A Time To Remember, To Reflect, To Heal
The Weekend Of June 6, 2008... A Few Thousand 'Words'
"We were friends from kindergarten We both were there I came back - He should have also."
Walter C. Schmidt, Radioman 2nd Class, U.S. Navy
This Week's Almost Not Commented on Story
-- I Know of This, Personally...
VA'S CRUEL BENEFITS POLICY: IF YOU DON'T ASK, WE WON'T TELL -- Lack of VA outreach costs World War II POW more than 60 years of benefits. When family files, VA loses paperwork and vet dies with nothing. A World War II veteran, was unaware he qualified for $2,700 a month and full medical and dental benefits through the VA because of his POW status. With the help of his family Jones filed for benefits but his paperwork was lost earlier this year. Jones died two weeks before receiving any benefits. How can this happen? Because the VA has no obligation to inform "older" veterans of their benefits. Until recently, the VA didn't notify any veterans about their benefits, but now they are required to do outreach to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. While this is a good thing, those "young" veterans make up less than 3% of the veteran population. That leaves the other 97+% without any mandated outreach. Congress tried to implement legislation requiring the VA to notify all veterans of all possible benefits...but, VA argued against it. It's time for Congress to bring this legislation back. In this election year, we hear politicians of both parties talking about supporting the troops and caring for veterans...but, that's just 3% of the veterans. Iraq and Afghanistan vets get priority healthcare and claims adjudication as well as a special outreach program to inform them of their benefits. The older vets just sit and wait their turn in line. Anyone who served prior to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is truly "Old and in the Way."
My Hicksville Trivia:
Our Lady of the Surf Day Part I.
With over 3,300 students, the daily absentee-list contained more than just a few names every school-day. Yet in the mid '60s there was one day each year when instead of an absentee-list, teachers received an attendee-list. Why? Because of the very simple fact that on that day there were more students absent than present. In fact, circa 1964 this once-a-year attendee-list contained less than 900 names. Yep, over two-thirds of us students cu..., er, were absent that day. Our Lady of the Surf Day; you had to "not-be-there or be square." More on one of Hicksville's most famous non-holiday-days next month.
Lest We Forget
Currently there are (at least) 5,067 (35 more since last month) Veterans of Modern Warfare who no longer will be "asking" our government for a dime . . .
Till next month be well... and remember, "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
------------------------------
--- --- Walt Schmidt Veteran Services Officer
- - --- TOBay's Veteran Services Division
- - - - "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
--- --- WorkDayTime: 516.733.8414 & 24/7 Voice Mail
- - --- Anytime: 24/7 Voice Mail 516.799.8300
- - - - Website: http://www.waltsdorsai.net/
Ken Sun - Weekly Column: http://experts.longisland.com/
"To know yet to think that one does not know is best;
Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty."
- Lao-Tzu 71:1
