Veterans News
By Edward
G. Aulman,
Director
Nassau County Veterans Service Agency
21st Salute To Veterans
Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has announced that the 21st
Annual Nassau County Salute to Veterans will be held at Harry
Chapin Theatre, Eisenhower Park on Saturday, August 2. A Rock and Roll
concert featuring Randy and the Rainbows and Risky Business will follow
an opening act by the USO Troupe of Metropolitan New York.
The music is preceded by a short ceremony in which County Executive
Suozzi will present medals to five recipients of the Distinguished
Service to Veterans Award.
Education/Benefits/Job Fair
On June 17 from 4 to 7 p.m., the Cradle of Aviation Museum (Charles
Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City) will host a Veterans Education, Benefits
and Job Fair for OIF/OEF veterans. The New York City Fire Department,
Metropolitan Transit Authority, North Shore LIJ Health System and other
large employers will join the Department of Veterans Affairs and other
service providers to assist our new veterans transition back to civilian
life. Call the Veterans Service Agency for free admission tickets to the
fair (516-572-8452).
8th Homeless Veterans Stand Down
Since 2003, almost 1,000 veterans have received help at the Nassau
County Homeless Veterans Stand Downs. The Nassau County Veterans Service
Agency, with the support of the United Veterans Organization, VFW,
American Legion, Vietnam and Korean War Veterans plus other veteran,
civic and business organizations are sponsoring the 8th Homeless
Veterans Stand Down on July 21 at the Hempstead American Legion Post #
390 at 160 Marvin Avenue, Hempstead from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Government officials from the Federal Departments of Veterans Affairs,
Labor and Social Security, State Departments of Health, Labor, and
Veterans Affairs and Nassau County Department of Social Services, Senior
Citizen Affairs, Physically Challenged, Health, Mental Health and
Chemical Dependency and private social service agencies such as Beacon
House, Salvation Army, Island Harvest and many others, provide
application services, shelter and jobs. Volunteers provide
entertainment, haircuts, a hot meal and take-home pantry items.
Stand Down Director, Pat Yngstrom, is asking for volunteers and
donations of summer clothes. Volunteers can call 516-572-8452.
Donations of summer clothes can be dropped off at the Veterans Service
Agency, 1425 Old Country Road, Building H, Plainview, NY.
Vietnam Wall
The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, a three-quarter-scale replica of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., will be in Nassau
County on June 6, 7 and 8. The Wall will be erected by volunteer union
and non-union carpenters in the Sears parking lot in Hicksville.
Volunteers are needed to assist with publicity, programs and ceremonies,
construction, safety, motorcycle escort, hospitality, name readers,
accounting and administration and e-mail communications. Call
516-797-7900 for a volunteer application. Tim Glover is looking for
motorcycle riders to escort the Wall on June 3. Contact Tim at
516-241-4983.
The “Traveling Wall” has had an emotional impact similar to the original
Wall in Washington, D.C., and veterans’ counselors from the VAMC
Northport and the Nassau County Vet Center will be on hand to assist.
Claims counselors from the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency will
also be available.
The National Archives has joined the Web site www.footnote.com/thewall,
which displays records of the 58,256 names on the Vietnam Veterans Wall.
The site allows access to thousands of pages of records and photos.
Veterans in Business
A great resource for veterans who own, or who want to own, a business is
the Veterans Business Outreach Program at SUNY Farmingdale. John
Narciso, USN retired, ,is the Business Advisor (631-370-8891). Another
resource may be a new publication, Small Business Basics for Veterans,
available from Steve White at 800-742-1075 or
steve@whiteandcompany.com.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Ft. Belvoir Army are looking to
contract some work to veteran-owned businesses. Contact
joewynn@vetsgroup.org.
New Education Benefits
New York State has finally done what the federal government has failed
to do for 50 years – make a full college education possible for a
veteran. As I have written before, the GI Bill provides enough money for
a veteran to get halfway through a private college on Long Island and
then only if he/she does not eat for four years. The full benefits of
full tuition, money for books and living expenses ended after the Korean
War. The less-than-$40,000 the GI Bill now pays will get a veteran
through two years at most Long Island colleges.
New York State now has a plan to provide full tuition to combat veterans
at all SUNY, CUNY and County Community Colleges or pay the veteran the
equivalent amount if he/she attends another college in New York State.
The new law is effective July 1, 2008 and even covers veterans of the
Vietnam War and includes graduate degrees. Veterans who did not serve in
a combat theatre are not eligible for the state benefit.
Military Spouse Education Program
Nassau County has 400 military spouses in and around Mitchel Manor and
many more Guard and Reserve families throughout the county. Excelsior
College, an online college, is now offering the same reduced fees,
course registration and degree and certification opportunities it offers
to service members to their spouses. For information on the 36 programs
leading to associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees and to read about
their accreditations, go to www.excelsior.edu.
St. Josephs College on Long Island is offering similar programs and
rates. For information, call Ms. Shannon O’Neill at 631-447-3260.
Expansion of Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
Over the last five years, veterans have been wearing down the
discrimination against military retirees receiving compensation for
their injuries. Victories have been coming slowly but steadily.
Concurrent receipt (ability to receive both retirement and disability
payment) is being phased in for retirees with a 50-percent disability
and higher. As of January 1, 2008, medical retirees, even if they have
less than 20 years active and reserve duty, can receive CRSC if their
disabilities are related to combat or an instrumentality of war and are
rateable from 10-to-40 percent.
Numbers
Of the 1.6 million troops who have
served in Iraq or Afghanistan since the beginning of the war, 799,791
have been discharged, and 299,585 have enrolled for VA health care. Of
those, 152,077 are from the regular active duty forces, and 147,508 are
from the Guard and Reserve. Of those, 63-percent of those eligible have
not enrolled for VA care. We have asked the VA to provide us with the
names and addresses of our newly discharged veterans so we can reach out
to them.
The VA is reviewing our request. Thanks to Dennis O’Connel of the Blind
Veterans Association for the statistics.
Coupon Clippers Support our Troops
The Air Force Sergeants Association International Auxiliary (AFSA) is
clipping, collecting and shipping national brand coupons to U.S.
military bases in the Middle East, Germany, Japan and elsewhere. The
coupons are for use by military families in overseas commissaries. Even
expired coupons are accepted at the commissaries up to six months after
the expiration date. If you are a clipper, consider sending baby
products, especially diapers and formula, cleaning supplies, pet food,
over-the-counter medicines, and beauty and health aids to: Nancy
Roberts, Coupon Coordinator, AFSA Auxiliary Chapter 102, 10412 Mountain
Quail Road, Silver Springs, MD 20901-1657. Questions? Contact Andrea
Sanford at 800-638-0594 x232 or marketing@hqafsa.org.
Vietnam Night
Sunrise Detachment Marine Corps
League, 99 Iwo Jima Blvd., Massapequa is sponsoring a Vietnam Night on
Saturday, June 21 starting at 6 p.m. A requested $20 donation will get
you food, soda, DJ and singer, and one can of In-Country beer. You are
also requested to bring any Vietnam memorabilia to share with other
vets. Contact Jim McGunnigle at 516-503-4963.
Honor Flight For World War II Veterans
Free round-trip airline transportation is available to World War II
veterans who wish to visit the new World War II Memorial in Washington
D.C. The escorted one-day tour has been given a new life by the Town of
Southampton, who has become a major backer. Open to all World War II
veterans at no charge, the program depends on volunteer aides who pay
their own way and to corporate and private sponsors. Call 631-702-2423
for information or go online to www.honorflight.org.
Economic Stimulus Check
It is not too late to file for your economic stimulus check. Many older
veterans who have not filed a tax return in some years may have missed
the April 15 deadline this year as well. To receive the economic
stimulus check of $300 you must file by October 15, 2008, and
have an income of at least $3,000. Applications are available at the
Veterans Service Agency.
Edward G. Aulman is Director of
the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency
