are at risk of nursing home placement but who are not Medicaid eligible to remain at home.

VA ENDOSCOPY ISSUES - There have been many reports about the reprocessing of endoscopy equipment at VA Medical Facilities. The Department of Veterans Affairs' number one priority is the well being of our Nation's Veterans and we deeply regret that many of our Veterans may have been exposed to harm. When we identified a problem related to the reprocessing of endoscopy equipment that stemmed back to 2003, we immediately initiated an internal, national review process to evaluate the standard of health care our Veterans are receiving within the VA Healthcare System and directed the Inspector General to identify the depth of the problem. We are outraged at these results, of course, and are taking aggressive action to fix this problem quickly and effectively. VA is strictly enforcing a requirement that each facility verify that they are implementing correct standard operating procedures. While the risk of cross contamination and exposure to these infections is exceptionally low, we are treating all Veterans potentially affected, regardless of risk, and regardless of cause. Our Department will use the knowledge we have gained from these events to further improve our ability to provide the best possible health care for our Veterans. The VA has recently posted on the VA’s website http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-09-01784-146.pdf the IG report concerning the use and reprocessing of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes at VA Medical Facilities for your information.

VA EXPANDS HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY FOR NONDISABLED – The Veterans Affairs Department opened the doors of its health care system Monday to about 266,000 nondisabled veterans with moderate incomes, some of whom have been shut out of those benefits. (read more)

COMMITTEE APPROVES ADVANCED VA SPENDING - Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved the following eight bills and reported them all favorably to the House for consideration. (read more)

LIAISONS SMOOTH TRANSITIONS TO VA CARE - A sign of continuing progress toward improved synergy between Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense (DoD) in providing health care to injured service members from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom can be found in an innovative program that places VA health care liaisons in military treatment facilities (MTFs). (read more)

FREE ENTRY TO NATIONAL PARKS from Military.com - Free entry to 147 U.S. national parks will be available three weekends this summer: June 20-21, July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16. The National Park Service typically waives entry fees for everyone on National Public Lands Day (the last Saturday in September) and for military service people and veterans on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. But, this is the first time in 20-plus years that the fee is being waived for entire weekends for the public. For more information, visit the National Parks Service website.

WOUNDED WARRIOR DIARIES HELP OTHERS from Military.com - The Wounded Warrior Diaries ispart of the Defense Department's new "Real Warriors" campaign. The Diaries highlight stories of warriors who admitted they needed help, and after receiving treatment, are pursuing their military careers. The Wounded Warrior Diaries are available.

82ND AIRBORNE SEEKING VETERANS from Military.com - The 82nd Airborne Division Association, Inc. is trying to locate veterans who have served with the division during the last 66 years to record their deeds for history for the younger generations. The 82nd Airborne Division is the most decorated division in today's military. The association has 100 civilian chapters in the U.S., which serve 34,000 military and civilian members. For more information, visit the 82 Airborne Division Association website.

MANY COLLEGES PASS ON GI BILL 'RIBBON' - Days before a June 15 deadline, 521 private colleges had signed modest-to-grand "Yellow Ribbon" agreements under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, making these higher-priced schools more affordable to at least some Iraq and Afghanistan war-era veterans who qualify for admission. (read more)

OBAMA: HIKE PAY FOR 100K DISABLED RETIREES - As reported here last week, President Obama has asked Congress to phase in "concurrent receipt" for all Chapter 61 retirees – those who received a disability retirement from the Department of Defense. (read more)

VETS' COMPENSATION COLA BILL ADVANCES - Last night the Senate unanimously approved legislation to protect the value of compensation for veterans and their survivors from potential inflation. In the event that the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an increase in inflation based on the Consumer Price Index, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living-Adjustment Act of 2009, as amended, would increase veteran and survivor compensation by that rate. (read more)

NAVY COOL PROGRAM HELPS SAILORS from Military.com - The Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line or Navy COOL program provides funding for Navy enlisted personnel to obtain civilian licenses and certifications that are equivalent to Navy jobs or ratings. This is significant because Sailors now have a definite advantage in the civilian job market when they retire or when their enlistment ends. The Navy COOL program has grown exponentially in the scope of certifications it offers to Sailors in the two years the program has been in existence. For more information visit the official Navy COOL website.

CONGRESSMAN SESTAK SUPPORTS KEY LEGISLATION FOR LOW-INCOME VETERANS - According to the Veterans Administration, about one-third of the adult homeless population are veterans, with current population estimates suggesting that about 154,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard housing. As one critical step to address homelessness among Veterans, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) cosponsored and helped the House pass by a 417-2 margin the Homes for Heroes Act, HR 403. The bill would provide shelter for homeless veterans and their families, and will help prevent low-income families from falling into homelessness. (read more)

NUMBER OF VA CLAIMS POISED TO HIT 1 MILLION - The Veterans Affairs Department appears poised to hit a milestone it would rather avoid: 1 million claims to process. The milestone approaches as the agency scrambles to hire and train new claims processors, which can take two years. VA officials are working with the Pentagon under orders from President Barack Obama to create by 2012 a system that will allow the two agencies to electronically exchange records, a process now done manually on paper. (read more)

VA INTEGRATES VISION IMPAIRMENT CARE WITH MEDICAL BENEFITS - The Veterans Health Administration is the first national healthcare system to completely and seamlessly integrate rehabilitation services for patients with visual impairments into its health benefits. VA estimates there are approximately 157,000 veterans in the United States who are legally blind, and more than one million veterans who have low vision that impairs their ability to perform necessary daily activities. Those figures are expected to increase in the years ahead as more veterans from the Korean and Vietnam eras develop age-related vision loss. VA has expanded its Blind Rehabilitation Service to provide a continuum of care that extends from the veteran’s home to the local VA care site to regionally-based inpatient and outpatient training programs. VA has added 55 vision and blind rehabilitation outpatient clinics to complement its existing 10 comprehensive inpatient blind rehabilitation centers. VA also employs 75 Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists who serve veterans in their homes and communities, and more than 160 medical center-based Visual Impairment Services Teams headed by case management coordinators. This expansion further enhances VA’s capacity to serve veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan with wounds and trauma that result in blindness and visual impairment.

