July 11, 2006

Veterans News, By Edward G. Aulman, Director
Nassau County Veterans Service Agency

Kingston Trio

The USO Troupe of Metropolitan New York and the Kingston Trio will be the major entertainers at the 19th annual “Nassau County Salute to Veterans” on Saturday August 5, 2006 at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, and East Meadow, NY. Ceremony with cannon salute to the States begins at 6:45 p.m.

Support for USS New York

Twenty four tons of steel from the wreckage of the World Trade Center is going into the bow of the USS New York LPD-17 an amphibious assault transport vessel that will be commissioned next year. The Long Island Marine Corps League is sponsoring a 5 K race to raise money for a traditional silver set for the ship. Applications for the race, which will be held at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, NY, on Sunday, August 6, 2006 can be downloaded from their web site at http://marinecorps911run.bravehost.com.

They Are Fighting Again at Old Bethpage Village

County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has announced that war has again “broken out” at the Old Bethpage Restoration Village. This time, Union and Confederate forces will re-create a skirmish on July 22 and 23, 2006. In addition to planned skirmishes re- creating the Battle of Fair Oaks/Seven Pines, the men of the New York Volunteer Historical Association, Virginia Infantry Association and New York Volunteer Infantry Association will perform military drills, musket firings and camp life duties. 19th century fiddle music will be performed both days from noon to 4 p.m. Call the Nassau County Parks Department at (516) 572-0218 for more information.

POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY

County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has announced that Saturday, September 16, 2006 is “POW/MIA Recognition Day” in Nassau County. A candlelight vigil will be conducted from 7:30 to 8:45PM at the Veterans Plaza, (use parking lot 6) in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY. Almost 88, 000 service men and women are listed as POW or MIA since World War II. From the Vietnam War, 1,807 remain unaccounted for. A highlight of the ceremony is the lighting of candles by the 500 to 1,000 that usually attend this event and the reading of the names of the 37 Nassau County residents still listed as POW/MIA. Former POWs of World War II will be introduced and all veterans’ organizations are encouraged to call the Veterans Service Agency at (516) 572-8452 in advance so they can be recognized.

Celebrate our Troops Day

Donna Mutch, a “Proud Marine Mom” has informed us of “National Celebrate Our Troops Day”, to be recognized on Saturday September 16, 2006 at the John J. Burns Park, Merrick Road in Massapequa from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The goal of the event sponsored by Operation Unite, Inc. is to celebrate our men and women in uniform regardless of political affiliation and personal opinions of the war.

Homeland Security Briefing and Breakfast

The Air Force Association will feature a breakfast and briefing with Congressman Peter T. King, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and Captain Peter J. Boynton, USCG, Captain of the Port; Sector Commander on Saturday August 19, 2006 at the Manor East 201 Jerusalem Avenue Massapequa. Tickets can be purchased by mailing $22 per person to Fred DiFabio, 8 Dumplin Hill Lane, Huntington, NY 11743. For more information call Al Parise at (516) 799-2607.

Hire a Lawyer?

In the last two years, the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency has won more than $1.5 million for veterans in retroactive payments and we have not charged any veteran a single cent. Senator Larry Craig Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee thinks veterans would be served better if they could pay lawyers to provide the same service a county veterans service agency does at no charge to the veteran.

Bilateral Tinnitus Update

In the June 2005 issue of Veterans News, I wrote that a decision by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) opened the way for certain veterans with a disability for tinnitus in one ear only to apply for service connection for the other ear. The Department of Veterans Affairs has taken the issue to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and this court has overturned the decision of CAVC. Unless the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Federal Circuit court, current ratings will remain at 10%.

Vietnam Veterans of America New York Web Site

Vietnam veterans are now the largest group of veterans in New York State. One third of our veterans, or 343,460 served during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Veterans of American New York State Council has a new web site that should be of interest to many of these veterans. Visit www.nyvietnamvets.org. I hope the site will add a photo of the Vietnam Monument in Eisenhower Park soon.

Thank You

Here are five more heroes of the Veterans Service Agency. These individuals have never asked for recognition, but week after week they donate their time to drive disabled veterans to doctor appointments at the VA Medical Center in Northport or the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Plainview. Barney Goldman and Irving Kirsch, both from Woodbury, are two of our “snow birds”. When not in Florida these fine gentlemen continue to serve our veterans as they have since our transportation program began in 1992. Orlando Rodriquez of Hicksville has been driving for us for over 10 years. Thanks also to Hempstead resident Vinny Long and Dennis Gunn of Valley Stream, who joined our team last year.