HOW CAN WE KNOW? By Keith A. Robinson, Department Commander VA benefits are numerous and the qualifications for these benefits can be complicated. So, how can anyone know about any of the benefits so they can tell other veterans and their families? The first point of contact is ALWAYS our NSO's. They are the professionals in the area of veteran benefits. All a veteran or family member would have to do is call the nearest DAV NSO office for assistance. No matter which office one calls, the claims are adjudicated at the VA Regional Offices in one of the following two locations in New York State. The New York VA Regional Office handles claims for Long Island, New York City and all New York counties east of Syracuse. Call NSO's at (212) 807-3157. The Buffalo VA Regional Office handles all the claims for everyone in the counties on the west side of that line (just east of Syracuse). Call NSO's at (716) 857-3354. Please, DO NOT give out or use the NSO office fax numbers for claims. The fax numbers given in last months article was for ease of communication for the various members, officers and chapters to volunteer to assist with the Mobile Service Office van schedule and other matters NOT associated with claims. The fax numbers are to be used for for DAV business ONLY (not claims). All VA claims paperwork must be mailed. The second point of contact would be a Certified Chapter Service Officer. These individuals have attended the annual DAV certification training give at our Department Convention every June. They have completed the 6 hour training course on veterans benefits and are certified each year after successfully completing the training by our National DAV organization to assist in completing VA claims paperwork for veterans and their families. However, the claims still must be sent to the DAV NSO offices at the two VARO's to be adjudicated by the VA. I would encourage each chapter to have a Certified Chapter Service Officer. The certification training is open to all DAV members with the recommendation of each Chapter Commander & Adjutant. The forms are mailed out to each chapter by the New York NSO office and need to be returned to assure each DAV member attending a seat at the training and also that enough training materials are available for all the designated attendees. The purpose of this training program is to have each Chapter Service Officer as a Certified Chapter Service Officer. Each chapter should consider sending their Chapter Service Officer to the Department Convention held each June to attend the certification training. If, for some reason your chapter does not have a Chapter Service Officer, the Chapter Commander should seriously consider appointing one. Remember, a Chapter Service Officer can be anyone in the chapter who is willing to be a contact point for VA benefit information. The Chapter Service officer can be any member or any chapter officer, but every chapter should have one appointed. Be sure to inform National Headquarters, Department Headquarters and the NSO Office of any changes to the Service Officer as these names and addresses are used as contact information for programs and benefit information. It should also be the goal of each chapter to have the Chapter Service Officer attend the certification training held each June at our Department Convention. I have begun developing a plan in conjunction with the Regional NSO Supervisor @ VARO New York Jeff Hall and the NSO Supervisor Scott Stamper @ VARO Buffalo to bring VA benefit information programs to various locations throughout New York State. We have discussed having regional VA benefit information seminars in each of the two VARO areas. The seminars are being organized by the NSO offices who have the ability to provide the expertise and material to conduct these programs. The seminars are provided free of charge to attendees and at NO COST to chapters or the Department of New York. We now have selected two sites for the benefit information seminars. For the VARO New York area it will be held at the VAMC Northport. For the VARO Buffalo it will be held at the VAMC Syracuse. Each program will be held on a Saturday so as not to conflict with patient care and to maximize the parking available to the attendees. The dates and times of each benefit seminar will be announced at a later date once the VAMC sites have confirmed a training room for us to use. These programs are presented for you all to receive suggestions on how to work with veterans and their families as well as more detailed information on VA benefit programs. Because of the course requirements of the Chapter Service Officer certification training and the time constraints for the Department Convention, this type of information is not able to be included in the formal program. The VA benefit seminars are NOT replacing the Certified Chapter Service Officer training given at our Department Convention in June. However, the information seminars will supplement and expand on the information taught. Each VA benefit information seminar will also be open to those members, officers and Chapter Service Officers who were not able to attend the certification training at the Department convention in June. The seminars are NOT a forum for what is wrong with the VA. We will be providing practical suggestions on how to work with veterans and their families. We will also cover in greater detail how to interface with the NSO offices and how to best help the NSO's help our members, other veterans and their families you all come in contact with each day. We will have discussions on what works and what does not work. Individual claims will NOT be discussed and this is not a program open to the public or anyone else to file claims. The VA benefit information seminars are designed to be a nuts & bolts approach on how we all can help veterans and their families to best file claims with the VA through our NSO offices. Later we will be trying to develop a more expansive schedule to have VA benefit information seminars in other locations throughout the state. If you cannot attend the two we have planned, please contact the NSO office in your area to suggest other locations for consideration. Each location will be reviewed for inclusion in any future schedule. However, please remember that at this time the NSO's do not have the ability to travel to each individual chapter location to present the material we will be covering at these VA benefit information seminars. Rather, we will be setting locations for other areas of the state to try to include as many chapters in each area location as is possible. We will also be trying to include a discussion and offer suggestions on DAV membership. The membership portion will be a how to program on recruiting, maintaining, reactivating and advancing each chapter's membership including how to get members to participate and attend meetings. We look forward to seeing each of you at one or the other of the two seminars we now have planned as I plan to attend both of them. Remember the DAV Mobile Service Office van schedule from last months newsletter. The hours for veterans to come to discuss claims are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Chapter volunteers should show up earlier, say between 8:00 - 8:30 to set up. Please verify your participation with the NSO Office in New York. NOTE: Schedule change. Because the VA has a holiday on Friday 11/10, the Binghamton visit for the DAV Mobile Service Office Van had to be canceled. The only alternative would be the VAMC Bath location on the following Tuesday & Wednesday 11/14 & 11/15. Since it is a drive, we can only suggest carpooling. If you cannot travel for some reason, please call the NSO office at the VARO in Buffalo for information on how to file your VA claim.The planned schedule for the spring Mobile Service Office Van will definitely include Binghamton. We are sorry for any inconvenience, but the DAV was not informed by the VA that they had a holiday in honor of Veterans Day for that particular Friday. NOVEMBER - A MONTH TO REMEMBER By Sidney Siller, Department Adjutant As we approach the 11th month of the year, I am annually reminded of the interesting, significant, and memorable hallmarks that have affected us a nation; the veterans community; and me personally. We as a nation, on the first Tuesday of November, gather at designated polling places across the land to cast our preferences for those we believe will be the best advocates and protectors of the American way of life. In this regard, we have always urged our DAV members to vote. It is essential that our political aspirants understand that "vets vote," and that we maintain the respect our service entitles us to receive. November 11th is Veteran's Day in spite of the deluge of sales that cheapen the true meaning of this dedicated holiday - intended to honor the deeds and sacrifices of millions of citizen soldiers. Yet, this day causes me as a life long DAV member to recall the experiences of our founder Judge Robert Marx, our first National Commander. Captain Marx, on November 10th, 1918 at about 4:00 PM was so far advanced into Germany with his squad that he was not informed that the Armistice ending WWI would occur on November 11th, 1918 at 11:00 AM. It was then and there that Judge Marx was injured and hospitalized for a protracted period. Upon returning home, Judge Marx became the catylictic agent in forming the DAV. In 1920, Judge Marx, was invited to be on the campaign train with presidential candidate James Cox and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the VP candidate. In each and every town, village, hamlet and city the democrat campaign train visited, Judge Marx left the train and took the name and address of every disabled veteran. In 1921, Judge Marx was by acclamation, elected National Commander. This First National Convention was held in Detroit, Michigan. A great friendship was forged between Henry Ford and the DAV at this convention, which still exists today between the DAV and the Ford Motor Company. In 1922, Henry Ford provided 50 Model T's for the DAV members to travel to the West Coast for its' Second National Convention. In the 1960's, I met Judge Marx and I can tell you that it was an unforgettable and inspiring experience. What a rich legacy he left us. As we approach the end of the month we have the Thanksgiving Holiday. A day of family and thankfulness. A day of food, fun, and football. In my own life, it is partly sadness. Fifty years ago, on Thanksgiving weekend, when I served as Department Commander, my sister passed at the age of 33 years. She is buried in Arlington Cemetery near the left front gate. The month of November serves the grand purposes of renewal; thankfulness; remembrances of what we Americans are; family and how others have sacrificed to continue our way of life. God Bless America! VA PLANS MODERNIZATION AT CANANDAIGUA VA MEDICAL CENTER WASHINGTON (Oct. 5, 2006) -- Veterans in the Canandaigua area will continue to receive world-class care for both inpatient and outpatient services in modernized, state-of-the-art facilities operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the current Canandaigua VA Medical Center, the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, announced today. "VA is staying at Canandaigua, with the full range of inpatient and outpatient services," Nicholson said. "With new, world-class health care facilities, Canandaigua veterans will continue to have the best medical care in the United States well into the 21st century. By placing these services closer to where veterans actually live, we're ensuring they have easier access to the care they have earned." Nicholson also announced that VA will conduct studies on the best way to provide those inpatient and outpatient services. The options under consideration would preserve the historic core of the campus through a combination of partial renovation and new construction. Most of the buildings at VA's Canandaigua campus were built between 1932 and 1937, although many patient care buildings were renovated in the 1980s and 1990s. The Secretary's decision was based on the recommendations of a local advisory panel, which suggested VA should examine a combination of new construction and renovation in the current historic courtyards, or new construction at either the Golf Course or Chapel Street parts of the facility. "I want to thank the many people and organizations in Canandaigua and New York state who advised me on this decision, especially the local advisory panel and its chairman, Amo Houghton, along with the New York congressional delegation, veterans groups, city and state leaders, other stakeholders and VA employees," Nicholson said. Plans for the Canandaigua VA Medical Center will be integrated into the Secretary's nationwide capital plan so that a timetable and budget can be established, followed by congressional consideration for authorization and funding. As VA develops plans for the future of the facility, the Department will examine the potential use of portions of the 171-acre campus to assist in the delivery of other complementary services for veterans. Nicholson said he looks forward to receiving additional input from the local advisory panel as VA finalizes its plans for the Canandaigua campus. That study is expected to be completed by the spring of 2007. VA URGES VETERANS TO WEAR MEDALS ON VETERAN'S DAY WASHINGTON (Oct. 18, 2006) -- The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and leaders of major veterans organizations today called on America's veterans to help kindle a new spark of patriotism on Veterans Day by wearing the medals they earned during military service. "We are announcing a Veterans Pride Initiative to remind Americans of the pride and honor in the hearts of those who have served," Nicholson said. "We expect Americans will see our decorated heroes unite in spirit at ceremonies, in parades and elsewhere as a compelling symbol of courage and sacrifice on Veterans Day, the day we set aside to thank those who served and safeguarded our national security." The campaign is modeled after a tradition in Australia and New Zealand, countries who honor the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) on April 25. ANZAC Day sees veterans wearing their military decorations whatever they are doing on that day. Nicholson said he hopes a U. S. tradition will ensue to emulate this pride in being a veteran and in honoring our veterans. VA is offering information about the campaign on its Web page at opaweb@va.gov. IR FORCE MEMORIAL DEDICATION By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein, USAFSpecial to American Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2006 - President Bush accepted the Air Force Memorial here today in a dedication ceremony attended by military leaders of the past and present, political and business representatives and thousands of ordinary citizens and airmen."Soldiers can walk the grounds where they fought for freedom," Bush said, "and Marines can wander down the beaches they stormed, but airmen can never visit the spacious skies they raced across in the defense of our freedom. But now, they can come here." The memorial, overlooking Arlington National Cemetery, features stainless steel spires that punctuate the skyline 270 feet high and illustrate the bomb-burst flying formation made famous by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team. It was designed by architect James Ingo Freed, who died in December.The ceremony was the highlight of a daylong open house event that attracted thousands of people from around the country to the south parking lot of the Pentagon. Huge screens were put up to allow the visitors to view the dedication ceremony, which took place at the base of the memorial.The crowd included former independent presidential candidate Ross Perot and his son, Ross Perot Jr., who is chairman of the Air Force Memorial foundation, and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. Also in attendance were former chiefs of staff of the Air Force, secretaries of the Air Force, chief master sergeants of the Air Force, Air Force Medal of Honor recipients and their families.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley spoke at the event, saying he was deeply honored to be a part of it. He reflected on the airmen who serve today, and their connection to the dedicated airmen who served in the past."We have the most powerful air, space and cyberspace force in the world," he said. "This is a long overdue tribute to all those who are a part of this ongoing cycle of dedicated and talented Americans who served in the Air Force."The Air Force Band performed several pieces while a video was shown with clips from pilots climbing into World War II bombers to modern-day Airmen working in the sands of Iraq.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley spoke of several airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. He read an excerpt from a letter Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, an Air Force pararescueman, sent to his wife, Theresa, before he was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2002."As if aware of his impending death, he wrote, 'I'll die a happy man doing the job I love,'" Moseley read. "Those are the words of a true PJ, and it speaks volumes of his commitment and dedication. We honor him with this memorial, as well as the countless others who are like him."Several aircraft, ranging from World War I bi-planes to today's stealth bombers and fighters, flew over the crowd and memorial in chronological order, providing visual evidence of the evolution of military flight.The ceremony ended with a demonstration from the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's aerial demonstration team, who buzzed the crowd before doing the bomb-burst formation that inspired the design of the three-spires of the memorial."We commemorate today the courage of the men and women who were the Air Force blue," Bush noted. "We remember those who gave their lives for their fellow Americans. We mourn their loss, we pray for their families and we consecrate their legacy here today." GARRY TRUDEAU'S 2ND BOOK Sgt. Sara Wood, USA, AFPSWASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2006 - The award-winning creator of the Doonesbury cartoon strip visited the Pentagon today to meet with wounded servicemembers and sign copies of his second book in a series chronicling the recovery of a wounded Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran.Garry Trudeau wrote the book, "The War Within: One More Step at a Time," as a follow-up to his book, "The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time," which tells the story of comic strip character "B.D.," a National Guardsman who lost his leg during the battle of Fallujah in Iraq and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The second book follows B.D.'s return to civilian and family life after leaving the hospital and his process of dealing with his post-traumatic stress disorder.Trudeau said he's putting together these books, which are really a compilation of his comic strips, as a way to bring the war home to Americans, many of whom may not know any servicemembers or understand the sacrifices they're making."America in general has not been asked to sacrifice much for this particular war," Trudeau said. "Their world has nothing to do with the military world. I think it's important, if you're given a platform that I've been given, to try to bring those two worlds together and say, 'Look, these guys are making some pretty heavy sacrifices and contributions in our name, and we should know a little bit more about them.'"Trudeau was encouraged to publish the books by the Fisher House Foundation, to which he is donating all the proceeds from these books. The foundation operates 34 Fisher Houses in the U.S. and Germany on the grounds of military and veterans hospitals. The houses give family members a place to live and be close to loved ones while they are hospitalized for an injury, illness or disease.Trudeau has met many servicemembers over the years and has recently spent a lot of time talking with military doctors, therapists, and veterans counselors to make his depiction of the recovery process as accurate as possible, he said. His regular comic strips are very satirical and political, he said, so working on this project has forced him to use a different mindset."It's been quite an experience for me to work on this sort of naturalistic level and to try to understand," he said. "There's not much hyperbole in this; this pretty closely tracks what a soldier would actually go through. I try not to exaggerate, and it's important our countrymen understand some of the sacrifices that returning warriors are going through."Trudeau's account of B.D.'s recovery is very accurate, according to the servicemembers who have read it and know firsthand what the experiences are like. Army Spc. Maxwell D. Ramsey, a left-leg amputee recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, said Trudeau did a good job using real-life events wounded troops face and identifying the issues they deal with. He noted a section in the first book in which B.D. gets frustrated with the constant expressions of gratitude from strangers, saying that is something he can relate to in his own life."I'm one that was using humor to deflect and deflate the situation before I even got to Walter Reed to some degree, so seeing it manifested in a comic like this is, for me, appropriate and relieving in a way," he said. "I hope that others will take some measure from that. Anybody that's not feeling sorry for themselves will find the humor in this and giggle about it."Using humor to tackle such a sensitive subject was a challenge, Trudeau said, but humor is often an indispensable coping mechanism for people going through challenges like wounded troops go through. "Humor can sometimes be that thin membrane between you and madness that you need to create some perspective on your situation and move forward," he said.Trudeau said he received a lot of positive feedback about the first book, and that helped shape this book. He said he doesn't know yet how far B.D.'s story will go, but he hopes to see him recover enough to eventually be a peer counselor for newly returning wounded veterans.Army Spc. David Lease, another wounded servicemember Trudeau met with today, said the books are important because they bring to light the experiences of wounded troops and letting them know people care."This is letting us know that they support us," Lease said. "They might not support the fact that we're over there, but they support us."As part of his attempt to inform Americans about the sacrifices servicemembers are making, Trudeau is launching a military blog on his Web site: http://www.doonesbury.com, he said. The blog, which launches Oct. 8, will be called "The sandbox" and will feature entries from servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan."It's important that people understand," he said. "I think the wars are just too remote for people's minds. They see two, three minutes on the evening news, maybe, if they don't look away. And people just get on with their lives. I understand that; there's just so much stress that you want in your life. But at the same time, there's a lot of people over there fighting in our name, so I think we need to pay attention to what they're doing." VETERAN'S DAY (FORMERLY ARMISTICE DAY) Excerpts from All About American Holidays by Mayme R. Krythe November 11, is the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed in the Forest of Compiegne by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending World War I, after four years of conflict. At 5 A.M. on Monday, November 11, 1918, the Germans signed the Armistice, an order was issued for all firing to cease; so the hostilities of the First World War ended. This day began with the laying down of arms, blowing of whistles, impromptu parades, closing of places of business. All over the globe there were many demonstrations; no doubt the world has never before witnessed such rejoicing. In November of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day proclamation. The last paragraph set the tone for future observances: To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation. In 1927 Congress issued a resolution requesting President Calvin Coolidge to issue a proclamation calling upon officials to display the Flag of the United States on all government buildings on November 11, and inviting the people to observe the day in schools and churches...But it was not until 1938 that Congress passed a bill that each November 11 "shall be dedicated to the cause of world peace and ...hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day." That same year President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making the day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. For sixteen years the United States formally observed Armistice Day, with impressive ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the Chief Executive or his representative placed a wreath. In many other communities, the American Legion was in charge of the observance, which included parades and religious services. At 11 A.M. all traffic stopped, in tribute to the dead, then volleys were fired and taps sounded. After World War II, there were many new veterans who had little or no association with World War I. The word, "armistice," means simply a truce; therefore as years passed, the significance of the name of this holiday changed. Leaders of Veterans' groups decided to try to correct this and make November 11 the time to honor all who had fought in various American wars, not just in World War I. In Emporia, Kansas, on November 11, 1953, instead of an Armistice Day program, there was a Veterans' Day observance. Ed Rees, of Emporia, was so impressed that he introduced a bill into the House to change the name to Veterans' Day. After this passed, Mr. Rees wrote to all state governors and asked for their approval and cooperation in observing the changed holiday. The name was changed to Veterans' Day by Act of Congress on May 24, 1954. In October of that year, President Eisenhower called on all citizens to observe the day by remembering the sacrifices of all those who fought so gallantly, and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring peace. The President referred to the change of name to Veterans' Day in honor of the servicemen of all America's wars. THE STORY OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER Armistice Day was observed all over the United States by veteran's parades, public services both religious and secular, with two minutes of silence to honor the dead. In 1920, the British Unknown Soldier was buried in Westminster Abbey, the burial place of kings and queens; that same year a French Unknown Soldier was interred at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where a perpetual flame burns. In 1921, the American Unknown Soldier, symbolizing all the unknown dead, was chosen in an unusual way. Six soldiers of the American Army of Occupation in Germany were selected from different sectors to act as pallbearers. They met at Chalons-sur-Marne, and were interviewed by General Rogers. Next day, Sergeant Edward F. Younger of the 59th Infantry was asked to make a choice among four caskets, with unidentified bodies disinterred from American cemeteries at Bony, Belleau Wood, Romagne, and Thiaucourt. When the sergeant was ready to perform his solemn duty, he received a bouquet of white roses, with instructions to proceed into the City Hall at Chalons, where the four caskets stood. Sergeant Younger realized fully the grave importance of his action; and after bowing his head, he walked around the coffins three times. On the fourth round, he seemed involuntarily drawn to the second one. Reverently, he laid the roses on it, saluted and reported to his commanding officer that he had accomplished his mission. The body of the Unknown Soldier was brought home on the cruiser, Olympia, reaching Washington, D.C., on November 9, 1921. For three days thousands of people passed by as the body lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol. For this important Armistice Day in 1921, President Harding requested that flags be flown from sunrise to sunset at half mast, and that all Americans pay silent tribute as the casket was lowered into the tomb at 11 A.M. on November 11, 1921. There were elaborate ceremonies. High army, navy, and other service personnel, along with diplomats, who had followed the caisson to Arlington, heard the President's address. Many wreaths came from all over our country, and from abroad, these were placed on the plain white marble tomb, on which is these words: Here rests in honored glory An American Soldier Known but to God. DAVNY Home Page / Hot Topics / Action Line / Join the DAV / Administration / Newsletter Newsletter Archive / Chapters / Events / DAV License Plates / Links of Interest / Send Us E-Mail / Page Last Reviewed/Modified: