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 attached pages that talk about veterans and our flag. Then share them with your family, friends, and neighbors.

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. I would invite you to take a look at virtually any school text book, from elementary school on up. You’ll see what I mean.

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, Iraq or the cold a lonely oceans of the world!

The long awaiting “rules” regarding Concurrent Receipt are finally on the street. Basic “qualifiers” are:

• 60% or greater Service Connected Disability Rating
• Disability was due to combat or combat related activity. Or Combat “simulation” (war games-training)
• Veteran is a Military retiree, with 20 years or more of service

I have the basic applications and instructions available here in the office.

I will be perfectly honest, I haven’t figured all of the ins and outs of this program as of yet.

Congress is once again considering “expanding” this program to all retirees.

See me for details, and I will be glad to assist you in winding your way through the application process.

There are a number of bills in Congress that will affect veterans benefits, if they are passed.

Senator Feingold has introduced a piece of legislation that would require the VA to actively advertise their programs.

Other bills affect prescription drug availability from the VA, including being able to use your own doctor and take your script to the VA to have it filled , at VA cost and easier access to the VA Healthcare system.

My colleagues and I strongly believe that if they VA would allow you to take a script to the VA pharmacy, written by your private doctor, the overall demand for VA Healthcare Enrollment would decline significantly, thus freeing up the system to take care of those individuals who really need the services.

There currently is a bill in the State Senate, SB 170, that will make a number of changes to veterans’ benefits, here in Wisconsin.

The majority of these changes will safeguard, or change they way the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs administers benefits.

The Wisconsin Association of County Veterans Service Officers supports the majority of the proposed changes, but there are a few areas where the CVSOs have expressed concern or opposition.

I have attached a copy of the letter that we sent Senator Ron Brown (no relation), where the CVSO community has taken a stand.

I ask that you review the attached, and if you would care to assist our efforts, you could write your area representatives, expressing your opinions.

If you have any questions, please give me a call, and I can try to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

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 July 31 through August 11, with August 10 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 8.

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 15 months before you get to finally see a primary care doctor.

In 1998, 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, or got so fed up waiting that they dis-enrolled.

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 2,800 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, my office gets 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 American Soldiers.

Search teams will continue to 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 frequently get asked about theses benefits, and their availability from the VA.

If you do not have a service connected disability, that specifically relates to any of the above, the chances that you will receive these services from the VA is mighty slim!

There are certain exceptions given for the extremely low income, and those who’s VA doctor specifically recommends receive these areas of care.

Otherwise, don’t bet the farm on getting help in these areas!

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 exceed 35%.

As with all State of Wisconsin and Federal VA benefits, if you have questions, give me a call.

I have attached a number of items of prose and poetry written by individuals with a far greater flair for language than I possess.

I ask that you read them all, share them with loved ones and friends. I believe that they accurately describe the human condition of being a veteran.

Those who do not belong to this select brotherhood have a difficult time trying to fathom why the veterans of our great country deserve to be treated any different, or disserve any “special” considerations.

One of the reasons we all served was love of country. A true belief in that what we did was worth doing, even if it meant making sacrifices in our own lives. Those who did not serve fail to see the virtue of that service. We defended the flag burners as well as the protesters. We defended them one and all, because that is what was asked of us.

What legacy will we leave to the veterans that follow us?

If we allow the politically expedient to continually degrade veterans benefits, we would have failed in our duty to our comrades.

This is still America. You have a voice. Use that voice to express your concerns, and demand that our elected officials “do the right thing”.

Don’t let your comrades become a “Tommy”, (See attached).

It’s your legacy, how do you want to be remembered?

See you around the County!