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Chapter and Local
News |
VVA Calendars to
Manchester Board
Chapter 120, led by Chapter President Paul Barry, presented
the Manchester Board of Directors each their own VVA 2010
Calendar featuring Manchester's Vietnam Memorial on the
September page.
In his remarks, Paul Barry read off each of the 14 names
from that Memorial Wall: David Quey, John Curtin, Robert
White, Robert Rhuda, Keith Miller, Robert Mattson, Donald
Kirkham, Albert Christy, Donald Krajewski, Marshall
McNamara, Raymond Holman, James Mott, Victor DelGreco and
Everett Rines. Chapter President Barry emphasized how
crucial it is that we honor their memory. He spoke about how
special that Manchester Park is to the Veteran community and
the families of the fallen.
Photographer Dena Matthews, of the Manchester Garden Club
and Wesleyan University, expressed the honor she felt both
at having her photo included in the VVA Calendar and in the
opportunity to pay tribute to Manchester Veterans.
Mayor Lou Spadaccini thanked Paul Barry, Dena Mathews and
the Vietnam Veterans present in the audience. He expressed
his pride in Manchester having such a beautiful Memorial and
seeing it portrayed so elegantly in the Calendar.
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Chapter 120 members join
Photographer Dana Matthews (3rd from left) at the
VVA calendar presentation in Manchester on May 11,
2010 |
Shad Derby/Armed Forces
Day Parade
For the 7th consecutive year, Chapter 120 led off the Shad
Derby/Armed Forces Day parade in Windsor on May 15.
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Chapter 120 members prepare for
the Shad Derby/ Armed Forces Day Parade march in
Windsor CT on May 15, 2010 |
The Moving Wall: Vietnam
Memorial to be exhibited in West Hartford
The Moving Wall, the only replica of the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display on the
front lawn of West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street,
from Thursday, June 17 through Monday, June 20.
The names are silk-screened on the aluminum panels that
stretch 252.83 feet, which is slightly longer than half the
length of the Memorial in Washington, D.C. The names
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are in chronological order,
according to the date of casualty. For the POW/MIAs, the
date of casualty is the date they were reported captured or
missing.
An opening ceremony is planned for Thursday, June 17, 2010
at 7pm. Participants include Veterans Affairs Commissioner
Linda Schwartz, Mayor Scott Slifka, John Eselunas, The
Moving Wall chairperson, families of the 18 servicemen
killed in Vietnam, and color guards from all the branches of
service.
The Moving Wall will be open 24 hours a day for the four
days. Everyone is welcome to experience this breathtaking
memorial.
For more information, call Renée McCue at (860) 561-7521 or
email renee@westhartford.org
Pro Patria Award presented to The
Hartford
The Connecticut Committee for Employer Support of the Guard
and Reserve (CTESGR) presented the 2009 Pro Patria Award to
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. for
demonstrating exceptional support through leadership and
personnel policies for employees in the National Guard and
Reserve. Wayne Travers Jr., CTESGR Chairman, presented the
award to Liam E. McGee, Chairman, President and CEO of The
Hartford, at an event at the company’s headquarters on April
23. See
Pro Patria Award
Chapter 484 Fireworks Event
East Haven VVA Chapter 484 will present their 10th annual
fireworks display on June 27th at the East Haven Town Beach
in Momauguin. The start time for the day-long event is 12
noon with bands and food vendors. The fireworks display
begins at approximately 9:15pm.
As donations are needed to help hold this event, Chapter 484
would appreciate any donations you can make. Please go to
the Chapter’s webpage at
www.vva484.bbnow.org for a list
events and how you can make a donation for this special
annual event.
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Connection Available Through E-Mail
The Chapter 120 newsletter, The Connection, is available to
members who wish to receive this monthly publication via
e-mail versus US Postal Service. We currently have 56
members receiving the newsletter by e-mail, saving the
Chapter over $250 annually. To those members, we thank you
for making the decision to help the Chapter reduce its
postal expenses.
The newsletter is available in Adobe format and is sent
approximately one week earlier to members wishing an
electronic copy than those who receive the "snail-mail"
copy. This time difference is based on the lead-time for
printing and mailing the newsletter via USPS.
If you decide that you would wish to receive the newsletter
via e-mail attachment IN-LIEU of the "snail-mail" copy,
please e-mail the newsletter editor at jrcvva120@aol.com. If
at any time, you decide that you would like to change from
electronic copy back to the "snail-mail" copy, send an
e-mail to the newsletter editor. |
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Membership Renewals
Is your membership renewal about to become due? Please renew
today so you can continue to receive the award winning Chapter newsletter,
as well as The VVA Veteran! And as you renew, please
consider joining the other 133 members who have chosen Life
membership. |
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Connecticut Soldier Dies From
Injuries Suffered In Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Edwin Rivera, 28 of Waterford, deployed
to Afghanistan earlier this year with the New
Haven-based 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment.
He was wounded by indirect fire in a May 20 attack
in Laghman Province in eastern Afghanistan and taken
to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany,
then to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington, D.C., where he died late on May 25, 2010
of his wounds.
A 2000 graduate of Waterford High
School, Staff Sgt. Rivera left for Afghanistan in
early January with the 1st Battalion of the 102nd
Infantry Regiment, a Connecticut National Guard unit
based in New Haven. Many of them, like Rivera, were
on their second and third deployments to Afghanistan
or Iraq. Rivera's 700-member deployment group, which
included the 250th Engineer Company of New London,
was the largest deployment of the Connecticut Guard
since the Korean War. See
related story
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Connecticut Department of
Veterans' Affairs |
Governor Encourages Nominations for
Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame
June 30th deadline to nominate vets for post-military life
achievements
Governor M. Jodi Rell is encouraging all citizens to
consider nominating distinguished veterans who have made a
difference in their communities and lives to the Connecticut
Veterans Hall of Fame. See
Governor Encourages Nominations
Governor Announces Winning Design for
Statewide Veterans Memorial
Governor M. Jodi Rell unveiled the winning design for the
statewide memorial that will be built in Rocky Hill to
provide a place of honor and reflection for the service of
all Connecticut veterans – past, present and future.
Governor Rell also announced the start of an aggressive
fundraising effort to raise monies to help pay for
construction of the memorial. See
Governor Announces
CT DVA Launches Digital Directory of
Veterans Memorials
Dr. Linda S. Schwartz, Commissioner of the Connecticut
Department of Veterans’ Affairs, today announced the launch
of an electronic directory of local veterans memorials
created from information submitted by municipalities. The
directory is available on the agency’s website at
www.ct.gov/ctva
Attention! New Phone Numbers
Effective Monday
April 26, 2010 The CT Dept of Veterans' Affairs has NEW
PHONE NUMBERS for the agency. The new AGENCY MAIN NUMBER is
860-616-3600. Please go to
http://www.ct.gov/ctva/cwp/view.asp?a=2005&q=290744 to find the Directory of Agency Phone Numbers.
2010 Veterans' Resource Guide
Available
The CT Dept of Veterans' Affairs has created the
2010 Veterans' Resource Guide. |
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POW/MIA |
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Was Rambo Right?
Hundreds of POWs may have been left to die in
Vietnam, abandoned by their government—and our media.
By Ron Unz
In the closing days of the 2008 presidential campaign, I
clicked an ambiguous link on an obscure website and stumbled
into a parallel universe. See
Was Rambo Right?
DPMO News Releases
For the latest news
releases from the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel
Office (DPMO), click
HERE
National Alliance of
Families Newsletter
For the latest POW/MIA news from the
National Alliance of Families, see their
Bits 'n' Pieces Newsletter |
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At The Capitol |
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Give ‘em a Bone
Nine bills of the 24 passed by the Select Committee
on Veterans’ Affairs were finally passed by the
General Assembly – 7 signed by the Governor and
another 2 awaiting signature at the time this
newsletter went to press.
Amazingly, not one of these bills will benefit the
majority – or even a good sized minority – of
Connecticut’s veterans. In fact, one bill (S.B. 215)
will take a benefit away from a small targeted group
of veterans – veterans in the eyes of the Federal
government, but not here in Connecticut.
It is true that in this year’s General Assembly
session, money was scarce and any bills with a
fiscal impact were closely scrutinized and
discouraged. But to deny and even take away
veterans’ benefits is an outrage.
The General Assembly was kind enough to pass the
“Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” bill. It is
appreciated by every in-country Vietnam veteran in
this State. But it doesn’t actually benefit those
veterans, other than to “Give ‘em a bone”.
Bills Signed by Governor
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• S.B. 214 - AN ACT NAMING THE STATE MILITARY
TRAINING FACILITY CAMP NIANTIC, to permanently name
the state military training facility Camp Niantic
instead of changing the name each time a new
Governor is elected. PA 10-69
• S.B. 215 - AN ACT CONCERNING TUITION WAIVERS FOR
VETERANS, to clarify that eligibility for the waiver
of tuition at state universities and colleges is
limited to veterans who have served time additional
to that spent in training and in attendance at
military service academies. PA 10-66
• H.B. 5263 - AN ACT CONCERNING PROMOTIONS FOR
RETIRED VETERANS, to permit retired senior members
of the Connecticut National Guard and the Governor's
military staff who served honorably for thirty or
more years to apply directly to the Adjutant General
to be
placed on the retired list at one grade above the
highest grade they ever held. PA 10-15
• H.B. 5265 - AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXPIRATION OF
DRIVER'S LICENSES ISSUED TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES, to extend the validity of a driver's license
held by a member of the armed forces serving on
active duty out of state for thirty days after
separation
from service. PA 10-16
• H.B. 5351 - AN ACT CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUG
BENEFITS FOR VETERANS IN NURSING HOME FACILITIES, to
prohibit nursing home facilities from restricting
patients from accessing prescription drug benefits
offered through the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs. PA 10-39
• H.B. 5352 - AN ACT PROCLAIMING MARCH THIRTIETH TO
BE WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS DAY, to commemorate
the date of the return home of the last members of
the armed forces who served in Vietnam by
proclaiming March thirtieth of each year Welcome
Home Vietnam Veterans Day. PA 10-40
• H.B. 5388 - AN ACT CONCERNING HOMELESS FEMALE
VETERANS AND BILINGUAL SERVICE OFFICERS, to require
a study of issues concerning homeless female
veterans and require two bilingual service officers
in CT DVA. PA 10-21 |
Bills Passed in General Assembly, waiting
Governor
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• H.B. 5264 - AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTIES OF THE
ADJUTANT GENERAL, to update and clarify the duties
of the Adjutant General and to allow the Adjutant
General to perform federal construction contracting
on state land, subject to the approval of the
Attorney General. PA 10-130
• H.B. 5350 - AN ACT CONCERNING LICENSURE AND
CERTIFICATION CREDITS FOR MILITARY TRAINING, to
provide credit or an exemption towards the
requirements of a professional license or
certificate for members of the armed forces who
received substantively
similar training or schooling during their military
service. PA 10-105 |
For a complete list of bills
passed by the Select
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, see
Bill Record Book |
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On The Hill |
Congress Passes VA Health Care
Clarification Bill
The U.S. Senate passed legislation on May 18 to clarify that
the VA health care programs can meet the minimum coverage
standard required by the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act. This includes the health care VA provides to
children with spina bifida born to veterans of the Vietnam
War, to some veterans who served in Korea during specified
times, and to children of women Vietnam veterans with
certain birth defects. The bill now awaits the President’s
consideration.
“This bill gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the
authority to ensure that veterans’ family members who
receive health care from VA will meet the health insurance
reform law’s minimum health care coverage requirement,” said
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka
(D-Hawaii), author of the Senate bill.
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,
individuals must hold a minimum level of health care
coverage. The bill would provide the VA Secretary with the
authority to designate VA health care programs as meeting
the minimum standard.
Senate Panel Considers Vet Bills
VA witnesses and veterans’ groups testified before the
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on May 19 concerning a
wide range of veterans’ benefits legislation. |
The Veteran Employment Assistance Act, S. 3234, introduced
by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), would authorize job training
and apprenticeship program benefits under the Post-9/11 GI
Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill was the first GI Bill
legislation that covered only college education and excluded
job/apprenticeship training. The bill also would establish a
veterans’ business center within the Small Business
Administration to help vets start their own businesses,
assess best practices in National Guard and Reserve
transition programs, create veterans’ grants for state-based
conservation projects, and create pilot programs for
military members in health and technology fields seeking
civilian employment.
Other bills of interest at the hearing included:
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• S. 3107 would authorize an annual COLA to veterans’ and
survivors’ compensation and pension programs
• S. 1780 would authorize veteran status for Guard and
Reserve members who completed careers but were never called
up
• S. 1939 would extend “blue water” Navy veterans who served
off the coast of Vietnam the same service-connected
presumption that “brown water” (in-country) Navy vets
receive for certain diseases linked to Agent Orange exposure
• S. 3355 would establish a one-stop VA website similar to
DoD’s Military One Source for information on health care,
education, and other VA benefits. |
Committee Chairman Akaka cautioned that “there are bills on
the agenda that carry significant mandatory costs” and said
the committee was working with the Congressional Budget
Office to get the cost specifics.
One of those bills with “significant mandatory costs” is S.
1939, the Agent Orange Equity Act. This bill would help
about 265,000 "blue water navy" veterans obtain VA benefits
from disabilities they incurred as a result of Agent Orange
exposure. VVA National has continuously urged congress to
pass this important bill. |
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