You talked. Washington listened. page

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1 THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF DAV AND AUXILIARY JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015 You talked. Washington listened. page 14 AVAILABLE FOR TABLETS AND MOBILE DEVICES

2 Join the Fight After years of budget delays, partisan gridlock and access issues for veterans seeking benefits and health care, DAV s fight is far from over. One of the most important pieces of our artillery is you our vocal members and active grassroots supporters. Arm yourself for the coming battles by attending DAV s Mid-Winter Conference Feb at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va. There you ll get the facts, visit your lawmakers on Capitol Hill and address your concerns as we work together to improve the treatment of veterans in this country. Stand beside National Commander Ron Hope as he delivers DAV s Legislative Presentation to Congress. The support and direct action from Chapter and Department leaders from across the country make DAV such a strong leader among veterans service organizations. One of DAV s top priorities has been advance funding for all of the VA s programs and services. It is because of your efforts and support during last year s Mid-Winter Conference that we have gained traction on this issue and seen passage of a portion of DAV s Putting Veterans Funding First Act. Your participation in this annual event is critical and helps us better represent veterans. The Mid-Winter Conference agenda includes workshops and seminars to help bring you up to speed on our critical issues and efforts and can help guide you as you engage your fellow veterans back home. So plan to take part in one of the most crucial gatherings of DAV leaders from across the country. Join us as we march onward together, fighting for veterans rights and benefits. n DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Feb For more information, visit

3 From the NATIONAL COMMANDER RON F. HOPE COMMENTARY Facing the new year with renewed resolve Thomas Jefferson wasn t the first great thinker to consider the merits of a democratic form of government responsible to the people it governed. But the words in which he penned this concept have become etched in the soul of every American: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The sage of Monticello reminds us we should be in pursuit of happiness every day. No one knows that more than those who have been changed by military service. For Jefferson, his pursuit of happiness involved the cultivation of family and friendships, his reading, his deep passion for music, his favorite exercise of walking, and his joy of sharing good food and drink with friends. So, I encourage us all to enter the new year with a goal of pursuing happiness a little bit every day. You and your families have absolutely earned the right to lead normal, fulfilling lives. DAV finished 2014 with plenty of accomplishments to be proud of. All of our Departments and most of our Chapters met recruiting goals. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial was finally dedicated. We released a very detailed study that documented the shortcomings in specialized medical care for female veterans, and the media exposure our organization is receiving is greater than ever. We enter 2015 with a clear picture in sight, but I need your help to ensure we hit the target. It s time now, just as it was in Jefferson s time, to hold our government accountable for its actions. We do that with our votes. I encourage all of you to access the DAV Commanders Action Network (DAV CAN) and use this very innovative online tool to tell your elected representatives where you stand on veteran-related issues. It s our collective responsibility to stay informed on legislation impacting veterans and their families and to constantly remind Congress and the Administration that we won t be ignored. DAV and other veterans service organizations, through our annually submitted Independent Budget report, warned the VA, Congress and the White House for a decade that the status quo within the VA was bound to fail. Those warnings often went unheeded. Most veterans are happy with the quality of care they receive from the VA, which is uniquely suited to address illnesses and injuries of veterans. But getting access to the care has been and remains the central underlying problem. I urge you to join me in telling our elected representatives in no uncertain terms that they must fully fund the VA with no political gimmicks or loopholes that often cause the congressional process to grind to a standstill. As you can see, we have a lot to be proud of. But there s also work to be done, and we must do it together. It s a privilege to serve as your National Commander, and I look forward to continuing our march forward for veterans and their families. PAGE 1

4 CONTENTS 1 National 3 National Commander Ron Hope sets the tone for the New Year, encouraging veterans to pursue happiness and fulfillment through service. Adjutant Marc Burgess reflects on mission successes and gives insight into the new year s top issues for the national organization. FEATURES 7 Running fever spreads to the West Coast as the DAV 5K expands to San Diego. Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis addresses the crowd of veterans and their supporters before the start of the 2014 race. 5 A Vietnam veteran of Hamburger Hill struggled with the memories of War for years before seeking assistance through DAV. DAV recruiters are key to bolstering the ranks and strengthening active membership. VA Secretary Robert McDonald announces plans for a major restructuring of the department in order to better focus on customer service. New Cost of Living Adjustment figures for 2015 are out see how the changes affect you. Members take innovative, fullcircle approach to combatting veteran homelessness in Maine. 14 DAV s fall advance appropriations push ends in success; language to protect veterans benefit payments included in FY15 spending bill. 19 Golden Corral once again treats veterans and service members to free Military Appreciation Monday meals across the country. Ron F. Hope National Commander J. Marc Burgess National Adjutant/Publisher DAV MAGAZINE January/February 2015 Contact us: Toll Free Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY Volume 57, Issue 1, DAV Magazine (ISSN ). Editorial Office: DAV Magazine, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH Telephone or toll free (877) I AM A VET. Published and circulated bimonthly bulletin by the Disabled American Veterans, a Congressionally chartered, nonprofit organization, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH DAV Home Page is Available on recording for the blind and those with physical handicaps that preclude reading printed material. The magazine is mailed free to DAV and Auxiliary members who are paid subscribers. Nonmembers may subscribe for $15 per year. Periodical postage paid at office of publication, Newport, KY 41071, and at additional offices. Printed in U.S.A. Change of Address: When notifying a change of address, send former as well as new address, including zip code, to: DAV Magazine, DAV National Headquarters, P.O. Box , Cincinnati, OH POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DAV Magazine, DAV National Headquarters, P.O. Box , Cincinnati, OH Daniel J. Clare National Director of Communications Ashleigh Byrnes Deputy National Director of Communications Joseph R. Chenelly Assistant National Director of Communications Steven Wilson Assistant National Director of Communications Charity Edgar Assistant National Director of Communications M. Todd Hunter Associate National Director of Communications Doreen Briones Production Manager Shannan Archer Senior Graphic Designer

5 From the NATIONAL ADJUTANT J. MARC BURGESS COMMENTARY The journey ahead I welcome you all to It s a bright, new year, and I believe there is much in store for DAV and our members. We closed the past year knowing we had done our due diligence on behalf of veterans and their families. With the help of grassroots and member support, several DAV provisions have been passed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2015 omnibus spending package. Advance appropriations for all VA s mandatory benefits payments including disability compensation, pension, DIC and the GI Bill will now be fully funded a year in advance. And key directives on care for women veterans have been included as well, coming directly from language in DAV s study, Women Veterans: The Long Journey Home. These represent some of the most critical issues we tackled in 2014 and a significant measure to protect benefits and improve care for veterans. This victory is in no small part thanks to your efforts. More than 38,000 signed our Change.org petition online in support of this effort. We gained extraordinary momentum through our Operation: Keep the Promise campaign and our follow-up campaign in October marking the anniversary of the government shutdown. You should be extraordinarily proud. In the coming year, I am excited to see DAV s study on women veterans continue to influence both conversation The successes we see at the national level are so often the result of your support at the Chapter and Department levels. and policy concerning gender-specific transition issues. We have seen an incredible response from our members and from the media; everyone is eager to bring this topic to light and to institute changes that better serve this population of veterans. Our national legislative staff continues their dedicated efforts to educate members of Congress and the American public on these important issues, and with your help and continued support we will advance our agenda this year and make substantial changes for veterans and their families. Make no mistake; the successes we see at the national level are so often the result of your support at the Chapter and Department levels. We are only as strong as the legs we stand on, and your efforts help us raise awareness and apply the pressure necessary to institute real change. I encourage you to remain as fully engaged as you are now and ask yourselves what more you can do to help us fulfill the DAV mission. Being engaged through our social media efforts will only become more important. Of course, you can always rely on the DAV Commanders Action Network (DAV CAN) to keep you up to date on the issues most pressing in the veterans community. Thank you for your continued support and dedication, and I look forward to another successful year with you. PAGE 3

6 LETTERS Leave no one behind As Chairman of the Board for the National League of POW/MIA Families and a lifetime DAV Auxiliary member, I was pleased to see that accounting for our missing remains a legislative priority for DAV. Without the support of our major national veterans organizations, we at the league never could have sustained our efforts through some very difficult years. We are grateful for DAV s support and leadership in a mission we can never forget. Ann Mills-Griffiths, Chairman of the Board, National League of POW/MIA Families VA healthcare needs are drastic Government-run institutions have no real incentive to get better, more organized or more efficient. The reason the VA system has failed is because government bureaucrats run it. It will never do better because after the dust settles from the present fiasco, Congress will issue new mandates that will just add another layer of bureaucrats to the already overloaded stable of bureaucrats doing nothing to help veterans. The logical answer for our vets is to get timely medical care locally, where they live, from medical caregivers who are really interested in their well-being and care. James King, Braselton, Ga. While privatization of the VA health care system may not be the answer, Veterans Choice most certainly is. I have been in the VHA system for 45 years and many times have been outsourced for one reason or another. The care I have received, at VA expense, outside the VA, has been wonderful. Additionally, that care was far more convenient and timely. J.L. Haines, Surprise, Ariz. Giving back DAV came to me when I needed them the most 15 years ago. Then in 2009, I realized it was time to give back, but I didn t know which direction to go. A member of my Chapter suggested I volunteer to be part of the Finance Committee. At that point, I realized what direction I wanted to go. Earlier this year, I was asked to attend the 2014 Mid- Winter Conference in Washington, D.C. It was an amazing experience. It is an honor and a privilege to serve my fellow veterans wherever I am needed. Thank you, and I hope that I can make a difference. Not to sound cliché, it s not what DAV can do for me; it s what I can do for DAV and veterans. Tom Cousino, Commander, Chapter 1, Portland, Ore. Facebook facebook.com/dav Thank you, Mr. Burgess, the DAV s National Adjutant, for his column in the September/October issue. He is so right that the VA should not jump the gun and privatize. I have spent too long now receiving medical care as a 100-percent-disabled veteran. I didn t like the VA hospital at first, so I took myself to private doctors using my husband s insurance. Know what? They were no better. Really, they were worse because they hadn t learned yet how to deal with the head injuries I have. We need to keep having medical [care] that is focused on veterans. Michele Webster Everyone is always looking next door thinking the grass is greener over there. I hope Congress or the president doesn t do that with veterans health care. The VA has a lot of issues, but we need our own hospitals. We need people researching the problems we experience in large numbers that don t affect enough nonveterans to be profitable for private hospitals. Brandon James I m an Air Force veteran, and I ve been a VA patient for the past seven years. I am seeing the changes for the better and was just hired by the VA working in human resources. They are hiring vets to serve vets, issuing cards for anyone waiting 30 days for an appointment or living outside of 50 miles of a VA medical center so they can be seen. I m seeing a lot of changes, and Secretary Bob McDonald is holding folks accountable, as it should be! Donald Thomas Transitioning from military to civilian, especially after being in harm s way, is difficult. But I d rather work with veterans than any other people. Mike James I really enjoyed seeing National Commander Hope on American Pickers, with Mike Wolfe. What a treat to see my favorite charity on my favorite television show working together to honor veterans. I really am thankful for the awareness that show is bringing to the cause of disabled and wounded veterans. Chad Sicilians Twitter twitter.com/davhq The video with that song was the perfect way to share the #thankavet videos. Thanx 4 the love. Franky McGinn WRITE TO US We welcome letters from our readers. Please mail them to DAV Magazine, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076, or submit them via to feedback@dav.org. We regret we are unable to acknowledge every letter due to the volume received. We also welcome feedback on our Facebook (facebook.com/dav) and Twitter (twitter.com/davhq) pages. Letters used are subject to editing for clarity, style, accuracy, space and propriety. Messages involving individual claims are referred to the DAV Service Department. PAGE 4 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

7 Not left behind William Walls, Hamburger Hill, Vietnam Vietnam combat medic s life restored with DAV support By Joseph R. Chenelly Approached in his Bridgewill, Del., high school, he didn t want to join the military at first. I was brought up in church, taking to heart the commandment, Thou shalt not kill, recalled William Walls. But his recruiter countered with an offer he wouldn t refuse. He told me I could enlist to be a medic, to help and care for the sick and wounded soldiers. I said right there, Sign me up! He graduated June 2, 1968, and left for basic training June 3. While at Fort Bragg, N.C., his mother received a draft notice. So I was going anyway, but I m glad I went as a medic. Right out of the Army s Advance Individual Training, Walls was assigned to the famous 101st Airborne Division and found himself headed to Vietnam. On Hamburger Hill, he earned the Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal, but he brought much more than decorations home with him. Attached to an artillery battery in Vietnam, Walls was on the front lines with the big guns during intense fighting. We had an alert that said the radar picked up the equivalent of three regiments in the area of the enemy, he recounted. They called everybody back on the fire base, and they took the guns in tubes all the way down, firing high-explosive rounds with a two-second fuse. They d count, One thousand, two thousand, and then boom! They rotated guns all through the night. That s just part of being over there. The first time I heard it boom, boom, boom, boom, boom! I asked, What s that? Someone said, They re bombing Hamburger Hill over there. And you look way up, and it s the B-52s. Upon returning to the states, Walls was sent to New York City to drive military ambulances. I went from DAV changed my life... I donate my time to them now. It is the least I can do. William Walls, Army veteran, Vietnam one extreme to the other, he said. We were in Vietnam, without real roads, to all of a sudden driving on the busiest roads in the country. Walls left the Army and found a job at a chicken plant, but he couldn t envision a desirable future there. So he rejoined the Army and was sent to Fort Campbell, Ky., did a stint in Korea, and was later assigned to the Old Guard (3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment) in Washington, D.C. But the mental anguish he carried with him began unraveling while based in Germany. PAGE 5

8 A Long Blue Day by William G. Walls, November 1968 I bought me a ticket at the railroad gate I m watching for the train cause it s almost late Looking down the tracks, fading round the bend. This day s been a dreaded since I don t know when I hear the train coming, a rolling down the track I wish it was a bringing me back Someday I ll be back, I don t know when So please sit and listen to this scared, young man. I ve got to go to Oakland I ve got to go away I ve got to go to Oakland This is going to be a long blue day Now I m on the train, riding across the miles All I see is laughter and smiles The look on my face is way out of style But maybe I could smile in a little while Waiting for the bus at the Frisco station I ve just traveled clean across the nation I ve been dreading this long separation But what s a man to do when Uncle Sam s in desperation? Now I m riding on the bus at the Oakland gate I wish that that train was still late I m getting my clothes for the jungle land They done went and made me a fighting man Now I m on the plane flying overseas I ve got to learn to live with the Vietnamese Someday I ll be back, I don t know when So please pray for me until then In retrospect Yes, I had to go to Oakland I had to go away Because I m proud to serve my country I love the U.S.A. William Walls, Hamburger Hill, Vietnam While in Vietnam, Walls witnessed and cared for horrifically wounded soldiers, several of whom were his friends. Walls grew increasingly dependent on alcohol to drown his pain. The Army gave him the boot. His wife left him. He returned to the States crushed and spiraling. Desperate for assistance, he decided to stop by the local Department of Veterans Affairs regional office. He met a gentleman with DAV, and Walls explained his situation. Are you having nightmares? I never called them nightmares, Walls said. I had dreams about Vietnam all the time every night. I told him about six guys who were over there that I went through the Last Rites with. I picked up bodies. We were picking up the pieces of flesh and bone and everything. That doesn t leave you. I could see the stretchers. I could recognize [first sergeant] by the shiny combat boots; all the rest of him was gone. Six of them I took down there, and they said, Walls, come back; we found another one. I was chaptered out of the Army because I drank. I drank to self-medicate. I didn t know what else to do. DAV started a claim for Walls, and he began receiving care. I was awarded service connection for PTSD and assigned an evaluation, which was reflective of the severity of my PTSD, Walls said. Before he received his service-connected rating, he resided in a single room in New York City for $250 a month, living off a 10-percent rating he received earlier for a foot problem. Shortly after getting a call from DAV with the news of his new rating, he went to his bank to check the balance to ensure there was enough to pay his rent. Can you tell me what my balance is? Walls asked. And the teller said, A substantial amount. Whoa, wait a minute, there must be some kind of mistake. It was two years back pay. DAV changed my life, Walls said. They handcarried my paperwork through the whole process. They cared when just about no one else did. I donate my time to them now. It is the least I can do. Walls now volunteers with DAV at the Cincinnati VA medical center. He hasn t had a drink in 11 years running. Mr. Walls is a great example of veterans giving back, serving others, said Washington Executive Director Garry J. Augustine. Some of the veterans and families he s helping now will eventually become volunteers themselves. It is a cycle that needs to continue to ensure veterans take care of each other for generations. n PAGE 6 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

9 DAV 5K returns to Cincinnati, expansion to San Diego a success By Steven Wilson and Charity Edgar cool, crisp autumn day in Cincinnati and a clear, sunny A morning in San Diego each saw their own memorable DAV 5K Run, Walk, Roll and Motorcycle Ride on Nov. 8 and 9. Nearly 4,000 participants toed the starting line, volunteered for the event and cheered on the runners in the two cities. At both events, the 5K motorcycle riders kicked off race day, followed by runners, walkers, hand-cyclers and even some little racers in strollers. The Cincinnati event was the city s second 5K, while San Diego hosted its inaugural race. The DAV 5K raises funds to ensure ill and injured veterans are not alone on their road to recovery. It also brings local communities together to thank the brave men and women who served and to raise awareness of the issues our veterans and their families face every day. The partnership we enjoy with the people of Cincinnati once again proved to be beyond measure as they hosted us for the second DAV 5K, said National Adjutant Marc Burgess. This relationship goes all the way back to our founding here in 1920, and we ve worked together to champion the causes of veterans and their families ever since. Danny Gordon is a fourth-generation soldier who can trace his family s legacy of service back to the Civil War. He has a special connection with his father, who drove from Knoxville, Tenn., to Cincinnati to cheer him on during the race. Gordon PAGE 7

10 returned from a deployment to Afghanistan on the same date his father returned from Vietnam 40 years earlier. My dad is my hero, said Gordon. He was not only running in honor of his father. Gordon also raised $400 to support DAV s programs and services through the race. DAV life member David Lowe (right) prepares to kick off the A veteran is a special person because DAV 5K in Cincinnati with a fellow hand cycle competitor. we re brothers and sisters; we might not have the same parents, but we re cut from the same cloth, said Gordon. We are duty-bound and honor-obligated to not only help each other but our communities. Air Force veteran and DAV life member David Lowe participated in the Cincinnati DAV 5K for a second time on a recumbent bicycle. He participates not only to honor his fellow veterans, but also to help himself along on his road to recovery. Outings like the DAV 5K help me get better, said Lowe. Heather French Henry, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs and Miss America 2000, returned to the Cincinnati event for a second year to pledge her support for the men and women who served. DAV life member Jason Bowman and his wife, Events like this 5K are so important because it spurs on a Aubrey, who both served in the Navy, participated lot of conversation with the community about what sacrifice in the motorcycle honor ride in San Diego. and service is, said Henry. It gives a great chance for nonveterans and veterans alike to come together and be part of a great intergenerational project. And we really strive to encourage young and old alike to come together to take care of our American veterans because that s our responsibility. Students from Northern Kentucky University continued their tradition of volunteering at the DAV 5K and supported both events. Dozens of students invested 15 to 20 hours each during the preparation and execution of the races. One of those students was Karl Bragg, a senior majoring in sports business and marketing. While Bragg has a professional interest in event management and team fundraising, he also wanted to honor his grandfather, a Marine Corps veteran, by participating in the event. The DAV 5K is a way to show our support for veterans and to thank them for everything they have done for us, past and present, said Bragg. Sasha Bradford (third from left) and her son, Michael Jr., returned Jason and Aubrey Bowman, who met in the Navy and later married, saw a to the DAV 5K to honor Michael billboard for the San Diego 5K and immediately signed up to kick off the race Robert Bradford, who was through the motorcycle ride. DAV helped me out, said Jason. I m a life member killed in action last year. PAGE 8 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

11 now. Both of us have a desire to give back. Dave and Ginger Fox Wilson were also honoring family at the San Diego 5K. Their son is currently serving in the Navy, aboard the USS Hopper. I m here because I served, and my son is currently serving, said Dave. I m raising a hero. This race is for him. My brother was in Vietnam, and the way service members were treated then was heartbreaking, his wife added. I hope that never happens again. That s why I m here. San Diego is home to seven major military installations, and San Diego County has the third-largest population of veteran residents in the U.S. It also lays claim to the largest DAV Chapter, Dick Cosgriff Chapter 2. San Diego was an obvious choice for our first 5K expansion city, said DAV National Headquarters Executive Director Barry Jesinoski. This veteran-friendly community welcomed DAV with open arms, and we owe them a great deal of gratitude for this event s success. The San Diego branch of moving company You Move Me created a team at the inaugural San Diego event to honor their veteran colleagues. One of the company s employees, Gabriel Filkey, brought his family to run in honor of his friend, colleague and veteran Eric Coatley. Filkey s sons, Isaac, 8, and Kaid, 5, were proud to run in honor of Coatley, as well as their babysitter, who is also a veteran. It was fun but hard, said a smiling Isaac. It was cool to run with the veterans. Bill Fincher also participated in the race to support a close friend. The DAV 5K brought the Navy veteran back to where he attended boot camp nearly 40 years earlier. For 3.1 miles, Fincher pushed his friend Dr. Karl Sturckow, a Pearl Harbor survivor, along the scenic San Diego route in his wheelchair. Being here is an honor. I am humbled to see all these warriors, said Fincher. They don t wear their service on their sleeve, but their sacrifices are visible. Gaby Cavins, a Navy active-duty surface warfare officer, relocated to San Diego a few months ago. It was important to her and her husband, who also serves in the Navy, to spend Veterans Day weekend honoring the men and women who wore the uniform before them. Military is important to our family. My dad was in the Navy, his dad in the Army, and he has a brother in the Army and another also in the Navy, said Cavins. We both wanted to serve our country as well, and this race is our way of telling those who went before us to rest easy; we have the watch now. DAV plans to expand the 5K event across the country over the next several years. Look for an announcement of the latest addition to the DAV 5K series in summer n They don t wear their service on their sleeve, but their sacrifices are visible. Bill Fincher To view more photos, visit thedav. National Commander Ron Hope marks the close of the DAV 5K in Cincinnati, thanking the participants who came out in support of veterans and the DAV mission. DAV 1st Jr. Vice Commander David Riley welcomes participants to the inaugural DAV 5K in San Diego. PAGE 9

12 COMMENTARY From the NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR ANTHONY L. BASKERVILLE Honoring unsung heroes In my office sits a model of a red-tailed P-51 Mustang. When my eyes find it in a moment of thought, it reminds me of those who faced great obstacles but served with patriotic honor and dignity. As we celebrate Black History Month this February, I marvel at the personal inspiration I have always known from the pilots of these aircraft and all who served with dignity, even before our nation was ready to accept their contributions. Black Americans have served their country in every conflict since the American Revolution, but the Tuskegee Airmen forever etched a unique place in our nation s history by shattering barriers caused by segregation and discrimination. In 1941, in need of pilots and having too few white officers willing to command a segregated unit, the Army created the 99th Pursuit Squadron. This group was the beginning of the Tuskegee Airmen. Due to ongoing segregation, Tuskegee became a unique facility, as every type of flight training was conducted there. Most bases at the time conducted only a single type, such as introductory training or combat training. One of only two black line officers in the Army at the time, Benjamin Davis Jr. was given command of airmen at the facility. The Tuskegee Airmen soon began making a name for themselves in Europe. They were seeing some of the fiercest air-to-air engagements of the war as they protected bombers flying from Italy to Germany and Eastern Europe. Their record was exemplary: Most units lost an average of 46 bombers they were protecting while on deployment, but the Red Tails lost only 27. By the end of the war, the Tuskegee Airmen had racked up an impressive record. In 1,578 combat missions, they destroyed hundreds of aircraft and vehicles and earned 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Silver Star, 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals, three Distinguished Unit Citations and eight Purple Hearts. When the airmen returned home and back to civilian life, they found things almost the same as when they had left. They continued to face segregation and discrimination, and their accomplishments were often ignored even by their fellow Air Corps veterans. Many of these men believed that they deserved better for serving their country and went on to become important leaders and participants in the growing civil rights movement. The survivors, like many veterans, continue to serve, and their legacy to both the African- American community and the country at large will continue to be cherished for generations to come. We who have made service to our fellow veterans a lifetime commitment honor their service by ensuring that those who wore the uniform of all eras are treated with dignity and respect. We must continue to uphold the promises our nation made. We are a better people for recognizing the possibilities that relentless warriors like the Tuskegee Airmen showed our nation through their courage and patriotism. A poster in my office reads: The ultimate judge of a person s character is their ability to exceed expectations when little recognition or praise is given. Let us remember this as we think of the service of our military s many unsung heroes. PAGE 10 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

13 Energizing the ranks DAV recruiters focus on creating full-life, active membership By Steven Wilson DAV members, eager to exceed 2014 recruiting goals, are meeting their objectives by engaging veterans who have made an initial commitment to joining DAV. We re finding that veterans may become members at some point and then, for a multitude of reasons, may fall away for a period of time, said National Membership Director Tony Baskerville. They are still DAV members still veterans who are part of our community but they need to be reminded of the opportunities DAV offers. DAV member-recruiters are reaching out to these veterans and making them aware of DAV activities. By doing so, member-recruiters are able to find potentially active members, while at the same time converting them from partial- to full-paid life members and reaching key goals for their Chapters and Departments. A veteran s initial experience with DAV often happens when they are transitioning out of the service, seeking a National Service Officer for the first time or being introduced to a Chapter through outreach efforts, said Baskerville. They re not always in a place where they are ready to become active or make a serious commitment to the organization. We want to take care of them. If we do that, when we come back to them down the line, they re more likely to see the value in our mission. DAV is on pace with, though slightly behind, last year s record drive to reach recruiting goals for every DAV state-level Department. Though many established veterans service organizations are struggling to maintain their numbers, DAV has maintained and built upon its ranks. Our commitment to service is the key to our success, said Barry Jesinoski, Executive Director for DAV s National Headquarters. Veterans see the value in what we do and how we impact their lives. Getting new veterans introduced to DAV and starting their memberships is important. It may take time, but going back to those veterans, re-engaging them and asking them to make a bigger commitment to join as a life At a Golden Corral Military Appreciation Monday event in Fort Wright, Ky., members of Chapter 19 Northern Kentucky explain eligibility and member benefits to a veteran. member is much easier after they ve benefited from DAV s support for several years. How new members are introduced to DAV is important. In addition to DAV s standard services, Baskerville suggests Departments and Chapters look at activities that appeal to veterans who aren t accustomed to standard meetings. Family involvement, both through the Auxiliary and by opening events to spouses and children, create an atmosphere that is more attractive to veterans who might otherwise have to choose between spending time with their families or being part of DAV. The quality of the engagement is important as well. Activities that introduce veterans to their benefits offer a clear service to prospective members, though it must be made clear that membership is not required for free assistance. Beyond that, prospective participants want to make a difference. Veterans want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. It s why they joined the military. Their time is their most precious commodity. If they see they are making a substantive difference through DAV, if they feel (Continued on pg. 33) PAGE 11

14 LEGISLATIVE Update News from the front 1 Veterans Choice Program Having missed the Nov. 5 deadline to issue the Veterans Choice Card to all VA enrollees, the department instead is employing a three-phase approach to issuance. The first round of cards and letters explaining eligibility were issued Nov. 5, heading for those veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA health care facility. The second phase will include veterans who have waited for an appointment more than 30 days beyond their preferred date. The final round of cards and letters will be sent no later than January 2015 to the remainder of veterans enrolled in VA health care who may be eligible for the Choice Program in the future. In November, DAV s National Legislative staff attended the House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. We worked with the VA to ensure the department established a hotline ( ) for eligible veterans to call once they receive their Choice Card, in order to obtain authorization for outside care. Learn More Online More information is available at PAGE 12 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

15 Advance Appropriations Several of DAV s provisions concerning advance appropriations for VA mandatory spending and care for women veterans, as well as new funding for long-term care for injured and ill veterans, are included in the Fiscal Year 2015 omnibus spending bill that was signed into law in December. The legislation, with influence from DAV s Putting Veterans Funding First Act, authorizes advance funding for compensation and pensions, readjustment benefits and veterans insurance and indemnities. Concerning women veterans, the bill pulls directly from DAV s 2014 study, Women Veterans: The Long Journey Home, calling for the VA to conduct a system-wide review of the number of gender-specific health care providers currently in the system and to collect and analyze genderspecific data and to develop programs and funding recommendations based on this data. Lastly, the bill authorizes $7.04 billion for longterm care for the nation s aging veterans as well as severely wounded combat veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to include both institutional and home-based care programs. The agreement also provides $90 million for grants for the construction of state extended care facilities, $10 million more than the request. 2 Copayment Rates and Caps The VA published a rule in early November to maintain copayment rates and caps at their current levels through calendar year Copayment for each 30-day or less supply of outpatient medication provided by VA for veterans in priority categories 2 through 6 will remain at $8 and for veterans in priority categories 7 and 8 at $9. The annual copayment cap only applies to veterans in priority categories 2 through 6, and will remain at $960. These copayments are not assessed in the case of veterans service-connected care. 3 Women Veterans DAV s groundbreaking study on women veterans and gender-specific transition issues, Women Veterans: The Long Journey Home, has steadily picked up interest since its release in September. The Veterans Day holiday yielded particular interest in the study s findings. Additionally, in mid-november, Deputy National Legislative Director Joy Ilem briefed the Congressional Caucus for Women s Issues on the report and also attended a panel discussion on the disparities in women s health. 4 PAGE 13

