May 6, 2008

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

21st Salute To Veterans

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has announced that the 21st Annual Nassau County Salute to Veterans will be held at Harry Chapin Theatre, Eisenhower Park on Saturday August 2, 2008.  A Rock and Roll Concert featuring Randy and the Rainbows and Risky Business will follow an opening act by the USO Troupe of Metropolitan New York. 

The music is preceded by a short ceremony in which County Executive Suozzi will present medals to 5 recipients of the Distinguished Service to Veterans award. 

Education/Benefits/Job Fair

June 17, 2008 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City will host a Veterans Education, Benefits and Job Fair for OIF/OEF veterans.  The New York City Fire Department, Metropolitan Transit Authority, North Shore LIJ Health System and other large employers will join the Department of Veterans Affairs and other service providers to assist our new veterans transition back to civilian life. Call the Veterans Service Agency for free admission tickets to the fair( 516-572-8452)

8th Homeless Veterans Stand Down

Since 2003 almost 1,000 veterans have received help at the Nassau County Homeless Veterans Stand Downs. The Nassau County Veterans Service Agency with the support of the United Veterans Organization, VFW, American Legion, Vietnam and Korean War Veterans plus other veteran, civic and business organizations are sponsoring the 8th Homeless Veterans Stand Down on July 21, 2008 at the Hempstead American Legion Post # 390 at 160 Marvin Avenue, Hempstead from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Government officials from Federal Departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor and Social Security, State Departments of Health, Labor, and Veterans Affairs and Nassau County Department of  Social Services, Senior Citizen Affairs, Physically Challenged, Health, Mental Health and Chemical Dependency and private social service agencies such as Beacon House, Salvation Army, Island Harvest and many others provide application services, shelter and jobs.  Volunteers provide entertainment, haircuts, and a hot meal and take home pantry items.

Stand Down Director, Pat Yngstrom is asking for volunteers and donations of summer clothes.  Volunteers can call 516-572-8452.  Donations of summer clothes can be dropped off at the Veterans Service Agency 1425 Old Country Road, Building H, Plainview, NY.

Memorial Day Weekend Events

Memorial Day weekend begins Saturday, May 24, at Eisenhower Park 10:00-12:00 with a Marine Corps Helicopter demonstration.  Expect a huge crowd but lots of great viewing locations at the kite field near parking lot 6.  Watch a landing in a hot LZ and see a squad of Marines deploy to secure the area.  Tour the inside of a Marine helicopter.   New Hyde Park has a Memorial Day parade on Saturday at 1:00pm

Sunday, May 25, the UVO conducts a ceremony at Veterans Plaza in Eisenhower Park at 10:00am during which Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Michael Murphy’s name will be added to the MOH monument.  Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale holds a Memorial Day ceremony at 1:00 pm and the Village of Hempstead has a parade at 2:30 pm.

Other parades we know about on Memorial Day are Baldwin 9:00am, Garden City 10:00am, Freeport 9:30am, Mineola 10:30am, and Massapequa Park 10:00am, Syosset 10:00am and Hicksville 10:00am.

New York City Transit Veterans Association is holding a ceremony Friday, May 23 at 10:30 am, at the Vietnam Veterans Park and Memorial in Lower Manhattan between Water and South Streets.

Vietnam Wall

The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, a ¾ -scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. will be in Nassau County on June 6, 7 and 8.  The Wall will be constructed by volunteer union and non-union carpenters in the Sears parking lot in Hicksville.  Volunteers are needed to assist with publicity, programs & ceremonies, construction, safety, motorcycle escort, hospitality, name readers, accounting and administration and e-mail communications. Call 516-797-7900 for a volunteer application.   Tim Glover is looking for motorcycle riders to escort the wall on June 3rd.  Contact Tim at 516-241-4983.

The Traveling Wall has had an emotional impact similar to the original Wall in Washington, D.C. and veterans counselors from the VAMC Northport and the Nassau County Vet Center will be on hand to assist.  Claims counselors from the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency will also be available.

The National Archives has joined a web site www.footnote.com/thewall that displays records of the 58,256 names on the Vietnam Veterans Wall.  The site allows access to thousands of pages of records and photos.

Veterans in Business

A great resource for veterans who own or who want to own a business is the Veterans Business Outreach Program at SUNY Farmingdale.  John Narciso USN retired is the Business Advisor 631-370-8891.  Another resource may be a new publication “Small Business Basics for Veterans,” available from Steve White at 800-742-1075 or steve@whiteandcompany.com.

Alter Reed Army Medical Center and Army Ft. Belvoir  are looking to contract some work to veterans owned businesses. Contact joewynn@vetsgroup.org.

New Education Benefits

New York State has finally done what the federal government has failed to do for 50 years – make a full college education possible for a veteran.  As I have written before, the GI Bill provides enough money for a veteran to get halfway through a private college on Long Island and then only if he/she does not eat for four years.  The full benefits of full tuition, money for books and living expenses ended after the Korean War.  The less than $40,000 the GI Bill now pays will get a veteran through two years at most Long Island Colleges.  New York State now has a plan to provide full tuition to combat veterans at all SUNY, CUNY and County Community Colleges or pay the veteran the equivalent amount if he/she attends another college in New York State.  The new law is effective July 1, 2008 and even covers veterans of the Vietnam War and includes graduate degrees.  Veterans who did not serve in a combat theatre are not eligible for the state benefit.   

Military Spouse Education Program

Nassau County has 400 military spouses in and around Mitchel Manor and many more Guard and Reserve families throughout the county. Excelsior College, an online college, is now offering the same reduced fees, course registration and degree and certification opportunities it offers to service members to their spouses.  For information on the 36 programs leading to associates, bachelor or master’s degrees and to read about their accreditations go to www.excelsior.edu.   St. Josephs College on Long Island is offering similar programs and rates.  For information, call Ms. Shannon O’Neill at 631-447-3260.

Expansion of Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

Over the last 5 years veterans have been wearing down the discrimination against military retirees receiving compensation for their injuries.  Victories have been coming slowly but steady.  Concurrent receipt (ability to receive both retirement and disability payment) is being phased in for retirees with a 50% disability and higher.  As of January 1, 2008 medical retirees, even if they have less than 20 years active and reserve duty, can receive CRSC if their disabilities are related to combat or an instrumentality of war and are rate able from 10 to 40%.

Numbers

1.6 million troops have served in Iraq or Afghanistan since the beginning of the war. 799,791 have been discharged. 299,585 have enrolled for VA health care.  Of those, 152,077 are from the regular “active duty’ forces. 147,508 are from the Guard and Reserve.  63% of those eligible have not enrolled for VA care.  We have asked the VA to provide us with the names and addresses of our newly discharged veterans so we can reach out to them.  The VA is reviewing our request.  Thanks to Dennis O’Connel of the Blind Veterans Association for the numbers.

Coupon Clippers Support our Troops

The Air Force Sergeants Association International Auxiliary (AFSA) is clipping, collecting and shipping national brand coupons to U.S. military bases in the Middle East, Germany, Japan and elsewhere.  The coupons are used by military families in overseas commissaries.  Even expired coupons are accepted at the commissaries up to six months after the expiration date.  If you are a clipper, consider sending coupons for baby products, especially diapers, and formula, cleaning supplies, pet food, and over the counter medicines and beauty and health aids to; Nancy Roberts, Coupon Coordinator, AFSA Auxiliary Chapter 102 , 10412 Mountain Quail Road, Silver Springs, MD 20901-1657. Questions? Contact Andrea Sanford 800-638-0594x232 or marketing@hqafsa.org.

Vietnam Night

Sunrise Detachment Marine Corps League, 99 Iwo Jima Blvd., Massapequa is sponsoring a Vietnam Night on Saturday, June 21, 2008 starting at 6:00pm.  $20 donation requested includes food, soda, DJ and singer and one can of In-Country beer.  You are requested also to bring your Vietnam memorabilia to share with other vets. Contact Jim McGunnigle 516 503-4963.

Honor Flight For World War II Veterans

Free round trip  air line transportation is available to World War II veterans who wish to visit the new World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. The escorted one day tour has been given a new life by the Town of Southampton who has become a major backer.  Open to all World War II veterans at no charge the program depends on volunteer aids who pay their own way and to corporate  and private sponsors.  Call 631-702-2423. For information or go online to www.honorflight.org. 

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