VA SECRETARY SHINSEKI MARKS D-DAY ANNIVERSARY IN FRANCE - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki joins President Obama in honoring the bravery of those who stormed the beaches of Normandy 65 years ago in a commemorative visit to France this weekend. (read more)

EVIDENCE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS FROM CONTAMINATION OF WATER AT CAMP LEJEUNE IS LIMITED & UNRESOLVED - Evidence exists that people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina between the 1950s and 1985 were exposed to the industrial solvents tricholorethylene (TCE) or perchloroethylene (PCE) in their water supply, but strong scientific evidence is not available to determine whether health problems among those exposed are due to the contaminants, says a new report from the National Research Council. (read more)

HUD, VA PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP HOMELESS VETS - A new partnership between the departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development aims to provide housing and assistance to an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans across the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico. (read more)

STUDY SUGGESTS MEMORY REPRESSION MAY HELP THE TRAUMATIZED - Geisinger Health System senior investigator and U.S. Army veteran Joseph Boscarino, Ph.D., is proud of his military service, yet he doesn’t like to talk much about his combat experiences. (read more)

COMCAST CABLE'S EASTERN DIVISION DONATES 7,500 PHONES TO CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS - Comcast Cable's Eastern Division today announced the donation of 7,500 cell phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPFS), an organization that works to keep troops serving overseas connected with family and loved ones back home. Comcast's year-long collection effort has netted enough cell phones to provide 450,000 minutes of calling time in pre-paid calling cards toward the effort. The donations were delivered to CPFS founders, Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, during a special event hosted on the grounds of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. The donated phones will be sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone -- enough to provide an hour of talk time in pre-paid calling cards to soldiers abroad. (read more)

CHANCE PHELPS FOUNDATION DONATES $10,000 TO ‘HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS’ - A foundation formed by the family of a fallen Marine whose story was told in the HBO movie “Taking Chance” has donated $10,000 to a group that works to help wounded veterans and their families. (read more)

· June 20 – 21: Disabled American Veterans State Convention. Continuing from June 17. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Radisson Hotel, 101 Radisson Drive, Pittsburgh, PA

· June 20: Philadelphia Welcome Home Event. 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

· June 20: Bucks County Vietnam Veterans War Memorial 25th Anniversary. 12:00 PM at the South lawn-Bucks County Courthouse, 55 East Court St, Doylestown, PA

· June 20: Big 33 Football Classic Game. Honors fallen National Guard soldiers from PA. 6:30 PM at Hersheypark Stadium, 100 Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA

· June 22 – 25: PA State Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Holiday Inn Williamsport, 100 Pine St, Williamsport, PA

· June 24 – 27: Marine Corps League State Convention. 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center - New Cumberland, 148 Sheraton Drive, New Cumberland, PA

· June 25 – 28: Veterans of Foreign Wars State Convention. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh, 101 Radisson Drive, Pittsburgh, PA

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST VETERANS’ NEWS ON THE PA OFFICE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WEB PAGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST VIDEO FOOTAGE ON THE PA OFFICE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WEB PAGE

Please visit our website and see what Pennsylvania does for its veterans!à www.paveterans.state.pa.us

CHRISTOPHER L. NELSON

MARKETING AND VETERANS INFORMATION

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Phone: (717) 861- 6979

Toll Free: (800) 547-2838

Fax (717) 861 - 8589

12 June 2009

18TH ANNUAL STATE VETERANS' HOMES WEEK SLATED JUNE 14-20 IN PENNSYLVANIA - Pennsylvania's six veterans' homes will celebrate the 18th annual State Veterans' Homes Week, June 14-20. (read more)

VA BENEFIT BROADCAST SCHEDULED - You are invited to view a broadcast presented by representatives of VA’s Loan Guaranty Service and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment on June 17, 2009. After viewing this broadcast, viewers will have a better understanding of benefits available to veterans and service members, and how these programs, when administered in concert, can result in a more comprehensive benefit package. The presenters will also take live call-in questions and respond on air to emails; call in numbers and email addresses will be given during the broadcast.

The program will air at 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) and can be viewed via streaming video on the web. Viewing requires either Windows Media Player or Real Player and links to free downloads of those programs are available at our web site. We suggest you test your system ahead of time, by viewing one of our older on demand videos, as some systems have firewalls that need to be disabled in order to view streaming media. Check with your IT personnel if you cannot access our programs. A link to view this broadcast will be posted at the following website on the day of the broadcast: www.homeloans.va.gov/broadcast.htm

850 CANDLES FLICKER AT ANNUAL SERVICE - More than 850 candles flickered in honor or in memory of loved ones and military personnel Sunday evening during the fifth annual Festival of Lights at St. Matthew the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. (read more)

GROUP TO PROVIDE HELP FOR VETERANS - Veterans who have served in any branch of the service during conflict or peacetime are eligible for numerous state and federal government benefits. (read more)

PENNSYLVANIA 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT - PENNSYLVANIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY VETERANS SCHOLARSHIP - Veterans of the 7th Congressional District who has served in the Armed Forces since September 11, 2001 are being offered scholarships from the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology (PIT). PIT will provide the necessary funds to pay all tuition and fees to enroll in select degree programs. This is a remarkable opportunity for a Veteran to complete a marketable degree that will secure his or her future. For more information on the scholarship, you can contact Jack Dixon from PIT at jdixon@pit.edu or (866) 275-7616

REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETS HONORED IN CEREMONY AT BERNVILLE CEMETERY - Michael W. Freeland spent years searching Bernville cemeteries for the grave of his ancestor Henry Shepler, a captain in the Revolutionary War. (read more)