16 VICTORY for veterans DAV secures protections for veterans benefits By Joseph R. Chenelly After a yearlong DAV-led campaign demanding Congress Keep the Promise, a major legislative victory for veterans was scored just before the end of Veterans and their families no longer have to worry if political strife in Washington will delay their benefits. A provision in the 2015 Omnibus Appropriations spending package provides advance appropriations for mandatory veterans benefits, including disability compensation and GI Bill educational payments. The advance appropriations provision, which was part of the Putting Veterans Funding First Act (S. 932, H.R. 813), was added to the spending bill in December by key Senate and House leaders, following a series of meetings with DAV and other leading veterans and military service organizations. National Commander Ron Hope and 2nd Jr. Vice Commander Delphine Metcalf- Foster traveled to Washington to start December by meeting with top leadership from both chambers and both sides of the political aisle. Just over a year ago during the partial government shutdown, it became clear that when Congress and the Administration fail to pass the federal budget on time, benefit checks for veterans, their families and survivors are put in jeopardy, Commander Hope said. Veterans deserve better than that, and DAV wasn t going to let it keep happening. After extraordinary work by DAV and an amazing coalition of veterans and military service organizations Congress has done the right thing. Garry Augustine, Washington Headquarters Executive Director PAGE 14 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015 DAV leaders (from left) National 2nd Jr. Vice Commander Delphine Metcalf-Foster, National Commander Ron Hope, Washington Headquarters Executive Director Garry Augustine and National Legislative Director Joseph Violante speak with Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about the need to protect veterans benefits through advance appropriations. working together with key Senate and House leaders, Congress has done the right thing, said Washington Headquarters Executive Director Garry Augustine. The instability and uncertainty veterans face each year is harmful and unnecessary. Now they don t need to worry. This means that beginning next year, veterans will receive their benefits regardless of shutdowns, slamdowns and gridlock in Congress, Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (MD) said in a statement. This change in law will better ensure that promises made to veterans are promises kept. The bill contains $94.1 billion in mandatory funding for fiscal 2015, including $79.1 billion to fund pensions and benefits, $15 billion for readjustment benefits and $63.3 million for insurance and indemnities. The Omnibus also contains language on women veterans that comes as a result of DAV s recently-released Women Veterans Report. Specifically, the VA is now required to review whether they have sufficient genderspecific care in all facilities and collect and analyze gender-specific health care data. Both recommendations come verbatim from the report and were specifically discussed during our meeting with Senate Appropriations Committee staff in October, said Washington Headquarters Executive Director Garry (Continued on pg. 26)

17 From the AUXILIARY NATIONAL COMMANDER LEEANN B. KARG COMMENTARY Taking our lawmakers to task November is a very important month for every citizen of this nation it s the time when we can exercise our right to vote! The representatives we elect are the ones who will speak on our behalf on the state and national level of our government. It s vital to our veterans and their families we choose wisely. Now that the polls have closed and the votes are tallied, it s time to hold our elected officials accountable. We need to follow through and ensure that the men and women we elected know how we expect them to vote. Use DAV CAN (Commanders Action Network) to tell your representatives where you stand on issues affecting veterans and their families. You can also use this online tool to keep track of how your representatives vote and hold them accountable for their action or inaction. In February, we will be in Washington, D.C., for the DAV Mid-Winter Legislative Conference. Make plans now to be there and have appointments set up to visit your legislators. Talk to them one-on-one or in a group, but talk to them! Get acquainted with the issues that DAV is supporting in Washington. DAV Commander Ron Hope will be addressing the Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs on Feb. 24 at the conference. He will be speaking for all of us, and he will need our support. I will be there sitting beside him and hope you will, too. We need to respect the rights that our veterans have fought so hard to preserve. It is our right to vote and to speak freely. Not every country allows you that right. Please make an effort to do something to ensure your voice is heard so that Congress knows what the people of this great country expect when the issues involve veterans, their families and surviving spouses. Many voices can make a huge impact. DAV and the DAV Auxiliary together have one very strong voice. Let s make sure we use it in a way that makes our lawmakers listen! DAV Auxiliary Membership Application Membership year is July 1 to June 30. DATE Type of Membership New Junior (up to age 17) $3 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION IN UNIT NO. MS. MRS. MR. STATE New Annual $15 New Life $20 down payment NAME (please print) STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE Age Life Amount $ $ $ $ $ Free DATE OF BIRTH (required) PHONE NO. AMOUNT PAID $ APPLICANT S SIGNATURE Mail application and payment to DAV Auxiliary, 3275 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY PAGE 15

18 Employment support for veterans DAV, Charitable Service Trust connect transitioning service members and veterans with employment tools, resources By Charity Edgar As America winds down from more than a decade of war, thousands are making the transition from service member to civilian, and many will be simultaneously learning to adapt to a life-altering physical or invisible injury. The dramatic life change and transition isn t easy, and the road to recovery is not complete until a veteran is able to find meaning in his or her life. For many, that means getting back to work to care for their families. DAV recognizes the important role that meaningful employment plays for many transitioning veterans. In response, the Employment Department was created last year. From translating military skills into civilian-friendly jargon for the tech industry to searching a career database with thousands of job openings specifically seeking veterans, DAV s employment web page is a one-stop shop for connecting transitioning service members and veterans with meaningful employment opportunities. PAGE 16 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015 DAV National Commander Ron Hope speaks with a Home Depot representative at the DAV/ RecruitMilitary All Veterans Career Fair at in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Andy McMillan/Getty) The online tools are a complement to the partnership with RecruitMilitary. By teaming up with the nation s leading full-service veteran recruitment company, DAV is able to promote the hiring of veterans through job fairs nationwide. Since the inaugural event in June, DAV has hosted 34 career fairs. More than 1,700 vendors have participated in the events, which brought 12,571 transitioning service members, veterans and spouses to fairs across the country. For 2015, DAV plans to double the number of fairs. These efforts have highlighted DAV as a leading force in ensuring the men and women who stood up for America have the tools, resources and opportunities they need to competitively enter the job market and secure meaningful employment. With more than 500,000 service members projected to leave active military service in the coming years, DAV has stepped up to provide comprehensive assistance that ensures veterans receive their benefits and are given the resources they need to get back to work and transition successfully to civilian life, said National Employment Director Jeff Hall. While the Employment Department may be a relatively new addition to the nearly 100-year-old veterans service organization, DAV has long been supporting veterans (Continued on pg. 18)

19 VA charts course to regain trust By Ashleigh Byrnes When VA Secretary Robert McDonald took over the department reins this past July, he set forth on a path to improve customer service, alter or eliminate lagging business practices, and regain the trust of veterans across the country. Once on the clock, the secretary began moving the department down the Road to Veterans Day, giving the VA roughly 90 days to make notable progress toward long-term reform. Just prior to Veterans Day, he unveiled a progress report along with plans to implement some of the most monumental shifts ever within the VA. We re going to reorganize for success, perhaps the largest restructuring in the history of our department, said McDonald. We call that reorganization and our customer experience solution MyVA. MyVA, as conceptualized by VA leadership, is a way of bringing focus to customer service for the millions of veterans the VA serves. As an example, many VA services require different user names and passwords to access information. One of the goals of MyVA is to allow veterans to use a single name and password for all VA services, making accessibility easier and more streamlined. The secretary said he has his sights on reorganization completion within one year in order to provide a seamless, integrated and responsive customer service experience whether they arrive at VA digitally, by phone or in person. Despite the problems uncovered over the past year, it s our belief that the VA is an invaluable part of the promise made to America s veterans, said Washington Headquarters Executive Director Garry Augustine. We will continue to engage with the secretary on improvements that will better ensure this unique system is meeting the needs of veterans to the fullest capacity. VA Secretary Robert McDonald We don t have all the answers right now, and that s why we are reaching to you for your thoughts. The major elements of the framework for the MyVA restructuring include four basic pillars: The establishment of a new VA-wide customer service organization, led by a chief customer service officer who will report to the secretary; The incorporation of a single, regional framework to allow veterans to more easily navigate the VA through simplified internal coordination; The creation of Community Veteran Advisory Councils that will work to coordinate veteran-related service delivery with local, state and community partners and The identification of opportunities to restructure internal business processes into a shared services model, thereby improving efficiency and productivity and reducing costs. McDonald has spent much of his first few months in the position traveling to VA facilities across the country, meeting with staff members and veterans and seeking advisement from veterans service organizations on ways to improve services and practices. Our shared goals are to ensure that veterans have a clear understanding of VA and where to go for what they need within any of our facilities; that employees PAGE 17

20 During a round table discussion in November, Secretary McDonald encouraged VSO representatives to call the VA s toll-free help line designated to guide veterans through use of the Veterans Choice Card. Employment Support (Continued from pg. 16) employment programs through the DAV Charitable Service Trust. The Trust supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs that provide direct service to ill and injured veterans and their dependents. Since its inception, the Trust has generously supported nonprofit organizations that specialize in veterans employment programs. One of these specialized initiatives is the Bobby Dodd Institute in Atlanta, a nonprofit that has provided job placement and internship services to veterans with disabilities, including those who are homeless, for the past 25 years. The Trust has enabled the University of Connecticut Foundation to help veterans become their own bosses with entrepreneurship instruction and support through the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans on campus in Storrs, Conn. In a suburb of our nation s capital, the Trust is helping Linden Resources provide individualized employment support services, which promote attainment and retention of career opportunities to ill and injured veterans. are empowered with the authority, knowledge and tools they need to solve problems and take action and that the products and services that we deliver to veterans are integrated within the organization, said McDonald. A more definitive outline of the changes is still to come, according to the secretary s office. As MyVA develops, veterans will need to know what changes will be made and how they will be affected, said National Legislative Director Joseph Violante. It sounds like the focus on peeling back the layers of bureaucracy will make it easier for veterans to access their care and services and, hopefully, improve the transparency and oversight of the VA s operations. Moving forward, the secretary has reached out to all VA employees to ask for input and ideas that will improve service delivery, stating, I know there are a lot of questions about this effort, and I know that there will be concerns. We don t have all the answers right now, and that s why we are reaching to you for your thoughts. This will be a fair and deliberate process, and we need your help to make sure our decisions are the right ones for veterans. As we collect input and work together to design an employee-led, veteran-centric VA, we have a great opportunity to make significant progress toward our goals in the near term. n The Trust provides stipends to ill and injured veterans in need of job skills and integration in the community through the East Tennessee Technology Access Center Inc. and Abilities Inc. of Florida. The two organizations support veterans in Tennessee and Florida, respectively, and beyond. The DAV Charitable Service Trust complements DAV s services to veterans by funding programs that are essential on their road to recovery, said Chairman Richard E. Marbes. As a disabled veteran, I understand how important getting back to work is. That s why employment programs are so crucial to the Trust. Through the generosity of its donors, the Trust is able to help make life-changing services possible, and I am honored to play a role in helping our heroes find employment, said Marbes. n Learn More Online To learn more about DAV s Employment Department, visit jobs.dav.org. To learn more about the DAV Charitable Service Trust, visit cst.dav.org. PAGE 18 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

21 By M. Todd Hunter PAGE 19

22 Golden Corral events raise funds for local programs It s a crisp Monday evening at the Golden Corral in Manassas, Va., and the aroma of fried chicken and sweet tea permeates the five dining rooms of the restaurant. Patrons dine among family and friends, while the ambient sounds of conversation are a little different than usual. We gave them hell as soon as we got there, Les Williams remembers as he dons his bright red Marine Corps ball cap. But without missing a beat, Bud Silas, sitting at the next table over and wearing a U.S. Navy Veteran hat, overhears and interrupts. You remember how you got there? Yeah, a big gray taxi, Williams shoots back with a smile. The two men laugh, then begin sharing and comparing old war stories, knowing that despite having served in different branches of the military, their service in Vietnam binds them together for the rest of their days. It s an interaction that might have confused other diners on any other given night, but at Golden Corral s 2014 Military Appreciation Monday event, which provided free meals to veterans and active-duty service members at Golden Corral locations nationwide, it s the norm. I love seeing the camaraderie and hearing all the stories from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf, said Kevin Wesp, general manager at the Manassas Golden Corral. These vets give so much to us. This is the least we can do. Although the restaurant can get busy on any given night, Wesp said Military Appreciation Monday is one of the busiest nights of the year. In fact, at the Manassas location, the line to get in the restaurant extended up Deion Sanders, Pro Football Hall of Famer and broadcaster, visited with past National Commander Bobby Barrera at Military Appreciation Monday in Arlington, Texas. There, he spoke with veterans and filmed a segment for NFL Network about DAV s partnership with Golden Corral. to 75 feet out the front door for most of the four-hour event, despite the cool autumn evening in Virginia. We normally serve about a thousand people total, but tonight we ll serve about 1,500 individual veterans. That number doesn t include the friends and family members they bring along with them, said Wesp. Wesp noted his restaurant serves about four times as much food on Military Appreciation Monday than on other nights and added that many more American restaurant chains have adopted similar programs since Military Appreciation Monday was established in We paved the way for restaurant chains around the PAGE 20 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

23 country to honor and recognize the service these vets paid to our nation, he said. I m proud to be a part of it. The event is twofold, both honoring veterans and helping raise funds for DAV to continue ensuring veterans lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. The 2014 Military Appreciation Monday events collected $1,407,176 for Departments and Chapters while serving 342,538 free meals to veterans and service members. In the years since Military Appreciation Monday began, Golden Corral has served nearly 4.5 million free meals and has helped Departments and Chapters raise more than $10 million to support their service programs. In addition to raising funds, Military Appreciation Monday is a good opportunity for the Chapter to connect veterans with our free services and opportunities to serve, said National Adjutant Marc Burgess. Our partnership with Golden Corral is a real success story of acknowledging the men and women who served with thank-you meals and providing funds to support Department and Chapter service programs. This event honors veterans by letting them know that Americans are thinking about them, said Steven Botello, Commander of DAV Chapter 15 in Manassas. It gets vets out, gets DAV s name out, and it shows these veterans who we are and what we can do for them. I ve always had a vague familiarity with veterans organizations, but I never knew that DAV gave people free rides to the VA, said Silas. I wish I would ve known that when I didn t have a vehicle for a few months after I got out [of the military]. Oh? Marine veteran Williams joked to his Navy buddy. Now look who s begging for a ride! n 2014 Military Appreciation Monday Results National Totals 342,538 free meals $1,407,176 raised Top 5 fundraisers (franchised) #2498 Hanover, Md. $30, #764 Colonial Heights, Va. $25, #2504 Anchorage, Alaska $25, #2599 Charleston, S.C. $20, #741 Orem, Utah $20, Top 5 fundraisers (company-owned) #550 Midwest City, Okla. $13, #913 Oklahoma City, Okla. $12, #951 Beavercreek, Ohio $10, #942 Raleigh, N.C. $9, #631 Jacksonville, Fla. $9, PAGE 21

24 EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wisc. (Photo courtesy of DAV Flight Team) DAV s message soars n The DAV Flight Team wrapped up the 2014 season after supporting a dozen shows and making contact with nearly 2 million attendees. A first for DAV this year was participation in the Potomac River Flight, held in October near the nation s capital. This flight, organized by community leaders in Culpeper, Va., was dedicated to DAV and featured nearly two dozen T-6 Texans along with Panchito, the B-25 Mitchell bomber that accompanies the DAV Flight Team. I m very pleased at the efforts and outreach of our airshow team this year, said National Adjutant Marc Burgess. This brings our message to patriotic Americans across the airshow circuit from coast to coast. This is a special vehicle on a unique stage that tells DAV s story of service to veterans and their families. The DAV Flight Team provides a unique platform to directly interact with supporters and bring DAV s message of service to veterans to airshow attendees. During the Potomac River Flight, held in Culpeper, Va., 1st Jr. Vice Commander David Riley flies in the rear seat of a T-6 Texan. The T-6 was the most common trainer aircraft in World War II. PAGE 22 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

25 Mile High City to host DAV National Convention August 8-11, 2015 Sheraton Hotel Denver The Mile High City offers visitors the perfect blend of outdoor adventure and urban sophistication. Denver s snowcapped peaks make for the perfect backdrop of this year s convention. Beyond meeting your fellow veterans and influencing DAV s future, the city itself offers a multitude of unique adventures for convention attendees. Denver is known as the Arts Capital of the West, and it is teeming with unique museums and galleries. A beautiful, family-oriented city, Denver has dozens of different escapes for outdoor enthusiasts, sports fans, culture vultures and curious travelers. From boutiques, spas and shops to amusement parks and recreation, pioneering attendees will have every chance to advocate for injured and ill veterans and enjoy everything the Mile High City has to offer. Our special room rate is $128 per single or double. Additional hotel reservation information is available at Book/DAV2015, or by calling Be sure to tell them you are reserving under the Disabled American Veterans room block if making reservations by phone. n Learn More Online Visit dav.org/events for more information about the convention. Travel Assistance The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can facilitate the screening of injured or wounded veterans. After making flight reservations, veterans (or their care coordinators) should contact a TSA Cares representative by calling tollfree weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern time). A representative will either provide screening information relevant to the veteran s disability, or the veteran may be referred to experts at TSA to help them through the screening process. PAGE 23

26 All-America city to host DAV Commander s testimonial North Carolina s rolling hills and forests will provide a picturesque landscape for the testimonial honoring the leadership of National Commander Ron Hope. This year s event takes place Saturday, May 2, at the Embassy Suites Concord Golf & Spa Resort in Concord, N.C. The cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., immediately followed by dinner. The cost of the dinner is $50, with checks made payable to the Ron Hope Campaign Fund and mailed to Rodney Tucker, P.O. Box 100, Lexington, NC A meal choice should be included with payment. The options are chicken saltimbocca, pan-crusted salmon or beef tenderloin. A block of rooms has been reserved at the resort. The room rate is $169 per night and includes the hotel s evening welcome reception and breakfast. To receive the special DAV rate, call the hotel at and mention that you are with DAV. Guests are invited to unwind and relax at the spa or enjoy a round of golf at the premier Rocky River course that offers options for players of all skill levels. n PAGE 24 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015 Auxiliary National Commander to be honored at Twin Cities testimonial testimonial dinner to honor Auxiliary National Commander LeeAnn A Karg is scheduled for April 11 at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. The hotel is in close proximity to both the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. A complimentary shuttle provides guests transportation to both locations. To reserve your room in the Auxiliary block, contact the hotel at Rooms are $89 per night for a single or double with the special DAV Auxiliary rate. On Friday, April 10, there will be a reception with drinks and light snacks from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday s testimonial dinner begins at 6 p.m., immediately following the 5 p.m. cocktail hour. Dinner options are a New York strip steak, panko herb-crusted walleye, merlot-glazed grilled chicken breast or the vegetarian/gluten-free entrée. A Caesar salad, white chocolate-raspberry mousse dessert and the choice of a glass of red or white wine are also included with dinner. The cost is $50, and checks can be made payable and mailed to Van Karg, th Ave., Dassel, MN 55325, along with the meal choice and a list of any food allergies. A breakfast buffet on Sunday closes out the fun-filled weekend in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. n

27 NEWS for VETERANS COLA Rates Increase for 2015 For the third year in a row, the cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase will fall below 2 percent. The federal government announced in October that the COLA for 2015 will be 1.7 percent, a slight jump from the 2014 rate of 1.5 percent. This measure increases veterans disability compensation, survivor benefits and clothing allowances by the same percentage as the increases in Social Security benefits. These benefits affect roughly 4 million veterans, dependents and survivors, said Washington Headquarters Executive Director Garry Augustine. Adjusting the rate for inflation is critical for many to pay for basic essentials. Senator Bernie Sanders, Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, expressed his disappointment with the 1.7 percent increase, noting the cost of medications and other basic necessities continues to rise. However, for the second year in a row, COLA will not be rounded down to the nearest whole dollar. This is a major step in ending the unfair rounding practice established as a temporary measure more than 20 years ago, which siphoned millions of dollars in earned benefits from disabled veterans, their families and survivors. DAV supports S. 2258, the legislation introduced by Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska, which would end the process of rounding down COLA rates. n Service-Connected Disability Compensation Monthly rates shown are for single veterans only. Basic Compensation Rates Disability Rating % $ $ % % % % % 1, , % 1, , % 1, , % 1, , % 2, , Special Monthly Compensation Rates K $ $ L 3, , M 3, , N 4, , O or P 4, , R1 7, , R2 8, , S 3, , Clothing Allowance PAGE 25

28 NEWS for VETERANS First Choice Cards sent to veterans far from VA care n The Department of Veterans Affairs has mailed its first medical Choice Cards, with letters explaining how to use them, to 690,000 VA-enrolled veterans who reside more than 40 miles from any type of VA medical facility and to those facing waits longer than 30 days for VA appointments. These two groups of vets are immediately eligible to use information on their Choice Card to try to secure more convenient or timely care than the VA can provide. By the end of January, another 8 million enrolled veterans will also receive Choice Cards. These vets, however, won t be eligible to use them to access non-va care unless they move beyond 40 miles of a VA-owned medical facility or VA can t provide care within 30 days. To receive a Choice Card, veterans must have been enrolled in VA health care by Aug. 1, Those who have enrolled later are eligible only if they served on active duty in a theater of combat operations in the previous five years. As veterans advocacy groups such as DAV have cautioned for months, the Choice Card is not a golden key to unlimited health care from any physician or facility a veteran might choose, despite what some lawmakers touted last summer while making it the featured item of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of It is important to know that the Choice Card does not provide guaranteed health care coverage or an unlimited medical benefit, explains VA Secretary Robert McDonald in a letter to the first card recipients. In fact, before your Choice Card for this benefit can be used, your eligibility must be verified and you must receive advance authorization from VA. The card itself is similar to most health insurance cards, with the holder s name shown and a number to call to verify eligibility for outside care. Authorization to use it must be cleared by a program manager for every episode of care. Those authorized to seek outside care can choose from a network of VA-approved providers or their own providers, if VA approved. To be approved, they must treat Medicare patients and accept Medicare rates or work at a Department of Defense or Indian Health Service facility or in a federally qualified health center. The letter sent with Choice Cards invites veterans to access more information on the program online at Victory for veterans (Continued from pg. 14) Augustine. This is a clear success for veterans we can attribute to the Women Veterans Report. The bill includes $4.6 billion to provide health care for women veterans, including $403 million in gender-specific health care to meet the unique needs of female veterans. To improve access for women veterans, the agreement includes directions to the VA to conduct a system-wide review of the number of gender-specific health care providers currently in the system. Additionally, the fiscal year 2016 advance appropriation provides $5.7 billion to provide health care for women veterans, including $436.7 million in gender-specific health care. The 2013 government shutdown forced VA to close its doors to veterans applying for disability compensation, pension, education and vocational rehabilitation benefits. Had that shutdown continued for another couple of weeks, even injured and ill veterans who rely on VA benefits would have seen their all-important checks cut off. The budget for veterans programs and benefits was already being held in limbo for the upcoming year, the twenty-third time in 26 years that VA s full budget is late. DAV held a rally on Capitol Hill in February dubbed Operation: Keep the Promise and had hundreds of thousands around the country join online. A petition started in the final week of November garnering nearly 40,000 signatures in less than two weeks demands protection for veterans benefits. We asked those who care about veterans to urge their lawmakers to take actions now to protect veterans, and they responded in a major way, said National Legislative Director Joe Violante. This victory would not have happened if not for the extremely strong grassroots support. Enactment of advance appropriations will not result in any additional spending by the federal government. There is no pay as you go score, and no offsets will be required since the projected spending under advance appropriations exactly matches the Congressional Budget Office baseline. n PAGE 26 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

29 From the NATIONAL CHAPLAIN MICHAEL P. DOVER REFLECTIONS We must learn to change Greetings, everyone! Have you ever made a New Year s resolution and given up a few weeks or maybe a few hours later into the New Year? Researchers have discovered that 25 percent of New Year s resolutions are abandoned within the first week; 60 percent are gone within six months. Of those who fail, the majority will make the same resolution year after year for as long as 10 years before they either give up or finally succeed in making a change that lasts for at least six months. This isn t very encouraging for those of us who are determined to stop some habit or set out to add spiritual disciplines into our lives. Initially, there is a strong commitment to change, and we feel in control and experience early success. We make a commitment every morning to spend time with our creator; a week into our commitment, that is missed. We don t realize that relapse and periodic failures are common, so we blame ourselves. So why is self-change so difficult? Why do people resist change, even when they say they want it? Here are a few common reasons: We are unwilling to give up what is safe, predictable and familiar. We have no real conviction that change is better than the status quo. We fear what life might be like if the change takes place. Often we find it safer to stay where we are. We lack the skills, knowledge, abilities, experience or resources that would make change possible and likely to last. We have unrealistic beliefs about what we can do. We hear, Take control and you can reach your goals, or, All things are possible. Often these motivational slogans give unrealistic expectations about the difficulty of change and put pressure on the person who wants to change. There is abundant evidence that selfchange is possible, given the right conditions: Commitment. This is the single most important ingredient in bringing lasting change. Attainable goals. These are specific rather than vague. They will bring lasting change when it becomes part of one s lifestyle. Relapse prevention. There will always be some form of relapse, but there are ways to reduce it. Determine what went wrong and consider how similar mistakes can be avoided. Support systems. We are a people created to fellowship with others. Being an island unto oneself will never get you to the place of change. How many times have we thought: If we had an opportunity, how we would change the world? But have we ever thought about changing ourselves, which is the first step in changing the world? In His Service for You. PAGE 27

30 Combatting homelessness By Charity Edgar Jim Gehring remembers the day he received a call from a Maine congressional office inquiring if the community had a program that could help a local homeless veteran. After asking around and realizing that no specialized, streamlined services existed for his brothers and sisters in greatest need, Gehring, the Adjutant of Smart- Ricker Chapter 10 in Presque Isle, Maine, went right to work ensuring every veteran in Aroostook County has a roof over their head. The Navy veteran reached out to Don Carson, senior social worker at the VA Caribou Community Based Outpatient Clinic, and Stephen Eyler, executive director at Homeless Services of Aroostook. The three brainstormed how they could coordinate their efforts in order to best serve veterans in their community. We started from ground zero and worked our way up, said Gehring. We said, Here s what we need to provide. Now how can we work together to make that happen? It didn t take long before the trio created an initiative that serves as a shining example of public/private partnerships. From Homeless Shelter to a Place to Call Home The program begins by identifying veterans, and that starts at the Sister Mary O Donnell Shelter, which is operated by Homeless Services of Aroostook. Eyler, who served in the Marine Corps for 10 years and is a lifetime DAV member, is committed to serving his brothers- and sisters-in-arms. Members of Smart-Ricker DAV Chapter, Auxiliary Unit and Auxiliary Juniors purchase items for a formerly homeless veteran moving into his new home. There s a bond, camaraderie and fellowship that is established through service, said Eyler. We all wore the uniform and all paid the dues. We re in this journey together. Veterans tug at my heart because I am one, and I want to make sure any benefits that are available to them are made known, continued Eyler. When I moved into the area four years ago, one of the first connections I wanted to make was with the local DAV Chapter, because we re both serving folks in need. When an individual comes to Eyler s team, an intake social worker asks a variety of questions at check-in, including if they are a veteran. Once a veteran is identified, the social worker notifies Gehring or Second Jr. Vice Commander Denis Madore, who, like Gehring, is a Chapter Service Officer. A Chapter Service Officer then heads over to the shelter to interview the veteran and determine whether or not they have been enrolled in the VA health care system. If not, we have them fill out the necessary paperwork and get them in touch with the local VA hospital, said Gehring. We also identify any additional servicerelated benefits not yet filed for and offer immediate representation for the claims process. The next step is to contact Carson, who heads up the homeless-veteran initiatives at the VA Caribou Community Based Outpatient Clinic, the first rural VA clinic in the nation. He schedules a medical appointment for the veteran, usually within the next 24 to 48 hours. The veteran comes in, receives a full medical assessment, and I screen them for mental health issues, said Carson. These services are free, but prior to implementing this program, veterans would come into PAGE 28 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

31 DAV Chapter and Auxiliary Unit in Maine team up to help veterans get back on their feet the shelter and learn about the care, but most of the time they wouldn t come to the clinic. There were travel barriers but not anymore, thanks to DAV, said Carson. DAV volunteers make sure transportation is not a problem for the veteran. The volunteer drivers pick up the veterans and take them 20 miles from the shelter to the medical facility, wait several hours during the appointments and then return them back to the shelter. A soldier who served during Vietnam, Carson is dedicated to helping his fellow veterans receive the care they ve earned. It is a special privilege to work with veterans, said Carson. There s something deeply gratifying to be able to pull from my experience as a soldier, to have that be relevant to some of the people I help today. Gehring works with Carson, who also serves as the HUD-VASH Coordinator of Aroostook County, to obtain housing vouchers for the veteran. After the HUD-VASH application is approved and the veteran has a firm moving date, DAV Smart-Ricker Auxiliary Unit 10 Adjutant and Treasurer Diana Gehring springs into action and takes the reins from her spouse. I call the Auxiliary members it s always a treat for us to shop for the veterans, said Diana Gehring. We get a wish list from the clinic and purchase as much from that as we can. The Unit typically spends around $200 on necessities such as shower curtains, toilet paper, dish soap, personal hygiene items, silverware, blankets and toasters. We pay for the items from our general fund, and then comes the best part delivery, said Diana. The Unit also provides dinner, so the veteran can enjoy a hot first meal in their home. I don t know how to explain the feeling that comes over you when you give a homeless veteran all the necessary things to fill his or her own place, she continued. One veteran in particular, when we delivered his items, there were tears running down his face. It choked everyone up. Smart-Ricker Chapter 10 2nd Jr. Vice Commander Denis Madore (left) and Smart- Ricker Auxiliary Unit 10 Adjutant Diana Gehring (center) welcome veteran Jason Voisine to his new home. The support does not end when the veteran has the keys to their new home. Once they are established, both the Unit and Chapter seek out employment opportunities for them. We had an instance with a young man who we were able to get off the street, into his own place and then have a job just a few weeks later, said Jim Gehring. That s how it s supposed to work. The Program s Success Diana Gehring encourages DAV Junior Auxiliary members to participate in the program as well. It teaches youth how fortunate they are, and I want them to be aware, if you have enough to give, then give. The Unit s focus on giving back is met with enthusiasm. Its Junior Auxiliary lays claim to the only active charter in the state. Diana and the Auxiliary have taken this program to the next level, said Jim Gehring. Successful Chapters and Units can t survive without one another. We have seen growth 35 percent on both sides since starting the program in December (Continued on pg. 31) PAGE 29

32 Income a spouse can depend on Lifetime member leaves behind double legacy Meet Lorene Call. Lorene is a wonderfully pleasant 92-year-old Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) donor and annuitant. She benefits from fixed monthly payments generated by the CGA that she and her husband funded shortly before his passing. Call said the income she receives makes a huge difference in her daily life. Lorene s husband, Raymond, was a disabled veteran who broke his back while serving in the Army during World War II. The injuries he sustained opened his eyes to the many hardships faced by injured veterans. Before his passing, Mr. Call researched ways to accomplish two admirable goals: providing a reliable income for himself and his loving wife of many years, and helping his fellow vets after he was gone. He didn t have to think twice about mailing in his generous check, which allowed him to take care of Lorene and veterans a double legacy, as it turned out. Lorene is now enjoying fixed payments for the rest of her life; then DAV will benefit from the remainder of their annuity. n Taking out a Charitable Gift Annuity with DAV is as simple as 1, 2, 3: 1. Call our Gift Planning line at , ext. 1, or mail in the attached postcard. 2. Wait for your information package to arrive, and review the income and tax benefits noted. 3. If you are happy with the terms of the proposed Charitable Gift Annuity, simply mail back the application with a check for the amount of your gift annuity. Once we receive your application and check, we will mail you a contract that binds DAV to make payments to you for as long as you live, and then to a survivor, if you d like. Gift Annuity Benefits Generous fixed payments for life, largely tax-free Charitable income-tax deduction Guardian Society recognition for your generosity A legacy of your compassion for fellow veterans! Minimum CGA funding amount: $10,000 Minimum age(s): 60 No maximum age Rates are based on age The older you are, the higher the rate Rates range from 4.4% for a 60-year-old to 9% for a 90-year-old. PAGE 30

33 We may be a small Chapter, but we re doing big things. Jim Gehring, Adjutant, DAV Smart-Ricker Chapter 10 Combatting homelessness (Continued from pg. 29) Behind every good Chapter, there s a good Unit, proclaimed his wife. It s blending different approaches, and two heads are better than one! She explained that it helps that both she and her husband are Adjutants. We will be watching TV and say, Oh and by the way, put this on agenda or Did you remember to do this? It helps we are right across the room from each other, she said, laughing. Six years ago, our attendance was probably four to five people at each Chapter or Unit meeting. Now when we meet, we have between 40 and 50 people, said Jim. We ask our membership what they want, and they want to give back to a program that makes a difference. He attributes increased numbers to dedicated Chapter Service Officers out in the field, a sense of family within the Chapter and Unit, and especially the overwhelming interest in the homeless veterans program. Carson, Eyler and the Gehrings credit the program s success to the solid partnership between the organizations. Everyone involved with this program knows what their role is and how it works to help each veteran, said Carson. That s the magic of the group. Eyler stressed that implementing a program like this doesn t have to be difficult. It s connecting the right people and their services. The hardest part was getting everyone to the table. But once we were there, it was easy to put the pieces of the puzzle together. We re all serving the same people. Communication is essential to the group. Every month that we help a veteran, we meet to review what went well, what didn t and how we can improve in the future, said Jim Gehring. He stressed that it is a team effort with a lot of follow-up, but well worth the effort of serving fellow veterans. The Chapter and Unit recognized that veteran homelessness is a national tragedy, said DAV National Headquarters Executive Director Barry Jesinoski. So they took action and joined forces with the VA Caribou Smart-Ricker Chapter 10 Adjutant Jim Gehring (right) gives veteran Neil Barnes a ride to his medical appointment at the VA Caribou Community Based Outpatient Clinic. Community Based Outpatient Clinic and Homeless Services of Aroostook to create a program that serves our brothers and sisters with the greatest need. The initiative s success speaks volumes to the importance of government and public- and privatesector partnerships and how these relationships can positively impact veterans, continued Jesinoski. These efforts are among many going on nationwide by our members to make sure we don t leave our own behind. There is no better endorsement of the program s success than from the veterans who have been assisted through it. This program has taken enormous weight off my already burdened shoulders. The DAV rides, [VA] medication and health care have made it easier for me to concentrate on finding employment, thus leading to a new home, said veteran Dana Norton. Also knowing that when I do find a home, the DAV Auxiliary will assist me getting started is a huge relief. I was surprised and glad that the DAV stepped up so quickly. Since the program s inception, five veterans have been moved from the shelter into their own apartments, and the Chapter and Unit are currently in the process of housing one more. We may be a small Chapter, but we re doing big things, said Jim Gehring. n PAGE 31

34 REMEMBRANCE DAV family mourns the loss of past Auxiliary leader executive and civic leader in her home state of Pennsylvania. Her professional career with the n DAV Auxiliary Past National Commander and Past National Adjutant Maria M. Tedrow passed away Nov. 29, 2014, at the age of 83. Over the course of more than 40 years of involvement in the fraternal and professional ranks of the Auxiliary, Tedrow was Tedrow Auxiliary began in 1983 when she was appointed Assistant National Adjutant. In 1986, she was appointed National Adjutant of the Auxiliary. Through her retirement on April 30, 2008, she served as a thoughtful and charismatic leader. Maria was a dedicated member of revered as an advocate for veterans and, in particular, the surviving spouses, family members and caregivers whose advocacy and support help ensure our nation keeps its promises to the men and women who serve. Maria first became involved with the DAV Auxiliary in Her eligibility came from her late husband, Jack, a combat-disabled Marine veteran of World War II. Before being elected National Commander of the Auxiliary in 1980, she d been recognized as a banking the Auxiliary, beginning on the local level in Pennsylvania, said Auxiliary National Adjutant Judy Hezlep. She believed strongly in the Auxiliary and the purpose for which the Auxiliary was formed. She enjoyed watching the Auxiliary grow and cherished being with members and exchanging thoughts and new ideas. Tedrow is survived by her son, Steven R. Tedrow, and his girlfriend, Jeri Graham. Steven has requested memorial donations be sent to the DAV Auxiliary National Service Support Fund. Farewell to a true champion for veterans n Former U.S. Representative Lane Evans (D-Ill.), a staunch champion of veterans rights in his 24-year tenure in office, died Nov. 5 after a long battle with Parkinson s disease. The 63-year-old Vietnam War-era Marine veteran, who served 12 terms, left office in January 2007, citing his deteriorating health. Lane lived his life in service to this country, particularly to his fellow Marines and fellow veterans, said Washington Headquarters Executive Director Garry Augustine. His legacy will remain one of the finest examples of how veterans can fight for their brothers and sisters in the halls of Congress. Evans, who fought for legislation to help veterans exposed to Agent Orange, co-sponsored legislation to create a guaranteed funding stream for veterans health care. In Evans words, The VA was not created to serve Evans only those veterans it can afford to serve. All veterans, regardless of income, have earned the right to highquality health care services. He has been missed in the work we do and will be missed, said Augustine. We could only hope to see more veterans follow in his footsteps. PAGE 32 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

35 Marbes honored for outstanding volunteerism The Chairman of the DAV Charitable Service Trust, Dick Marbes, has been honored in his hometown of Green Bay, Wisc., for his immense volunteer support of veterans spanning nearly three decades. Marbes received the inaugural Green Bay Phoenix Hero Award for extensive service to veterans in northeast Wisconsin, having volunteered roughly 17,000 hours over the past 28 years. Mr. Marbes continues to set a high bar for volunteerism within DAV, said National Voluntary Service Director John Kleindienst. He knows firsthand how our volunteer programs impact veterans lives, and he is a great example of how important it is to give back into that system. Marbes has been heavily involved with the DAV Transportation Network throughout his time in the organization. Having been through what I ve been Brian Wardle (left) congratulates Dick Marbes. through, I know what it means for a veteran to get to a VA hospital and get their medical care, said Marbes, who spent time recovering at Walter Reed after becoming a single-leg amputee after a flight line accident in Head coach of the men s basketball team at the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay Brian Wardle surprised Marbes with the announcement when the two met at the Green Bay VA Clinic. Marbes was presented with the award at halftime during Green Bay s Military Appreciation Day game n Nov. 15 and served as the team s honorary coach. I feel honored. Any time I can represent our organization or our veterans in the community, I m excited to do it, said Marbes. We have a lot of welldeserving people who come to this clinic, who have done their service to this country, and we re here to take care of them. n Energizing the ranks (Continued from pg. 11) like they are being encouraged and heard, they re going to get involved, said John Kleindienst, DAV s National Director of Voluntary Service. The competition for an individual s free time is tremendous. We re not going to get someone to be active in their Chapter or to volunteer unless we re creating opportunities where they know they re making an impact. It s equally important that DAV is accessible for participation based on active lifestyles. Baskerville advises local Chapters to consider holding meetings and events during times when working veterans are available. A meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday doesn t work for people who have jobs, Baskerville said. We have to make our activities merge with their schedules and home lives. If they need to bring their kids to a meeting or activity because they can t find childcare, we have to look at ways we can accommodate their needs. We can t ever put a veteran in a position where they have to choose between DAV or their family. Communication with prospective members is evolving, and different channels appeal to different veterans. For three consecutive years, we ve more than doubled the number of people who participate on DAV s Facebook page, said National Director of Communications Dan Clare. We re at more than 700,000 followers now, and by this time next year, it s possible we ll have as many Facebook participants as we have members. People who like DAV online do not make the same commitment as life members or count the same in the Veterans want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. John Kleindienst, National Director of Voluntary Services eyes of legislators, Clare said. But they can contribute to the organization by making other veterans aware of DAV s services. Social networks can spark revolutions. They can impact change. They are the way our future members are communicating. If you re looking to give a younger veteran a meaningful opportunity where they can immediately make an impact, get them involved in your social networking efforts. They ll learn about the organization, and you ll make your Chapter an active part of people s everyday lives. n PAGE 33

36 CHAPTER & DEPARTMENT A home away from home... Members representing DAV and DAV Auxiliary Departments of Washington and Oregon were present at the official groundbreaking of a new Fisher House in Vancouver, Wash. The facility will serve the families of those who have veterans receiving care at the Vancouver or Portland, Ore., VA medical centers at no cost. The facility will feature 16 suites and a homelike environment. Back row, from left: Jerry Royse and his service dog Teddy, Robi and Mike Riley, Frank Hyatt, Gene Gray, Tom Cousino, Robert Haltiner and Shaun Benson. Front row, from left: Sarah Royse, Anita Lucht, Karen Haltiner, Donna Burns and James Burns. Helping homeless veterans... DAV Chapter 7, Jacksonville, Fla., participated in the Annual Homeless Veteran Stand Down to aid local veterans. From left: Commander Sheila Sanders, Treasurer Alphonso McCall, Comrade Doris Coates and Comrade Fred Radford. From right: NSO Katrina Blas, Gene Blas and Tal Clark. Honoring fallen comrades... The DAV Chapter 9 Washington County, Johnson City, Tenn., volunteer honor guard assists in services at Mountain Home National Cemetery. From left: Robert Strong, James Lamprecht, Chuck Elrod and Robert Myers. Birds in the hand... DAV Chapter 15 New Ulm, Minn., hosted their fourth annual pheasant hunt Sept. 20. Twenty-five veterans were treated to an all-expenses-paid fun day of hunting pheasants, trap shooting and lunch. Hunt coordinator and Chapter Jr. Vice Commander Kenny Eckstrand sought volunteers and donations of ammunition and door prizes. Volunteers cleaned the birds, allowing for each participant to take home their claim and enjoy the hunt even further. PAGE 34 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

37 CHAPTER & DEPARTMENT Chapter on parade... Chapter 26, Colorado Springs, Colo., won the Mayor s Trophy for their float entered in the Labor Day parade. Senior Vice Commander Joe Biladaue and his wife, Sharon, operated the vehicle containing the flag barrier, which led the DAV procession (pictured at right). Chapter 26 member Matt Burns drove a 1947 Cadillac, pulling the Chapter s float. Riding on the float were members John Artman, Nadine Solmans and Daniel Cisneros. Above: Chapter 26 Commander Don Watts and Sr. Vice Commander Joe Biladaue show off the Mayor s Trophy DAV/RecruitMilitary All Veterans Career Fairs Date City Location Jan. 15 San Antonio, Texas Norris Conference Center Jan. 15 Tampa, Fla. Straz Center for the Performing Arts Jan. 22 Oklahoma City, Okla. Lloyd Noble Center Jan. 22 Sacramento, Calif. Aerospace Museum of California Jan. 29 Raleigh, N.C. Vaughn Towers at Carter-Finley Stadium Feb. 5 Atlanta, Ga. Georgia Dome Feb. 12 New Orleans, La. TBD* Feb. 19 Phoenix, Ariz. University of Phoenix Stadium Feb. 19 Dayton, Ohio TBD* Feb. 25 Dallas, Texas Irving Convention Center Feb. 26 New York, N.Y. New Yorker Hotel March 5 Philadelphia, Pa. Lincoln Financial Field March 5 Kansas City, Mo. Arrowhead Stadium March 12 Miami, Fla. TBD* March 12 Nashville, Tenn. TBD* March 19 Austin, Texas TBD* March 26 San Diego, Calif. TBD* March 26 Houston, Texas TBD* March 26 Washington, D.C. TBD* *Please visit our website at jobs.dav.org for updates on venue locations. National Chaplain meets Medal of Honor recipient... DAV National Chaplain Michael Dover attended the Manchester, Ga., Veterans Day parade, where he lead the invocation and visited local veterans. He met retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins, who was awarded the Medal of Honor by the president on Sept. 15. In Vietnam, Adkins helped fight off a very sizeable enemy force for 38 hours, in spite of being wounded several times. Share Your News! Send DAV or Auxiliary news to feedback@dav.org. PAGE 35

38 REUNIONS ARMY 11TH AIRBORNE/AIR ASSAULT DIVISION, MID- ATLANTIC CHAPTER AND 187TH RCT Feb , Myrtle Beach, SC, Contact: Artie Heape, Ph: , or Herb Shapiro, Ph: , ECHO COMPANY 2/5TH CAVALRY, 1ST CALVARY AIRMOBILE April 22 26, Branson, MO, Contact: Mick DeHart, Ph: , NAVY USS CONY (DD/DDE-508) April 29 May 3, Myrtle Beach, SC, Contact: Charlie Heilman, or Phil Michel, USS EUGENE A. GREENE (DD/DDR-711) Sept , Buffalo, NY, Contact: Jack Plasterer, Ph: , USS LAWRENCE ASSN. (DDG-4/DD-250) April 29 May 3, Norfolk, VA, Contact: Craig Bernat, Ph: , Website: USS MIDWAY VETERANS ASSN. April 23 25, San Diego, CA, Contact: Ron Pope, Ph: , Website: USS MORTON (DD-948) May 27 31, Buffalo, NY, Contact: Al Creasy, Ph: , USS STEINAKER (DD/DDR-863) April 23 26, Virginia Beach, VA, Contact: Russ Noble, Ph: , USS YELLOWSTONE ASSN. (AD-27) June 7 10, Harrisburg, PA, Contact: Paul W. Bowen, Ph: , bowp@centurylink.net INQUIRIES Searching for anyone associated with the May 22, 1958, explosion at the Nike battery located in Middletown, N.J. Please contact Michael Donovan, 5606 Glanmore Court, Fairfax, VA 22032, micseadon@gmail.com. Searching for anyone who knows Lt. Norving Stone from Indiana. Please contact Mr. Leonard Guzman, P.O. Box , Hartford, CT 06106, Ph: Searching for anyone who served in the 48th Grp. 62nd Trans. Orient Express during , like Donahue of KY, Stanton of MN, Boultis of MN, Capucci, and D. Mays for a possible reunion. Please contact Joe Haren at or Frank Wieczorek at , jgrfedex11@yahoo.com. Searching for anyone who served in Vietnam ( ) with the 101st Abn. 2/319th Artillery, all Batteries. Contact Jim Miller, 2904 Medinah Court, Palos Heights, IL 60463, ssjimmy@comcast.net, Ph: Searching for anyone who served with me in L-3-25th 4th Marine Division on Saipan who could verify my covering Col. Carlson with my machine and helping him up from the bottom of the tank. Please contact John J. Teuchert, 623 Marlin Circle, Barefoot Bay, FL Searching for Army veteran Robert Curtis. Served with me in Germany, Last known address California. Wife, Stella; one son. Please contact Daniel G. Wheeler, 3317 Emoryfield Place, Durham, NC , Ph: Searching for Douglas Taylor, HN3, last seen in Camp Pendleton, CA hospital in August Member of Great Lakes boot camp Company 648 in Graduated from HN School Great Lakes in May Stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital from May 1970 until May Graduated HN Field Service School Camp Lejeune in July Believe hometown was Fredrick, MD. Please contact Milford Becton at or mgbecton@aol.com. Searching for the sergeant, 3rd Battalion, 310th Infantry Regiment, who was shot in the shoulder and heel during the winter of in Germany on a mission to destroy a German pillbox. Please contact Stanley L. Zemont, 1919 Blakely Court, Bellingham, WA , stanandmarie1@comcast.net, or Ph: Veterans of Underage Military Service (VUMS) is looking to connect veterans who served under the age of 17 (under 16 for World War II Merchant Marine vets and under 20 years of age for women veterans of World War II). Visit oldvums.org for more information. REUNION STORIES DAV is interested in stories about veterans who connected via the Reunions section of DAV Magazine. If you have a story you would like to share, please feedback@dav.org. Disabled American Veterans National Headquarters Unaudited Statement of Financial Position September 30, 2014 Download our new app. It s FREE! Or read online at Unrestricted Assets Unrestricted Liabilities Current Assets $ 36,945,770 Current Liabilities $ 113,462,445 Investments, at Market 363,488,859 Total Liabilities 113,462,445 Land, Buildings and Equipment, Net of Depreciation 7,237,998 Unrestricted Net Assets Other Assets 625,250 General and Net Assets Designated by the Board of Directors $ 294,835,432 Total Unrestricted Net Assets 294,835,432 Total Unrestricted Assets $ 408,297,877 Total Liabilities and Unrestricted Net Assets $ 408,297,877 Life Membership Assets Life Membership Liabilities Current Assets $ 1,585,816 Current Liabilities $ 459,308 Investments, at Market 57,303,780 Reserve for Future Distribution of Life Membership Dues 58,430,288 Total Life Membership Assets $ 58,889,596 Total Life Membership Liabilities and Reserve for Future Distribution of Life Membership Dues $ 58,889,596 DAV is very proud to have been authorized to display the BBB seal since 2004, in recognition of meeting the Alliance s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. 'UNBROKEN' fact DAV was instrumental in assisting author Laura Hillenbrand with the book "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption," which is now a major motion picture about the life and internment of Louis Zamperini. Hillenbrand reached out to DAV because she had difficulties envisioning the experience of B-24 crewmen. DAV partnered with the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, to film a digital tour of the interior of the aircraft. Zamperini was an Olympic runner who went on to serve in the U.S. Army Air Forces. His plane went down in the Pacific and he survived for 47 days on a raft before reaching the Marshall Islands, where he and a remaining survivor were taken prisoner by the Japanese. Zamperini was a member of DAV and a motivational speaker until his death last summer. PAGE 36 DAV MAGAZINE JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

39 VETERANS DAY NOVEMBER 11, 2014 From left, National Commander Ron Hope, VA Secretary Robert McDonald and Vice President Joe Biden salute the flag during the National Anthem at the National Veterans Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Commander Hope, Secretary McDonald and Washington Headquarters Executive Director Garry Augustine all addressed attendees at the National Veterans Day reception hosted by DAV at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. DAV partnered with NASCAR for the DAV 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on Veterans Day weekend. National Judge Advocate and Past National Commander, Mike Dobmeier, kicks off the DAV 200, Nov. 8, DLSMITH PHOTOGRAPHY Left: Department of Arizona Adjutant Ron Archuleta, 2014 Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year Roger Ferland and Department of Arizona Commander Ron Cox participate in pre-race ceremonies. Above: NASCAR driver Greg Biffle visits the DAV Mobile Service Office to autograph memorabilia for fans before the race.

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