FW: Old Paths

 

 
I wish the old paths were before us instead of behind us

THE OLD PATHS

I liked the old paths, when
Moms were at home.
Dads were at work.
Brothers went into the army.
And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;
Hard work did;
And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook;
Dads would work;
Children would behave.

Husbands were loving;
Wives were supportive;
And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry;
And Men wore the pants.

Women looked like ladies;
Men looked like gentlemen;
And children looked decent.

People loved the truth,
And hated a lie.

They came to church to get IN,
Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly;
Sermons sounded helpful;
Rejoicing sounded normal;
And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked;
Drugs were for illness.

The flag was honored;

America was beautiful;
And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public;
Prayed in school;
And preached from house to house.

To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called an American was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!

I still like the old paths the best! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

FW: Happy Thanksgiving

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 

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From: akan01@centurylink.net
To: akan01@centurylink.net
Subject: Happy Thanksgiving
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:39:49 -0800

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Thanksgiving traditionally has been a day for Americans to spend with family, give thanks, feast and watch parades and football games.  No matter how or where you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, make it a day to give thanks for good fortunes.

As we share this time with our family and friends, may we remember those who are less fortunate, those who are hurting, and those who are helpless.  Bless them and may we remember the great blessings that have been bestowed upon us.  We would like to wish you and yours a Happy and Heartfelt Thanksgiving Season. 

Joel and Corinne Forman

FW: VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, November 27, 2013

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 

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Subject: VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, November 27, 2013
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: tmorris@vfw.org
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:06:26 -0500

WASHINGTON WEEKLY November 27, 2013 Happy Thanksgiving! In This Issue: 1. Compensation Commission to Meet in Hampton Roads 2. Congress in Recess – Time to Speak Out 3. MyHealtheVet Turns 10 1. Compensation Commission to Meet in Hampton Roads: The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission will hold two public hearings and town hall meetings in Virginia's Hampton Roads area on Dec. 2 and 3, at the Waterside Marriott in Norfolk. The Commissioners will hear testimony from witnesses on matters surrounding the location to be determined. All service personnel, veterans, military retirees and their families are encouraged to attend because the Commission is charged with examining how our troops are compensated while in uniform, in retirement, and as veterans, and their reach includes those programs operated by the VA and Department of Labor. Among the compensation and Quality of Life programs under review are the 20-year retirement system; military pay and the tax-exempt status of allowances; concurrent receipt of retiree and disability pay; the GI Bills; military healthcare costs and eligibility; military exchanges, commissaries and schools; and transition and employment assistance programs, among many others. To the VFW, who testified before the Commission on Nov. 5, this is a serious attempt to balance the budget on the backs of military families, retirees and veterans through an erosion of pay and benefits that will negatively impact recruiting and retention, and possibly threaten the continued viability of the All-Volunteer Military. The Commission is required to issue their report to the White House by May 1, 2014. For more information on the Hampton Roads hearings or to leave a public comment on their website, go to http://www.mcrmc.gov/. 2. Congress in Recess – Time to Speak Out: Congress will be back home for the next two weeks for Thanksgiving and a district work period. Now is the perfect time for VFW advocates to reach out to their members to discuss critical issues facing the military and veterans' communities, to include passing advance appropriations for all VA accounts, in-state tuition for student-veterans, improving military sexual assault prevention policies and victim access to treatment, as well as protecting all the military and veteran Quality of Life programs that are under review by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. Your VFW is fighting hard to get these initiatives passed and funded, but we need your help. View our current legislative priority goals http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/VFW_in_DC/2013%20Priority%20Goals.pdf and be prepared to ask your members what they are doing to improve the lives of veterans, our military, and their families and survivors. 3. MyHealtheVet Turns 10: This week VA marked the 10th anniversary of its online health services portal, MyHealtheVet, which allows veterans to manage many aspects of their health care in an easily-accessible and secure online platform. To mark the anniversary, VA medical facilities across the country are hosting events and learning sessions to help veterans enroll in the portal and better understand all of its features. MyHealtheVet allows veterans to access certain health records; save, print and share health information using the VA Blue Button; refill VA prescriptions online and track health activities like VA appointments, wellness reminders and lab results. Veterans can also use the portal's secure messaging feature to communicate electronically with their VA health care teams between visits. Your VFW has been an advocate for the expanded use of MyHealtheVet and other online tools as part of VA's Connected Care initiatives, ensuring veterans can easily access and manage their care options. To learn more about MyHealtheVet, visit here: http://www.myhealth.va.gov/ As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. To sign up new veterans' advocates to receive the Washington Weekly every Friday, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

