Utah State VA Blog

Creating Futures ~ A new program for Veterans

2008-06-19T22:32:00.001-07:00

An important program launched by companies in the information technology (IT) industry to educate, train, certify and provide job placement assistance for returning veterans. Military who successfully complete the Creating Futures program will have the knowledge and skill level they need to start a rewarding career in IT.

Creating Futures is free for all participants. The cost is covered by organizational sponsors such as HP, Xerox and Ricoh.
The Creating Futures program is tailored to help individuals with various levels of skill. Individuals who have honed their computer skills in the military will be taught how to transfer those skills to civilian life, and those who are new to IT will be taught the basic skills they need to pursue a career in information technology.
Returning veterans interested in participating in the program should visit www.creatingfutures.us for information on how to participate

Utah Soldiers to be Awarded with Military Service Stars

2008-06-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Utah soldiers to be awarded with military service stars
June 19th, 2008 @ 8:34am KSL.com

DRAPER, Utah (AP) -- Two Utah National Guard soldiers will be decorated for their bravery and service in Afghanistan at a ceremony in Draper Thursday.

First Lt. Tyler J. Jensen of the 19th Special Forces Group will get the Silver Star for protecting a wounded fellow soldier during a firefight on Jan. 27, 2007.

The Provo soldier is the first Utah guardsman to get the Silver Star in 20 years. The medal is awarded for acts of "gallantry in action."

Capt. Chad Pledger, of North Ogden, will get the Bronze Star for recovering the body of a solider killed during a firefight Nov. 26, 2006 near the Tarin Kowt village in the Uruzgan province.

The Bronze Star is awarded for "heroic or meritorious achievements or service

1-145th Returns from Iraq

2008-05-28T16:47:00.001-07:00

About 130 members of the 1-145th return from Iraq
May 28th, 2008 @ 4:14pm
Jed Boal reporting

President Bush was not the only important arrival today at the Utah Air National Guard Base. Approximately 130 Utah National Guard soldiers touched down after a tour of duty in Iraq.

For the families of the soldiers of the First Battalion, 145th Field Artillery (1-145th), the most important planes touched down before the President arrived in Utah. They saw their loved ones for the first time in about a year. As you might expect, soldiers at the homecoming told us they were overwhelmed but proud of their service.

These soldiers are the second and third groups of four to return to Utah from the 1-145th. About 80 of their comrades got home Memorial Day and another 80 will get back to Utah late tomorrow night.

These soldiers come from Logan, Brigham City, Manti, Spanish Fork and Fillmore. It was the second deployment for some of them.

While in Iraq, they handled military-police duties at Camp Bucca, one of the largest Coalition detention facilities in Iraq. A member from the 1-145th said, "It was a long, hard job but we got it done, and I'm glad to be home with wonderful people."

A family member said, "It's so awesome. I can't even describe it. I'm so proud of all the service people."

The last 80 members of the unit get home tomorrow night at 11:30. Some families waiting on those soldiers are upset about their late arrival. A spokesman for the Utah National Guard says the soldiers' return depends upon the time they got back to the states for demobilization at Fort Bliss, Texas.

As for the late flight, that's a bid process that is out of the control of the Utah National Guard.

E-mail: jboal@ksl.com

Family of Utah Soldier Killed Sending Humanitarian Goods to Iraq

2008-04-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

KSL.com
April 8th, 2008 @ 4:32pm
Sam Penrod reporting

The family of a Utah solider killed in Iraq last summer is trying keep his memory alive. Instead of forgetting the people he was trying to protect, they collected humanitarian goods and sent them to Iraq.

Sgt. Barnes died on July 17, 2007 from small arms fire in Iraq. His family immediately wanted to help the children of Iraq in his memory. With help from the community of American Fork and the state of Utah, including Operation Give, they collected items such as food, toys, clothing, school supplies, hygiene items and even wheelchairs.

The donated items were loaded into a 40-foot-long shipping container. After several weeks, that container has finally arrived in Iraq. Now soldiers are distributing the goods to the Iraqis, and it is bringing his family comfort months after his death.

"We're very grateful that all of this has been done, and been done to honor Nathan. He truly was a wonderful individual. I don't say that just because I'm his dad, but it's gratifying to see some good has come out of what, for us, is a very personal tragedy, and we're still very close to that tragedy. But it is good to see that other people's lives are being blessed because of him and his service and sacrifice," Sgt. Barnes' father, Kevin Barnes, said.

Also included in the delivery were some footballs, soccer balls and Frisbees. Apparently the Frisbees were something the Iraqi children had never seen before.

Family members say they want to thank everyone who helped contribute to the project in Nathan's honor.

E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com

New Project for Salt Lake City VAMC

2008-03-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Salt Lake City, Utah VAMC has started a new project. In visiting many of the homebound veterans who are too sick to make it to the hospital, they have realized many do not have 72 hour kits in case of an emergency. So they have started a drive collecting items and kits.
My contact, Belinda, would like Angels to put together kits with the following items, and then put them in a bucket (which can be put to use as a port-a-potty in that emergency) with a sticker showing it was from the Angels! **** You do not have to put together a bucket, if you only want to donate items, that is very appreciated. We will fill the buckets with the items donated from the Angels!!!!
Thanks much angels you are the best! I know some items are large, so if you know of any companies that would like to donate, please let me know.

72 Hour Kit:
Windproof/waterproof matches
Other method to start a fire (lighter)
Tent/Shelter
Wool blanket or sleeping bag
Hand and Body Warming Packs
Poncho
Light sources, Flashlight with batteries
Candle, or light stick
Pocket knife
Shovel
Sewing Kit
50 ft nylon rope
First Aid kit and supplies
whistle with neck cord
Bottle of potassium iodide tablets
Personal Sanitation Items
Soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, brush, combs,
Method of water purification
Granola Bars
Trail Mix
Pop top canned vegetables and fruits
Pop top canned juice
Cloth sheets
Plastic tarps
Mini hand sanitizers
Emergency reflective blanket
Lightweight stove and fuel

Consider the needs of elderly people as well as those with handicaps or other special needs when building your 72 hour kit.

Please send to, and include a note that it is from Soldiers Angels, and for the Soldiers Angels 72 hour kits!!!

Salt Lake City VAMC
Attn Belinda Karabatsos
500 Foothill Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84148

Veterans and Hearing Loss

2008-03-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

updated 1:20 p.m. MT, Fri., March. 7, 2008

SAN DIEGO - Large numbers of soldiers and Marines caught in roadside bombings and firefights in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming home with permanent hearing loss and ringing in their ears, prompting the military to redouble its efforts to protect the troops from noise.

Hearing damage is the No. 1 disability in the war on terror, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and some experts say the true toll could take decades to become clear. Nearly 70,000 of the more than 1.3 million troops who have served in the two war zones are collecting disability for tinnitus, a potentially debilitating ringing in the ears, and more than 58,000 are on disability for hearing loss, the VA said.

"The numbers are staggering," said Theresa Schulz, a former audiologist with the Air Force, past president of the National Hearing Conservation Association and author of a 2004 report titled "Troops Return With Alarming Rates of Hearing Loss."

One major explanation given is the insurgency's use of a fearsome weapon the Pentagon did not fully anticipate: powerful roadside bombs. Their blasts cause violent changes in air pressure that can rupture the eardrum and break bones inside the ear.

Also, much of the fighting consists of ambushes, bombings and firefights, which come suddenly and unexpectedly, giving soldiers no time to use their military-issued hearing protection.

"They can't say, `Wait a minute, let me put my earplugs in,'" said Dr. Michael E. Hoffer, a Navy captain and one of the country's leading inner-ear specialists. "They are in the fight of their lives."

In addition, some servicemen on patrol refuse to wear earplugs for fear of dulling their senses and missing sounds that can make the difference between life and death, Hoffer and others said. Others were not given earplugs or did not take them along when they were sent into the war zone. And some Marines weren't told how to use their specialized earplugs and inserted them incorrectly.

Hearing damage has been a battlefield risk ever since the introduction of explosives and artillery, and the U.S. military recognized it in Iraq and Afghanistan and issued earplugs early on. But the sheer number of injuries and their nature — particularly the high incidence of tinnitus — came as a surprise to military medical specialists and outside experts.

The military has responded over the past three years with better and easier-to-use earplugs, greater efforts to educate troops about protecting their hearing, and more testing in the war zone to detect ear injuries.

The results aren't in yet on the new measures, but Army officials believe they will significantly slow the rate of new cases of hearing damage, said Col. Kathy Gates, the Army surgeon general's audiology adviser.

Considerable damage has already been done.

For former Staff Sgt. Ryan Kelly, 27, of Austin, Texas, the noise of war is still with him more than four years after the simultaneous explosion of three roadside bombs near Baghdad.

"It's funny, you know. When it happened, I didn't feel my leg gone. What I remember was my ears ringing," said Kelly, whose leg was blown off below the knee in 2003. Today, his leg has been replaced with a prosthetic, but his ears are still ringing.

"It is constantly there," he said. "It constantly reminds me of getting hit. I don't want to sit here and think about getting blown up all the time. But that's what it does."

Sixty percent of U.S. personnel exposed to blasts suffer from permanent hearing loss, and 49 percent also suffer from tinnitus, according to military audiology reports. The hearing damage ranges from mild, such as an inability to hear whispers or low pitches, to severe, including total deafness or a constant loud ringing that destroys the ability to concentrate. There is no known cure for tinnitus or hearing loss.

The number of servicemen and servicewomen on disability because of hearing damage is expected to grow 18 percent a year, with payments totaling $1.1 billion annually by 2011, according to an analysis of VA data by the American Tinnitus Association. Anyone with at least a 10 percent loss in hearing qualifies for disability.

From World War II and well through Vietnam, hearing damage has been a leading disability.

Despite everything that has been learned over the years, U.S. troops are suffering hearing damage at about the same rate as World War II vets, according to VA figures. But World War II and Iraq cannot easily be compared. World War II was a different kind of war, waged to a far greater extent by way of vast artillery barrages, bombing raids and epic tank battles.

Given today's fearsome weaponry, even the best hearing protection is only partly effective — and only if it's properly used.

Some Marines were issued a $7.40 pair of double-sided earplugs, with one side designed to protect from weapons fire and explosions, the other from aircraft and tank noise. But the Marines were not given instructions in how to use the earplugs, and some cut them in half, while others used the wrong sides, making the devices virtually useless, Hoffer said. Today, instructions are handed out with the earplugs.

In any case, hearing protection has its limits. While damage can occur at 80 to 85 decibels — the noise level of a moving tank — the best protection cuts that by only 20 to 25 decibels. That is not enough to protect the ears against an explosion or a firefight, which can range upwards of 183 decibels, said Dr. Ben Balough, a Navy captain and chairman of otolaryngology at the Balboa Navy Medical Center in San Diego.

The Navy and Marines have begun buying and distributing state-of-the-art earplugs, known as QuietPro, that contain digital processors that block out damaging sound waves from gunshots and explosions and still allow users to hear everyday noises. They cost about $600 a pair.

The Army also has equipped every soldier being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan with newly developed one-sided earplugs that cost about $8.50, and it has begun testing QuietPro with some troops.

In addition, the Navy is working with San Diego-based American BioHealth Group to develop a "hearing pill" that could protect troops' ears. An early study in 2003 on 566 recruits showed a 25 to 27 percent reduction in permanent hearing loss. But further testing is planned.

And for the first time in American warfare, for the past three years, hearing specialists or hearing-trained medics have been put on the front lines instead of just at field hospitals, Hoffer said.

Marines and soldiers are getting hearing tests before going on patrol and when they return to base if they were exposed to bombs or gunfire.

"You have guys that don't want to admit they have a problem," Hoffer said. "But if they can't hear what they need to on patrol, they could jeopardize their lives, their buddies' lives and, ultimately, their mission.

Legislature approves Veterans Nursing Home

2008-02-29T11:21:00.001-08:00

Legislature approves veterans nursing home
February 29th, 2008 @ 11:20am
KSL.com

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Legislature has approved nearly $20 million for a new veterans nursing home in Ogden.

The Senate gave its final approval to the funding Friday. Nobody voted against the measure.

More than 100 veterans were on hand to watch the vote.

Utah only has one veterans' nursing home, and it is in Salt Lake City. The new veterans home is expected to ease crowding at that home and allow people to get treatment closer to their families.

Gov. Jon Huntsman is expected to approve the funding.

Utah Army Reservists Receive High Honors

2008-02-24T21:36:00.000-08:00

Army Reservists receive high honors
February 24th, 2008 @ 10:01pm
(KSL News)

We hear of suicide bombers, al Qaida, and insurgents in Iraq, but oftentimes we don't get a chance to hear first-hand what U.S. military men and women endure during their tours in Iraq. Today we got that chance.

With little fanfare, no parade, no pomp and circumstance, six men from an Ogden, Utah-based Army Reserve Unit today got the welcome home they deserved, with bronze stars and purple hearts. It was a recognition of extraordinary effort under unusual circumstances.

The members of C Company, as they were known, cleared explosives in one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq, the Al Anbar province. Six of its soldiers were killed. The company was attacked more than 50 times. Through it all, these men and women stuck together.

Sergeant Jordan Taylor, of the 744th Modular Augmentation Company, said, "In my mind, we're just lowly soldiers just doing our job." And in doing just his job, Sergeant Taylor was awarded three purple hearts.

Sergeant First Class Cory Chartier got the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. On the outside of his uniform are the medals. But inside is the trauma of one year of war. "My left side is numb most of the time. I have a few issues with sleeping," he said.

Chartier's wife, Carie, says seeing her husband receive the ninth highest military honor, the Bronze Star, just reinforced what she already knew. "That's the kind of man he is. He just gives everything he can to his job and the soldiers. He makes sure they're taken care of," she said.

Those we spoke to echoed those words: military is family, and you take care of your family

Liberty Tax Helps Disabled Veterans

2008-02-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

Liberty Tax helps Disabled Veterans

From VA Watchdog.org

Liberty Tax Service Files Free Returns For Taxpayers Who Don't Meet Regular Filing RequirementS

If you are eligible for a payment, all you have to do is file a 2007 tax return. Liberty Tax Service is offering to prepare tax returns at no charge for select taxpayers who have no tax liability. Low income workers, or those who receive Social Security benefits or veterans' disability compensation, pension or survivors benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007 will be eligible to receive a payment of $300 ($600 on a joint return) if they had at least $3,000 of qualifying income.

Qualifying income includes Social Security benefits, certain Railroad Retirement benefits, certain veterans' benefits, and earned income, such as income from wages, salaries, tips and self-employment. While these people might not normally be required to file a tax return because they do not meet the filing requirement, they must file a 2007 return in order to receive a rebate."Liberty Tax Service wants to help people who do not normally have to file a return get the rebate they are entitled to receive. Many people who receive Social Security and veterans benefits are likely to overlook this opportunity to get the stimulus payment. Last year, over 30 million taxpayers missed the telephone excise tax credit that was due to them. We don't want that to occur with the tax stimulus package," states John Hewitt, CEO of Liberty Tax Service. "Liberty is known for our commitment to give back to the communities that support our company. This is just another way we can help out."Liberty Tax Service will be mounting a public awareness campaign to ensure that everyone entitled to a stimulus payment is alerted.

Anyone who has questions can e-mail taxrebates@libertytax.com for more information. Representatives from Liberty Tax Service are available to comment on this program as well.
About Liberty Tax ServiceLiberty Tax Service is the fastest growing retail tax preparation company in the industry's history. Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, a pioneer in the tax industry, Liberty Tax Service ( www.libertytax.com ) has prepared over 5,000,000 individual income tax returns and currently operates over 2,700 offices throughout the United States and Canada.Liberty Tax Service provides computerized income tax preparation, electronic filing, and refund loans. With an emphasis on customer service including audit assistance, a money back guarantee and free tax return checking, Liberty Tax Service is well known for its strong commitment to its client base.With 39 years of tax industry experience, Hewitt stands as the most experienced CEO in the tax preparation business, having also founded Jackson Hewitt Tax Service

(NYSE: JTX).
------------------------- posted by Larry ScottFounder and EditorVA Watchdog dot Org

Senate says Discriminating against Veterans should be Illegal

2008-02-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

Senate says discriminating against veterans should be illegal

February 20th, 2008 @ 11:03am
KSL.com

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Employers would no longer be allowed to discriminate against military veterans under a bill the Senate has approved.

Veterans would be added to a list of protected groups in the state's nondiscrimination act under Senate Bill 166.

Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin and religion is already illegal.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Scott McCoy, a Democrat from Salt Lake City.

It passed in the Senate 27-0 and will now be heard in the House.

National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week

2008-02-11T17:42:00.000-08:00

It's National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week

February 11th, 2008 @ 4:06pm

(KSL News) The public will have a chance to honor hospitalized veterans this week.

Salt Lake's VA Medical Center is inviting people to visit the hospital this week to pay tribute its patients who have given so much to protect the country.

"The National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans gives everyone a chance to let those who have given the nation so much know that they are not forgotten," said VA Medical Center Director James R. Floyd. "We want people of all ages to bring Valentine's Day cheer to our patients."

Today, Utah Rep. Jim Matheson paid a visit. He said, "I'll tell you what I think. It's important for all of us to remember our veterans, what they did for us before and kind of what they're dealing with now. Some of these folks still are dealing with medical problems from their service, and I don't think we can ever thank them enough."

Hospital officials encourage anyone to visit this week. Anyone interested can contact the medical center's voluntary service office at (801) 584-1241, extension 1.

Man to spend night homeless after charity theft

2008-02-04T12:04:00.001-08:00

Man to spend night homeless after charity theft

AP from MSNBC.com
updated 9:31 a.m. MT, Fri., Jan. 25, 2008
PAINESVILLE, Ohio - A judge on Thursday ordered a Salvation Army worker who stole a holiday kettle containing about $250 to spend the night homeless.

Nathen Smith, 28, was to spend the night anywhere but a house, said Municipal Judge Michael Cicconetti. Smith was fitted with a GPS device to track his moves.

"My initial reaction was, 'Wow.' But I don't think the sentence is too harsh," said Smith, who expected to spend Thursday night in a homeless shelter. "I can see the judge's point because what I did, I shouldn't have done. Now I've got to pay the consequences."

The Salvation Army uses kettle donations to help pay for food, clothing and shelter for the homeless.

Smith, who also received a three-day jail sentence, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft.

Smith worked as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army outside a Kmart store in nearby Eastlake on Dec. 17. Police arrested him at his mother's house after a co-worker reported that one of eight kettles was missing.

Smith was scheduled to return to court Friday to determine how much community service he must do to avoid paying a fine and costs for the tracking system.

Painesville is about 30 miles northeast of Cleveland.

19 Deaths at VA Traced to Substandard Care

2008-01-30T08:34:00.000-08:00

19 deaths at VA traced to substandard care
Two federal reports find fault with 6 doctors at Ill. hospital
AP
updated 8:51 a.m. MT, Tues., Jan. 29, 2008

ST. LOUIS - Substandard care at a southern Illinois Veterans Affairs hospital may have contributed to 19 deaths over the past two years, a VA official said Monday as he apologized to affected families and pledged reform.

The hospital in Marion, Ill., initially drew scrutiny over deaths connected to a single surgeon, but two federal reports found fault with five other doctors.

The hospital undertook many surgeries that its staffing or lack of proper surgical expertise made it ill-equipped to handle, and hospital administrators were too slow to respond once problems surfaced, said Dr. Michael Kussman, U.S. veterans affairs undersecretary for health.

"I can't tell you how angry we all are and how frustrated we all are. Nothing angers me more than when we don't do the right thing," Kussman told reporters during a conference call after releasing findings of the VA's investigation and summarizing a separate inspector general's probe.

Still, Kussman insisted, "what happened in Marion is an exception to what otherwise is a truly quality health-care system" across the VA.

The VA will help affected families file administrative claims under the VA's disability compensation program, he said. Families also could sue.

The VA investigation found that at least nine deaths between October 2006 and March last year were "directly attributable" to substandard care at the Marion hospital, which serves veterans from southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana and western Kentucky.

Kussman declined to identify those cases by patient or doctor, though Rep. Jerry Costello, an Illinois Democrat, said those nine deaths were linked to two surgeons he did not name.

Of an additional 34 cases the VA investigated, 10 patients who died received questionable care that complicated their health, Kussman said. Investigators could not determine whether the care actually caused the deaths.

Inpatient surgeries have not been performed at the facility since problems first became public last August. They will remain suspended indefinitely, Kussman said.

In pledging reforms, Kussman said the VA has launched an administrative investigatory board to review care problems and matters raised by employee groups.

The VA last September also installed interim administrators to replace the Marion VA's director, chief of staff, chief of surgery and an anesthesiologist, moving them to other positions or placing them on leave, Kussman said. The anesthesiologist has since quit, Kussman said.

"The previous leadership will not return" to their former jobs, he said.

The VA's investigation cited by Kussman covered a two-year span, the VA said.

The inspector general's office blamed three deaths on substandard care at the Marion site, but that review covered only the past fiscal year, which ended in October, the VA said. That report was not immediately available Monday.

Telephone calls on Monday seeking comment from the Marion VA were directed to spokespeople with the agency's Washington headquarters.

Neither Kussman nor the VA investigation's 41 pages of findings named surgeons involved in the deaths, though Kussman acknowledged that much of the criticism has focused on Dr. Jose Veizaga-Mendez.

Veizaga-Mendez — identified in Monday's report as "Surgeon A" — resigned from the hospital Aug. 13, three days after a patient from Kentucky bled to death after gallbladder surgery. All inpatient surgeries stopped a short time later.

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, has said Veizaga-Mendez is linked to 10 patients' deaths at the Marion facility, about 120 miles southeast of St. Louis. Kussman declined to discuss that claim Monday, saying he didn't want to influence additional internal investigations of six of the site's surgeons he said had "at least one episode of substandard care."

Veizaga-Mendez and another surgeon no longer practice at the Marion VA. The remaining four surgeons remain on staff but are "only doing minor cases at this time," Kussman said.

"We don't think the physicians killed the patients," he said. "We think the physicians were trying to care for the patients and did so in an inadequate way."

Costello and fellow Rep. John Shimkus, a Republican from Collinsville, Ill., called Monday's findings "shocking." Durbin said the reports "confirm what many of us in Illinois feared" — that the Marion VA's medical care was substandard and that protocol for protecting patients was ignored.

"As the inspectors who reviewed the Marion hospital put it, the quality of care at Marion was 'horrible,'" Durbin said.

Veizaga-Mendez's whereabouts are unclear. He has no listed telephone number and has been unreachable for comment.

The Marion VA hired Veizaga-Mendez in January 2006 after he practiced in Massachusetts, where he was under investigation for substandard care in 2004 and 2005. The claims include allegations that he botched seven cases, two ending in deaths.

Veizaga-Mendez was permanently barred from practicing medicine in Massachusetts last November — a disciplinary move that also requires him to resign other state medical licenses he may hold and withdraw pending license applications. He has also made payouts in two Massachusetts malpractice lawsuits.

Miss Utah not your Stereotypical Pageant Contestant

2008-01-25T08:27:00.000-08:00

Miss Utah not your stereotypical pageant contestant
January 24th, 2008 @ 10:10pm
Bruce Lindsay reporting

Utah's contestant in The Miss America pageant this year is shattering pageant stereotypes. Jill Stevens is a sergeant in the National Guard who served as a medic in Afghanistan. In advance of next week's pageant, we spoke with "G.I. Jill."

In combat boots or in high heels, Jill Stevens hasn't been one to pass up a challenge. "It's been a lot of walking in high heels, and my feet, I feel like they are bruised (laughs). It's a whole new training."

Training to become the next Miss America isn't easy, but Jill says she's enjoyed preparing for the pageant this week in Las Vegas. "It's been great, a lot of rehearsals, a lot of jokes and just laughing around, hanging out with the girls. It's been a lot fun," she says.

Before the contestants could make it on stage, they had to prove they could break away from the "traditional pageant look." The cablecast "Miss America: Reality Check" seriously updates the image of Miss America.

Stevens says, "I really think Miss America should be relatable and really represent the diversity of American women. And I think she should be well spoken, out there, talented -- all what we're portraying in this competition."

The Miss America Organization has announced a new national platform, supporting the Children's Miracle Network. Miss America 2008 will become the goodwill ambassador for this children's cause as well as an ambassador for her personal platform.

Stevens says her platform is emergency preparedness. "Because emergencies are common to everyone, they happen everywhere; but we do not all have to be casualties, and the difference is preparing."

Stevens is prepared and reporting for duty at The Miss America Pageant, Saturday night. It will air on TLC.

Mom Searches for Missing Veteran Son

2008-01-22T01:11:00.000-08:00

Mom Searches for Missing Veteran Son

By DAN BARRY,The New York Times
Posted: 2008-01-21 15:15:38
Filed Under: Nation News

KENNESAW, Ga. (Jan. 21) -- The man emerged from the night’s anonymity to sit at the counter, across from the stainless steel grill and the stacks of white plates. He wore a blue jacket appropriate for the January cold, but his left hand was covered with writing of some kind. And, ever so softly, he was talking to himself.

It was 3:20 on the second morning of a new year indistinguishable still from the difficult one just past, in a 24-hour chain restaurant on Highway 41 called the Huddle House, where pie and respite are served to the hungry and solitary. The tired waitress, Patsy Schirmer, pulling a rare overnight, approached the customer and asked:

What can I get for you?

The man accepted this open-ended question in terms of food only, muttering an order of scrambled eggs and grits and requesting water, with lemon. He ate everything on his plate, continuing his private conversation all the while. He paid his bill, left no tip, and slipped back behind night’s curtain.

A woman walked in 20 minutes later, carrying leaflets. Her name was Sheryl Futrell and she had been searching for weeks for her disoriented son, an Iraq-Afghanistan war veteran named Gary Chronister. Here is his photograph, she said — and you know the rest.

Soon the waitress was wailing Oh my God, he was just here. Soon the mother was making frantic telephone calls, searching for a flashlight to beam into the brush out back, bouncing between sorrow and joy. Yes, my son always orders scrambled eggs. Yes, he always asks for lemon with his water. Yes, he is so off his meds that he would be talking to himself.

Faint hope found in a Huddle House.

Two months ago, Mr. Chronister’s green Ford pickup truck was found here in Cobb County, where he used to live, in a convenience store parking lot a couple of miles from the Huddle House. Since then, Dr. Futrell has driven up, down and around Highway 41, looking for her 33-year-old son, the troubled vet, missing in action at home.

More StoriesShe has arranged search parties, talked with dozens of shop owners, handed out hundreds of fliers, and festooned intersections with sad little signs that bear his photograph. “Missing Gary Chronister,” the signs say. “Confused & Unable to Call Home.” In searching the surrounding woods of this prospering county just northwest of Atlanta, she has come upon homeless veterans in lean-tos, living lives of invisibility.

But the longer her son remains missing, the more complex his story becomes. Last week the sheriff’s office in Cherokee County, to the immediate north, issued a warrant for his arrest on charges that he molested a young girl last summer. Dr. Futrell says it is untrue, unfair — un-Gary.

She also maintains that he is not on the run. For one thing, she and the child’s mother both say that investigators told everyone months ago that there were too many inconsistencies to prosecute a case. For another, Mr. Chronister was living in Bibb County, 100 miles to the south: if he was on the run, why would he run toward his pursuers?

“Because my son has disappeared, and is talking to himself, then he’s guilty,” Dr. Futrell says. “He’s not running; he’s walking.”

Or so the sightings say. Here he is, walking near the Circle K convenience store on Highway 41, a big smile on his face. And here he is, at a stoplight on Wade Green Road, trying to cross the street but not making it, walking out a few feet and then back, out and back, head bowed, smiling.

The smile, his mother says, voice breaking, “seems to be a hallmark of my son.”

Dr. Futrell returned recently to the Huddle House, driving up in her son’s pickup that she hopes he might recognize from the road. Stacks of “Missing Gary Chronister” signs, each one adorned with a small American flag, sat in its bed.

She is 53, stout and tired, with a ready smile conveying disbelief at what her life has become. A school psychologist by profession, now a manhunter by circumstance. That is why she chose a back booth: she wanted to see everyone and everything.

Her ever-ringing cellphone rang again before she could take a bite of her meal. “This is Gary’s mom,” she answered, hopeful, then not. “No, no, that wouldn’t be Gary ... I so appreciate you calling, though. Thank you so much. Keep your eyes open, sweetie.”

Dr. Futrell said her son has a great intellect, a mild case of Tourette’s syndrome and a sense of right and wrong so rigid that he sometimes struggles through the grays of life. He is also a loner. Asked if he ever had a girlfriend, his mother said with a note of reluctance, “Not really.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in English in 1998 from the University of Tennessee, he enrolled in a seminary in Kentucky to pursue “full-time Christian service,” his mother said. But things didn’t work out there, and he had a lot of outstanding college loans. So, several weeks before 9/11, he joined the Army.

Over the next three years he spent several months in Afghanistan and several in Iraq, helping to erect guard towers, install light fixtures and build memorials for dead soldiers. Although he saw no combat he came home different, his mother said, with the only telltale sign a check mark on a military document, next to the words “personality change.”

Mr. Chronister disappeared many days into his bedroom, which he kept boot-camp spotless. He had trouble holding jobs. Then came his first psychotic break, in which he quietly disengaged from reality. Tests revealed an unspecified brain injury. Was it from being beaten up when he was 16? Was it from something that happened in the military?

After several go-rounds with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Chronister finally received medication that seemed to work, but only for a while. “This is the first day of my healing,” he wrote in his journal on Nov. 8. Within two days, he was gone.

Now the police are looking for Gary Chronister, up, down and around Highway 41. And so, still, is his mother, who hasn’t forgotten one of their last conversations. He had said he was having trouble again controlling the thoughts, and she answered, “Son, I’m here.”

2008-01-17T22:30:00.001-08:00

1 in 5 Returning Troops May Have Brain Injury

2008-01-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

Associated Press
updated 6:13 p.m. MT, Thurs., Jan. 17, 2008
WASHINGTON - As many as 20 percent of U.S. combat troops who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan leave with signs they may have had a concussion, and some do not realize they need treatment, Army officials said Thursday.

Concussion is a common term for mild traumatic brain injury, or TBI. While the Army has a handle on treating more severe brain injuries, it is "challenged to understand, diagnose and treat military personnel who suffer with mild TBI," said Brig. Gen. Donald Bradshaw, chairman of a task force on traumatic brain injury created by the Army surgeon general.

The task force, which completed its work in May, released its findings on Thursday.

It estimated that from 10 percent to 20 percent of soldiers and Marines from tactical units leaving Iraq and Afghanistan are affected by mild traumatic brain injury. The most common cause was blast from an explosion.

The symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, light sensitivity, sleep problems, memory problems, confusion and irritability. With treatment, more than 80 of patients recover completely, the task force said.

Less than half who suffered from a mild traumatic brain injury in combat have persistent symptoms associated with it, said Col. Robert Labutta, a neurosurgeon with the Army surgeon general's office.

In some cases, however, symptoms from the injury such as irritability affect a soldier's interaction with his or her family and fellow soldiers, said Col. Jonathan Jaffin, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.

"By identifying them, giving them a diagnosis, so they don't think they're just going crazy ... we think that helps them deal with it," Jaffin said.

Thousands of troops have been treated for traumatic brain injury, and it is commonly called the signature wound of the war. Reports that troops were not properly treated or diagnosed for the injury led to some improvements in care.

Today, all troops brought to military treatment facilities from a war zone are screened for traumatic brain injury, Bradshaw said. But troops lacking more outward signs such as bleeding following a blast or other incident might not realize they experienced a concussion, Bradshaw said.

One of the challenges in treating a mild traumatic injury is that it can have some of the same symptoms as post-traumatic stress disorder, such as difficulty sleeping.

Labutta said more research and tracking is needed to determine if a mild traumatic brain injury can put someone at greater risk for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

The task force praised work done at Fort Carson, Colo., where soldiers going back to war are screened for brain injury. Surveys there found that about 17 percent of the soldiers returning to war could have a traumatic brain injury.

The task force identified problems associated with the treatment of troops with traumatic brain injuries, such as inconsistent treatment and documentation at some facilities, but it said some of its recommendations have already been implemented.

Utah Company Surprises National Guard Members with Cruise

2008-01-17T09:36:00.000-08:00

Utah company surprises National Guard members with cruise
January 16th, 2008 @ 6:10pm

(KSL News) The CEO of a Utah company surprised some lucky Utah National Guard members with a special "tour of duty": a seven day cruise to Bermuda.

The Utah-based scrapbook company Stampin' Up donated 85 cruise cabins to the guard to thank the soldiers for their service.

The unsuspecting winners received the good news today. One guardsman felt overwhelmed by the unexpected gift. "This has been kind of a dream come true. We've been married 22 years and I've been trying to get my wife on a cruise, just a three- or five-day cruise," Lt. Col. David Osborne said.

Many of the guard members selected for the cruise have served multiple tours of duty overseas.

Man Accused of fraud in case tied to fundraising for Vets

2008-01-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

Man accused of fraud in case tied to fundraising for vets
January 15th, 2008 @ 6:25pm

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A man who raised money to send World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., last year has been charged with communications fraud and a pattern of unlawful activity.

Court documents say Paul McSweeney misspent $90,000, partly to pay expenses remaining from a 2006 trip to the nation's capital. A trip last May was suddenly canceled when McSweeney's group, Our Unsung Heroes, said there wasn't enough money.

McSweeney, who lives in Mapleton, did not return a phone call seeking comment. The Deseret Morning News says he's due in 3rd District Court on Wednesday.

In September, about 130 war veterans finally took their free trip to Washington after another group raised more than $200,000.

Info from Deseret News and KSL.com

Company Has Cool Idea for Troops' Comfort in Iraq

2008-01-15T21:42:00.000-08:00

Company has cool idea for troops' comfort in Iraq
January 15th, 2008 @ 6:15pm
Jed Boal reporting, KSL news

The blistering heat in Iraq is one aspect of the war U.S. troops will not soon forget. So, a Utah company came up with a cool idea to make the time a little more bearable for one unit.

Think of the hottest day in Utah this past summer, then add 20 to 30 degrees on top of that, and you have an average summer day in Iraq. A business owner in Fillmore realized he could help his hometown troops stay cool under fire.

A big box is headed to Camp Bucca, Iraq.

Steve Robison, an evaporative cooler manufacturer, said, "He set his hottest deployment record in Iraq at 127 degrees, so it's pretty hot."

Members of the 145th Field Artillery Battalion of the Utah National Guard deployed last June. Soon they may feel this is among the greatest care packages.

"They'll see a 40-plus degree drop with this unit," Robison said.

Inside is a MegEvap industrial evaporative cooler, one monster of a swamp cooler for the troops' rest tent. RCF Incorporated manufactures swamp coolers in Fillmore. Robison owns the company. He has a brother-in law and friends in the 145th.

"They're local people. We want them home. We want them home safe. We want them to be as comfortable as they can be while they're there," he said.

To get the 400-pound cooler to the soldiers, he needed help from the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Fred Lange works in that office. He said, "Only way we could help out was to see if we could help make arrangements to get it from here to there."

Operation Give regularly sends shipping containers of gifts and necessities for troops and the Iraqi people. Founder Paul Holton, an Iraq War veteran, offered to send the cooler with an upcoming shipment.

"It's just unbearably hot," Holton said. "Throw in the sand and the wind, and a little bit of comfort goes a long way over there."

In addition to the cooler, Operation Give along with Mesa Systems will send 22 pallets of stuff to Camp Bucca and the soldiers.

Holton said, "Anybody that wants to participate and do something in a positive way to support the troops, support their mission, and reach out to the Iraqi people, that's what this is all about."

The unit will keep cooling for years to come. RCF sent replacement parts, but we're told no one should have to do any maintenance for at least five years.

From MSNBC.com News~Veterans and Murder

2008-01-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

121 war veterans linked to killings, report finds
Paper says murders tied to soldiers are soaring; military questions premise.

updated 4:15 p.m. MT, Sun., Jan. 13, 2008
NEW YORK - At least 121 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans have committed a killing or been charged in one in the United States after returning from combat, The New York Times reported Sunday.

The newspaper said it also logged 349 homicides involving all active-duty military personnel and new veterans in the six years since military action began in Afghanistan, and later Iraq. That represents an 89-percent increase over the previous six-year period, the newspaper said.

About three-quarters of those homicides involved Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, the newspaper said. The report did not illuminate the exact relationship between those cases and the 121 killings also mentioned in the report.

The newspaper said its research involved searching local news reports, examining police, court and military records and interviewing defendants, their lawyers and families, victims' families and military and law enforcement officials.

Defense Department representatives did not immediately respond to a telephone message early Sunday. The Times said the military agency declined to comment, saying it could not reproduce the paper's research.

Methodology Questioned:

A military spokesman, Lt. Col. Les Melnyk, questioned the report's premise and research methods, the newspaper said. He said it aggregated crimes ranging from involuntary manslaughter to murder, and he suggested the apparent increase in homicides involving military personnel and veterans in the wartime period might reflect only "an increase in awareness of military service by reporters since 9/11."

Neither the Pentagon nor the federal Justice Department track such killings, generally prosecuted in state civilian courts, according to the Times.

The 121 killings ranged from shootings and stabbings to bathtub drownings and fatal car crashes resulting from drunken driving, the newspaper said. All but one of those implicated was male.

About a third of the victims were girlfriends or relatives, including a 2-year-old girl slain by her 20-year-old father while he was recovering from wounds sustained in Iraq.

A quarter of the victims were military personnel. One was stabbed and set afire by fellow soldiers a day after they all returned from Iraq.

Military Veteran, Teacher honored by KSL news

2008-01-11T09:07:00.001-08:00

Military veteran, teacher honored with High 5
January 11th, 2008 @ 7:19am
Brooke Walker reporting

Any history book will teach lessons of sacrifice, patriotism and democracy. But students at Lincoln Academy in Pleasant Grove get an experience beyond any book.

That's because their history teacher, Mr. Durrant, also goes by the title of Master Sgt. And before they say good-bye to him, they wanted to say thanks. So we gave him this week's High 5.

Master Sgt. Charles Durrant uses his military stories and experiences to bring history lessons alive. Teachers and parents agree those experiences have helped his students gain a greater appreciation for the price of freedom.

As Mr. Durrant prepares to leave for his second tour in Afghanistan, his students are very proud of their teacher. But that doesn't mean they won't miss him.

Ninth grader Maegan Jacot said, "I didn't really know a lot about the war. I just knew there was something going on over there. But he has really helped me know why we had to go over there and everything that is happening over there."

The academy's office manager, Lisa Coombs, helped us present this morning's High 5. She told Mr. Durrant, "The students, the teachers, the faculty and board are so pleased with how you inspire these students to learn, how you make history come alive and how you keep them wanting to come to our school every day."

Mr. Durrant said, "I'm simply a soldier and I'm their teacher, and there is nothing heroic in what I do. It's just my life and really a simple thing."

Mr. Durrant received a KSL Swag Bag and tickets to see the Auto Show at the South Towne Expo Center. He deploys on Jan. 20. Also, he will be on Studio 5 later this morning.

2008 "Sweethearts for Soldiers" Calendar

2008-01-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

Military.com | Soldiers R U.S. | December 27, 2007
Former NFL Cheerleaders Form "Sweethearts for Soldiers" Calendar

Scottsdale, Ariz. - On Veterans Day weekend, a group of former NFL cheerleaders representing teams from across the country joined forces in Arizona to shoot the second annual "Sweethearts for Soldiers" calendar to support troops deployed overseas. Just in time for the New Year, the calendar was officially released through its website www.soldiersrus.org.

Several NFL cheerleaders conceived the idea while conducting a United Services Organization (USO) tour in the Middle East. Bari Yonkers, then a cheerleader for the Arizona Cardinals, discussed the idea of giving back to the troops with some of her fellow teammates. "We were just so humbled when we visited the troops that we wanted to come up with something to bring some cheer to their lives," said Yonkers. "All NFL cheerleaders shoot a swimsuit calendar; why not make a military themed one with proceeds benefiting them?"

When Yonkers returned to the states, she teamed up with Benjamin Moline, founder and chairperson of Soldiers-R-U.S. The inaugural calendar, which was financed through sponsorships from Arizona-based businesses and individuals, raised funds for 595 Arizona National Guardsmen deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The funds for the 2008 calendar will go toward sending care packages and calendars overseas to raise the morale of the troops. The theme of the 2008 calendar, WWII pin-up girls, is a classic concept that expresses universal appreciation for the sacrifices of all deployed service members. The calendar has 13 attractive months of pin-up themed shots.

The models, (all former NFL cheerleaders) for this year's calendar all have a special reason for donating their time and efforts - they all have a personal connection to the military. Not only have most of them been on multiple USO tours overseas, Tonya was married to Cory Helman, a Navy search and rescue (SAR) swimmer who lost his life in January when his helicopter went down during exercises off San Clemente Island, Calif. She is participating in honor of his memory. Kimberly's fiance is a Navy Seal who is in Iraq right now. Brooke and Andrea are sisters who lost their dad when they were kids. Their father was a U2 pilot for a base on the East Coast. Kalani's sister serves in the military and has been deployed to Iraq and finally, Jessica currently serves in the Air Force as a Reservist.

Moline, a former soldier himself, hopes to build on the popularity of the 2007 calendar to create more opportunities to interact with the troops. "We already went on a handshake tour to Ft. Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. We'd like to visit our brave men and women overseas and personally deliver these calendars sometime this year in a USO or AFE sponsored tour."

The website, www.soldiersrus.org, is also designed so that everyone can support our troops through the online purchase of the calendar. On the website, you can learn more about the personal involvement each girl has had with the military and why this project means so much to them.

Mothers Sacrifice to Help Wounded GI's

2007-12-31T12:51:00.000-08:00

Mothers Sacrifice to Help Wounded GIs

By MICHELLE ROBERTS

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Rose Lage swears it is true: Suddenly, in the midst of a fitful night of sleep last June, she knew that her son had been injured in Iraq.

"I heard my son's voice," she recalls. "It might sound weird, but I heard him holler 'Mama!'"

In fact, Staff Sgt. Michael Lage was the only survivor of a blast that killed four others. Lage suffered third-degree burns to nearly half his body; part of his nose and ears were missing, and his face, scalp, arms and torso were seared. His left hand had to be amputated.

Rose Lage, 54, understood her son's life would change. But she didn't understand how much her own quiet life — a life spent playing with grandkids, fishing and preparing for her husband's retirement — would change, as well.

She would exchange her two-story house in Atlanta for a hotel room on an Army post, watch her nest egg shrink and spend her days helping a 30-year-old son change bandages and wriggle into garments meant to reduce scarring.

The sacrifices of injured soldiers, airmen and Marines are recognized with medals and commendations. But the mothers and wives who arrive here wide-eyed and afraid make their own sacrifices — abandoning jobs and homes and delaying retirement to help their wounded children reclaim their lives.

"The women here are the heroes, every bit the heroes as their soldiers," said Judith Markelz, who runs a 4-year-old program to aid the families of injured soldiers sent here for treatment. "These kids could not survive without their women."

___

The patients who arrive at Fort Sam Houston are among the worst wounded in war, suffering the kind of injuries that killed their predecessors in earlier conflicts.

So far, about 600 burn victims and 250 amputees have been sent here to recover at the Army's only burn center and at an amputee rehabilitation program set up since the start of the Iraq war.

Their injuries will take multiple surgeries and months or years of recovery and rehabilitation.

When the injured arrive, fathers and siblings are often here for the immediate aftermath or early surgeries. But the wives and mothers most often stay, Markelz said. They quit jobs, give up health insurance and abandon homes.

"None of us realized people were going to be here two years. That's not your normal hospital stay," Markelz said. "They didn't want to make San Antonio their home. Now, they can vote here."

Markelz, the wife of a retired Fort Sam deputy commander, was hired four years ago to start the Warrior and Family Support Center, a program that has morphed from a few computers in converted conference rooms to a catchall program for families of the wounded.

The Army provides housing for families in a post hotel or at one of the Fisher Houses, family-style dorms with a living room, large kitchen and dining room.

But most arrive here with few or no friends and with little understanding of what they or their wounded family member will now face.

"They come in with their purses like this," said Markelz, hugging her chest. "They look like a deer in headlights."

Markelz and her staff make sure no one gets past the door without getting noticed.

"Did you sign in?" she genially shouts at family members and wounded soldiers between phone calls and assigning tasks to volunteers.

In the past four years, family members and wounded have signed in 200,000 times and counting.

The assistance center — which will move to a new 12,000-square-foot building next year — provides meals, a place for baffled family members to seek advice, rides to Wal-Mart, just about anything Markelz and her staff find they can do to help.

Among the family members who stay for the long haul, about half are wives and half are mothers.

Markelz said it's especially hard on the wives of guardsmen and reservists and on the middle-aged mothers of soldiers — women who had well-established civilian lives away from the typically nomadic life of active military families.

"They didn't sign up for that," she said.

___

Staff Sgt. Michael Lage had always been an independent kid. The youngest of three and the only boy, he was the first to leave home. He joined the Army at 18.

He served two full tours in Iraq, first in 2003 and again two years later.

Through both tours, his mother prayed and lit a yellow candle every day at a shrine fashioned from his photo, angel figurines and military mementos in front of her fireplace in Atlanta. She continued the ritual when he was deployed a third time in May.

But less than a month later, his Bradley Fighting Vehicle was hit by a bomb in Baghdad. Lage was the only one who managed to crawl out or get blown free of the wreckage. He was on fire, still carrying his gun, witnesses later told his family.

Rose Lage and her husband, Larry, arrived in San Antonio to find Michael in intensive care in a medically induced coma. He was covered in bandages with tubes coming in and out of his body.

His mother recognized her son by his long dark eyelashes.

But she wasn't allowed to touch him, couldn't embrace him the way she longed to.

"It took everything I had to be strong," she said, her voice breaking.

Now, six months have passed since she arrived in San Antonio with one large suitcase.

Her husband stayed as long as he could, but he had to return to work after the couple tapped their retirement savings for months.

Her two daughters, too, have come to help, but they have their own homes and young children to care for.

Rose hasn't gone anywhere.

Pieces of her wardrobe have arrived with family members as the seasons have changed and as she's lost weight from crisscrossing the post on foot. A few photos of grandkids have gone up around the hotel room, along with Indian dream catchers — charms traditionally meant to protect against nightmares.

Rose has cobbled together an unexpected life here, learning her way around town and building new routines and friendships she never imagined.

Days of housekeeping and care for grandkids have been replaced with new routines: the careful wrapping of gauze around reddened skin, vigilant adherence to medication regiments, the zipping and buttoning of Michael's clothes.

"We've given up a lot for him," Rose concedes, sitting in a hotel room where a giant flag signed by her son's unit hangs. "We'd give up a lot more for him."

Michael is grateful for his mother's help, but parents and adult children living together can get on each other's nerves. The close quarters and the stress chafe.

"I appreciate her being here, but living in a small hotel room with your mom tends to wear on you a bit," Michael says.

A career soldier and divorced father of 8-year-old twins, he never dreamed he'd be living with or reliant on his mother at age 30. (His son and daughter live in Tennessee with their mother.)

Even as a child, he was never good at asking for help, Rose says.

"That's what annoys her most: I never ask for help," he says.

Rose struggles, too, because she knows he doesn't tell her everything. He holds back some of the emotional and mental struggles that come with such serious injuries and with the memories of friends lost at war.

"It's been very hard because I know he is frustrated because I'm a mom and I haven't been there. I guess he thinks I don't know what's going on," she says.

"They forget that you're a person. You have a life, that you have feelings."

___

The Lages both finally left San Antonio on Dec. 15 for a Christmas trip to see Michael's kids and other family and friends.

But Michael will have to return in January to face a series of surgeries to reconstruct his elbow, and eventually his amputated arm and his nose and ears. It will probably take another year of treatment and rehabilitation.

That means Rose will be back, too.

"I will always be here for him no matter what. He can always depend on me. I will never leave him," she says, looking at Michael. "I'll be here for my other kids, too. That's what a mom's for. I would give up my life for him, and if I could give him my other hand, I would."

At that, Michael quickly brushes away a tear, and his mother adds one last thing: "He's my baby."

Local artist finds Utah connection in honoring fallen soldiers

2007-12-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

KSL News
December 24th, 2007 @ 5:18pm
John Hollenhorst reporting

A Utah man is honoring fallen soldiers around the country by creating their portraits in wood. In doing so, he made a surprising connection with a family in Roy.
Bob Morgan is one of 500 scroll-saw hobbyists around the country who've set a goal: to make wooden portraits of every soldier killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"Being retired military myself, I just felt it was something I wanted to do to give back," Morgan explained.
The process begins at the computer, where Morgan captures a photo of a fallen soldier. The soldier is assigned to Morgan by national coordinators.
The photo is modified into a simple pattern. The printout becomes a guide for Morgan's scroll saw.

So far, he's been assigned portraits of soldiers from Tennessee, Texas and Oklahoma. He usually knows nothing about the soldier and waits for instructions on where to mail it to his family. "We try to give something that's going to immortalize them in wood and not just a photograph," Morgan said.
Normally, when he's working on a portrait he has no idea what part of the country the soldier was from. However, when he finished one recently, he discovered a connection that astonished him.
Before dying in Iraq, Spec. Daniel Dolan lived in Roy--not far from where Morgan himself grew up. They even attended the same high school, 30 years apart.
He hand delivered the portrait to Dolan's family instead of mailing it. "It's Dan all the way. It's the look he could give you like, 'Here I am. See how innocent I am?'" Fay Dolan, Dan's mother, explained.
"When he brought it up, we were just so tickled to see it, and then we sat for the next two and a half hours talking and finding out how many different things we had in common," Dan's father, Tim, said.
"To have those kind of people out there that really do care does mean a lot, and you know they do because they're taking their own time, their own money, and their own effort. So, it's sweet," Fay said.

Morgan also made memorial ornaments for the Dolans; another reminder of their loss, but a welcome addition to their Christmas tree.

A separate project, Operation Never Forget, is being organized to create a bronze bust of every soldier killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

From Twyla

2007-12-20T10:37:00.001-08:00

What is a Veteran?

What is a veteran?
Just look around.
Right where you’re standing,
He fought for that ground.
A vet is a person who answered the call,
who went into war, and gave it his all.

For many the battles never will end,
Now they are civilians, and find they can’t blend.
Some are disabled, and some are disturbed.
After coming home from hell,
They find they’ve been curbed.
Now is the time to honor our vets.
Remember their pain, don’t ever forget.

Remember them now, and give them their due.
Stand by their side, 'cause they did it for you

2 Utah soldiers given Bronze Stars

2007-12-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

Published: December 18, 2007

Two Utah soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan received Bronze Star medals for what the military defines as "exceptionally meritorious service" during their deployments.
Army reservist Andy Burton of South Jordan and Army Staff Sgt. Edward J. Carey of Clearfield each recently received the award, considered one of the more rare honors given out by the military.
Burton served 28 years in the Utah National Guard and reached the rank of colonel before joining the reserves. He was part of a special forces group that served in Afghanistan earlier this year. Carey, who returned home this month, was the medical platoon sergeant while a member of the 1st Cavalry Division in Baghdad.

© 2007 Deseret News Publishing Company All rights reserved

Disable Veteran Payments Ruled Tax-Free

2007-12-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

Disabled Veteran Payments Ruled Tax-Free
Washington, D.C. (Dec. 13, 2007) By WebCPA staff

The Internal Revenue Service said that payments under the Department of Veterans Affairs' Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program are no longer taxable and disabled veterans who paid tax on these benefits in the past three years can now claim refunds.
Recipients of CWT payments will no longer receive a Form 1099 from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Disabled veterans who paid tax on these benefits in tax years 2004, 2005 or 2006 can claim a refund by filing an amended return using IRS Form 1040X. According to the VA, more than 19,000 veterans received CWT in fiscal year 2007.
The IRS agreed with a Tax Court decision issued earlier this year, which held that CWT payments are tax-free veterans' benefits. The agency thereby reversed a 1965 ruling, which held that these payments were taxable and required the VA to issue 1099 forms to payment recipients.
The CWT program provides assistance to veterans unable to work and support themselves. Under the program, the VA contracts with private industry and the public sector for work by veterans, who learn new job skills, re-learn successful work habits and regain a sense of self-esteem and self-worth.

Wreaths Across America

2007-12-10T15:45:00.000-08:00

The Wreaths Across America story began over 15 years ago when Worcester Wreath Company (a for-profit commercial business from Harrington, Maine) began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation's fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.
Over that period of time, Worcester Wreath has donated 75,000 wreaths which were placed by volunteers in a wreath-laying ceremony each December. This year, Worcester Wreath Company will do even more to show its respect and appreciation for those who serve, by doing the following:
* Doubling its annual donation to 10,000 wreaths destined for Arlington National Cemetery.
* In addition to the Arlington Wreath Project, Worcester Wreath will donate 2,500 wreaths to the Maine Veterans Cemetery at Togus, and over 1,800 ceremonial wreaths, representing all branches of the armed forces, will be sent to over 200 other state and national veterans cemeteries across the Country.
* For the first time in 2007, ceremonial wreaths will also be donated to 24 veterans cemeteries on foreign soil, and aboard U.S. ships sailing in all seven seas.
* All wreath-laying ceremonies will be held concurrently on Saturday, December 15th, at 12:00 noon EST.
* And lastly, on Monday, December 10th, 51 wreaths will be donated for a special wreath-laying ceremony at each State Capital and 36" ceremonial wreath for our Nation's Capital.
Needless to say Worcester Wreath Co. is by far the largest donor to the Wreaths Across America project and they are dedicated to this project for many years to come. It is a vision that we will one day honor every veterans' memory for the holidays, as a way to show our gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms.
Wreaths Across America was formed as a non-profit organization (501-C3 status - EIN 20-8362270) in 2007, in direct response to the many letters and requests from supporters all around the Country, about how they too could get involved and bring the Arlington Wreath Project experience to their local communities.
We invite you to come and participate in this year's wreath-laying ceremonies on Saturday, December 15th, at 12:00 noon EST.

Utah State Veterans Cemetery - Bluffdale, UT
Contact InformationLead Squadron or Group: Utah Civil Air Patrol Headquarters
Location Leader: Lt DeVaughn SimperContact Number: 801-884-7654
*All Wreaths Across America ceremonies nationwide will take place on Saturday, December 15th, 2007 at 12:00 noon (EST).

Horses for Heroes

2007-12-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

BY GWENN WELCH
SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BANNERMARION COUNTY -

Horses for Heroes, a nationwide program, has come to the Horse Capital of the World.The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association established the program for America's wounded service personnel and veterans. Riders participating in recent pilot projects at Fort Hood, Fort Meyers and the Department of Veteran Affairs found improvements in physical balance, gait and morale.
Now the program is being offered through the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association. The local riding center promotes the benefits of horses for individuals with disabilities."Individuals with special needs have been shown to improve muscle tone, balance, posture coordination, motor development and emotional well being," said Kate Robbins, the local association's program coordinator. Marion Therapeutic Riding Association has been recognized by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association as a premier accredited center. They are one of seven therapeutic riding centers in the country to participate in the Horses for Heroes program. Robbins said the organization launched the new program by working with residents at the Fort McCoy VFW Retirement Home."We expect this project to be a great success," said Gera Judge, director of program development for the retirement home.
Last weekend, five veterans who recently returned from Iraq came to Marion County from the James Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa to participate in the Horses for Heroes program. Some were amputees and others had suffered brain injuries. Hospital workers felt their participation in the program would have a positive impact on their recovery. The Marion Therapeutic Riding Association, located at 3143 17th St., will add a second facility in early 2008. The Greenway facility will be located at 6860 S.E. 41st Court, Ocala, and will include a covered riding arena."We feel that concept protects our clients, volunteers, horses and instructors from the elements," Robbins said. The 30 acres of land for the new facility were donated by the Florida Greenway; a Marion County Development Grant provided funds to build the structure."It's a new season, and new programs," said Robbins. "We have new faces and fabulous new horses to introduce this innovative program."

3 Measures Highlight U.S. Veteran Issues

2007-12-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

3 Measures Highlight U.S. Veteran Issues
By Stephen Speckman
Deseret Morning News
Published: Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007 12:06 a.m. MST

Three bills coming up for the 2008 Legislature seek a tax break for retired military members, equal housing and employment opportunities for veterans and a day off for schools in recognition of Veterans Day.
Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, was contacted by a Riverton High School history teacher and invited to the school for a meeting with students about why schools don't take one day off in honor of Veterans Day. Wimmer was a little suspicious at first.

"OK, here's a group of kids who just want another day off from school," he thought.

But as Wimmer and the students talked, he realized that about two-thirds of them had family members or close friends who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

"That's when I realized this student population has been touched by war more so than any student population in decades," he said.

Wimmer has filed what will be a joint resolution to motivate the state school board to pass along to local school boards a directive to establish a day off on or around Veterans Day. Wimmer's father and three brothers, including one who served in Iraq, all have served in the military.

Rep. Steven Mascaro, R-West Jordan, said he'd like to see a tax exemption given for retirement income earned by former military members, who he noted already have paid taxes once on that money. Mascaro said he isn't sure yet what the fiscal impact of his bill toward that end would be. Mascara, who spent six years in the Marine Corps reserve from 1965-71, said he has put forward legislation in support of the military for a long time.

"Big soft spot for veterans — and this is just a way of saying, 'Thanks,"' he said.
In an effort to avoid filing conflicting bills, Mascaro said he already has contacted another lawmaker who is drafting similar legislation, only the tax break there would be for income earned by active duty members.

The third bill is coming from Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake, who was inspired by a radio program around Veterans Day to make sure something was written into Utah law that protects military members coming back from active duty against discrimination as they seek employment or housing.

Utah law already affords protection in those two areas under such headings as race, religion, color, sex and religion, but there's nothing there about veterans. He said the state's labor commission and Veterans Affairs officials are looking into how to draft the bill.

Rachel Ray, Dunkin Donuts and Soldiers Angels

2007-11-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

On this Saturday, December 1, 2007, Rachael Ray and Dunkin' Donuts will be providing holiday cheer and free transportation for New York City shoppers as part of the launch of the National Card Drive for a non-profit organzation caled Soldiers' Angels. Rachael will be at the New York Waterways Terminal on the Hudson River to greet holiday shoppers. Shoppers can get free samples of Gingerbread Lattes and Hot Chocolate and hop aboard old-fashioned trolleys providing free transportation for NY Waterways Terminal passengers to top shopping destinations in Manhattan. Here's the 411:Rachael will announce a one-ton donation of Dunkin' Donuts coffee to Soldiers' Angels, one of the nation's largest volunteer-based nonprofit military support organizations providing aid and comfort to our nation's deployed soldiers and their families. Rachael Ray will also greet armed services personnel and announce a national holiday card drive with Dunkin' Donuts and Soldiers' Angels. New York City holiday shoppers will be urged to fill out holiday cards that will be sent to service men and women stationed outside the U.S. Shoppers can then hop on the Gingerbread Express, a trolley service offering free rides to top Manhattan shopping destinations.And the timeline of events: Saturday, December 1, 2007 from 8:00 AM - 6:00 PMCoffee presentation and remarks by Rachael Ray to run from approximately 10:30 - 10:40 AMRachael Ray available for comment and photos 10:40 - 11:00 AM

VA Reality TV

2007-11-28T15:58:00.000-08:00

“The American Veteran” is Reality TV – VA Style
November 16, 2007
WASHINGTON – Using the latest in video and broadcast technologies, stirring music, creative graphics and solid writing, “The American Veteran” a monthly half-hour news magazine from the Department of Veterans Affairs, tells compelling stories of real-life veterans who have taken advantage of the many and varied benefits and services available to them as a result of their military service. “We are committed to informing veterans and active duty military alike about VA’s many benefits and services and we are very pleased with the quality and reach of “The American Veteran,” said Acting VA Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield. “The feedback and recognition the program has received is a testament to the effort put in by all involved.”
The series is designed to inform active duty members, veterans, their families and their communities about the services and benefits they have earned and to recognize and honor them. VA’s Office of Public Affairs and the VA Learning University/ Employee Education System (VALU/EES) produce the program and broadcast it to VA facilities on the department’s own internal network and around the world on The Pentagon Channel and community cable outlets. Aimed at veterans of all eras, their families and the American Public, VA also tells stories of heroism, sacrifice and relives moments in history with those who lived it reminding veterans of the bond of service they all share. The VA Office of Public Affairs offers the program to local broadcasters and cable outlets and makes it available for viewing on the VA Web site www.va.gov, just click on “public affairs” and then “featured items.”“The American Veteran” schedule on The Pentagon Channel is available at * http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/ * where you can also view the program as it is broadcast. The Pentagon Channel has more than 1 million military viewers and is delivered domestically via DISH, EchoStar, T-Warner and Cox cable systems. (Check for service in your area.)

Helping Vets

2007-11-26T18:02:00.000-08:00

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – A Texas-based group is working to give caregivers of war wounded and military spouses the support they need as they transition from the military community to the civilian sector.“Our goal is to empower achievement, independence, and the assurance of renewed hope,” said Tania Mercurio, an Air Force spouse who serves as executive director of Operation Life Transformed.
In working to help every caregiver or military spouse achieve that goal, the group provides virtual or classroom training and education. The training programs allow better job marketability and retention, Mercurio said. The training focuses on fields that are flexible enough to accommodate the sometimes unpredictable schedule of the target audience. Medical transcription, for example, is 80 percent outsourced, she said. Kimberly Ryusaki Marrerro, another executive director of Operation Life Transformed and a Navy spouse, said these types of positions work well for caregivers or military spouses.“We have a talented, untapped pool of resources that needs temporary work,” she said. “Operation Life Transformed works with the caregiver and corporation to provide temporary placement while the caregiver is supporting the injured at a medical facility.” Being able to find temporary employment while helping a wounded servicemember recover can help ensure the family’s economic stability, Marrero said.
The organization, which has won the Newman’s Own Award for excellence and innovation within the military community, has recently become a supporter of America Supports You. America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. The credibility the affiliation provides groups like Operation Life Transformed in the military community is priceless, said Colleen Saffron, another executive director of Operation Life Transformed and an Army spouse. She also hopes it will help the group network with complementary organizations.“Operation Life Transformed realizes that no one group can meet all of the needs of all of these families, so it seeks to create partnerships with other organizations in order to create a network of support for our military families during this tumultuous time in our nation’s history,” Saffron said. “When someone comes to us needing help that’s not part of our mission, we (want to be) able to send them to other organizations within our network that can help them.”www.lifetransformed.org

KSL News

2007-11-19T12:04:00.000-08:00

Groundbreaking Today for Unique Housing Project
November 19th, 2007 @ 7:51am
(KSL News) Salt Lake County's Housing Authority will break ground today on a groundbreaking project.
The Kelly Benson Apartments will be Utah's first permanent housing dedicated to adults 55 years or older who are homeless.
The $8-million project is one of four facilities expected to be finished by the end of next year.
Combined, the housing will provide more than 450 people with supported, permanent housing.

VA Suicide Hotline

2007-11-13T08:41:00.001-08:00

Suicide hotline serves as beacon to veterans
Chris Swingle Staff writer

Calls are flooding the Canandaigua-based suicide prevention hotline created for veterans and their loved ones — at a rate of about 135 calls per day.The national hotline, established by the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center on July 25, fielded 12,322 calls in its first three months, one-fourth from veterans, prompting the center to boost its staffing by a third.

Nearly 200 callers have needed immediate response because they talked of suicide and had a gun or other means nearby, or had already ingested pills, said Janet Kemp, the V.A.'s national suicide prevention coordinator.The Department of Veterans Affairs launched the hotline at a time when national reports revealed troubling deficiencies in care for veterans.

Investigative media reports in February cited substandard care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Then two federal reports, in July and September, criticized both mental and physical health care for veterans and called for sweeping changes. Among other reforms, the Department of Defense was urged to address its acute shortage of mental health clinicians.

The V.A. is the largest provider of mental health care in the nation. More than 9,000 mental health professionals, backed by primary care physicians and other health professionals in every V.A. medical center and outpatient clinic, provide care to about 1 million veterans each year.

About $3 billion will be spent on mental health services this year by the V.A. Officials were not able last week to provide a budget figure for the Canandaigua hotline.When the critical media reports were released, the hotline was already in the works but its heavy use highlights the need for such services.Indeed, at least 283 combat veterans who left the military between the start of the war in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001, and the end of 2005 took their own lives, according to preliminary V.A. research obtained by The Associated Press. The rate is similar to the suicide rate among nonveterans, but that time period doesn't include many veterans who served or are serving in Iraq."A specialized service is a very good thing," said Jim Vanderpool of Rochester, who served in the Army in Korea and is commander of Patchen-Briggs Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 307. "Life's burdens are tough enough for everybody. You add the carnage of war, it affects the individual psyche more."How it worksThe veterans' hotline is an offshoot of the long-standing national suicide hotline and doesn't have a separate phone number. Callers hear a recording inviting veterans or those calling in concern for a veteran to press 1. Those who do are transferred to the call center in Canandaigua, which now employs 35 people.

In addition to the hotline, the V.A. established a follow-up coordinator at each of the 153 V.A. medical centers nationwide to check in with every veteran who calls the suicide hotline and is willing to be contacted. Of the 10 area veterans who've accepted follow-up contact, seven served in Vietnam and three served in Iraq, said Lynn Abaied, a licensed social worker hired by the Canandaigua V.A. to provide those follow-ups in the Rochester-Canandaigua region."All of them are in treatment, either for PTSD — post-traumatic stress disorder — or major depression," said Abaied. Levels of risk for service members who have yet to return home is not yet known, but previous studies have found that combat trauma elevates suicide risk.Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and problem drinking can double or triple a person's risk, yet the rate of suicide among people with these conditions is still quite low, said Dr. Ira Katz, the V.A.'s deputy chief patient care service officer for mental health.Vietnam veterans were at higher risk for suicide for up to five years after that war, but veterans of the first Gulf War weren't found to be at any different risk for suicide than the public overall, said Kerry L. Knox, an associate professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center who this year became director of suicide research efforts at the Canandaigua V.A.Canandaigua's facility is one of three V.A. centers in the nation designated "centers of excellence" to research veterans' mental health issues and share the findings in an effort to improve care throughout the V.A. system.

Too late for Jeffrey

A hotline and especially the follow-up for veterans are good ideas that should have started years ago, said Kevin Lucey of Belchertown, Mass., who filed suit in July against the Department of Veterans Affairs alleging wrongful death and medical malpractice. Lucey's son, Jeffrey Lucey, who'd enlisted in the Marine Reserves after graduating from high school, committed suicide June 22, 2004, at home, nearly a year after returning from Iraq. He was 23."It was too late for Jeff and it was too late for so many others," said Kevin Lucey, who with his wife, Joyce, spoke in Rochester in September at a screening of The Ground Truth, a documentary about service members' struggles after returning from Iraq. Follow-up care for suicidal veterans is critical, Lucey said Thursday by cell phone from his son's grave site, which he often visits. Jeff at first refused to go to the V.A. because of the stigma of admitting a mental health problem, said Lucey, who is a therapist. But the young veteran finally saw a local therapist who referred him to the V.A. hospital, where Jeff spent three days on suicide watch over Memorial Day weekend 2004. At home, days later, he was despondent but unwilling to return to the hospital, where he'd felt like a prisoner. His mother called the V.A., which told them for the first time of the Veterans Outreach Center in their area. Jeff met with a mental health counselor for three hours and was scheduled to be seen three times a week. On June 21, Jeff was in a rage and suicidal, his father said. They each talked to the veterans center by phone and Jeff calmed down. For the second time in a week, the 5-foot-10, 130-pound Jeff asked to sit on his father's lap, said Lucey. They rocked for 45 minutes. Jeff seemed OK the next day when his father went to work. After work, Lucey found that Jeff had hung himself in the cellar.

'Everybody's business'

Today, if a veteran calls the new suicide hotline in imminent crisis, the hotline workers summon community emergency responders. And training has been instituted for V.A. employees at all levels, including those who deliver trays of food or empty the trash, so workers can recognize signs of suicide and speak up. If someone says he'd be better off dead or that you won't have to worry about him much longer because he won't be around, nobody should ignore that, said Kemp, who's also associate director of education and training for the suicide research center of excellence.People should say, "Are you serious about that? Do you need help?" said Kemp. "People will tell you the answers if you ask the questions.""Suicide is everybody's business," said Kemp. Training materials are going to all V.A. staff and community partners this week.The hotline in Canandaigua is a partnership of the V.A. and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services, which is the federal agency that for years has managed the federal suicide hotline. Special service for veterans as well as the hotline number are supposed to be widely publicized at veterans centers, in publications and online, but still some people don't know the hotline exists."I never heard of it," Eddie Israel, a World War II Air Force veteran, said last week while volunteering at the Veterans Outreach Center's computer resource center in Rochester. He gets care through the V.A. and doesn't remember seeing or hearing anything there, either. Patty Gilg of York, Livingston County, said her son, Kyle, seems to be doing well since returning home in August, but his Marine unit suffered many injuries and casualties in Iraq. Gilg roundly approves of the new suicide hotline for veterans."We definitely need to take care of them."

CSWINGLE @ DemocratandChronicle.com ------------------------- Larry Scott --

Yahoo News

2007-11-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States, though they are only 11 percent of the general adult population, according to a report to be released Thursday.
And homelessness is not just a problem among middle-age and elderly veterans. Younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job.
The Veterans Affairs Department has identified 1,500 homeless veterans from the current wars and says 400 of them have participated in its programs specifically targeting homelessness.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education nonprofit, based the findings of its report on numbers from Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau. 2005 data estimated that 194,254 homeless people out of 744,313 on any given night were veterans.
In comparison, the VA says that 20 years ago, the estimated number of veterans who were homeless on any given night was 250,000.
Some advocates say the early presence of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan at shelters does not bode well for the future. It took roughly a decade for the lives of Vietnam veterans to unravel to the point that they started showing up among the homeless. Advocates worry that intense and repeated deployments leave newer veterans particularly vulnerable.
"We're going to be having a tsunami of them eventually because the mental health toll from this war is enormous," said Daniel Tooth, director of veterans affairs for Lancaster County, Pa.
While services to homeless veterans have improved in the past 20 years, advocates say more financial resources still are needed. With the spotlight on the plight of Iraq veterans, they hope more will be done to prevent homelessness and provide affordable housing to the younger veterans while there's a window of opportunity.
"When the Vietnam War ended, that was part of the problem. The war was over, it was off TV, nobody wanted to hear about it," said John Keaveney, a Vietnam veteran and a founder of New Directions in Los Angeles, which provides substance abuse help, job training and shelter to veterans.
"I think they'll be forgotten," Keaveney said of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. "People get tired of it. It's not glitzy that these are young, honorable, patriotic Americans. They'll just be veterans, and that happens after every war."
Keaveney said it's difficult for his group to persuade some homeless Iraq veterans to stay for treatment and help because they don't relate to the older veterans. Those who stayed have had success — one is now a stock broker and another is applying to be a police officer, he said.
"They see guys that are their father's age and they don't understand, they don't know, that in a couple of years they'll be looking like them," he said.
After being discharged from the military, Jason Kelley, 23, of Tomahawk, Wis., who served in Iraq with the Wisconsin National Guard, took a bus to Los Angeles looking for better job prospects and a new life.
Kelley said he couldn't find a job because he didn't have an apartment, and he couldn't get an apartment because he didn't have a job. He stayed in a $300-a-week motel until his money ran out, then moved into a shelter run by the group U.S. VETS in Inglewood, Calif. He's since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.
"The only training I have is infantry training and there's not really a need for that in the civilian world," Kelley said in a phone interview. He has enrolled in college and hopes to move out of the shelter soon.
The Iraq vets seeking help with homelessness are more likely to be women, less likely to have substance abuse problems, but more likely to have mental illness — mostly related to post-traumatic stress, said Pete Dougherty, director of homeless veterans programs at the VA.
Overall, 45 percent of participants in the VA's homeless programs have a diagnosable mental illness and more than three out of four have a substance abuse problem, while 35 percent have both, Dougherty said.
Historically, a number of fighters in U.S. wars have become homeless. In the post-Civil War era, homeless veterans sang old Army songs to dramatize their need for work and became known as "tramps," which had meant to march into war, said Todd DePastino, a historian at Penn State University's Beaver campus who wrote a book on the history of homelessness.
After World War I, thousands of veterans — many of them homeless — camped in the nation's capital seeking bonus money. Their camps were destroyed by the government, creating a public relations disaster for President Herbert Hoover.
The end of the Vietnam War coincided with a time of economic restructuring, and many of the same people who fought in Vietnam were also those most affected by the loss of manufacturing jobs, DePastino said.
Their entrance to the streets was traumatic and, as they aged, their problems became more chronic, recalled Sister Mary Scullion, who has worked with the homeless for 30 years and co-founded of the group Project H.O.M.E. in Philadelphia.
"It takes more to address the needs because they are multiple needs that have been unattended," Scullion said. "Life on the street is brutal and I know many, many homeless veterans who have died from Vietnam."
The VA started targeting homelessness in 1987, 12 years after the fall of Saigon. Today, the VA has, either on its own or through partnerships, more than 15,000 residential rehabilitative, transitional and permanent beds for homeless veterans nationwide. It spends about $265 million annually on homeless-specific programs and about $1.5 billion for all health care costs for homeless veterans.
Because of these types of programs and because two years of free medical care is being offered to all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, Dougherty said they hope many veterans from recent wars who are in need can be identified early.
"Clearly, I don't think that's going to totally solve the problem, but I also don't think we're simply going to wait for 10 years until they show up," Dougherty said. "We're out there now trying to get everybody we can to get those kinds of services today, so we avoid this kind of problem in the future."
In all of 2006, the National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that 495,400 veterans were homeless at some point during the year.
The group recommends that 5,000 housing units be created per year for the next five years dedicated to the chronically homeless that would provide permanent housing linked to veterans' support systems. It also recommends funding an additional 20,000 housing vouchers exclusively for homeless veterans, and creating a program that helps bridge the gap between income and rent.
Following those recommendations would cost billions of dollars, but there is some movement in Congress to increase the amount of money dedicated to homeless veterans programs.
On a recent day in Philadelphia, case managers from Project H.O.M.E. and the VA picked up William Joyce, 60, a homeless Vietnam veteran in a wheelchair who said he'd been sleeping at a bus terminal.
"You're an honorable veteran. You're going to get some services," outreach worker Mark Salvatore told Joyce. "You need to be connected. You don't need to be out here on the streets."
___
Associated Press writer Kathy Matheson contributed to this story from Philadelphia.
___
On the Net: National Alliance to End Homelessness: http://www.naeh.org/
New Directions: http://www.newdirectionsinc.org/
Project Home: http://www.projecthome.org/
County of Lancaster: http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/
Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/
U.S. Vets: http://usvetsinc.org/

Microsoft and USO awards

2007-11-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Corp., in collaboration with the United Service Organizations (USO), is proud to announce the winners of the Microsoft Above and Beyond Awards. The awards recognize the contributions of citizens across the country who brighten the lives of U.S. troops throughout the world. "These winners are remarkable examples of how everyday people can do extraordinary things," said Curt Kolcun, Vice President of Microsoft Federal. "Their actions showcase the best of American citizenship, selflessness, and support for our service members and their families - they are true testaments of how to salute our troops."
Chosen through a public online vote, the following winners will be honored for their service in these categories:

Effort Award: Patti Patton-Bader, Pasadena, Calif.
Soon after Patton-Bader began sending care packages to her son in Iraq, she started a group of volunteers to "adopt" soldiers. Since then, the group's 100,000 members have sent tens of thousands of care packages and hundreds of thousands of letters to make sure no soldier is forgotten while serving. Its motto: "May no soldier go unloved."

Medical Attention Award: Walter Fricke, St. Louis Park, Minn. Fricke, a helicopter pilot wounded in the Vietnam War, knows firsthand that family can be the key to a soldier's recovery. One year ago, Walt founded The Veterans Airlift Command, not only volunteering his own aircraft and fuel, but creating a national network of over 500 volunteer aircraft owners and pilots who have joined in the effort to reunite wounded service members with families. The group has already flown over 180,000 miles to help bring wounded troops back together with their loved ones.

USO Promotion and Success Award: Paulette Nelson, Savannah, GA. Before her son's best friend's father was deployed to Iraq, Paulette didn't even know what deployment meant. But after noticing the tearful goodbyes, Paulette decided she wanted to help make a difference. Now she operates the Savannah airport's USO station, and from Hunter Army Airfield she makes sure every soldier gets a warm welcome, and a warm send off, even lending her cell phone so they can make that one last phone call home.

Everyday Difference Award: Todd Schmidt, Burke, Va. While on patrol in Afghanistan, Maj. Schmidt came up with an idea to provide school supplies for local kids. Thanks to him, donors and volunteers have sent hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of textbooks, school supplies and secondhand clothes to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Under Schmidt's leadership, Operation Dreamseed has even helped build a school outside Kandahar City by raising more than $80,000 for the cause.

Youth Leadership Award: Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, Norwell, Mass. Just 13 and 12 years old, these siblings heard about a soldier who had run up an $8,000 phone bill calling home. With two cousins deployed overseas, Brittany and Robbie know how important phone calls could be, so they committed themselves to helping soldiers call home. To date, they have raised nearly $1 million and donated over 450,000 phone cards, equaling 2.5 million minutes of talk time.

After announcing the awards in mid-September, Microsoft and the USO received hundreds of nominations, narrowed down the list to finalists in each of the five categories, and facilitated a public online vote to choose the winners. The awards will be presented on Veterans Day (observed), Nov. 12 at a ceremony in New York City's Rainbow Room. "We knew we were on to something special when we first discussed with Microsoft how we could honor those who serve our troops," said Elaine Rogers, President, USO of Metropolitan Washington. "Now, seeing how these winners embody the principles of service and community should inspire each of us towards greater contribution." Kolcun added, "All of our nominees, finalists, and many others out there who support our troops everyday should all be commended for their great work to support our services members and their families. We hope this handful of wonderful examples helps further everyone's efforts and inspires others to get involved."

Heads up for sending cards and packages to VA's

2007-11-06T11:49:00.001-08:00

I received this information from my voluntary services chief at the Salt Lake City, UT VAMC. They will RETURN TO SENDER any letter or package that is addressed " any wounded soldier, any hero, any veteran, etc".
My VSC states that she will trust any mail coming from me, the VA leader, or if addressed in her name. So PLEASE when sending packages make sure it is addressed to
Salt Lake City VAMC
Attn: Belinda Karabatsos
500 Foothill Dr.Salt Lake City, UT 84148

Below is the congressional letter regarding this issue.
July 25, 2007
Executive Office Honorable Orrin G. Hatch
ATTN: Travis Gibbons
104 Hart Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Hatch, Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your letter dated July 5, 2007 in which you inquired to the Secretary of Defense regarding your constituent, Mr. Thomas Nay and his concern about wounded soldier mail at Walter Reed.
When we process unsolicited mail, we send an acknowledgment card stating we can no longer accept it and return the mail. We currently have a backlog of unsolicited mail and it may not have been processed yet.
Department of Defense policy prohibits delivery of mail not specifically addressed by name; therefore, we must return mail addressed “Any Wounded Soldier” to its sender. Walter Reed has and continues to receive tens of thousands of cards and letters in support of our Wounded Soldiers and we simply do not have the resources to open and screen each letter before delivering it.
Our focus is providing world class health care to our Wounded Warriors and to continue this program we literally have to direct our medical personnel from this task. For those wishing to show support, we highly recommend going through the many philanthropic organizations dedicated to helping Soldiers and their families, such as “America Supports You” sponsored by the Department of Defense.
Although we obviously have disappointed some supporters, we want to assure you that the staff at Walter Reed does not lack for “energy” and strives to deliver the absolute best care in the world to our patients.
We appreciate your taking the time to write and bring your concern for our Soldiers and their supporters to our attention. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (202) 782-4868.
Sincerely,
Franklin D. Rowland Jr.Colonel, Medical Service Corps
Director of Information Management

"Recovery Coordinators" for Wounded Warriors

2007-10-31T16:45:00.001-07:00

DoD, VA Announce "Recovery Coordinators" for Wounded Warriors and Their Families Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:09:00 -0500

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1265-07 October 31, 2007 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------DoD, VA Announce "Recovery Coordinators" for Wounded Warriors and Their Families The Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) today signed an agreement to provide "federal recovery coordinators" who will ensure life-long medical and rehabilitative care services and other federal benefits are provided to seriously wounded, injured and ill active duty service members, veterans and their families. The agreement puts into place one of the top recommendations of the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former Sen. Robert Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. "This agreement will help ensure our nation's wounded warriors and their families receive the care they need and deserve at the right time, right place, and by the right person across the continuum from recovery through to their reintegration into their communities," said Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Under this agreement the first group of federal recovery coordinators will be provided by VA in coordination with DoD and will be assigned to select military treatment facilities throughout the nation. They will support existing military service and veteran programs and care providers by coordinating needed services between DoD and VA and state and private and voluntary organizations, while serving as the ultimate life-long resource for wounded, ill and injured and their families who may have concerns about federal services or benefits. Job announcements for the new positions have been posted, with the first 10 federal recovery coordinators scheduled to be hired by Dec. 1. Plans call for the new employees to be trained and in place at the military's major health care facilities during January 2008. The first 10 coordinators will work at military health care facilities and at any other locations where patients are later assigned. They will be located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and the Naval Medical Center Balboa in San Diego. Additional recovery coordinators will be added in the future as needs are determined. The coordinators will have a background in social services or nursing and will work closely with the clinical and non-clinical case management teams to develop and execute federal individual recovery plans. Those plans, developed for the severely wounded, injured or ill, specify what services are needed across the continuum of care, from recovery through rehabilitation to reintegration to civilian life. The coordinators also will work closely with family members to take care of their services and needs. The coordinators will have access to and support from the DoD's under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness and VA's under secretary for health, as well as the commanders of facilities where service members and veterans receive treatment. These federal recovery coordinators are in addition to other programs that have been established by the military services.

Veteran Benefit Fair

2007-10-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Veteran Benefit Fair
Attention Veterans
Mark this Date - Friday November 9 and make plans to attend the Veterans' Benefits and Jobs Fair at the South Towne Expo Center from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Meet with employers with job vacancies in many different occupations and careers. Bring a resume. Learn about benefits available to you. Learn about community resources available to you, and, it's all available at no cost to you - It's Free! Sponsored by the Utah Department of Veteran's Affairs, the Utah Department of Workforce Services and the U.S. Departmentof Labor.
You've earned it; now see what you're entitled to!

The Veterans' Benefits and Jobs Fair at the South Towne Expo Center from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. November 9th 2007
Dept. of Workforce Services Utah's Job Connection

Our Sister VA Angels in Colorado

2007-10-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

10/22/2007 9:27:00 AM
Residents rally in support of troops
Jonathan Schwab - Mail Staff Writer

About 80 people gathered in Poncha Springs Sunday for a war rally supporting the U.S. military and to help propel them toward victory in Iraq. Sponsored by mayors of Buena Vista, Poncha Springs and Salida, the rally began about noon in Chipeta Park. Supporters moved inside to the second floor of the town hall at about 12:30 p.m. when snow flurries began.Rally participants, including about 12 war veterans, arrived from Chaffee, Fremont, and Saguache counties and Colorado Springs. Buena Vista Mayor Cara Russell spoke to the crowd before the rally moved inside.She recited a quote by 18th Century Irish philosopher Edmund Burke: "I believe the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing."

Members of the non-profit group, Soldiers' Angels, were present, requesting donations to sponsor a holiday gift bag for a deployed soldier. The group intends to get a care package or goodie bag into the hands of all the deployed area personnel. Many who showed up to the rally signed a dozen boxes of Christmas cards to send to troops by Soldiers' Angels of Pasadena, Calif. The organization has volunteers in Buena Vista, including Jennifer Page who was at the rally to collect donations and provide information about Soldiers' Angels.

Poncha Springs Mayor Mark Thonhoff said, "My mission with this support rally was to either monetarily or materially give help in any way to the 150,000 men and women serving our country overseas." Thonhoff explained many of the military don't have the daily necessities most Americans do such as toothpaste, floss and other toiletries."If cards and all the small necessities we send brighten up their day, I feel we were successful," Thonhoff said. "Kudos to Cara Russell for spearheading this event."Russell contacted Thonhoff and Salida Mayor Danny Knight in late August about cosponsoring the rally, and both agreed. Russell said they chose Poncha Springs for the rally because it is the most convenient for the three cities. Rally volunteers collected donations for prepaid phone cards to send to troops. Thonhoff thanked Karin Adams of United Country Premier Brokers in Salida for behind-the-scenes work such as helping with Christmas cards. Knight couldn't attend because he was caught in traffic after flying to Colorado Springs from a funeral in Missouri, however, Thonhoff said he was "there in spirit." Thonhoff said. Thonhoff said Knight is "very proactive in supporting our military."Other members of the community who came, children and adults, have family members in Iraq. Heather and Alex Hobson of Salida were at the rally with their parents to support their foster siblings, Nikki and Albert Marle. Nikki is on her first tour in Iraq and Albert is on his third. Deb Wagner of Salida, whose husband, Norm, has been in the national guard in Iraq for eight months, showed up to support troops. When snow abated a bit, about 1:15 p.m., some rally participants lined each side of U.S. 50 holding signs with the image of an eagle and an American flag and messages such as "Freedom through victory, support our mission" and "These colors don't run."They were greeted by honking horns and occasional exclamations from drivers. Snow returned about 3 p.m., but more people arrived, many with nonperishable gifts such as toiletries, crackers, and small juice boxes to send to military personnel.

Soldiers Angels Tribute Music

2007-10-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

1223 Music has a beautiful new song that pays tribute to Soldiers' Angels. The lyrics are below and you can listen to the song at www.myspace.com/1223music.

Lyrics for "Soldier's Angels Tribute" Intro (Written and Spoken by Frank Herring)
This song is dedicated to all the men and women of Soldier's Angels (we need you)
who stopped to take time out of their busy lives who may not understand the impact of their contributions prayers, letters, gifts, and long distance hugs.
We Soldiers could never say thank you enough (thank you)for giving us the one thing that really ever mattered to us... YOUR SUPPORT!

Hook (Written by Adrian Taylor AKA Mr. Sylk, Performed by Cornelius Whitaker AKA C-Whit)God sent me an Angel
And I got it in the mail today
It said I love you and I wanna wish you well today
So here's a package and it's showered with love
I sent it to you cause I know you miss the kisses and hugs
though this world can be so hateful
I'm here to tell you that I'm grateful
And let you know you've got an Angel
Cause you're a Soldier
And I know you need an Angel to watch over you

1st Verse (Written by Mr. Sylk. Performed by himself and C-Whit)
Hey, It seems like heaven's many miles away
but man i'm blessed Cause my Angel's just a smile away
I smile today, somebody had a frown today
But not me, ain't gone be no dark clouds today
I got a letter in the mail, It's my surrogate mom
I got a package in the mail, Oooh I bet it's the bomb yep,
I got a package of DVD's
Some new release CD's to go with my MP3
I got a pack of white socks and white T-ShirtsHanes,
it really ain't my style, but thats's gonnna work(man)
I'm so grateful to have an Angel
Because it's painful, to watch a man go
Unloved and to never get a thank you
When he should get his love committee of a rainbow(Hey)
It's the American Way
Thank you Angel, I'ma have a great American Day
Betsy Ross she made the flag,
I'ma raise the flag
I'm bout to head up out the gate so pray for me and wave ya flags
If you committed to a Soldier MOUNT UP!
Man we need support, so put your pound up
Help us get the count up
And don't be scared cause we're a nation at war
cause all of those that died before us makes the nation we are
My Angel will carry me, If they should go bury me
I'M COMING HOME TO LOVE...... PEOPLE THIS NATION WON"T WORRY ME ...NAW

Hook2nd Verse (Written and performed by John Kirk AKA John-John)
They say angels have wings
Yours are just hidden
But its more than a package
Its your heart that you're given
When you're living with a purpose
Always moving never stopping
So no soldier goes unloved
So no soldier is forgotten
Sometimes life is rotten
It can seem so tangled Soldiers need weapons
But they also need angels
Pattie Patton Bader
Sent a gift to her son
That one act of kindness
Has been multiplied by tons
You can hear it in my lungs
I'm singing this to ya'll To thank you for the support
And answering the call
Cause if all play a part
Ain't no way that we can stop
So many have been supported
So many have been adopted
Now I know I ain't know profit
Cause family can do it better
With an uncle named Sam
You know that we come together
Cause forever seems short
When you're living right
You make a dark day seem bright
My Angel

Hook and Outro (performed by C-Whit)

Hug A Hero

2007-10-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to get the word out about Hug A Hero project.
We are trying to collect 20,000 blankets for the VAs across the country. These blankets can be crocheted, knitted, loomed, quilted or the fleece tie blankets. The measurements are: 36 x 45 for afghans/lap blankets. And 45 x 60 for larger. The blankets should be individually wrapped in Christmas paper and a note should be attached stating who created the blanket and that they are a member of Soldiers' Angels. Once you are finished with the blanket you should email Terri Hansen at: shansenfamily @ embarqmail.com.In the email please include the size of the item and the quantities, if it is gender specific, and if you are here locally and want to donate your blankets to the Salt Lake City, UT VAMC. Once Terri receives your email she will send you an address of a VA facility. Or to confirm the mailing address of the VAMC of your choice. Mail out day will be Dec. 1st.

A big thanks to Wanderingvets

2007-10-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

I want to personally thank Wanderingvets for donating over 10 hours of phone cards to the Salt Lake City, Utah VAMC. If any of you have not read his blogs, there is a link from this site, you should do so. He is a homeless veteran and offers many insights, experiences, and knowledge there. Thank you JT!

VetPacks are in demand

2007-10-10T16:45:00.001-07:00

VETPacks are backpacks put together by Soldiers' Angels to be sent to the VA Hospitals and given out to homeless veterans. These backpacks contain basic necessities such as toiletries, clean socks, underwear, hat, blanket, etc. (for complete contents click the link to the right that says "Click here to donate a VETPack"). It is really important that we get donations for these backpacks. Most VA hospitals give them out at Standdowns. A Standdown is when homeless veterans are invited to a VA Hospital to talk with volunteers about the benefits, finding a job, finding a place to live, etc. Alot of these Standdowns are held during October and November. Here is how you can help.
--You can Donate by clicking the link to the left for Soldiers Angels, donating a VETPack.
--You can collect items and put some VETPacks together yourself
--You can write/make cards and letters to put in the VETPacks
Don't forget to get your schools, churches, co workers, friends, and family involved. The more people that help out the more Veterans we can help.
The Salt Lake City, Utah VAMC is having their standdown on November 2nd. We are expecting 250 homeless vets, who are all in need of a vetpack, any of the items in the vetpack, and the cards. Thank you all who can contribute!!

Statistics from the VA site

2007-10-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

Number of Veterans Receiving VA Disability Compensation (as of 06/30/07): 2.8 Million
Number of Veterans Rated 100% Disabled (as of 06/30/07): 246,520
Number of Veterans Receiving VA Pension (as of 06/30/07): 323,771
Number of Spouses Receiving DIC (as of 06/30/07): 316,012
Number of Total Enrollees in VA Health Care System (FY 06): 7.9 M
Number of Total Unique Patients Treated (FY 06): 5.5 M
Number of Veterans Compensated for PTSD (as of 06/30/07): 292,260
Number of Veterans in Receipt of IU Benefits (as of 06/30/07): 235,316
Number of VA Education Beneficiaries (FY 06): 498,123
Number of VA Veteran Life Insurance Beneficiaries (as of 09/30/06): 1.777 M
Number of VA Voc Rehab (Chapter 31) Trainees (as of FY 06): 53,431
Number of Home Loans Guaranteed by VA (cumulative as of 06/30/07): 2.2 M
Number of Health Care Professionals Rotating Through VA (FY 06): 100,893
Number of OEF/OIF Amputees (as of 07/03/07): 6362

Veterans Demographics
Projected U.S. Veterans Population: 23,977,000 {Female 1,731,000 7.2%}
Projected Number of Living WW II Veterans (as of 9/30/2006): 3,151,000
Number of WW II Veterans Pass Away Per Day: 1,025
Percentage of Veteran Population 65 or Older: 38.4%
Veteran Population by Race: White Non-Hispanic 80.3%
Hispanic 5.5 %
Black Non-Hispanic 10.7%
Other 3.5%

About VA
Number of VA Employees: 247,585
Number of VA Medical Centers: 153
Number of VA Outpatient Clinics: 718
Number of VA Vet Centers: 207
Number of VBA Regional Offices: 57
Number of VA National Cemeteries: 125

For Year2006 Appropriations (actual)
VA: $73.6B
VHA: $31.0B
VBA-GOE: $1.08B
NCA: $150M

For Year 2007 Appropriations (enacted)
VA: $80.2B
VHA: $34.5B
VBA-GOE: $1.17B
NCA: $161M

For Year 2008 Appropriations (request)
VA: $86.4B
VHA: $36.6B
VBA-GOE: $1.20B
NCA: $167M

Golden Corral

2007-10-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

Military Appreciation Monday 12, 2007
Golden Corral and the DAV are partnering for another greatMilitary Appreciation Monday, November 12, 2007, between 5 and9 p.m. That’s the day Golden Corral restaurants nationwide welcome our nation’s veterans and active duty military men and women to a free buffet dinner and drink. Military Appreciation Monday is Golden Corral’s way to saying “Thank You!” to our nation’s veterans and active duty military. Be sure to visit the DAV information table to meet members of Chapters in your area and check out the free DAV information.
Mark your calendar now for Monday, Nov. 12, 2007

End of Life Rooms

2007-10-04T15:11:00.000-07:00

A few months ago we sent an email out in regards to a very special project that is happening at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, GA. We are still in need in helping them meet their objective. Patti has requested that we send this information for you to consider.
There is an old ward at the hospital with a new name, it is called Cultural Transformation. The project takes regular rooms and makes them "like home" as much as possible. While all of these rooms are special, some of these rooms are extra special. The extra special rooms are called "End of Life" rooms. These rooms are where our most special heroes spend their last days. The rooms are being remodeled so family members can stay with their loved ones until the end. They are trying to make the rooms as comfortable as possible for all involved. If you have ever sat in a hospital chair while a loved one was being treated, you can understand how special these rooms are for those who don't have much time left.
The project total is $14,800. The VA is short $3,000 for the completion of these rooms. We are in need of some MUCH needed monetary donations to help them meet their goal. These rooms are so special and will provide comfort for countless years to many families. It isn't often that we can be involved in a project like this. What an honor to be able to help make our heroes and their families as comfortable as possible while they stand guard over their loved ones before they pass away. This project is truly an Angels mission!
If you would like to help with this project please visit www.soldiersangels.org and click on the Make a Donation button to make a contribution. PLEASE be sure to leave a message in the comment section indicating that this will be for the Carl Vinson VA End of Life Rooms Project. You can also mail a check or money order to: Soldiers' Angels1792 East Washington Blvd.Pasadena, CA 91104PLEASE be sure to indicate that it is for the Carl Vinson VA End of Life Rooms Project!
If you have any questions about this project please contact Sonya, the GA VA State Leader at: georgiaveteransteam @ yahoo.com or you can email Lori, the Eastern US VA Regional Leader at LoriT129 @ aol.comIn advance, we would like to thank you for your support of this most special project.

Welcome to "Your" VA

2007-10-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

The VA Salt Lake City Health Care System invites all Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Active Duty Military, Veterans, Families and Significant Others on Saturday October 27th, 2007 10 am to 4 pm
Representatives from a variety of Federal, State Government, and community organizations will provide information on services, education, job opportunities, benefits, family assistance and veteran health care enrollment during this community-wide outreach event.
They have a childrens corner, games and entertainment from 10-4. And at 11 am, Noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm, they have a Battlemind Presentation on Continuing the Transistion Home.

For more information, contact the Public Affairs Office at 801-584-1252

Writing Project for Vets Starts Today!!!

2007-10-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

The Weber State University department of English and the Wasatch Range Writing Project are sponsoring an eight week writing workshop to help military veterans tell their stories.
The first session is today at 5 pm at the Weber County Library Southwest Branch, 1950 W. 4800 S, in Roy. Sessions will continue every Tuesday.
"In talking with veterans, many say these workshops give them the incentive they need to write down what they experienced while in the military." said Gary Dohrer, a WSU English professor. " A lot of them wanted to do this for a long time."
For more information, call 801-626-7318.

Welcome to the Utah State VA Blog

2007-10-01T17:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Utah State VA Blog!!

We are here to assist the VAMC's here in the state of Utah. If you have any information, events, or fundraisers, please let me know. Stay tuned for more info.