Nassau County Donates $140,000 for Vietnam Monument

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and the Nassau County Legislature have agreed to help the Nassau County Veterans Monument Fund, Inc build the Vietnam Veterans Monument in Eisenhower Park. The 12' high sculpture depicts two hands clasped with the inscription " All we ever had was ourselves". The monument will be unveiled by Veterans Day 2005.

Children of the Fallen

Leonard Wahl, father of Sgt. Gregory Wahl who died last year in Iraq and left a wife and young daughter has started an organization to benefit the children of Long Island's Killed in Action from the War in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fifteen service men have died in Iraq from Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Several have left very young children. The Children of the Fallen will host a Memorial Dinner Dance on July 16, 2005 at the Andrew Fatscher Post American Legion, 51 Roosevelt Avenue, and Valley Stream from 8:00PM to midnight. The American Legion has donated the hall and Chefs Scott Bradley of Snaps in Wantagh and Joe Loschiavo of 99 Club in Valley Stream have donated their services. Tickets are $60 each and can be reserved by calling Doug Quantro 516-317-8293 or Vinny Puccio at 516-578-8470.

Lynbrook Loses a Son

Jeffrey L. Wiener grew up in Lynbrook. He died May 7, 2005 in Iraq serving with the Marines as a Navy Corpsman. A volunteer fireman and "Great Guy" according to Mike Ciaramella who worked with Wiener at the Nassau County Police Ambulance Bureau from 2000 to 2002. HM2 Wiener joined the Navy Reserve after leaving Nassau County and when he was activated he found himself fighting in the same country his brother also a Marine had also served. Jeffrey Wiener leaves a wife Maria Theresa and two daughters Theodora age 2 and Mikayla age 6. A Fund has been set up for the family. Donations can be sent to Maria Theresa Wiener C/O Washington Mutual Bank, PO Box 65, Yapank, NY 11980 Attn: Krisha E. Kurtz

Homeless Veterans Programs Debated in Washington

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is holding hearings on S. 1180. The Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act. If passed important programs such at the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program will be extended beyond 2006. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs there are 250,000 veterans homeless on any given night and another 250,000 experience homelessness at some point.

VA Proposes "Traumatic Injury" Insurance

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson has backed legislation proposed by Sen. Larry E. Craig(Idaho) creating low cost "traumatic injury " insurance for members of the armed forces. The payments from such insurance would be in addition to disability compensation paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits Book

It may not be the "anything you ever wanted to know about VA benefits" source book but the Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents is an excellent handbook and will answer most questions about veteran's benefits. The handbook can be downloaded free from the VA website at http://www.va.gov/opa/feature/. In addition to health care and burial benefits, veterans may be eligible for programs providing home guaranties, educational assistance, training and rehabilitation, income assistance pensions, life insurance and compensation for service connected illnesses or disabilities. In some cases survivors may also be entitled to benefits.

VA Sites Claims Progress

The VA is reporting that as of March 2005 the number of pending claims in their inventory is 336,000 down from 432,000 in 2002. Also the number of days it takes to make a decision on a claim has been reduced to 171 down fro 233 days.

John Dorriety, President of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers disputes the VA numbers and claims 750,000 claims are backlogged.

Tinnitus Case Decided at the Court

As a result of a case decided at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims on April 5, 2005 veterans with a disability for tinnitus rated bilaterally before June 13, 2003 but awarded only 10% may have grounds to reopen their case. Contact the Veterans Service Agency 516-572-8452.

Hire a Hero

Plans are being made for the 2005 Stand Down for Homeless Veterans. November 14 is the likely date. We are in search for a location at this time. The Auxiliary of the Nassau County American Legion has made contribution that will fund this year's event. As part of the Stand Down transportation will be provided to any veteran who wants to attend the Hire a Hero Job Fair at the Javits Center in New York City on November 3, 2005.

Cradle of Aviation Looking for Veterans

Tom Gwynne, Vice President, Programs has informed me that the Cradle of Aviation is planning a special event to mark the 60th Anniversary of VE Day. The event will be Sunday August 14. More information will follow. Also, the Cradle is looking for docents (exhibit explainers) with military backgrounds to join their staff. If interested and available Saturday and Sundays from 10AM-2PM and 1:00PM-4:30PM please call Sarafina at 516-572-4034, or e-mail her at Smannino@cradleofaviation.org.

UPS to Recruit at Veterans Service Agency

David Vishewich, of United Parcel Service will conduct interviews at the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, 1425 Old Country Rd, Building H, Plainview NY 11803 on June 30, 2005 from 1:00PM to 3:00 PM. All veterans are welcome.