FW: Thanks--This Video Says it All

Thank You

VVA Chapter 17

Member
Robert serge

To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember

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Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 14:07:27 -0600
From: friendsoffreedom@vfw.org
To: rserge@live.com
Subject: Thanks--This Video Says it All

VFW Service Officers Tell You in Their Own Words Your Support Matters This Thanksgiving, we've created a special video to thank you for making a meaningful difference in the lives of America's veterans. Please watch it … and we hope you enjoy a joyous and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday. You can help us share the honorable and important work of our VFW Service Officers. Please share this video with your friends, family and coworkers. Thank you. Find a Post | Contribute | About Us | Contact Us Unsubscribe | Tell A Friend © 2001 - 2013. All rights reserved. Veterans of Foreign Wars | 406 West 34th Street | Kansas City, MO 64111 Having difficulty seeing the images in this message? View it online.

FW: VA Marks 10th Anniversary of My HealtheVet

Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 14:20:52 -0500

From: VAPublicAffairs@VA.GOV
Subject: VA Marks 10th Anniversary of My HealtheVet
To: VANEWS-L@LISTSERV.VA.GOV

Recent VA News Releases

To view and download VA news release, please visit the following Internet address:

http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel

 VA Marks the 10-Year Anniversary of My HealtheVet

Online Access Available to Support Veterans Health Care

WASHINGTON (Nov. 26, 2013) — In recognition of the 10^th anniversary of its award-winning Personal Health Record, My HealtheVet (www.myhealth.va.gov), the Department of Veterans Affairs is urging all Veterans and Servicemembers to join the millions already accessing VA health care information and services online. 

VA is marking this milestone by spreading the word about the benefits of My HealtheVet Personal Health Record, such as VA prescription refill, VA notes, VA Blue Button and secure messaging with VA health care providers. 

"VA is a pioneer and a leader of health information technology that improves patient-provider relationships, embraces wellness and improves health outcomes for the brave men and women who have served our Nation," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "va invites all Veterans and Servicemembers to get online to become more active partners in their health care." 

Throughout November, My HealtheVet Coordinators at all 151 VA medical centers organized community events, host enrollment and education health fairs, lead training sessions and work with VA Voluntary Service to showcase how My HealtheVet contributes to more informed and more engaged Veteran patients.  VA continues to build its My HealtheVet online health record, adding new online tools and features, and My HealtheVet Coordinators are geared up to accept new My HealtheVet enrollees throughout November.

"VA is dedicated to providing Veterans with the best experience possible, both at VA facilities and online," said Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Robert A. Petzel. "We are proud to celebrate a decade of online access for Veterans and look forward to a future of even more access to meet their evolving needs."

My HealtheVet is VA's award-winning website that offers Veterans secure access to portions of information in their VA health care records anywhere and anytime.  Its web-based tools give users greater control over their care and wellness, helping them become active partners in their health care. 

In addition to allowing Veterans access to their records, My HealtheVet lets them save, print and share their health information using the VA Blue Button, refill VA prescriptions online and track their health activities. Veterans who upgrade their accounts, free of charge, can use secure messaging to communicate electronically with their VA health care teams between visits.  They can also view VA appointments, get VA Wellness Reminders, access VA lab results and more.

"We urge Veterans and Servicemembers to go online during November and throughout the year," said Theresa Hancock, director of the My HealtheVet program. "My HealtheVet offers a flexible and convenient way for Veterans to become engaged in their health care and well-being."

My HealtheVet is celebrating 10 years of online access.  All Veterans and Servicemembers are encouraged to enroll or upgrade today at www.myhealth.va.gov.

#   #   #

To unsubscribe from this list, or to update your name or e-mail address, please visit the following Internet address:

<http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm>

FW: VFW Washington Weekly, November 22, 2013

Blog Master

To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 

Subject: VFW Washington Weekly, November 22, 2013
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: tmorris@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 17:01:20 -0500

VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY November 22, 2013 In This Issue: 1. JFK Day of Remembrance 2. VA Issues Fraud Alert 3. Senate NDAA Update 4. Senate VA Committee Clears Bills 5. VFW Testifies on VA Construction Challenges 6. VFW Discusses Budget; Jobs During House Democratic Roundtable 7. Compensation Commission to Meet in Hampton Roads 1. JFK Day of Remembrance: The flags are at half-staff to honor President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated 50 years ago today in Dallas. In a proclamation, President Obama said "John F. Kennedy weathered some of the most perilous tests of the Cold War and led America to the cusp of a bright new age. His leadership through the Cuban Missile Crisis remains the standard for American diplomacy at its finest. In a divided Berlin, he delivered a stirring defense of freedom that would echo through the ages, yet he also knew that we must advance human rights here at home." In life and death, President Kennedy had strong links to the VFW. He was a member of former VFW Post 5880 in Brockton, Mass., and the fourth floor of the VFW Washington Office would soon become the base of operations for the Warren Commission, which was created on Nov. 29, 1963, to investigate the assassination. Read President Obama's proclamation at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/11/21/presidential-proclamation-day-remembrance-president-john-f-kennedy 2. VA Issues Fraud Alert: The Department of Veterans Affairs has issued a fraud alert about a marketing scam that is targeting veterans who misdial the VA National Call Center (800-827-1000) or the GI Bill Call Center (888-442-4551) phone numbers. A marketing company created two phone numbers that differ from the real VA numbers by one digit. If a veteran calls the bogus number by accident, the answering party will offer a gift card and try to obtain sensitive personal data, to include credit card information. Please note that the VA will "never" ask for credit card or banking information over the phone. The two bogus numbers are 800-872-1000 and 888-442-4511. Law enforcement officials have been notified. A list of toll-free VA phone numbers is at https://iris.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1703 3. Senate NDAA Update: The Senate began debate on its version of the FY 2014 NDAA (S.1197) this week, but failed to finish up the $625 billion dollar authorizing bill before recessing for the Thanksgiving break. The bill still needs to go to conference with the House which cleared their bill, HR 1960, in June. The VFW will continue to monitor the bill for anything that may affect military quality of life programs to include pay and compensation rates, TRICARE and several sexual assault provisions that make changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Both bills include specific provisions that provide specially designed legal assistance and counseling to sexual assault victims. Check back later for more on the bill and the House-Senate Conference. 4. Senate VA Committee Clears Bills: On Tuesday, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee cleared several VFW-supported bills that will improve access to healthcare and shield veterans from any budget uncertainly that may occur in the future. The committee approved, The Putting Veterans Funding First Act which will fund all VA programs a year in advance. Currently, only VA medical care accounts are provided an advance appropriation. The legislation is a top priority for the VFW and our partners on the Independent Budget. The House cleared a similar bill in August which calls for advance funding beginning with the 2016 budget. Other bills cleared include: S. 1604 expands the period of eligibility to enroll in VA healthcare for Post 9/11 combat veterans to include Guard and Reserves from 5 to 10 years. It also simplifies VA method in determining eligibility based on income thus allowing more veterans to enroll in VA. S. 1593 extends protections for service members with regards to sales contracts, mortgage penalties and provides further improvements under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act or SCRA. All of the bills now move to the Senate floor for debate. For the VFW testimony on some of the bills, click here: http://www.vfw.org/VFW-in-DC/Congressional-Testimony/Hearing--Pending-Health-and-Benefits-Legislation/ For more information, visit the Senate VA Committee website at: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/press-releases.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=95c0c4ee-feed-4513-9fee-203472468383. 5. VFW Testifies on VA Construction Challenges: This week, VFW submitted testimony to the House VA Committee regarding VA's major construction and lease programs. Our testimony pointed out that decades of underfunding have led to a large backlog in uncompleted projects. Currently there are 21 VHA major construction projects, dating back to 2007, which remain partially funded and/or incomplete. VFW authors the Independent Budget section regarding major and minor construction and has continually asked Congress to provide adequate funding levels to close gaps. We advised Committee members that VA will need to invest at least $23.2 billion over the next 10 years to finish existing projects and close current and future gaps. At current requested funding levels, it will take more than 67 years to complete VA's 10-year plan. Failing to complete projects on time puts access and services for veterans in jeopardy. For more about the hearing and to read our prepared testimony, click here: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/building-va%E2%80%99s-future-confronting-persistent-challenges-in-va-major-construction-and-lease 6. VFW Discusses Budget; Jobs During House Democratic Roundtable: This week, VFW attended a roundtable with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and members of the House Democratic Caucus. Discussion centered on budget sequestration, advanced funding for VA, sexual assault in the military and jobs for veterans. With budget deadlines and the current environment of fiscal uncertainty, VFW highlighted the need for a responsible budget agreement and how it can adversely affect veterans and future leaders in the military. We also echoed calls from the veterans' community to fully fund VA in advance, ensuring that services remain in place in the event of future budget uncertainty and weighed in on the critical issue of employment for Post/911 era veterans. To read more, visit our blog at: http://thevfw.blogspot.com/2013/11/vfw-discusses-budget-jobs-during-house.html?m=1 7. Compensation Commission to Meet in Hampton Roads: The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission will hold two public hearings and town hall meetings in Virginia's Hampton Roads area on Dec. 2 and 3, location to be determined. All service personnel, veterans, military retirees and their families are encouraged to attend because the Commission is charged with examining how our troops are compensated while in uniform, in retirement, and as veterans, and their reach includes those programs operated by the VA and Department of Labor. Among the compensation and Quality of Life programs under review are the 20-year retirement system; military pay and the tax-exempt status of allowances; concurrent receipt of retiree and disability pay; the GI Bills; military healthcare costs and eligibility; military exchanges, commissaries and schools; and transition and employment assistance programs, among many others. To the VFW, who testified before the Commission on Nov. 5, this is a serious attempt to balance the budget on the backs of military families, retirees and veterans through an erosion of pay and benefits that will negatively impact recruiting and retention, and possibly threaten the continued viability of the all-volunteer military. The Commission is required to issue their report to the White House by May 1, 2014. For more information on the Hampton Roads hearings or to leave a public comment on their website, go to http://www.mcrmc.gov/. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org To sign up new veterans' advocates to receive the Washington Weekly every Friday, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

