|
Ozaukee County Veterans Service Office |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Veterans News And Views
As the new year begins, we find ourselves still involved in the war on Terrorism, war in Iraq, and have the North Koreans still rattling their sabers.
Now, yet another generation of Americans has been called forward to defend our freedoms, and our way of life. At the time of this writing, they have done themselves proud, as the generations before them did. These are different times from the ones that we faced in our youth. More confusing in many ways. We have an all volunteer force, have had since the late 70’s. Yet these remarkable young men and women have come forward, just as we did, to do what is needed. This is where I think we differ from so many other countries. Americans have always been willing to do whatever was necessary to defend not only our country, but also any other freedom loving peoples. It is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. We have our faults, we have our foibles, we periodically do things that we as a nation are not proud of, yet we as a people endure.
As the new year begins, let us take the time this year to enjoy the freedoms that we, and our forefathers fought so hard to preserve, and that this generation continues to defend. GOD BLESS AMERICA As most of you know by now, Mr. John Scocos was selected by the Board of Veterans Affairs to take the helm of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Scocos has a long history around Madison, having worked as
the Assembly Mr. Scocos takes over WDVA at a time when the Veterans Trust Fund is experiencing a negative cash flow situation. He has stated a strong desire to work with all of the veterans service organizations, to return the Trust Fund to good health, and to continually seek to improve or enhance benefits available to our comrades here in Wisconsin. John has some challenges to deal with at the start of his tenure, we all look forward to working with him. Mark it on your calendars NOW!
This annual event is a great opportunity to show a select group of High School students the functioning of our County’s Government. We generally start the day at the County Administration Center
(Old Courthouse) where the young people have the opportunity to
sit with their County Supervisors during an actual session of Following lunch, the young people are transported to the Justice Center and given a tour of the County Jail, the Morgue, and then are taken up to one of the Court Rooms for a mock trail. We can use all of the help that we can get. We generally ask other veterans to come and assist with keeping the groups of young people together, and moving on schedule. Usually, every High School in the county participates, so come join us, and we can get you hooked up with a group from your part of the county. SEE YOU THERE !!!ANNUAL SALUTE TO THE LEGISLATURE The annual salute to the legislature is scheduled for Thursday February 26, 2004. The event will be held in the same location as last year, that is the Manona Terrace Ballroom. The program begins at 4:00 P.M. with speeches by several dignitaries, usually including the governor, as well as several members of the Assembly and Senate. Heavy hor-devours follows, with a cash bar. Here’s your chance to come out and talk face-to-face with your elected representatives, and make sure they understand your concerns. Our County has usually had a good turn out, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for more! COME JOIN US !!!
The co-pay on medications is set at $7.00 for a 30 day supply of each medication. If you haven’t signed up for the VA Healthcare System yet, it is still open to all veterans. Recent changes in staffing at VAMC Milwaukee have dropped the waiting time from time of application to time of your first appointment significantly. Vets are typically being scheduled for their first appointment within 3-4 months. Service Connected Veterans much faster! HAVE YOU ENROLLED YET ? ? ?On January 9, 2004, Secretary John Scocos called a meeting of all the Veterans Service Organizations here in the State of Wisconsin. This “Stakeholders Conference” was an opportunity for WDVA to “lay all the cards on the table” regarding the current health of the Veterans Trust Fund. Due to the prevailing financial market, with its very low interest rates, and a State law requiring WDVA to invest any “cash” it may have on hand in the state’s investment pool, the trust fund is losing money at a very unhealthy clip. There is no one at faulty here, it is just a matter of market timing, that no one has a “crystal ball” to predict. The Trust Fund has been self sufficient for a number of years, due to higher interest rates and good loan volume. Everyone has to realize that “business as usual” is not possible in the current economic environment. WDVA in conjunction with the CVSO Association, and other interested service organizations, will be taking a long hard look at all of the current WDVA benefits programs. Everything has been placed on the table for review. This process has already begun with a working group looking at the educational grant programs.
During the current biennium budget cycle, WDVA is receiving minimal support from tax dollars (GPR) and is utilizing the Trust Fund to fill the void. Contrary to what a good number of people think, the Trust Fund is a prime example of veterans helping veterans. It is the veteran who takes out and repays the loans that keep the Trust Fund alive. It is also the veteran, who uses the grants from the Trust Fund. The Trust Fund also pays a large portion of the operational budget for the Veterans Museum, something that the Legislature promised years ago to “fully support”. If you have an opportunity to speak with your elected representatives, you might ask him/her where that promise went. I have received a number of phone calls regarding fund raising by the VFW for their national effort to supply calling cards to our deployed troops. I have assured everyone that this IS A legitimate effort. The program is called “Operation Uplink” and is a continuation of a very popular program amongst our troops. They receive these calling cards free of charge, and these cards give them an additional opportunity to call home. Most of us have been a long way from home during our service and remember all too well what a morale booster it was to talk to our families back home. If you get that call, seriously consider making a donation!
If you have never been, you’ve been missing a really great time. Please join them for a night of great fun, great prizes and great camaraderie.
The following comrades have passed away since our last newsletter: Edward Wilde; Wayne Feireisen; Clemens Steger; Edward Ulm; Erwin Arndt; Frederick Buchager; Howard Langley; Kurt Kinzel; Horold Last; Edward Stefaniak; August Glander; Grant Oakes; James Snadborn; Henry Suchocki; Robert Powers; Ervin Knokol; Bernhardt Schmidt; Robert Peterson; David Krueger; Myron Mucherheide; August Nuedling; Lou Krupp; Frank Darling IV; John Speaker; Leroy Bittner; John Grubb; Earl Preisler; Harold Brandt; Gerald Reiherfer;John Grasse; Frederic Kuther; Raymond Sell; Richard John Bink; Wilton Decker; and Charles Nash.
May They Rest In Peace
Erosion of Veterans’ Benefits There is hardly a day that goes by when I don’t receive a call from a disgruntled veteran or family member over the lack of benefits to help the aging veterans population. A good deal of these “changes” have occurred during the last 10-12 years. Here are the hard facts; If you do not have a service connected disability for which you are receiving compensation payments, or are not receiving a VA pension, then don’t look to the VA for burial monies or long term care (nursing home). If you do not meet the above criteria, you are entitled to a flag and a government marker and/or burial in a State Veterans Cemetery. The only National Cemetery in our area (Woods) is full. Long Term care is provided by the VA ONLY if you have service connected disabilities rated at 70% or higher. The State of Wisconsin does operate a very excellent nursing home (though they prefer the term “retirement home”) at King in Waupaca County. There is an “assisted living center” in Union Grove, and plans call for this to be expanded in the coming 2 years to a full fledged nursing home. Neither of these facilities is any less expensive than a locally available nursing home, though the “perks” and “freebies” associated with living in them is significant. Congress establishes the rules that the federal VA lives by. If you want to vent your spleen at some one, I suggest you aim there! If enough people complain on a given subject, Congress does listen!
Ken
GOD BLESS AMERICA
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
As veterans, we
all hoped that the conflicts we were involved in would be the
last, and that our children and grandchildren could come to know a
different world than the one we faced.
I
wonder what the founding fathers would think of our country today?
I believe that they would be proud of how we have grown as a
nation, despite our many differences. 
Sergeant at Arms, WDVA Executive Assistant, Chief Clerk of the
Assembly and Deputy Director of WDVA.
the County Board. They then get a tour of some of the other
offices in the Administration Center, before we take them to
lunch.
The
VA has instituted a schedule of co-payments. Currently, if you are
subject to the co-pay, which is based on your family income and
assets (you and your spouse). The schedule calls for a “sliding
scale” based on the level of treatment received. For the normal
doctor visit, you will pay $15.00, more advanced tests, and some
specialty visits, the cost is $50.00.
