September 16 , 2005
Veterans News,
By Edward G. Aulman, Director
Nassau County Veterans Service Agency
Hire a Hero and Stand
Down
The Nassau County Veterans Service Agency in association
with the United Veterans Organization and the Auxiliary
of the Nassau County American Legion are planning two
events to aid veterans in November. The third annual
Homeless Veterans Stand Down is planned for Monday,
November 14, 2005 at the Freeport Armory. Twenty five
federal, state, county agencies and private charitable
organizations will join 200 volunteers from 30 veterans
organizations offering veterans job search assistance,
social services, clothes hair cuts, medical screening
and hot food. On November 3, 2005 transportation will
be provided to veterans who wish to attend the Hire
a Hero Job Fair at the Javits Center in New York City.
To volunteer or for information call Pat at the Veterans
Service Agency 516-572-8452.
Nassau Buys New Cars for Veterans
County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi announced the purchase
of 4 new cars to be used by the 60 volunteers that
run Nassau County’s Disabled Veterans Transportation
Program. The new cars, which are designed to run
on a mixture of ethanol and gasoline, finish the
updating of the fleet of 10 vehicles that transport
3,000 disabled veterans to the VA Medical Center
in Northport and the VA out Patient Clinic in Plainview.
Volunteer drivers are needed and veterans in need
of transportation for scheduled appointments should
call 516-572-8456. Two weeks advance notice is required.
Veterans Owned Business Opportunity
Northrop Grumman AEW & EWS is planning a Service
Disabled Veterans owned small business outreach this
October. Call Ms. Stacy Simpson 516-346-7381 for information.
The Best Way to Help in an Emergency
When disaster
strikes man-made or natural the call goes out for trained
help. Specialists are needed. Police, fire, medical
and a host of others with skills and equipment are
in demand. Joining the Police Auxiliary or your neighborhood
volunteer fire department is one way to get the training
and serve your neighbors on a regular basis. Nassau
County’s new Office
of Emergency Management has a program that will provide
trained volunteers to communities in the early stages
of an emergency. The Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT) can provide vital services in the absence
of emergency responders whose arrival may be delayed
or preempted by the severity of the specific situation.
CERT training is a basic training that includes emergency
preparedness, first aid, community and family safety,
light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism
issues, and CERT procedures. Interested volunteers
should call Robert Beckmann at 516-573-0636.
Reserve Officers Association Offers Help
Joseph Schroder, Past President of the New York State
Reserve Officer Association (ROA) announced at the
last meeting of the United Veterans Association that
the ROA has received a grant that will enable them
to help the families of service personal serving
in Iraq / Afghanistan cope with unexpected bills.
Contact Colonel Schroder at 516-599-9451. The ROA
is also offering free membership to any mobilized
reserve officers a tradition that many American Legion
and VFW posts also offer to members on active duty.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer along with ten other diseases including
prostrate cancer and diabetes type II are presumptive
conditions caused by exposure to Agent Orange in
Vietnam. Vietnam veterans can get compensation and
treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs
and surviving spouses may receive benefits. Too often
an affected veteran with these conditions never seeks
the aid of the VA. Call the Veterans Service Agency
for information, 516-572-8452.
VFW Legislative Breakfast
The Nassau County Council, Veterans of Foreign Wars
will host a Legislative Breakfast on Sunday October
30, 2005 at 9:00 AM at Post 5253, 155 Searingtown
Road, Albertson, NY . For information call Ken McDonough
516-681-4406.
Wounded Warrior Bus Trip
The Leathernecks a Marine Corps veteran motorcycle
club has organized a trip to Atlantic City on October
22, 2005. 100% of the proceeds go to the Wounded
Warrior Project. A $30 donation puts you on a bus
that leaves from the Sunrise Detachment Marine Corps
League in Massapequa at 9:00AM Coffee and donuts,
and bagels before departure with in bus movies going
and coming back. Call Jim McGunnigle for tickets
516-503-4963.
Helpful Information on VA Website
A new website designed by the Department of Veterans
Affairs can be very helpful to survivors of armed
forces personnel killed while on active duty and
spouses of veterans who served honorably. The site
www.vba.va.gov/survivors explains the benefits and
application process for Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation, survivors pension, burial, home loan,
casualty assistance and more. The same information
is available by calling the Nassau County Veterans
Service Agency at 516-572-8452. Note survivors of
service-connected veterans generally have a wider
range of benefits.
Two Veteran Friendly Employers
The Home Depot is looking for veterans, military retirees,
National Guard and reservists and military spouses.
Applications can be found on line at careers.homedepot.com/military.
United Parcel Service locally has conducted two interview
sessions at the Veterans Service Agency in Plainview
in the last two months. For employment information
with UPS contact David Viskewich at 631-756-3842 after
4:30PM Monday-Friday.