FW: HOT! FRUAD ALTERT: Scam Targeting Callers

From: "Secor, Kevin" <Kevin.Secor@va.gov>

Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 18:29:50 -0500

Subject: HOT! FRUAD ALTERT: Scam Targeting Callers

Lady's and Gentlemen,

FRAUD ALERT:  Veterans should be aware of a marketing scam targeting callers trying to reach the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Call Center or GI Bill Call Center.  A marketing company has established two fraudulent numbers that differ from the two official VA call center numbers by one digit.  If the fraudulent number is dialed by mistake, the answering party will offer a gift card and try to obtain personal and financial information, including credit card information, from the caller.  The answering party may even transfer the caller to the VA after the caller's information is obtained.  Note that VA will never ask you for a credit card number or banking information over the phone. Before giving personal sensitive information over the phone make sure you know who you are taking to.

The numbers to be avoided are:

800-872-1000  (the VA National Call Center number is 800-827-1000)

888-442-4511 (the VA GI Bill Call Center number is 888-442-4551)

VA has notified law enforcement authorities to address this situation.  Please pass this information along and post on your websites.

____________________________________________________________
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1 EASY tip to increase fat-burning, lower blood sugar & decrease fat storageinfo.fixyourbloodsugar.com

FW: VFW Washington Weekly, November 15, 2013

Subject: VFW Washington Weekly, November 15, 2013

To: rserge@live.com
From: tmorris@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:16:29 -0500

VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY November 15, 2013 In This Issue: 1. Congress Approves 1.5% COLA 2. VFW Testifies on Student Veteran Services in California 3. VFW Receives Google Grant to Help Student Veterans 4. VA Begins Dental Insurance Pilot Program 5. Four MIAs Recovered 1. Congress Approves 1.5% COLA: Congress passed a 1.5-percent cost-of-living adjustment this week that is expected to be signed by the president. The increase would first appear in January checks and apply to about 3.7 million recipients of veterans' disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors, and pensions for low-income combat veterans. The COLA increase is automatic for Social Security and military and federal civilian retired pay recipients. New this year is the omission of a requirement that previously forced VA to round down COLA increases to the next lowest dollar, which at most would increase paychecks by 99 cents a month, or $11.88 a year. 2. VFW Testifies on Student Veteran Services in California: Last week VFW testified before a field hearing of the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity at Riverside City College in Riverside, Calif. The committee hosted the hearing to learn about the kinds of services college campuses offered that helped to foster student veteran success. VFW National Legislative Committee member Sherrod Conyers testified on behalf of the VFW, explaining the concepts that the VFW believes best foster student success on campus. To learn more about the hearing, click here: http://thevfw.blogspot.com/2013/11/vfw-testifies-on-student-veteran.html 3. VFW Receives Google Grant to Help Student Veterans: This week the VFW received a $100,000 Google Global Impact Award grant to bolster the VFW's 1 Student Veteran program. The grant was announced on Wednesday at the Army Navy Club in Washington, where Dr. Jill Biden discussed the importance of meeting the needs of veterans in higher education. VFW Deputy Legislative Directory Ryan Gallucci participated in a panel discussion among other grant recipients where he discussed why 1 Student Veteran was not only important to student veterans but also how it can help advocates learn about the kinds of issues veterans face in higher education. To learn more about the VFW's Google Global Impact Award, click here: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2013-Articles/VFW-and-Partners-Receive-Google-Global-Impact-Award-to-Expand-Student-Veteran-Support/ 4. VA Begins Dental Insurance Pilot Program: VA is partnering with Delta Dental and MetLife to allow eligible veterans, plus family members receiving care under CHAMPVA, to purchase affordable dental insurance. More than 8 million veterans who are enrolled in VA healthcare can choose to purchase one of the offered dental plans. The three-year pilot program is designed for veterans with no dental coverage, or those eligible for VA dental care who would like to purchase additional coverage. According to the VA, participation will not affect anyone's entitlement to VA dental services and treatment, and there are no eligibility limitations based on service-connected disability ratings or enrollment priority assignments. People interested in participating can complete an online application through either Delta Dental, www.deltadentalvadip.org, or MetLife, www.metlife.com/vadip. Enrollment begins today and coverage begins Jan. 1, 2014. The program will be available throughout the United States and its territories. Read more at http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2495. 5. Four MIAs Recovered: The Defense POW/MIA Office recently announced the identifications of remains belonging to four American servicemen lost during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Recovered are: * Army Air Force 1st Lt. Louis L. Longman, 433rd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, was lost on April 16, 1944, in Papua New Guinea. He was accounted for on Nov. 1, 2013, and will be buried in Clinton, Iowa, next spring. * Army Air Force Capt. Franklin B. Tostevin, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, was lost on March 20, 1945, when his F-6P aircraft crashed near Eigen, Germany. He was accounted for Oct. 30, 2013, and will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver on Dec. 13. * Army Cpl. George W. Conklin Jr., Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost on Dec. 3, 1950, near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was accounted for Oct. 30, 2013, and was buried Nov. 9 in Phelps, N.Y. * Army Staff Sgt. Lawrence Woods, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, was lost on Oct. 24, 1964, near the Cambodian border. He was accounted for on Sept. 27, 2013, and will be buried in early 2014. Individual press releases of the four recovered MIAs should be posted soon on the DPMO website at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. To sign up new veterans' advocates to receive the Washington Weekly every Friday, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

FW: VFW Washington Weekly, November 15, 2013

Subject: VFW Washington Weekly, November 15, 2013

To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: tmorris@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:16:37 -0500

VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY November 15, 2013 In This Issue: 1. Congress Approves 1.5% COLA 2. VFW Testifies on Student Veteran Services in California 3. VFW Receives Google Grant to Help Student Veterans 4. VA Begins Dental Insurance Pilot Program 5. Four MIAs Recovered 1. Congress Approves 1.5% COLA: Congress passed a 1.5-percent cost-of-living adjustment this week that is expected to be signed by the president. The increase would first appear in January checks and apply to about 3.7 million recipients of veterans' disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors, and pensions for low-income combat veterans. The COLA increase is automatic for Social Security and military and federal civilian retired pay recipients. New this year is the omission of a requirement that previously forced VA to round down COLA increases to the next lowest dollar, which at most would increase paychecks by 99 cents a month, or $11.88 a year. 2. VFW Testifies on Student Veteran Services in California: Last week VFW testified before a field hearing of the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity at Riverside City College in Riverside, Calif. The committee hosted the hearing to learn about the kinds of services college campuses offered that helped to foster student veteran success. VFW National Legislative Committee member Sherrod Conyers testified on behalf of the VFW, explaining the concepts that the VFW believes best foster student success on campus. To learn more about the hearing, click here: http://thevfw.blogspot.com/2013/11/vfw-testifies-on-student-veteran.html 3. VFW Receives Google Grant to Help Student Veterans: This week the VFW received a $100,000 Google Global Impact Award grant to bolster the VFW's 1 Student Veteran program. The grant was announced on Wednesday at the Army Navy Club in Washington, where Dr. Jill Biden discussed the importance of meeting the needs of veterans in higher education. VFW Deputy Legislative Directory Ryan Gallucci participated in a panel discussion among other grant recipients where he discussed why 1 Student Veteran was not only important to student veterans but also how it can help advocates learn about the kinds of issues veterans face in higher education. To learn more about the VFW's Google Global Impact Award, click here: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2013-Articles/VFW-and-Partners-Receive-Google-Global-Impact-Award-to-Expand-Student-Veteran-Support/ 4. VA Begins Dental Insurance Pilot Program: VA is partnering with Delta Dental and MetLife to allow eligible veterans, plus family members receiving care under CHAMPVA, to purchase affordable dental insurance. More than 8 million veterans who are enrolled in VA healthcare can choose to purchase one of the offered dental plans. The three-year pilot program is designed for veterans with no dental coverage, or those eligible for VA dental care who would like to purchase additional coverage. According to the VA, participation will not affect anyone's entitlement to VA dental services and treatment, and there are no eligibility limitations based on service-connected disability ratings or enrollment priority assignments. People interested in participating can complete an online application through either Delta Dental, www.deltadentalvadip.org, or MetLife, www.metlife.com/vadip. Enrollment begins today and coverage begins Jan. 1, 2014. The program will be available throughout the United States and its territories. Read more at http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2495. 5. Four MIAs Recovered: The Defense POW/MIA Office recently announced the identifications of remains belonging to four American servicemen lost during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Recovered are: * Army Air Force 1st Lt. Louis L. Longman, 433rd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, was lost on April 16, 1944, in Papua New Guinea. He was accounted for on Nov. 1, 2013, and will be buried in Clinton, Iowa, next spring. * Army Air Force Capt. Franklin B. Tostevin, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, was lost on March 20, 1945, when his F-6P aircraft crashed near Eigen, Germany. He was accounted for Oct. 30, 2013, and will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver on Dec. 13. * Army Cpl. George W. Conklin Jr., Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost on Dec. 3, 1950, near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was accounted for Oct. 30, 2013, and was buried Nov. 9 in Phelps, N.Y. * Army Staff Sgt. Lawrence Woods, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, was lost on Oct. 24, 1964, near the Cambodian border. He was accounted for on Sept. 27, 2013, and will be buried in early 2014. Individual press releases of the four recovered MIAs should be posted soon on the DPMO website at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. To sign up new veterans' advocates to receive the Washington Weekly every Friday, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

