THE LYCOMING VET. Picture Rocks to Become New Home for Veterans Memorial Park LYCOMING COUNTY OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MARCH 2009

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1 LYCOMING COUNTY OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS THE LYCOMING VET VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 MARCH 2009 Picture Rocks to Become New Home for Veterans Memorial Park T he existing war memorial in Hughesville at Main and Academy streets has been maintained by the Veterans of the Vietnam War Post PA-51 since Later this year, it will be dismantled and transported about three miles north to a site under development to be known as Picture Rocks Veterans Memorial Park at Nunn Lane and Route 220. According to a preliminary plan, the monument (see photo, top left) will be positioned in the center of the park with plaques surrounding it that represent the five branches of the armed forces. A brick walkway will be installed leading up to and around the Veterans Memorial (see drawing, bottom left). To raise funds, bricks are being sold for $50 each, which will be used to create the walkway. The contributor can choose to have information about a veteran engraved on the brick (see samples at right). The inscription may include his or her name, branch of service, rank, conflict served, and dates of services. The engraving will be limited to three lines of type, fifteen characters per line (including punctuation and spaces). Additional funds will be raised through corporate and business donations. Sample paver bricks For more information or to place your order for a brick, please contact any of the following Veterans Memorial Committee members: Gene Otterbein Chris Smith Susan Earl Carl Miller Sherry Gardner Bruce Little Randy Sayman Martin Payne Order forms are also available at the Office of Veterans Affairs for Lycoming County, 330 Pine Street, Williamsport (phone ).

2 PAGE 2 THE LYCOMING VET Williamsport Site of Conference for Pennsylvania State Association of County VA Directors T he City of Williamsport has been chosen as the location for the 2009 Pennsylvania State Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs (PSACDVA) Conference which will be held at the Holiday Inn on Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26, During that week, members, associate members, and their guests from throughout the state will be sightseeing, dining, shopping, and patronizing businesses in the Williamsport area. To help defray conference costs, we are currently seeking support from local retailers, businesses, service organizations, and individuals to sponsor ad space in the program which will be distributed at the beginning of the conference. Cost for a full-page ad (5 inches x 8 inches) is $50.00; half-page ad is $ Please your ad to: jblank@lyco.org in PDF form, or mail ad by Friday, May 22, 2009 to: Joan Blank, Administrative Specialist, Lycoming County Office of Veterans Affairs, 48 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA If you have any questions, please contact Don Cohick at or Joan Blank at INSIDE THIS ISSUE PAGE MONUMENT TO MOVE TO PICTURE ROCKS 1 PSACDVA CONFERENCE COMING TO CITY 2 VETERANS VISIT LOCAL SCHOOL 3 SUCCESSFUL CHRISTMAS IS FOR KIDS 3 ADOPT-A-CHILD HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 4 OBAMA S PLANS FOR THE VA 5 FROM ERIC K. SHINSEKI, SEC. OF VA 6 YOUR REPS IN WASHINGTON & HARRISBURG 7 ALS NOW A COMPENSABLE ILLNESS 8 RIGHT TO SALUTE 8 TWO NEW COUNSELORS AT VET CENTER 9 BLANK SPEAKER AT HISTORICAL SOCIETIES 9 County VA Director Don Cohick at the grave of Capt. Simon Cool, Revolutionary War veteran buried near Lycoming Creek LOCAL VA SERVICES 10 OUTREACH SCHEDULE, AREA SERVICE ORGS 11 CONTACT INFO 12

3 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 Veterans Visit St. John Neumann Regional Academy L-R: Sgt 1st Class Chris Lownes, Vietnam Veteran Martin Payne, Cpl. Anthony Jorgenson T oys were delivered to nearly 400 children in the Hughesville, Muncy, Montoursville, and surrounding areas this past Christmas, thanks to the efforts of the Brenda King, Program Chairman, and numerous volunteers from Veterans of Vietnam Post 51, Toys for Tots Coordinator Chuck Smith, local businesses who provided space for the collection boxes, and everyone who fundraisers, and donated toys and their time during the busy holiday season. Pictured at right: McCall Middle School Assistant Principal Darren Feerer (back row, left) and Vietnam Vets Post 51 Treasurer Martin Payne (back row, 2nd from right) join students at the McCall Middle School as they organize the toys that were collected at the school. Another Successful Year for Christmas is for Kids PAGE 3 D uring a Veterans Day visit coordinated by Veterans of Vietnam War Post 51, sixth through twelfth grade students at the St. John Neumann Regional Academy in Williamsport heard three veterans talk about their military experiences. Featured speakers included Sgt 1st Class Chris Lownes, a recruiter for the National Guard here in Williamsport, Cpl. Anthony Jorgenson, a National Guardsman who was home on leave, and Vietnam Veteran Martin Payne, treasurer of the Veterans of Vietnam War Post 51. This is an example of the continuing Never Forget programs offered by Veterans of Vietnam War Post 51. To arrange for a visit to your school or organization, please the post at: vnvetpost51@yahoo.com Photos provided by Martin Payne; info from Dec edition, Veterans of Vietnam War, Inc. Post 51 Newsletter

4 PAGE 4 O n THE LYCOMING VET Montgomery American Legion Riders Hold Second Annual Adopt-a-Child Celebration Dec. 21, 2008, the Montgomery American Legion Riders Post 251 held their second annual "Adopt-a-Child" holiday celebration at the Montgomery Legion, 185 Broad Street. This year, Cody Lynch, a 15-year-old boy from Montgomery who suffers from Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy and is wheelchair bound, was the Legion Rider's special guest. Cody and his brother, Chase, were surprised with a visit from Santa (John Wagner) as they arrived for the festivities at the legion. Cody received a Penn State jersey, a Play Station 3, video games, and other toys while Chase received a brand new Haro bicycle. A check for $1,000 was presented to the boys' parents to help with expenses and a special donation of $600 from Billings 911 to help pay for Cody's wheelchair. The Mock families also donated $1,000 to the Legion Riders for this year's program. The Legion Riders "Adopt-a-Child" program originally started in December 2007 when President Steve Klapp heard of Ben Mock, a young boy with cancer. Santa greets Cody Lynch at the Montgomery American Legion Riders Adopt a Child holiday celebration. (Photo provided by Steve Klapp) The Legion Riders solicited donations from local businesses and within eight days, over $2,100 was raised. The Legion Riders purchased Christmas presents and presented a check to the family for $1,000 to help with medical expenses. After Ben passed away in February 2008, the Legion Riders decided to continue this program to adopt a local child with special needs. The Montgomery American Legion Riders were overwhelmed with the generosity of all of the businesses and individuals who made this year's Adopt-a-Child program such a success. Additionally, the Legion Riders has presented a check in the amount of $400 to the Watsontown Police Department, and the Montgomery Christmas Committee also received a check for $400 to assist in providing a brighter Christmas for the local children. Reprinted from Dec. 23, 2008 issue of the Muncy Luminary

5 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 President Obama s Plans for Future of VA "Keeping faith with those who serve must always be a core American value and a cornerstone of American patriotism. Because America's commitment to its servicemen and women begins at enlistment, and it must never end." -- Barack Obama, Speech in Kansas City, MO August 21, 2007 According to the White House website, President Obama and Vice President Biden are committed to creating a 21st Century Department of Veterans' Affairs that provides the care and benefits our nation's veterans deserve. They will: Allow All Veterans Back into the VA: Reverse the 2003 ban on enrolling modestincome veterans, which has denied care to a million veterans. Strengthen VA Care: Make the VA a leader of national health care reform so that veterans get the best care possible. Improve care for polytrauma vision impairment, prosthetics, spinal cord injury, aging, and women's health. Combat Homelessness among Our Nation's Veterans: Establish a national "zero tolerance" policy for veterans falling into homelessness by expanding proven programs and launching innovative services to prevent veterans from falling into homelessness. Fight Employment Discrimination: Crack down on employers who commit job discrimination against guardsmen and reservists. HELP FOR RETURNING SERVICE MEMBERS Obama and Biden will improve the quality of health care for veterans, rebuild the VA's broken benefits system, and combat homelessness among veterans. They will: Ensure a Seamless Transition: Demand that the military and the VA coordinate to provide a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life. Fully Fund VA Medical Care: Fully fund the VA so it has all the resources it needs to serve the veterans who need it, when they need it. Establish a world-class VA Planning Division to avoid future budget shortfalls. Fix the Benefits Bureaucracy: Hire additional claims workers, and improve training and accountability so that VA benefit decisions are rated fairly and consistently. Transform the paper benefit claims process to an electronic one to reduce errors and improve timeliness. IMPROVED TREATMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND TBI Obama and Biden will improve mental health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related psychological injuries. They will: PAGE 5 Improve Mental Health Treatment: Recruit more health professionals, improve screening, offer more support to families and make PTSD benefits claims fairer. Improve Care for Traumatic Brain Injury: Establish standards of care for Traumatic Brain Injury, the signature injury of the Iraq war. Expand Vet Centers: Expand and strengthen Vet Centers to provide more counseling for vets and their families.

6 PAGE 6 THE LYCOMING VET An Open Letter from Eric K. Shinseki Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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 this duty even better during the 21st Century. We welcome the assistance and advice of our Veterans Service Organizations, other government departments and agencies, Congress, and all VA stakeholders as we move forward, ethically and transparently, so that Veterans and citizens can understand our efforts. Eric K. Shinseki Secretary of Veterans Affairs Creating that vision for transforming the VA into a 21st Century organization requires a comprehensive review of our department. We approach that review understanding that Veterans are central to everything VA does. We know that results count, that the department will be measured by what we do, not what we promise, and that our best days as an organization supporting Veterans are ahead of us. We will fulfill President Lincoln s charge to care for... him, who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan... by redesigning and reengineering ourselves for the future. Transforming any institution is supremely challenging; I know this from my own experience in leading large, proud, complex, and high-performing organizations through change. But the best organizations must be prepared to meet the challenging times, evolving technology and, most importantly, evolving needs of clients. Historically, organizations that are unwilling or unable to change soon find themselves irrelevant. You and your needs are not irrelevant. Veterans are our clients, and delivering the highest quality care and services in a timely, consistent and fair manner is a VA responsibility. I take that responsibility seriously and have charged all of the department s employees for their best efforts and support every day to meet our obligations to you. Our path forward is challenging, but the President and Congress support us. They have asked us to do this well for you. Veterans are our sole reason for existence and our number one priority bar none. I look forward to working together with all VA employees to transform our department into an organization that reflects the change and commitment our country expects and our Veterans deserve. Thank you, and God bless our military, our Veterans, and our Nation.

7 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 Your Reps in Washington & Harrisburg: U.S. Representative Christopher P. Carney 10th Congressional District Williamsport District Office 175 Pine Street, Suite 103 Williamsport, PA Phone: Fax: Office Hours: M-F 8:30-5 Website: U.S. Representative Glenn GT Thompson 5th Congressional District 3555 Benner Pike Suite 101 Bellefonte, PA Phone: Fax: Website: PA State Senator Gene Yaw Senate District Pine Street, Suite 204 One Progress Plaza, Suite 13 Williamsport, PA Towanda, PA Phone: Phone: Fax: Fax: Toll-free: Website: gyaw@pasen.gov PA State Representative Garth D. Everett 84th Legislative District Penn Hills Plaza, Halls Station Tiadaghton Valley Mall 21 Kristi Road, Suite 2 Room 105 Muncy, PA Jersey Shore, PA Phone: Phone: Fax: Fax: Office Hours: M-F 9-5 Office Hours: M-F 9-4:30 Website: geverett@pahousegop.com PA State Representative Rick Mirabito 83rd Legislative District 800 West Fourth Street, Suite GO2 Williamsport, PA Phone: Fax: Office Hours: M-W-F 8-5; T-TH 8-7 Website: PAGE 7 Not sure who your representative is? Find out at:

8 PAGE 8 VA Declares ALS Presumptive Compensable Illness THE LYCOMING VET Laws Give Military Retirees, Vets the Right to Salute Washington Veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may receive support for themselves and their families after the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that ALS will become a presumptively compensable illness for all veterans with 90 days or more of continuously active service in the military. ALS, also called Lou Gehrig s disease, is a neuromuscular disease that affects about 20,000 to 30,000 people in the U.S. and is almost always fatal. Veterans are developing ALS in rates higher than the general population, and it was appropriate to take action, (then) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake said. Secretary Peake based his decision primarily on a November 2006 report by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) on the association between active-duty service and ALS. ALS is a disease that progresses rapidly, once it is diagnosed, the Secretary explained. There simply isn t time to develop the evidence needed to support compensation claims before many veterans become seriously ill. My decision will make those claims much easier to process, and for them and their families to receive the compensation they have earned through their service to our nation. VA will work to identify and contact veterans with ALS, including those whose claims for ALS were previously denied. For more information, go to or contact the Lycoming County VA Office at Washington Veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in FY09 National Defense Authorization Act. This provision adds to a change in the FY08 NDAA that authorized veterans and military members not in uniform to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering, or passing of the flag. Last year s provision also applied to members of the armed forces while not in uniform. The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation s armed forces, said (then) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation s flag. Reprinted from Issue 1, Vol. 53 of ECHOES - The Bulletin for Retired Soldiers & Families

9 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 PAGE 9 Two Counselors Join Staff at Vet Center Raymond P. McGinnis ~ Licensed Social Worker Ray began his social work profession counseling soldiers while serving with the 2 nd Medical Battalion, 2 nd Infantry Division in South Korea. Ray has enjoyed a long career in various counseling capacities in our area. He started at the Williamsport Center in December 2008 and conducts group, family, and individual therapy session. Ray travels to our outreach location in Sunbury every Wednesday and conducts group and individual counseling. Forrest J. McLean ~ Licensed Social Worker Forrest spent twelve years in the United States Navy. He has conducted extensive family counseling during his ten years working for the Susquehanna Health s Behavior Heath unit. He joined the Williamsport Vet Center s staff in January He conducts individual and group counseling sessions for combat veterans and he travels to the Sayre VA Outpatient Clinic every Friday to assist veterans in that region. Veterans Affairs Staff Member Featured Speaker at March Meeting of Muncy Historical Society T he first meeting of the 2009 season for the Muncy Historical Society featured Joan Blank, from the Lycoming County Office of Veterans Affairs. She presented an overview of the history of military grave markers, how the documentation of Lycoming County veteran graves began in the late 1930s, and how information for the more than 17,000 veterans buried here in the county is recorded and maintained by the Office of Veterans Affairs. Blank will be presenting the same program during an upcoming meeting of the Montgomery Area Historical Society. It will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Montgomery Borough Office Building located at 35 South Main Street, Montgomery. The public is welcome. Blank is a member of Montgomery Area Historical Society's board of directors and is editor of that society's quarterly newsletter. She also is a member of the Montgomery Area Public Library board and the East Lycoming Historical Society, based in Hughesville. She writes articles and a weekly column about Montgomery for the Muncy Luminary and has been employed in the Veterans Affairs offices for the County of Lycoming since Blank is also the author of two postcard history books by Arcadia Publishing: Around Hughesville (2007) and Around Montgomery (2008).

10 PAGE 10 THE LYCOMING VET LYCOMING COUNTY The PA CareerLink Lycoming County office is located at 145 West Third Street in Williamsport and is open Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. Mack Duncan Jr. is the Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) responsible for providing employment assistance to all labor exchange eligible veterans and eligible persons. Phone: Or check online at Vet Center The Vet Center is located at Suite 104, 49 East Fourth Street, Williamsport, next to the James V. Brown Library. Phone All services provided by the Vet Center are FREE OF CHARGE. These include readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family members. These include: individual counseling group counseling marital and family counseling bereavement counseling substance abuse information and referral referral in applying for VA Benefits referral for job counseling and educational VA benefits referral for homeless vets military sexual trauma (male and female) counseling & referral outreach and community education VA Outpatient Clinic The VA Outpatient Clinic was established July 1997 on the Campus of Divine Providence Hospital in the Wenner Building, 1705 Warren Avenue, Suite 304, Williamsport, PA Phone: Fax: Open: Monday Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Scheduled appointments only ~ No Emergency Services/No walk-ins Services Include: Primary Care, Enrollment/Eligibility forms, Psychiatry, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Social Services, Counseling, Lab, Nutrition services, and Immunizations. The VA Clinic has a social worker at the clinic on Tuesday and Thursday. Her name is Chris Veach; please call the clinic at (570) to schedule an appointment.

11 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 PAGE 11 COUNTY VA O FFICE ~ OUTREACH SCHEDULE To make it more convenient for veterans living in the eastern and western parts of the county, the VA Office comes to you! Feel free to stop in at the following locations on the following dates: Tuesday, April 14-1:00 to 4:00 PM Jersey Shore Outreach: Don Cohick will be at the American Legion Post 36, George Webster Pepperman, 320 Seminary Street, Jersey Shore, PA Tuesday, May 12-1:00 to 4:00 PM Muncy Outreach: Don Cohick will be at the VFW Post 3428, Edward J. Smith Post, 12 North Market Street, Muncy, PA The Veterans Affairs Office will be closed Memorial Day - Monday, May 25 ~ NO OUTREACH IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE, JULY, OR AUGUST ~ AM. LEGION, VFW & OTHER COUNTY VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS American Legion Post 1- Garrett Cochran 10 E. 3rd St., Williamsport, PA Phone: Lloyd Brooks, Adjutant American Legion Post 35- Glenn Sharrow 78 N. Main St., Hughesville, PA Phone: American Legion Post 36 - George Webster Pepperman P.O. Box 211, Jersey Shore, PA Phone: American Legion Post Eugene Grafius 1312 Broad St., Montoursville, PA Phone: American Legion Post Bower Decker 185 Broad St., Montgomery, PA Phone: American Legion Post Roland Ritter 515 Legion Rd., Muncy, PA Phone: American Legion Post Royal P. Steinbacher 901 Market Street, South Williamsport, PA Phone: Gail Eppler, Commander Adjutant & Secretary (position open) VFW Post Edward J. Smith Post 12 N Market St., Muncy, PA Phone: American Legion Post West Branch Service Post Michael J. Jones, Commander; Phone: P.O. Box 1971, 1061 John Brady Rd., Pennsdale, PA George Diffenbaugh, Adjutant; Phone: Meets at the Montoursville Presbyterian Church 900 Elm Street, Montoursville, PA VFW Post Billy O. Brandt Post 201 N. Lincoln Ave., Jersey Shore, PA Phone: VFW Post Le Roy O. Buck Post 150 Shaffer St., South Williamsport, PA Phone: VFW Post 844- Howard W. Kahler Post 1260 West 3rd Street, Williamsport, PA Veterans of the Vietnam War Post PA 51 P.O. Box 23, Hughesville, PA Web site: Commander: Randall Sayman Phone: Korean War Veterans of Lycoming County, Inc. P. O. Box 3232, Williamsport, PA Commander Fred Schaefer Phone: Williamsport Detachment 388 Marine Corp League Inc. P. O. Box 3245, Williamsport, PA Commandant Don Miller Contact: Robert Mosley Phone: If any of the above information is incorrect, please contact Joan Blank at

12 County of Lycoming LYCOMING COUNTY OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Suite 104 Executive Plaza Building 330 Pine Street Williamsport, PA Mailing Address: 48 West Third Street Williamsport, PA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REBECCA A. BURKE, CHAIRPERSON ERNEST P. LARSON, VICE CHAIRMAN JEFF C. WHEELAND, SECRETARY We are here to help you... 1 SG Donald L. Cohick (Ret.) Lycoming County Director of Veterans Affairs dcohick@lyco.org Fully accredited as a Veterans Service Officer by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as well as the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Inc. Twenty-seven years combined military service Joan C. Blank Administrative Specialist jblank@lyco.org Fully accredited as a Veterans Service Officer by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as well as the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Inc. Visit our Web site: for up-to-date news and information for veterans The Lycoming Vet is published quarterly by the Office of Veterans Affairs in Lycoming County, PA Contributors: Gene Otterbein, Martin Payne, Ray McGinnis, Forrest McLean, Joan Blank & Don Cohick Editor/layout & design: Joan Blank: jblank@lyco.org To make an appointment, please call Kim Sewall at: Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:30 AM 5:00 PM Closed weekends and major holidays. Do you have announcements or information to share? The Lycoming County Office of Veterans Affairs invites you to submit articles and items of interest to be published in the next edition of The Lycoming Vet, which are published quarterly on the first of January, April, July, and October. Deadline for article submissions are the 15th of the month prior to publication date. For questions or to make submissions, please contact Joan Blank at the Veterans Affairs Office.