Paul Spera, one of six Veterans Advisors to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principe said recently at a meeting of New York State County Veteran Service Officers Association that Mandatory Funding of the VA Budget is not a proposal the VA supports. In Mr. Spera's opinion veterans in categories 7 and 8 would actually be hurt by mandatory funding of VA medical programs. He suggested that a better way to fund the VA Health Care System is through Medicare subvention a process where by Medicare pays the VA for care given to Medicare eligible veterans. While most veterans would agree with Mr. Spera that Medicare subvention is a good idea nine National Veterans Organizations have united to fight for Mandatory Funding. The Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform has produced a pamphlet explaining Mandatory Funding. Call the Veterans Service Agency at 516-572-8452 and I will mail you the information. Membership in the Partnership includes: The American Legion, AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association, and DAV, Jewish War Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America, VFW, and Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.

Nassau County Seeks Welcome Desk Associates for HHS

Nassau County is seeking Welcome Desk Associates to work in our Mineola and new Uniondale offices. Health and Human Services Department addresses concerns in the areas of social services, health, mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, senior citizens affairs, youth, veterans and the physically challenged. Call the Veterans Service Agency and we will send you a job description and qualifications required. Please email your resume in confidence to dswirnoll@NassauCountyNY.gov. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Military Funeral Honors

By law the Department of Defense must provide upon request military funeral honors. The funeral director typically makes this arrangement. At least two uniformed service members fold and present the flag and play "Taps" by a recording or a bugler. One widow and one veteran from the Farmingdale American Legion Post have informed me that DoD has denied this honor lately because of lack of military personnel.

Please contact me if you know an honorably discharge veteran who has been denied this final benefit.

Service Disabled Business Owners New Opportunities

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced this summer a new procurement program intended to boost federal contract opportunities for service disabled veterans owned businesses. Federal contract dollars to service disabled veterans increased from$298 million in fiscal year 2002 to $510million in FY 2003. For information about all of the SBA's programs for small business, visit the SBA's extensive Website at www.sba.gov/

Air Force Ribbon News

The Air Force has approved the addition of a gold border to the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon to signify satisfactory participation in combat operations. Also authorized is the Air Force Humanitarian Service Medal for certain units who supported Operation Enduring Freedom. During the operation hundreds of Airmen participated in packaging and delivering 2.5 million individual daily rations to thousands of beleaguered Afghans.

Veterans Day in Washington D.C.

The Levittown Post 1711 American Legion invites interested veterans to join them on November 10 and 11, 2004 for a trip to Washington, D.C. Luxury motor coach departs 6:00AM on November 10 from the Levittown American Legion and departs D.C. 6:00PM on November 11. Overnight stay at Holiday Inn in Georgetown, dinner, morning bagels, juice, snacks and movies are all included. Call Ann at 516-822-5966 for more information and reservations.

Veterans are also reminded of the United Veterans Organization of Nassau County Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday November 7, 2004 at the Veterans Plaza, Eisenhower Park at 10:00 AM.

Legislative Breakfast

The Nassau County American Legion is planning its annual Legislative Breakfast for Sunday, October 3, 2004 at the Andrew Fatscher Post 51 Roosevelt Ave, Valley Stream, New York at 9:00 AM. This is a very informative and sometimes exciting event when most of our county, state and federal elected officials answer soft and hardball questions from our veterans. Space is limited so reserve your $8 tickets by calling Peter Holowecki at 516-741-4568. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Hearing Impairment Rule Liberalized

On August 9, 2004 the Government published in the Federal Register a "final rule" liberalizing the Paired Organ rule for hearing. Effective December 6, 2002, 38CFR 3.383 (a)(3) is amended to read: "Hearing impairment in one ear compensable to a degree of 10% or more as a result of a service connected disability and hearing impairment as a result of non service connected disability that meets the provisions of Sec. 3.385 in the other ear." So if you have a service connected disability in just one ear and you lose hearing in the other I recommend you visit a veterans service officer.

Marines Win at the Post Office

After years petitioning the U.S. Postal Service U.S. Marines will finally see four of their heros on US postage. "Chesty" Puller and John A. LeJune, "Manila John" Basilone and Glen Cove's Dan Daly will all be on stamps in 2005.