GROUP HONORING 'BLACK HAWK DOWN' PILOT COMING TO FIELD OF FLAGS - A traveling patriotic museum will be rolling into Pottstown as part of the Fourth of July festivities next month at Memorial Park. In conjunction with the inaugural Field of Flags program, a Ranger Airborne Special Forces group from Carlisle will be setting up shop on the island in Memorial Park in honor of a fallen comrade. (read more)

WALKERS SUPPORT WOUNDED VETERANS - Operation First Response is inviting people from all over the Delaware Valley to participate in Pennsylvania’s second annual Walk for the Wounded on Sunday at Rose Tree Park in Media. (read more)

MOVING WALL COMING TO WEST NEWTON - The West Newton Veterans of Foreign Wars post has its share of members who served during the Vietnam War. (read more)

GIANT U.S. FLAG WILL WAVE NEAR TURNPIKE AT SOMERSET - Somerset's giant flag will unfurl once again to wave as Pennsylvania Turnpike drivers pass by. The Somerset Flag Committee erected the 120-foot flagpole and raised the flag -- dedicated to Somerset County veterans -- in 1994. (read more)

VETERANS STILL FIND D-DAY HARD TO TALK ABOUT 65 YEARS LATER - Once a year, Tulio Leonardi allows himself to remember. That time is today. Leonardi, 85, of Lower Burrell, was 20 years old and a regular infantryman in the Army during World War II when he took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day, on June 6, 1944. (read more)

SUB-VETS PRESENT CAPS TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL PATIENTS from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Sub-Vets, an organization of Submarine Veterans recently visited the Oncology Department of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to present baseball caps to young cancer patients. The 27 hats for girls and 22 for boys bore the words Honorary Submariner and a dolphin image. The youngsters also received dolphin pins, submarine pictures, bookmarks and a certificate.

RECREATED MILITARY CONVOY TO ROLL ON LINCOLN HIGHWAY - In 1919, as 300 U.S. soldiers traveled in an 81-vehicle convoy across the United States, they had to deal with unpaved, muddy roads and bridges that gave way under their weight. (read more)

LANCASTER COUNTY MARINE KILLED IN IRAQ - The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Robert D. Ulmer, 22, of Landisville, Pa., died June 5 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune N.C. The incident is under investigation.

FLY FISHING EVENT HELPS WOUNDED WARRIORS TO 'FORGET EVERYTHING' - Gilbert Cruz, of Lebanon, lifted the rod, flicked it to and fro a couple times, and allowed the line to settle on the water of Clarks Creek in northern Dauphin County, depositing the tiny fly onto the surface of a prime trout hole. (read more)

LEBANON VA SEEKS CAREGIVERS, CLIENTS, FOR NEW MEDICAL FOSTER CARE PROGRAM - A foster program for veterans with medical needs is poised to begin operation through Lebanon VA Medical Center. What it needs are commitments from people in the community to care for veterans in their homes, said Teresa Stump-Klinger, program coordinator. (read more)

SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP CALLS ON PUBLIC FOR MEMORIAL DESIGNS - The Silver Spring Township Veterans Memorial Committee is pleased to announce its Open Design Project. This project offers an opportunity for the public to design a Township veteran’s memorial to honor veterans and serving military members. Designs are due by September 16th, 2009. Click Here to download a design application packet. A link will also be available on the townships website, www.silverspringstwp-pa.gov. The memorial is slated for commissioning in 2011.

SSVC FACULTY, STUDENTS PREPARE TO MOVE ON - When Mike Montedoro became athletic director and football coach at Scotland School for Veterans' Children two years ago, he figured he would finish his career helping at-risk students achieve great things on and off the playing field. (read more)

VETERANS MEMORIAL TO BE BUILT - A project based on little more than sand, mortar and concrete blocks - but a lot of patriotism and pride - will be crafted by members of the community as a place to honor those who have served their country. (read more)

DISCREDITED RESEARCH STUDY STUNS AN EX-ARMY DOCTOR’S COLLEAGUES - Dr. Romney C. Andersen, a Walter Reed Army Medical Center surgeon, was surprised last summer when his neighbor, a fellow doctor, congratulated him on a new medical journal study bearing his name. (read more)

VETERANS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN D-DAY COMMEMORATION - For nearly a week Department of Defense civilians and servicemembers from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines have been deployed to the small French town of Sainte Mere Eglise and this memorial beside Omaha Beach supporting events in honor of the 65th anniversary of D-Day. (read more)

MEMBER OF ALL-BLACK D-DAY BATTALION TO RECEIVE OVERDUE HONOR - Sixty-five years ago, he was a young black soldier whose role in the allied landing at Normandy would go largely ignored. But now William Dabney returns to France with due honors. (read more)

TOO MANY UNMET NEEDS FOR AMERICA’S VETERANS: LOSING VETERANS TO OUR STREETS - On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner conducted a hearing to address America’s commitment to end veterans’ homelessness. The hearing focused on four specific programs operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Grant and Per Diem, outreach to veterans, Special Needs Grants, and prevention efforts. (read more)

OVER 700 SCHOOLS PARTNER WITH VA TO HELP VETERANS PAY FOR EDUCATION - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that it has entered into more than 700 agreements with institutions of higher learning across the nation to participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s “Yellow Ribbon Program.” (read more)

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT BILLS PASS from Military.com - Two bills addressing veteran employment -- H.R. 1170 and HR. R. 1088 -- have been approved in the House and are moving to the Senate. HR 1170, would give the Office of Special Counsel responsibility for investigation and prosecution of cases of employment & re-employment rights violations made by federal agencies. This bill also allows for $200,000 to be used in grants to encourage development of technologies to make home life easier for severely disabled veterans. Read the text of HR 1170. HR 1088 would require state employees assigned to duties such as Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists and Local Veterans' Employment Specialists to attend training sessions within one year of receiving the position. Read the text of HR 1088.

AMERICAN LEGION BACKS MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT from Military.com - Ohio Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) recently introduced a bill entitled the "Veterans Missing in America Act," which bolsters an effort backed by The American Legion to respectfully and reverently inter the unidentified or abandoned remains of military veterans. In May, 2007, The American Legion formally endorsed the Missing in America Project (MIAP) - the genesis of Rep. Tiberi's bill. MIAP volunteers, many of them members of The American Legion, request records from mortuaries with the aim of taking custody of abandoned veterans' cremains (cremated remains) and interring them with military honors. For more information, visit the Missing in America Project website.

IRS OFFERS TAX CREDIT from Military.com - Businesses planning to claim the newly-expanded work opportunity tax credit (WOTC) for eligible unemployed veterans and unskilled younger workers hired during the first part of 2009 have until Aug. 17, 2009 to request the certification required for these workers. The newly-revised Form 8850 should be used by employers to request certification from their state workforce agency. Information about Form 8850 and the tax credit is available on the IRS.gov website, and the form is available online.

VA NOTIFICATION CONTINUES from Military.com - VA facilities have been told to review their processes to ensure that they were in compliance with the manufacturer's instructions when performing Endoscopic procedures. Significant reprocessing issues were identified at both the Augusta and Miami VA Medical Centers, which required patient notifications and testing. The VA will continue to notify, inform, and treat all potentially impacted Veterans, regardless of risk, cause or harm. For more information on the continuing endoscopic procedure notification of veterans, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website.

WELDING TRAINING IN PENNSYLVANIA from Military.com - A new grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry will make it possible for 80 returning veterans to train for welding jobs in that state. The program will give the veterans 96 hours of beginner welding training during an eight-week period including with basic skills in welding, mathematics and safety. To apply, call the Steamfitters Local 449 at 1-800-253-6960 or 412-381-1133

ARMY PUBLISHES GUARD RETIREMENT GUIDE - The Army has published a 56-page retirement guide for National Guard Soldiers and their families which covers subjects ranging from retirement point credits to how to apply for retirement pay. (read more)

CASE FOR BETTER RESERVE BENEFITS - Reserve and National Guard members today deserve a better "return on investment" for their frequent deployments and long family separations, and that should include improved health benefits and two ways to retire earlier than age 60, said Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of Army Reserve. (read more)

LAWMAKERS CRITICAL OF GI BILL IMPLEMENTATION from Military.com - Ranking Member of House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Steve Buyer expressed deep concern over numerous Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) deficiencies that were revealed in a VA Office of Inspector General (IG) report released today. Buyer requested the IG report in February 2009 over concerns that VA did not adequately define costs and services of an interagency agreement with the Navy Space Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) to provide information technology services to VA. The agreement includes an effort to provide both short and long-term solutions to implement the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.

REMEMBERING FLAG DAY from Military.com - Every Flag Day, June 14, America recognizes birthday of Old Glory with its own holiday. In 1885, Wisconsin school teacher B.J. Cigrand started a grassroots campaign that began with his students celebrating Flag Day. After nearly 30 years of state and local celebrations, President Woodrow Wilson made Flag Day official in 1916. Flag Day became a national observance by an Act of Congress in 1949 and was signed into law by President Harry Truman. For more information, including educational materials, visit the National Flag Day Foundation website, USFlag.org, the Library of Congress website, and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) website.

CREDITORS USE LOOPHOLE TO SEIZE PROTECTED VETERANS BENEFITS - Bill collectors are exploiting a legal loophole to seize Social Security and Veterans' benefits even though federal law is supposed to protect the payments from creditors. (read more)

PGA LEADERS HONOR TROOPS IN A SPECIAL DAY AT ARLINGTON - PGA of America President Jim Remy of Ludlow, Vt., went through what he described a "most incredible day" Sunday, June 7, in the nation's capital -- from a somber tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery to recording his third career hole-in-one, and later receiving the congratulations of enlisted service men and a congratulatory hole flag from the nation's "No. 1 golfer" who also was playing the same course -- President Barack Obama. (read more)

'COLIN POWELL' ART REACHES FOR THE SKY - Walk into Dorothea Rockburne's studio on Grand Street in the SoHo section of Manhattan and enter her laboratory for visual exploration of the sky. (read more)

VA STUDY TO BRING ADVANCED PROSTHETIC ARM TO VETERANS - An advanced artificial arm that enables amputees to easily pick up a key or hold a pencil will undergo a three–year study at the Providence, R.I., VA Medical Center. The VA–DARPA collaboration will guide engineers in refining the prototype before it is made available through the VA health care system. The arm’s control system, which works like a foot–operated joystick, contains an array of sensors embedded in a shoe and allows an amputee to maneuver the arm by pressing with different parts of the foot. The current version uses wires to relay the signals to the arm, but future versions will be wireless. This first large–scale testing of the arm will allow those who have lost a limb up to their shoulder joint to perform movements while reaching over their head.

GAO REPORT: VA EMPHASIZES ENHANCED-USE LEASES TO MANAGE ITS REAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIO - VA has statutory authority to enter into enhanced-use leases (EUL), which are typically long-term agreements with public and private entities for the use of federal property in exchange for cash, in-kind consideration, or both. The agency may enter into EULs for underutilized or unutilized real property for up to 75 years and use the proceeds for a variety of purposes, including developing additional EULs, providing medical care, and constructing and improving VA medical facilities. In-kind consideration may include goods and services that benefit VA, such as provision of office, storage, or other usable space; or construction, repair, remodeling, maintenance, or other physical improvements to VA facilities. (read more)

NAVY VETS SEEK AGENT ORANGE COMPENSATION - A bill in Congress provides a seemingly straightforward answer to a question that has vexed tens of thousands of Americans who served in the U.S. military. (read more)

MEMORIAL RECOGNIZES THOSE KILLED IN NATO OPERATIONS - NATO officials dedicated a monument here today to personnel killed during alliance operations. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the stone marker outside the front door of the alliance’s headquarters will serve as a reminder of the weight of the decisions made in the facility. (read more)

ARMY RELEASES MAY SUICIDE DATA - The Army released suicide data for the month of May today, reporting one confirmed suicide and 16 potential suicides among active duty soldiers. (read more)

MEMORIAL TO HONOR US TROOPS KILLED IN 1943 CRASH – A beach vacation in the midst of World War II turned tragic for 40 U.S. soldiers, and the circumstances of their deaths in a plane crash in Australia was long kept a military secret. (read more)

WE ARE THE FORTUNATE ONES, SAY WWII VETERANS - Eager well-wishers press around them for a snapshot or a shake of their hand, but World War II veterans marking D-Day in Normandy insist they are the "survivors, not the heroes" of the battle to free Western Europe from Nazi rule. (read more)

MORE WAR VETERANS SUE KBR OVER IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN BURN PITS, ACCORDING TO BURKE O'NEIL LLC - Five new lawsuits allege that KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR - News) jeopardized the health and safety of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan by burning vast quantities of unsorted waste in enormous open-air burn pits with no safety controls. (read more)

June 11 – 14: AMVETS State Convention. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Best Western Lehigh Valley Hotel & Conference Center, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA
June 12 – 14: 24th Annual Donald W. Jones Flag Memorial. 12:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Falls Township Park, 9072 Mill Creek Road, Levittown, PA
June 13: 12th Annual "Bikes For Vets" Picnic. 12:00 to 4:00 PM at Pennsylvania Solders' and Sailors' Home, 560 East Third Street, Erie, PA
June 14: PSSH State Veterans' Home Week Fishing Tournament. 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM at Captain Rick's Perch Fishing, 31 State Street, Erie, PA
June 14: American Legion Annual Flag Day Roundup. 11:30 AM at American Legion Department of Pennsylvania Headquarters, 800 N. Front Street, Wormleysburg, PA
June 14: Corvette Club at Southeast Veterans Center. 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Southeastern Veterans' Center, Tighlman Circle, One Veterans Drive, Spring City, PA
June 15: Philadelphia Summer Bilingual Job Fair. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at The Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
June 15: Showstoppers Performance. 2:00 PM at Southeastern Veterans' Center, All Purpose Room, One Veterans Drive, Spring City, PA
June 15: DVVH Volunteer Recognition Banquet. 5:30 PM at Delaware Valley Veterans' Home, 2701 Southampton Rd, Philadelphia, PA
June 15: SWVC Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. 6:00 PM at Southwestern Veterans' Center, 7060 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA
June 15: PEER Concert. 7:00 PM in the PCU Courtyard, Gino J. Merli Veterans' Center, 401 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA
June 16: Statewide Veterans Expo. 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Forum Building, 607 South Drive, Harrisburg, PA
June 16: GMVC Volunteer Recognition Luncheon. 12:00 PM in the Activity Courtyard, Gino J. Merli Veterans' Center, 401 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA
June 16: Northeast Regional Library Job Fair. 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Free Library of Philadelphia, 2228 Cottman Avenue at Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
June 16: DVVH Meet & Greet with Different Branches of the Military. 1:00 PM at Delaware Valley Veterans' Home, 2701 Southampton Rd, Philadelphia, PA
June 16: Massachusetts Dept of Veterans Services Online Discussion. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM online at www.WeOweU.org
June 17 – 21: Disabled American Veterans State Convention. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Radisson Hotel, 101 Radisson Drive, Pittsburgh, PA
June 17: Allentown Here To Help Event. 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Agricultural hall, Allentown Fairgrounds, 17th & Chew Streets, Allentown, PA
June 17: SWVC Fathers' Day Luncheon. 11:15 AM at Southwestern Veterans' Center, 7060 highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA
June 18: East/West Football Players and Coaches Visit to HVH. 12:15 PM at Hollidaysburg Veterans' Home, Hollidaysburg, PA
June 18: SWVC Resident Talent Show. 2:00 PM at Southwestern Veterans' Center, 7060 highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA
June 19: HVH State Veterans' Home Week Carnival. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Hollidaysburg Veterans' Home, Hollidaysburg, PA

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST VETERANS’ NEWS ON THE PA OFFICE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WEB PAGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST VIDEO FOOTAGE ON THE PA OFFICE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WEB PAGE

Please visit our website and see what Pennsylvania does for its veterans!à www.paveterans.state.pa.us

CHRISTOPHER L. NELSON

MARKETING AND VETERANS INFORMATION

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Phone: (717) 861- 6979

Toll Free: (800) 547-2838

Fax (717) 861 - 8589

10 June 2009

VA Medical Foster Home Program

Click here for more info

5 June 2009

DID YOU KNOW? – State Veterans’ Home Week is June 14 – 20 and will be full of activities for our residents, staff, and their families to enjoy. You can find out what’s going on at any of our homes by looking at their activity calendar. All of the activity calendars for each of our state veterans’ homes are accessible from the web. Simply go to the veterans’ home page and click on “calendar of events” from the left side menu. Each of our homes has its own web address:

Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home: www.dvvh.state.pa.us
Southeastern Veterans’ Center: www.sevc.state.pa.us
Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center: www.gmvc.state.pa.us
Hollidaysburg Veterans’ Home: www.hvh.state.pa.us
Southwestern Veterans’ Center: www.swvc.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home: www.pssh.state.pa.us

STATEWIDE VETERANS EXPO – Register for your seat at this years’ Statewide Veterans Expo, June 16^th, in Harrisburg. There will be discussions on the Post 9-11 GI Bill, Suicide Prevention, and Veterans Court as well as many other topics of interest to the Pennsylvania veteran community. There will also be displays from organizations providing services to veterans. See our website at www.paveterans.state.pa.us for more information and to register.

FOR TROOPS, MEMORIALS NEVER STOP - Lt. Col. Douglas A. Etter, a battalion chaplain in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and executive officer in the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, is serving his second tour in Iraq. (read more)

WOUNDED WARRIORS FAMILY SUPPORT from Warrior Support News, May 9, 2009 - The families of wounded injured or fallen Service Members suffer in many ways. Some are affected financially, some suffer psychologically, and some are adversely affected in both ways. Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS) helps these folks find peace and solace as a family once more, in a family-friendly resort condominium unit that is provided at no cost to the family. The condo units are quiet havens where war-torn families can reunite and strengthen their ties.

