May 13, 2005

BRAC Hits on Long Island

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has released his proposed Base Realignment and Closing Plan. The good news is Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and the 106th Air Rescue Wing at Gabreski Air Force Base in West Hampton are not on the list. Veterans who signed petitions and County Executives Tom Suozzi and Steve Levy and other public officials who fought to keep our bases open can celebrate. We did have some losses. The Armed Forces Reserve Center in Amityville will close and 24 military personnel will be reassigned. Fort Totten, in Flushing will lose 75 military and 74 civilian personnel. The BRAC report must be reviewed by a commission that will make final recommendations in September. The final plan can be rejected but not modified by the President or Congress by November 7, 2005.

Walls Of Honor

Six hundred and fifty new names will be added to the Walls of Honor in Eisenhower Park at a ceremony 11:00 AM June 18, 2005. Applications are now being accepted for new names of honorably discharged veterans for 2006. For information call the Nassau County veterans Monument Fund at 516-681-8214.

Support our Troops Breakfast

The Town of Huntington Veterans Advisory Board is hosting a “ Support our Troops and Honor our Veterans” breakfast buffet at the Huntington Town House, Huntington, also on June 18, 2005 from 9:00AM to noon. Art Betrone, author and military history expert will be Keynote Speaker. Call Carol Rocco 631-351-3012 for ticket information. Proceeds will used to purchase supplies and phone cards for troops overseas.

Memorial Day Weekend Events

Friday, May 27, 2005 the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency is sponsoring with Nassau Community College a Jobs/Education Fair from 11:00AM-3:00 PM. A DD214, VA ID card, or active or reserve ID card is required for admission. Fifty employers and school will be represented.

Saturday May 28 the graves at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale will be decorated with American Flags by hundreds of scouts and veterans. The activities usually begin about 6:00 AM. Food is provided by the Farmingdale VFW.

County Executive Suozzi and Parks Commissioner (Vietnam Veteran) Richard Murphy have invited a Marine Corps Helicopter demonstration Team to perform at Eisenhower Park at 10:30 AM. By parking lot 6.

Sunday May 29, 300 World War II veterans will be honored at a United Veterans Organization Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Plaza at 10:30AM. Guests are asked to bring chairs.

Sunday afternoon 2:00PM the annual Memorial Day Service will be conducted at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Monday May 30 is Memorial Day. I hope you have the opportunity to attend a parade in you neighborhood. It is the day we remember our over one million war dead.

Budget Worries

Robert Wallace, Executive Director, VFW writes that progress is being made in Washington on the 2006 VA budget but warns that cuts in service and increased wait time may be the consequence. The Congress may be willing to drop the requirement to increase prescription costs and even avoid an annual enrollment fee but is as yet unwilling to add adequate funding to the VA budget. This will force the VA to do less with less.

Tri Care Reserve Select

Deactivated reservists and National Guard members are now able to maintain health coverage based on the amount of time they spent on active duty. They can buy coverage at 28% of the actual cost through Tricare Reserve Select. For information call Health Net Federal Services, Inc. 1-800-555-2605.

Combat Related Special Compensation

Thousands of military retirees who have a combat related disability rated less than 50% continue to lose millions of dollars every month. The Department of Defense is required to notify retirees over 50% about the benefits of concurrent receipt but if you have a 10-40% combat related disability it is up to you to apply for the new benefit. Call the veterans Service Agency for more information or search Combat Related Special Compensation on your computer.

Armed Forces Day

May 21 is Armed Forces Day. What you never heard of Armed Forces Day? It has been around since 1949 when on August 31 Secretary of defense Louis Johnson announce the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department—the Department of Defense. In Nassau County Mayor Angel Soto, South Floral Park conducts the only observance.

Flag Day

June 14 is Flag Day. Not only a good day to fly the flag but also the day you should examine that flag. If is tired, lost its color, ripped why not bring it to your nearby American Legion or VFW hall. The veterans will be glad to dispose of it properly.

Civil Air Patrol Needs Meeting Place

Commander Jack Beuth of the Civil Air patrol Squadron 8 is looking for a meeting place for his young cadets. Call Jack at 516-781-8317 if you have a location in the Bellmore-Merrick area.