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Ozaukee County Veterans Service Office Veterans News And Views
And once again, I fear that it will pass by our neighbors, with little reflection on their part, as to the sacrifices our brothers and sisters have made throughout history, to keep this land free. Everyone enjoys the company of family and friends, the fireworks are something that I look forward to every year, but to many, that is all the 4th of July represents. I would invite each of you to read the article, ( in this newsletter) which
talks about Veterans in the Classroom. This project, coordinated at the State
level by the WDVA, is designed to get you, and your comrades into the
classroom of our State, to educate today’s youth about the contributions we
made in preserving the freedoms that America enjoys today. I think you would be surprised to discover how poorly educated our children are in the history of America’s wars. I guess the subject isn’t “Politically Correct”, and thus, is glossed over, if mentioned at all. We can not afford to let the next generation forget the sacrifices made at places like Normandy, Anzio, Ardennes, Midway, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Chosin Reservoir, Inch' on, Khe Sanh, Hue, Vin Long, the deserts of Kuwait, Somalia, Beirut, Afghanistan, or the cold a lonely oceans of the world! I know that the kids are NOT thinking about the coming school year, but maybe you as a parent or grandparent should. There are several opportunities for young people who intend to further their education beyond High School, to obtain scholarship money, and they need to be thinking about it NOW. The American Legion runs its annual Oratorical Contest, with competitions beginning at the post level in the fall. The VFW has its Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Scholarship/Savings Bond contests. I get calls every year from parents who had not thought of these opportunities, or failed to properly motivate their children to participate. With two in college myself, trust me, every little bit helps!
You, and your comrades have seen a great deal of history unfold before your eyes. Some of you were physically present and helped change our history. Many of our school age children do not know what the veterans have done to alter the course of history, nor the sacrifices that we made to keep our country free. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Is trying to coordinate a
State-wide program to help educate our youth. The “Veterans in the Classroom
Project” is trying to compile a listing of those veterans who would be willing
to go into the classroom , and speak to the students regarding their
experiences. There are no special “skills” required, you just have to be
yourself (or at least a smiling version of yourself…). I have attached a
“form” that the state is using to compile the listing, you will only be
contacted if a school in our area requests that you come talk to them. You can mail the form to WDVA at the address given at the bottom of the form, you can call them toll free at 1-800-947-8387, or those of you with computer skills can e-mail them at the address on the bottom of the form. This is a real opportunity to “spread our message”, and talk to our youth about what it REALLY means to be an American! Every year, during the “run” of State Fair, the last Sunday of the fair is designated as “Veterans Day”. The fair runs this year from Aug 1 through August 11, with August 11 being the “Veterans’ Day”. I usually get a stack of discount coupons for admission to the fair for that day, and anticipate that I will have some available here in the office again this year. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs always hosts a booth in one of the exhibition halls, and will again this year. The booth is staffed by a combination of WDVA employees and CVSOs. I will be assisting again this year on Friday August 9. I invite everyone to stop by the booth , if for no other reason than to chat , but please, don’t try to talk to me while I have a cream puff stuffed in my face, or cheese curds, or whatever other delicacy that my wife would have a fit if she saw me eating! The VA Medical System remains open to all veterans. That’s the “good” news. In Connecticut , the number of VA Psychiatric beds were reduced from 200 to 30. In Florida, there are 42,000 veterans on the waiting list to see a primary care doctor. We here in Wisconsin are fairing no better, and in most cases are worse off. If you were to apply today for enrollment in the VA’s Healthcare System in Milwaukee, it will be about this time NEXT YEAR when you get to finally see a primary care doctor. In 1996, Congress changed the law and directed the VA to start treating ALL veterans nation-wide. Of course, Congress didn’t give them any additional money to do it. Since the VA enacted this “guidance” from Congress in 1998, the number of veterans enrolled has doubled to nearly 6 million. Congress has directed the VA to continue to provide services and seek “cost savings and efficiencies” to make up the monetary gap. You can only get so much blood out of the proverbial turnip! In most areas of the country, Wisconsin included, new veterans are being seen in the system only because someone who was in the system has died. Every day I get people calling and asking about enrollment, every day I have to tell them the “good and bad news”. Only Congress can fix the problem by providing sufficient funding. I can NOT wave a “magic wand” and get you in any sooner. Write your congressman, and give him/her a piece of your mind!
The Memorial Day Holiday has come and gone, and once again the volunteers who come forward every year to assist with getting the cemeteries decorated for the holiday have done a magnificent job! This year we placed nearly 2,600 flags on the graves of our departed comrades. Needless to say, I could not get this monumental task completed without the help of many of you. Your work does not go unnoticed!! Believe me, if we miss even one, we get a phone call from that veteran’s family or friends, pointing out our error. This annual undertaking is just a small token of appreciation to our departed friends, who like you, served their country honorably. Well, much to no one’s surprise, the North Koreans have “graciously” accepted the offer from the United States to once again conduct “joint” search operations for the remains of some of our POW/MIAs.( Amazing how cooperative they are when we keep feeding their starving population) Since 1996, we have conducted 22 such operations, and recovered the remains
of 152 Ame Search teams will search sites along the western shores of the Chosin Reservoir this year. More than 8,100 American Military personnel remain missing and unaccounted for from the 1950-1953 Korean War. I gave up on keeping track of that line a loooong time ago. I know that all of you are well intentioned, but sometimes what you tell your buddies, may not be quite the whole story, so…... If you have a friend, or acquaintance who has questions about Veterans Benefits, please have him call me, so that he/she gets it right the first time. I have attached an e-mail, which I received from the Community Services office at Fort McCoy. They are looking for feedback regarding services available to active and retired Army personnel. Here’s your chance guys, tell them what you think of the availability of medical treatment, PX and commissary selections, and prices, etc…. The second page of the e-mail is the response form, and contains the mailing address for returning your comments. If you have any questions, give me a call, or call Fort McCoy at the number on page 2 of the e-mail. WDVA Lowers Interest Rate on PLP The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs has recently announced that they have lowered the interest rate charged for their Personal Loan Program. The new rates are: 5% if secured by a 2nd mortgage 6% if secured using a guarantor (co-signer) The PLP offers up to $10,000 for debt consolidation, education, or medical expenses. The repayment can be stretched out over a period of between 12 and 120 months. There is no charge for early repayment. If you use your home as collateral, you must have a minimum of 10% equity in the home, after the PLP is issued. And in either case, your “debt service ratio” (Income to long term payment
amounts) can not As with all State of Wisconsin and Federal VA benefits, if you have questions, give me a call.
Well, once again the “Monday Morning Quarterbacks” in Washington are “seeking truth, justice and the preservation of the American Way”. At least that’s what the politicians will try to tell you they are doing. I am referring to the committee investigations into the “Intelligence Failures” prior to 9-11-01. These same politicians are the ones who repeatedly cut intelligence budgets, enacted legislation to limit the powers of the agencies in question, and maligned the reputations of all who tried to bring these facts to the attention of the American Public. Hind sight is always 20’20. I do believe that there needs to be some re-alignment of duties for our Intelligence Agencies, so that there is less concern over “turf”, but I hardly think that anyone deliberately withheld, or misrepresented information. It would seem to me, and most of you remember this, that similar accusations were made in reference to FDR, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. If our elected representatives spent a little more time trying to do something constructive for our citizenry, and a lot less time trying to get “political mileage” out of a tragedy by showboating, we would all be better off for it. Just a thought…. While Congress fails to adequately fund the VA Healthcare system, have they reduced their benefits any? If you look into what a Congressman gets in retirement payments and perks, you would probably have a fit. SEE YOU AROUND THE COUNTY !!! Ken
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rican Soldiers.
exceed 35%.