Wounded Warriors Family Support, initiated in 2003 by COL John Folsom who serves with the United States Marine Corps Reserves, is a non-profit organization based in Nebraska. WWFS offers a one-week vacation for qualified military families in Orlando, a family pass to Walt Disney World Florida, or The Victorian Resort and Conference Center in Galveston, Texas. Also available are tickets to baseball and football games in Washington, DC and California. Box seats are usually provided and children may have a chance to meet the players before the games.

To qualify, beneficiaries must be the dependent families of those who, while serving in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, or Air Force, were wounded, injured or lost their lives while engaged in direct combat operations as defined by the Department of Defense. In order to qualify, Service Members must have dependent children.

For more info or to register, please visit www.woundedwarriorsfamilysupport.org or call (402) 502-7557.

ATTENTION OIF / OEF VETERANS - Do you want a job in the building trades? Do you want to learn how to weld? VIP Veterans in Piping, Steamfitters Local 449, will start welding classes in the fall of 2009. You can register for these classes by contacting Ron Conley, Director, Allegheny County Veterans Affairs, 4141 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Call 412-621-4357 or email rfconley@county.allegheny.pa.us for more information.

DAY PRAISES PAST COUNTY PATRIOTS - With re-enactors in period dress, the snap of snare drums and a wreath, Minersville Area Historical Society volunteers honored veterans of all wars early Saturday evening. (read more)

BOBACK RELEASES VETERANS OUTREACH SCHEDULE - State Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, released her June veterans’ outreach schedule, aimed at helping local veterans gather information about the programs and benefits available to assist them. (read more)

BERKS COUNTY ANNOUNCES MILITARY HALL OF FAME - Berks County Commissioner Kevin S. Barnhardt recently announced the creation of the Berks County Military Hall of Fame (BCMHOF). BCMHOF honors Berks County Pennsylvania veterans who received medals for valor while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and is part of the Veteran and Military museum located in the Berks County Department of Veteran Affairs Offices on County Line Road. The Berks County Military Hall of Fame was established to recognize Berks County residents who were decorated for heroism while in a combat situation. Please visit the web site to view all nominees/inductees, at www.berksheroes.com.

ALLENTOWN ‘HERE TO HELP’ EVENT PLANNED – Lehigh County residents are invited to attend the “Here To Help” program being held on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 from 10:00am to 5:00pm at Agricultural Hall in Allentown, PA. The format for the day will consist of a vendor booth area, where participants can explore the resources the Valley has to offer, as well as workshop sessions where experts will provide helpful information on various topics, including information for veterans. For more information, visit www.heretohelp.pa.gov.

WORLD WAR II VET RECALLS D-DAY INVASION - Although it will have been 65 years Saturday since he and more than 160,000 troops from the United States, Britain and Canada participated in the largest single-day amphibious assault in history, Angelo Marsella, 84, still remembers the day well. (read more)

AN EMOTIONAL RETURN TO NORMANDY - Nathan Kline wrapped a white monogrammed scarf around his neck and placed a bulletproof prayer book in his left shirt pocket. He'd followed the same routine for all of his previous bombing runs over Europe, but the teenager from Pennsylvania, knew there was nothing routine about this mission. (read more)

HGTV REMODELS HOUSE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS from the Philadelphia Inquirer - HGTV is in town with host Carter Oosterhouse and designer Monica Pedersen as they rebuild a house off Frankford Avenue for the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corp., which will put up three veterans there. Jack Prichard, Adam Norbutti, and Chris Wray, three electricians from Local 98 and Iraq war veterans, are among the volunteer workers. The project will be shown on Veterans Day on an HGTV special that also will profile local veterans, including Stanley Fabiszewski, who served under Gen. George Patton in World War II. Flyers coach John Stevens and Mayor Nutter attended Friday's opening ceremony. Closing ceremony is scheduled for June 28.

LEGISLATION COULD EASE TAX BURDEN FOR WIDOWS OF VETERANS - State Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-31) announced May 26 that a collaborative effort is ongoing with another state legislator to ensure that disabled veterans and spouses of military personnel killed in action receive property tax exemptions. (read more)

VA AWARDS $38.3 MILLION FOR HOSPITAL MODERNIZATION - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a $38.3 million contract to the Walsh Construction Company of Chicago to construct an Ambulatory Care Center for the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System. (read more)

CLARKSVILLE TO CELEBRATE, NO MATTER WHAT ITS AGE - Clarksville will unveil a new veterans monument inscribed with more than 800 names of residents who served in the military. State Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, and state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, instrumental in securing grants for the monument and surrounding landscaping as well as new sidewalks, will address the audience at the unveiling Saturday. (read more)

IUP JOINS PROGRAM THAT HELPS FUND VETS' TUITION - Indiana University of Pennsylvania has been accepted into the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, school officials announced. (read more)

SOME WORRY ABOUT GAP IN COMMISSARY COVERAGE DURING CHANGE - Plans to build a military commissary in Moon Township received final approval from the Defense Department last week, but it could be at least two years until the new facility opens. (read more)

VETERANS HONORED AT LEHIGHTON AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION - Members of the Lehighton Ambulance Association took time Saturday to recognize military veterans within the ambulance association. The program, a first for Lehighton Ambulance, was held on Armed Forces Day. (read more)

VETERANS RECEIVE 'WONDERFUL' DINNER OF APPRECIATION FROM FAYETTEVILLE DOCTOR - Veterans who attended a spaghetti dinner Saturday afternoon were impressed not only with the food and service at the event, but also the doctor who sponsored it. (read more)

PANEL OKS TWO BILLS THAT WOULD EXPAND, EXTEND MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF - State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, said that the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously OK’d two bills to extend and expand the Military Family Relief Assistance Program. (read more)

RIDING FOR VETERANS, HERE AND GONE - Charlie Weigle's son is deployed in Iraq with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade. When he heard the Spring Grove VFW post was organizing a poker run in memory of Cpl. Luke Runyan, who was killed last year in Iraq, it hit home. (read more)

GABLER HOSTS VETS FORUM - State Rep. Matt Gabler, R-DuBois, will host a Veterans Benefit and Resource Forum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, June 12, at the Penn State DuBois Campus, College Place, DuBois. (read more)

PARK EVENT SALUTES FALLEN U.S. HEROES - With a warm wind snapping the U.S. flag and military colors blazing on a sun-splashed afternoon, area veterans and other residents gathered Saturday in the city to commemorate the men and women who sacrificed their lives so others could have freedom. (read more)

15 VETERANS REUNITE FOR 60TH, AND LAST, TIME - The annual reunion of the 557th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, which had more soldiers from Shamokin than any other town, was held for the 60th time on May 15 and 16. It appears, however, that it was the last formal reunion for the group. (read more)

STUDY FOCUSES ON COMBAT-RELATED NIGHTMARES from the NAUS News Update, May 29, 2009 - Madigan Army Medical Center, at Ft. Lewis, Washington, is conducting a first-of-its-kind study on reducing combat-related nightmares among returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. Researchers are looking into an inexpensive, generic drug called Prazosin to help soldiers get better restorative sleep. Only active-duty service members can participate in the study at Madigan. A separate study is being conducted at VA Puget Sound for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans who are no longer on active duty. Soldiers stationed at Ft. Lewis who would like more information can call Tammy Williams at 968-4735. VA Puget Sound can be contacted at 1-800-329-8387.

PTSD, LACK OF MEDICAL CARE, AND BLUE WATER NAVY DIOXIN EXPOSURE - After my marriage to a soldier, I was blissful of our future life together. Kissing him goodbye at the Charleston, South Carolina Airport I was fearful of what he would be like when he returned, or what would happen to me, if he did not make it home. Young and excited, I believed the military practiced their belief of taking care of their own. When I arrived at R&R in Hawaii, nine months after he departed, I was informed I had to attend an orientation before his arrival. I was told that he might overreact over something silly and I needed to know how to respond. (read more)

WOUNDED WARRIORS SET OUT TO CONQUER NORTH AMERICA’S HIGHEST PEAK - Today marks the start of a monumental challenge for four wounded veterans, their two mentors and one guide, as they move from the base of North America’s highest peak in Alaska’s Denali National Park to the mountain’s base camp at an elevation of 6,850 feet. (read more)

D-DAY VETERANS TO SOUND LAST POST ON NORMANDY BEACHES - About 800 servicemen who took part in the 1944 landings will return to northern France next week to mark the 65th anniversary of the invasion which unlocked the liberation of occupied Western Europe. (read more)

LAWMAKERS ADDRESS NEEDS OF RURAL VETS from Military.com - The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee approved comprehensive legislation to help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide better health care for veterans in rural areas, establish a program to support veterans' caregivers, and secure timely and transparent funding for VA's health care system through advance appropriations. The bills approved by the committee will be reported to the full Senate for consideration. For a copy of the markup agenda, visit the U.S. Senate Committee on VA's website here.

VA PROJECTS FOR RURAL VETERANS from Military.com - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is providing $215 million in competitive funding to improve services specifically designed for veterans in rural and highly rural areas. The new funding is part of a VA program to improve access and quality of health care -- both physical and mental -- for Veterans in geographically rural areas, with an emphasis on the use of the latest technologies, recruitment and retention of a well-educated and trained health care workforce, and collaborations with non-VA rural health community partners. In the past two years, VA rolled out four new mobile health clinics to serve 24 predominately rural counties and announced 10 new rural outreach clinics to be opened in 2009.

OFFICIALS ADDRESS GULF WAR ILLNESS RESEARCH from Military.com - The House Veterans' Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, led by Chairman Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.), recently conducted the first of a series of hearings on Gulf War Illness research. The hearing provided a review of the history of the research that has been conducted on Gulf War Illness, examined the methodology used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to determine possible exposure to toxins and pesticides, and focused on the ongoing challenges veterans face as a result of their service in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Prepared testimony and a link to a webcast of the hearing is available on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website.

REPS LOOK INTO VA CARE FOR FEMALE VETS from Military.com - The Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, recently held a roundtable to address and assess the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide the right services to the country's 1.8 million female veterans. The roundtable format allowed participants from veteran service organizations, representatives of the VA, and interested stakeholders to come together to indentify the specific issues facing female veterans. A list of the participants in the roundtable discussion is available on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website.

PUBLIC OFFICIALS DISCUSS VET OUTREACH from Military.com - The House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee, led by Chairman Michael Michaud (D-Maine), recently held a hearing to assess the responsibility of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct an outreach program to veterans of all eras. The hearing focused on the coordinated efforts between the three separate administrations (Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration) to reach veterans and alert them to available benefits and services, and the role of nonprofit and community organizations that provide services to veterans. Prepared testimony and a link to a webcast of the hearing is available on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website.

RETIREE SEPARATION RECOUPMENT SUSPENDED from Military.com - Recoupment of military retirees' Variable Separation Incentive, Special Separation Benefit, and separation payments by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has been temporarily suspended pending a formal policy and legal review by the Department of Defense (DoD). The suspension of recoupment actions is being taken for military retirees in an active pay status effective for the May 2009 retired pay entitlements. Letters to military retirees in a SSB, VSI and Separation Payment recoupment status will soon be mailed advising them of the suspension of recoupment payments. A sample of the letter is available here.

TRICARE STARTS OUTPATIENT PAYMENT SYSTEM from Military.com - TRICARE implemented an Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) that began aligning TRICARE with current Medicare rates for hospital reimbursement on May 1, 2009. Under OPPS hospitals will know in advance how their claims are going to be processed. To provide hospitals with sufficient time to adjust and budget for potential revenue reductions, Temporary Transitional Payment Adjustments will be in place for network and non-network hospitals. Additional information about these adjustments is available on the TRICARE website in the updated TRICARE Reimbursement Manual, Chapter 13, Section 3, paragraph III.D.5.g. A transitional adjustment information paper and more information on TRICARE OPPS is available on the TRICARE web site

NAVY NURSE CORPS MARKS ANNIVERSARY from Military.com - The Navy Nurse Corps recently celebrated its 101st Anniversary. The Nurse Corps was established as a unique staff corps of the Navy May 13, 1908. The first members of the Nurse Corps included a superintendent, a chief nurse and 18 other women that established the foundation of service and care that now defines this group. The Nurse Corps continues to be one of the largest deploying groups among all professional corps in the Navy. For more information on the history of the Navy Nurse Corps, visit the Naval Historical Center website. For more information on careers in the Navy Nurse Corps, visit the U.S. Navy's Careers and Jobs web site.

SENIOR VETERANS SET TO COMPETE IN GOLDEN AGE GAMES - Nearly 700 American military veterans from conflicts ranging from World War II to the Persian Gulf War arrived here today to prove that their best days are still ahead of them as they prepare to compete in the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games. (read more)

VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA: CRYING NEED TO DEAL WITH AGENT ORANGE PROBLEMS HERE IN AMERICA - Vietnam Veterans of America applauds the conclusions and recommendations of a Ford Foundation-funded report issued today by the National Organization on Disabilities on the effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam,” said John Rowan, VVA National President. “While VVA feels compassion for the many adults and children injured and made ill by exposure to Agent Orange and the many other toxins used in Vietnam during the war there, it is now time to fully deal with the same effects on Americans who served in Vietnam and other areas that were also contaminated. The effects of these toxins on the children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren must similarly be addressed. (read more)

RETIRED MILITARY OFFICIALS CONNECT PRE-K EDUCATION TO NATIONAL DEFENSE - Advocates of early childhood education often point to economic or educational benefits. But several retired military officials argued today that funding pre-kindergarten programs such as the Capital Area Head Start will pay off down the line in national defense, in that the programs produce more high school graduates and fewer criminals. (read more)

STUDENT VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES - The Association on Higher Education and Disabilities (AHEAD) has produced a special issue of the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, dedicated to the issue of student veterans with disabilities. To read this special issue, click here.

ROLLING THUNDER VETERANS CHANGE IMAGE OF BIKERS - On Memorial Day weekend in Washington, parents cheered and their babes waved little American flags at hundreds of bikers. What has happened in three decades to inspire this sea change in attitude toward bikers, a group that once was feared by average Americans? (read more)

NAVY’S TOP OFFICER MARKS BATTLE OF MIDWAY’S 67TH ANNIVERSARY - The Navy’s top officer yesterday marked the 67th anniversary of World War II’s Battle of Midway at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Navy Memorial here. The Battle of Midway, fought June 4-7, 1942, pitted U.S and Japanese naval and air forces in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Midway is part of the Hawaiian island chain; the battle was fought about 1,300 miles northwest of Oahu. (read more)

June 5 – 7: 19th Annual WWII Weekend. 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM at the Reading Airport 11 Museum Dr, Reading, PA 19605
June 6 – 7: DAV John Giordano Memorial Fishing Tournament. 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Willow Bay - Allegheny National Forest, Warren, PA
June 7: Bradford County Veteran's Appreciation Day Picnic. 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Larnard-Hornbrook Community Park, Route 1045, Towanda, PA
June 8: PSSH Community Entertainment Event. 1:00 PM at Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, 560 East Third Street, Erie, PA
June 10: PSSH State Veterans Home Week Picnic. 10:00 AM t0 3:00 PM at VFW Post #264, 1151 Mead Ave, Corry, PA
June 10: Disability Transition Assistance. 10:00 AM in Building 171A, NAS JRB Willow Grove, PA
June 10: Chester County Band Concert. 7:00 PM at Southeastern Veterans' Center, Tighlman Hall, One Veterans' Drive, Spring City, PA
June 11 – 14: AMVETS State Convention. 9:00 AM at Best Western Lehigh Valley Hotel & Conference Center, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA
June 11: Coatesville Mini-VAC Meeting. 9:00 AM at Building 5, Room 3, Coatesville VA Medical Center, Coatesville, PA
June 11: 2nd Annual PSSH State Veterans' Home Week Carnival. 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, 560 East Third Street, Erie, PA
June 12 – 14: 24th Annual Donald W. Jones Flag Memorial. 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Falls Township Park, 9072 Mill Creek Road, Levittown, PA
June 12: Transition VA/Medical Individual Counseling. 9:00 AM in Building 171A, NAS JRB Willow Grove, PA
June 12: 7th Annual State Veterans' Home Week Golf Scramble. 3:45 PM at Scenic Heights Golf Course, 7830 Knoyle Rd, Wattsburg, PA

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST VETERANS’ NEWS ON THE PA OFFICE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WEB PAGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST VIDEO FOOTAGE ON THE PA OFFICE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS WEB PAGE

Please visit our website and see what Pennsylvania does for its veterans!à www.paveterans.state.pa.us

CHRISTOPHER L. NELSON

MARKETING AND VETERANS INFORMATION

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Phone: (717) 861- 6979

Toll Free: (800) 547-2838

Fax (717) 861 - 8589

29 May 2009

The Pennsylvania Veteran Newsletter - June 2009

Click here for more info

22 May 2009

Veterans info you may find of value:

Brent Adams Memorial Ride - June 27

11 May 2009

The Pennsylvania Veteran Newsletter - May 2009

Click here for more info

6 May 2009

DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

Information Central for Marine Vets and Their Families

*********************************************

"Once a Marine, Always a Marine"

DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIAMARINE CORPS LEAGUE

Information Central for Marine Vets and Their Families

*********************************************

"Once a Marine, Always a Marine"

DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE