Pentagon Approves New Commissary Near Airport

(Monday, April 28, 2008 - Dan Majors, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Pentagon's Commissary Operating Board in Washington, D.C., today approved a new commissary to serve more than 160,000 military personnel, veterans and their families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The $8.2 million facility will be built on land donated by Allegheny County near Pittsburgh International Airport at Business Route 60 and University Boulevard. U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, who championed the project, said the effort was born out of the fight to close the current Charles E. Kelly Support Facility in 2005. Since then, members of Congress and state and local officials have been pushing for the new facility. The congressional delegation secured $4 million in federal funds in November and Gov. Ed Rendell has committed additional state funding. The current commissary will continue to serve the community until the new facility opens. Mr. Murphy said the size of the commissary remains to be determined, but it is likely that it will be modeled after the new commissary in Indianapolis. The PA VFW has been a strong supporter of keeping a commissary in the Pittsburgh area, noted State Commander John Getz.

 

4^th National Summit on Women Veterans Issues Begins June 20

Recognizing the valor, service and sacrifice of America's 1.7 million women veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created a comprehensive array of benefits and programs. "Women who served this country in uniform -- whether veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the current Global War on Terror or peacetime service -- have earned our respect and thanks," said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "They have also earned the full range of VA programs offered by a grateful nation." Secretary Peake also announced the Fourth National Summit on Women Veterans Issues to be held from June 20 - 22 in Washington, D.C. The Summit will offer attendees an opportunity to enhance future progress on women veterans issues, with sessions specifically for the Reserve and National Guard, information on military sexual trauma and readjustment issues and many more programs and exhibits. Women veterans are entitled to the same benefits and medical care as their male counterparts, including health care, disability compensation, education assistance, work-study allowance, vocational rehabilitation, employment and counseling services, insurance, home loan benefits, nursing home care, survivor benefits and various burial benefits. VA also has a multitude of services and programs to respond to the unique needs of women veterans including comprehensive, high-quality primary health care services for women like Pap smears, mammography and general reproductive health care. More information on the Fourth National Summit on Women Veterans Issues can be found at www.va.gov/womenvet. For questions concerning VA benefits call 1-800-827-1000, for questions concerning VA health care call 1-877-222-8387 or go to our website at http://www.va.gov. <http://www.va.gov./>

 

Central PA Events Mark Military Themed Weekend

Residents of central PA have several events to attend this weekend to recognize Armed Forces Day as well as the general service of veterans and those who died in uniform. On Saturday, May 17, Armed Forces Day will be celebrated on City Island in Harrisburg beginning at 9 a.m.; find more information at http://www.harrisburgevents.com/Common_pages/Armed.html. In Carlisle, the Army Heritage and Education Center will hold a full day of military related activities during its Heritage Day on Saturday starting at 9; more information is available at http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec/. On Sunday in Boalsburg, the PA Guard 28^th Infantry Division will hold its annual memorial service at 1 p.m. followed by a tail gate picnic ($5 donation per person). This event is part of the “A Celebration of Service: Honoring Pennsylvania Veterans,” which is an annual event sponsored by the Pennsylvania National Guard commemorating the Pennsylvanian Citizen Soldier. For more information visit http://www.pamilmuseum.org/index.php?events.

 

DoD Authorizes OIF/OEF Campaign Stars

The Department of Defense announced last week that campaign stars are authorized for wear on the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) and Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM). Servicemembers who have qualified for the ACM and/or ICM may now display a bronze campaign star on their medal for each designated campaign phase they participated. You can find the campaign names and associated dates for each medal at http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11848

 

Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans' Bonus Program Update

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is accepting applications for the Persian Gulf War Veterans Bonus Program. Pennsylvania voters gave overwhelming approval to funding for the compensation program in the 2006 general election. This program will provide payments to veterans of Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield (August 1990 to August 1991). For more information, please visit http://www.milvet.state.pa.us/DMVA/2564.htm or call (866) 458-9182.

 

Order Buddy Poppies for Memorial Day Observances

VFW Posts can pay tribute to deceased veterans while supporting disabled veterans by purchasing Buddy Poppies to hand out at Memorial Day and other patriotic events. Among all the flowers that evoke the memories and emotions of war is the red poppy, which became associated with war after the publication of a poem written by Col. John McCrae of Canada. The poem, "In Flander's Field," describes blowing red fields among the battleground of the fallen. For more than 75 years, the VFW's Buddy Poppy program has raised millions of dollars in support of veterans' welfare and the well being of their dependents. Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals. The minimal assessment (cost of Buddy Poppies) to VFW units provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home for orphans and widows of our nation's veterans. To order Poppies, contact PA VFW HQ at (717) 234-7927. Orders received by May 21 should arrive at posts by Memorial Day, but orders should be made as far in advance of the date needed to ensure timely delivery.

 

Why Veterans Reunite

"I now know why men who have been to war yearn to reunite. Not always to tell stories or look at old pictures. Not always to laugh or weep. Comrades gather because they long to be with those who once acted at their best; who suffered and sacrificed, who were stripped of their humanity. I did not pick these brothers and sisters as my comrades. They were delivered by fate and the military. But I know them in a way I know no other people. I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something more precious than my life--freedom. They would have carried my reputation, the memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were so willing to die for one another. As long as I have memory, I will think of them all, every day. I am sure when I leave this world, my last thought will be of my family and my comrades....such good people who put their lives on the line so others could live better through freedom." -- Author unknown

 

DoD Announces New Deployment Support and Reintegration Office

DoD recently announced the formation of the Deployment Support and Reintegration Office within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The office, mandated in this year's defense authorization act, is an integral piece of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program which provides support and outreach services to Reserve Component service members, their families and communities throughout the deployment cycle. This program places particular emphasis on preparing service members and their families for the stresses associated with separation and deployment, educating members and families about resources available to assist them, and connecting members to service providers before and during deployments. The focus shifts to reconnecting soldiers with families and communities for successful reintegration following deployment. The Deployment Support and Reintegration Office can be reached at: 1-866-504-7092.

 

VFW National to Hold Web Site Competition

VFW Departments, districts and posts have an opportunity to display their web design skills in the 2008 VFW Communications Department Website Competition. The contest runs from May 1-31. Websites will be evaluated for navigation, load time, design and content. Departments will compete among other Department websites in one category, while districts and posts will compete with one another in the second category. Awards will be given to the first- and second-place winner in each category. To enter, submit your URL between May 1 and midnight May 31 to webcontest@vfw.org, along with entry information. Judging will be during June. Winners will be announced in August. For a detailed rules list and entry information, go to http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/websitecontest.pdf

 

Improvements to Reserve GI Bill
Recently, several changes were made to the Montgomery GI Bill for the Selected Reserves (MGIB-SR) and the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP). Changes include: accelerated payment for MGIB-SR and REAP; qualification for the 80% rate for REAP based on aggregate service of three or more years; $600 buy-up Program for REAP participants; modified ending dates for REAP participants separated from the Selected Reserve; modified ending dates for MGIB-SR participants involuntarily separated; retention of REAP eligibility during breaks in Selected Reserve service for members who remain in the Ready Reserve during those breaks. For more information, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/NDAA2008.html.

 

VA Funds Homeless Grants
The Department of Veterans Affairs is designating $37 million to fund at least 2,250 new transitional housing beds by giving grants to local providers. The grants are intended to offset the operating expenses for transitional housing facilities operated by state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and faith-based and community-based organizations that are capable of providing housing and supportive services for homeless veterans. Applications are being accepted from these types of local providers. For more information, visit the VA Grant and Per Diem home page www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3 or contact VA's grant and per diem program office toll free at 1-877-332-0334

 

VFW “Washington Weekly” E-newsletter Tracks Key Legislative Issues

Each week, the VFW’s staff in the nation’s capitol distribute an electronic newsletter to keep veterans up to date on important legislation that will impact them and their families as well as military troops. The information includes alerts about when to contact your federal lawmakers on key issues and how to rally support around VFW legislative priorities. To subscribe to this newsletter, visit http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm.