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Veteran's E-News (April 2009) |
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South Florida Veterans Multi-Purpose Center
concludes six week Equine Assisted Learning
Program |
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On Saturday April 4th 2009 the South Florida
Veterans Multi-Purpose Center celebrated the
final session of a six week Equine Assisted
Learning Program. The group consisted of nine
individuals who learned the basic principles of
an EAP program. The program was conducted by
Lorisa P. Lewis, MS.,LMHC,LLC , Robert J.
Bambury and Tracy Potter Equine Specialists. A
closing ceremony included a luncheon with
covered dishes supplied by the group. Horse
related memory key chains were presented to each
group member completing the program. These
individuals now become eligible to serve as
volunteer assistants for other groups. |
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STAND DOWN PLANNED FOR BROWARD COUNTY |
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Dear Vets and Vet Supporters – This is to inform
you of the Stand Down that is taking place in
Broward. We hope that your organizations would
all like to be involved. All of your ideas and
your energy is needed for every phase of the
Stand Down. One of the needs that has been
identified is for security for the event.... |
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A unique partnership: Behavioral Health
collaborates with Veterans Services By Cynthia
J. Wright, Advance Editor |
When our nation's veterans return from the
horrors of war, many of them need help to
reintegrate into mainstream society. More than
that, some need help remembering how to interact
with their children, spouses and other family
members.
Of those returning from war-torn posts,
nationwide, 15-20 percent will suffer symptoms
of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
according to the Kings County Veterans Services
Office (VSO). The percentages are even higher
when referring to those who have suffered
traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Yet many don't get the help they need.
"The symptoms are not as obvious as most
injuries and are often overlooked," Joe Wright,
veterans services officer/public guardian for
Kings County, said... |
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Troops exposed to fumes from open-air burn
pits in Iraq and Afghanistan face “significant
danger” |
If you served in Iraq and were exposed to Burn
pits,
see https://sites.google.com/site/burnpits/ to
provide your info.
Other people you can contact for more
information about burn pits:
• Kerry Baker (Disabled American Veterans),
202-314-5229
• Patrick Campbell (Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America), 202-544-7692
• Kelly Kennedy, Military Health/Science
Reporter (Military Times), 703-642-7317
• Will Jenkins (Office of U.S. Congressman Tim
Bishop), 202-225-3826
Troops exposed to fumes from open-air burn pits
in Iraq and Afghanistan face “significant
danger,” according to independent scientists
hired by Congress to look at a study conducted
by the military on the burn pit at Joint Base
Balad, the largest U.S. facility in Iraq... |
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Support HR 1428 - VA Presumption of Exposure
to AO for Parkinson's Disease Support HR 1428 -
Include Parkinson’s Disease Among the Diseases
Presumed Caused by Agent Orange |
Please send the following editable message to
your Representative -
I urge you to con-sponsor and actively support
HR 1428, which was introduced by Representative
Bob Filner on March 11.
HR 1428 would include Parkinson's Disease among
the eleven diseases already presumed to be the
result of exposure to Agent Orange in the
Republic of Viet Nam during the period January
1962 through May 1975.
Apparently, within the past decade, the VA has
documented very significant increase of
Parkinson's disease among those who served in
Viet Nam as compared to the general population.
Again, please support this important
legislation.
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SAMPLE LETTER
[recipient address was inserted here]... |
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VVA In Full Support of Budget Chairman
Spratt's "Mark" in the House |
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
expressed full support for the "Chairman's
Mark," put forth by the Honorable John Spratt
(S.C.) in the House of Representatives' Budget
Committee today.
"While we had hoped to have more research funds
for VA to compensate for the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) ignoring the health of veterans,
and funding for Advanced Appropriations for VA,
we are nonetheless very pleased that the
Chairman has budgeted for full funding of the
President's request. VVA appreciates that
Chairman Spratt continues to make it possible,
even in this difficult budget year amidst tough
economic times, for the Appropriators to be able
to properly... |
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Opinion: Can We Get Some Changes in
Management at DVA? Please! This century! |
by Tom Barnes, Staff Writer
Can we get some movement on a major management
shift at the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)?
I am an IU disabled veteran. Long story
concerning my problems with the DVA. Suffice it
to say, the story is long, the taste in my mouth
is bitter and there is always a code of federal
regulation or an executive order signed by the
President or some obscure operating procedure
followed by the DVA which either would not,
could not or disallowed whatever it was that I
was asking for.
I eventually went to the Board of Appeals and
was declared IU totally disabled at about eight
years after the initial time that I filed a
claim. It was a maddening experience.
I have never been able to figure out why so
many roadblocks were placed into my path by
otherwise nice people. I talked on the phone
with hundreds of people from Congressional
staffers, to agents of the DVA and the Disabled
American Veterans... |
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An Open Letter to Veterans From Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki |
WASHINGTON (March 13, 2009) - Following is an
open letter to Veterans from Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki:
"My name is Ric Shinseki, and I am a Veteran.
For me, serving as Secretary of Veterans Affairs
is a noble calling. It provides me the
opportunity to give back to those who served
with and for me during my 38 years in uniform
and those on whose shoulders we all stood as we
grew up in the profession of arms.
"The Department of Veterans Affairs has a solemn
responsibility to all of you, today and in the
future, as more Veterans join our ranks and
enroll to secure the benefits and services they
have earned. I am fully committed to fulfilling
President Obama's vision for transforming our
department so that it will be well-positioned to
perform... |
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