FW: Your November 15 Washington Weekly

Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:40:25 -0600

From: friendsoffreedom@vfw.org
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Your November 15 Washington Weekly

November 15, 2013 Post on Facebook Congress Approves 1.5% COLA Congress passed a 1.5-percent cost-of-living adjustment this week that is expected to be signed by the president. The increase would first appear in January checks and apply to about 3.7 million recipients of veterans' disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors, and pensions for low-income combat veterans. The COLA increase is automatic for Social Security and military and federal civilian retired pay recipients. New this year is the omission of a requirement that previously forced VA to round down COLA increases to the next lowest dollar, which at most would increase paychecks by 99 cents a month, or $11.88 a year. The VFW Testifies on Student Veteran Services in CaliforniaLast week the VFW testified before a field hearing of the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity at Riverside City College in Riverside, Calif. The committee hosted the hearing to learn about the kinds of services college campuses offered that helped to foster student veteran success. VFW National Legislative Committee member Sherrod Conyers testified on behalf of the VFW, explaining the concepts that the VFW believes best foster student success on campus. Learn more about the hearing. The VFW Receives Google Grant to Help Student VeteransThis week the VFW received a $100,000 Google Global Impact Award grant to bolster the VFW's 1 Student Veteran program. The grant was announced on Wednesday at the Army Navy Club in Washington, where Dr. Jill Biden discussed the importance of meeting the needs of veterans in higher education. VFW Deputy Legislative Director Ryan Gallucci participated in a panel discussion among other grant recipients where he discussed why 1 Student Veteran was not only important to student veterans but also how it can help advocates learn about the kinds of issues veterans face in higher education. Learn more about the VFW's Google Global Impact Award. VA Begins Dental Insurance Pilot ProgramVA is partnering with Delta Dental and MetLife to allow eligible veterans, plus family members receiving care under CHAMPVA, to purchase affordable dental insurance. More than 8 million veterans who are enrolled in VA healthcare can choose to purchase one of the offered dental plans. The three-year pilot program is designed for veterans with no dental coverage, or those eligible for VA dental care who would like to purchase additional coverage. According to the VA, participation will not affect anyone's entitlement to VA dental services and treatment, and there are no eligibility limitations based on service-connected disability ratings or enrollment priority assignments. People interested in participating can complete an online application through either Delta Dental or MetLife. Enrollment begins today and coverage begins Jan. 1, 2014. The program will be available throughout the United States and its territories. Read more. Four MIAs RecoveredThe Defense POW/MIA Office recently announced the identifications of remains belonging to four American servicemen lost during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Recovered are: Army Air Force 1st Lt. Louis L. Longman, 433rd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, was lost on April 16, 1944, in Papua New Guinea. He was accounted for on Nov. 1, 2013, and will be buried in Clinton, Iowa, next spring.  Army Air Force Capt. Franklin B. Tostevin, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, was lost on March 20, 1945, when his F-6P aircraft crashed near Eigen, Germany. He was accounted for Oct. 30, 2013, and will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver on Dec. 13.  Army Cpl. George W. Conklin Jr., Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, was lost on Dec. 3, 1950, near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was accounted for Oct. 30, 2013, and was buried Nov. 9 in Phelps, N.Y.  Army Staff Sgt. Lawrence Woods, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, was lost on Oct. 24, 1964, near the Cambodian border. He was accounted for on Sept. 27, 2013, and will be buried in early 2014.  Individual press releases of the four recovered MIAs should be posted soon on the DPMO website. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, fill out our online form or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. Was this Washington Weekly forwarded to you by a friend? Sign up to get your own free issue each week. — Find a Post | Contribute | About Us | Contact Us Unsubscribe | Tell A Friend © 2001 - 2013. All rights reserved. Veterans of Foreign Wars | 406 West 34th Street | Kansas City, MO 64111 Having difficulty seeing the images in this message? View it online.

FW: VFW Washington Weekly, November 8, 2013

Subject: VFW Washington Weekly, November 8, 2013

To: rserge@live.com
From: tmorris@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2013 16:11:54 -0500

VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY November 8, 2013 In This Issue: 1. Veterans Day 2013 2. VFW Joins Senate Press Conference on Veterans 3. Military Compensation Commission Update 4. VA Celebrates One Million Post-9/11 GI Bill Veterans 5. CRPD Update 6. VFW Joins Labor Salute to Veterans 7. Never Another Homeless Veteran Campaign Launched 8. Agency Accepting Payday Loan Complaints 1. Veterans Day 2013: America celebrates Veterans Day on Monday, and so will VFW members and Posts nationwide. In the nation's capital, VFW National Commander Bill Thien and his wife, Linda, will have breakfast with the president in the White House along with other veteran and military service organization leaders, and then head over to Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Joining them at Arlington and at The Wall will be VFW Ladies Auxiliary National President Sissy Borel, who along with the Chief is in town for the VFW Eastern Conference this weekend. 2. VFW Joins Senate Press Conference on Veterans: On Wednesday your VFW joined leaders from the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans for a press conference hosted by Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., where the veterans' community called on Congress to pass critical veterans' reforms by the end of the calendar year. Some of the issues discussed included veterans' in-state tuition, care for military sexual assault victims, employment opportunities and VA construction. To learn more about the press conference, click here: http://thevfw.blogspot.com/2013/11/vfw-joins-senate-press-conference-on.html 3. Military Compensation Commission Update: The VFW appeared before the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission on Tuesday. It was the first of many public hearings the nine-member commission will host around the country to listen to the concerns of the military, veteran, and military retiree communities as it pertains to how our troops are compensated while in uniform, in retirement, and as veterans. Everything is on the table, to include those programs operated by the VA and Department of Labor, according to Commission officials. Among the compensation and Quality of Life programs under review are the 20-year retirement system; military pay and allowances, to include the tax-exempt status of BAH, BAS, hazardous duty and combat pay; concurrent receipt of retiree and disability pay; Tuition Assistance and the Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bills; military healthcare and Tricare; PCS tour lengths; and transition and employment assistance programs, among many others. To the VFW, this is a serious attempt to balance the budget on the backs of military families, retirees and veterans through an erosion of pay and benefits that will negatively impact recruiting and retention, and possibly threaten the continued viability of the All-Volunteer Military. According to Resolution 411, passed this year at the 114th VFW National Convention in Louisville, the VFW vigorously opposes the further erosion of military pay and benefits, increased Tricare fees, deductibles and co-pays, and all efforts to civilianize the military retirement system. The Commission is required to issue their report to the White House by May 1, 2014. For more information or to leave a public comment on their website, go to http://www.mcrmc.gov/ 4. VA Celebrates One Million Post-9/11 GI Bill Veterans: This week VA announced that one million veterans have now enrolled in college using their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. VA recognized Army veteran Steven Ferraro of Edison, N.J., as the one millionth Post-9/11 GI Bill recipient when he enrolled at Middlesex County College this fall. Your VFW helped to commission the Post-9/11 GI Bill and has worked diligently to ensure student veterans have proper consumer resources, and are academically and financially prepared for college. To learn more about Ferraro and VFW's continued work to ensure student veteran success, click here: : http://thevfw.blogspot.com/2013/11/va-celebrates-one-million-post-911-gi.html 5. CRPD Update: On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or CRPD. The treaty, which has been ratified by 138 countries, would bring other countries up to US standards on the treatment of those with disabilities. Mirroring the Americans with Disabilities Act, ratification would improve the quality of life and offer more opportunities for those in the disability community. The treaty is supported by a consortium of advocates to include Senator Robert Dole, General Colin Powell, VFW and others within the veterans' community. Last Congress, it failed by a margin of 6 votes needed for ratification. VFW believes that ratifying the treaty will help the United States lead in the effort to give every disabled person, to include 5.5 million veterans, the opportunity to live, work, learn, and travel without undue barriers. For more about CRPD, to include the hearing testimony and remarks, click here: http://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities. 6. VFW Joins Labor Salute to Veterans: On Wednesday your VFW was at the Department of Labor for the agency's annual Salute to Veterans. Labor Secretary Tom Perez hosted a panel discussion on transitioning from military life to the civilian job market, featuring prominent personalities from the veterans' community like Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer who shared his personal experiences and discussed ways veterans can take proactive steps to help ease their individual transitions back to civilian life. Labor also premiered two public service announcements featuring prominent celebrity veterans R. Lee Ermey and Montel Williams. To learn more about the panel discussion and to see photos from the event, click here: http://thevfw.blogspot.com/2013/11/vfw-joins-labors-salute-to-veterans.html 7. Never Another Homeless Veteran Campaign Launched: Earlier this week, the National Alliance to End Homelessness was joined by the Home Depot and the veterans' community to launch their "Never Another Homeless Veteran Campaign." Ending homelessness among veterans is an achievable goal. Veteran homelessness has declined nearly 17 percent since 2009, and with continued funding and support, we can continue to work towards our goal of finding every veteran safe housing and access to needed services. To join the effort, sign the Never Another Homeless Veteran statement at: http://www.neveranotherhomelessveteran.org/site/SignTheStatement 8. Agency Accepting Payday Loan Complaints: The Consumer Protection Bureau is giving consumers a chance to voice their complaints with payday lending products or loans. CFPB is now accepting complaints from borrowers encountering problems with payday loans. Payday loans are often describes as a way for consumers to bridge a cash flow shortage between pay checks. They can offer quick access to credit, but often come at a high cost. Many of these "storefront " lenders have sprung up in the last 20 years, often close to military bases --CFPB released a report that found payday products can lead to a cycle of indebtedness among many borrows. To submit a complaint, go online at www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint or call toll free at 1-855-411-2372 of TTY/TDD phone number at 1-855-729-2372. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org To sign up new veterans' advocates to receive the Washington Weekly every Friday, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm

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FW: Veterans Day is Next Week

Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2013 10:15:55 -0600

From: friendsoffreedom@vfw.org
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Veterans Day is Next Week

Honor America's Heroes on Veterans Day Dear Robert, The VFW's Veterans Day page is a hit with caring patriots across the country! Please check it out today for helpful resources and tools to observe Veterans Day on November 11, 2013. You'll find useful ideas for honoring veterans … engaging crafts and activities for kids … plus ways to share your gratitude with those who have served. Thanks to you, the VFW is able to help veterans receive justice on VA claims and make their voices heard on The Hill. If you can contribute a generous gift in honor of Veterans Day, we'll make sure your support helps make life better for America's veterans.  Thank you and please share this email with your family, friends and coworkers. Let's remind America that our country's veterans fought for our freedom and many still struggle as a result of their sacrifice. Thank you. Find a Post | Contribute | About Us | Contact Us Unsubscribe | Tell A Friend © 2001 - 2013. All rights reserved. Veterans of Foreign Wars | 406 West 34th Street | Kansas City, MO 64111 Having difficulty seeing the images in this message? View it online.