The Holidays Were Very Pleasant- Just the 2 of Us

Happy New Year, gang!

Our Christmas and New Year celebrations were very low-key and quiet.  Extremely pleasant.

Christmas Eve found us eating a nice antipasto salad and French bread pizzas.

Christmas Dinner was out of this world.  I roasted a 6# Duck and served it with potato pancakes, red cabbage with brown sugar/vinegar, and a wild rice/mushroom/cranberry pilaf.  It was all yummy!  (Very German)

New Years Eve was spent watching the Twilight Zone Marathon...  a tradition for us.

Pigged out on Muffalettas!

Did our annual Pork and Sauerkraut on New Years Day.  (Along with roasted pig tails, country ribs, mashed potatoes, baked apples, and Angel Hair Pasta in the pork drippings.)  OINK OINK!

THIS WAS A REAL PLEASANT SURPRISE:

On the 23rd, I got a phone call from the American Legion saying that they had a "gift" for us and wanted to make certain that we'd be home.

I told him that we live behind a locked-gate 8/10 of a mile back in the woods and he could just leave the "gift" behind the gate.  I thought that it was a scam and wasn't very pleasant.  I hung up the phone.

2 hours later the same fellow called.  "I hate to bother you again, Mrs. Manzo, but can you come down to your gate to get this??  I'd hate to leave a turkey and a ham out here.  I'm afraid that the local critters will snatch it!"

(Not only did they give us the turkey and ham, but a storage container packed full with a pumpkin pie, fresh fruit and all sorts of dried and canned goods

He went on to say that Sharon at the local food pantry had given them Dom's name as a Vietnam Veteran!

I felt horrible.  I apologized to the guy and he understood completely. 

I volunteer at the local food pantry.  The American Legion and the VFW had contacted the coordinator for names of veterans.  Didn't she give them Dom's name with our address and phone number!!!!

HERE'S WHERE I VOLUNTEER

The Veterans organizations story in the local paper:

Christmas baskets for local veterans

DONATION: Gilbert Pfisterer, center, received one of the food baskets delivered by two local organizations who support veterans. The donations were made possible by a number of organizations and businesses.

Veterans in Pearl River County received a gift of food for the holidays due to the efforts of local organizations.

Members of the Sons of the American Legion, McSween-Johnston Post 73, Picayune, Miss., worked with the James L. Burge Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3804, to distribute more than 100 food baskets for Christmas to local veterans and other Pearl River County residents, according to the release.

The annual Christmas Basket Food Drive included contributions from Sons of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Froogle’s Cost Plus Foods in Bay St. Louis, Paul’s Pastry and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The baskets included a 12-pound turkey, an 8-pound ham, several side dishes and a pumpkin pie from Paul’s Pastry.


“The annual drive exemplifies the spirit of the season, while allowing these veterans’ organizations to further their mission of service to our community, state, and nation,” the release states.

https://www.picayuneitem.com/2018/12/christmas-baskets-for-local-veterans/

Dominic and I wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and hope that your holidays were GREAT!

Pro Bono Resources for Veterans

Resources for lawyers & veterans to assist with medical care challenges, disability benefits, reemployment rights, consumer, housing, criminal & family law matters, & obtaining legal counsel

National Resources:

Statesidelegal.org

Legal help for military members, veterans and their families.

Center for Veterans Advancement

Public Counsel's Center for Veterans Advancement (CVA), a national leader in veterans' advocacy, is driven by its core mission to uphold our nation's promise to veterans and their families. CVA provides legal representation to veterans and their families at both the local and national levels.

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program provides pro bono attorneys to financially qualified veterans with meritorious claims when their benefits appeals reach the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. In addition, we provide training for the volunteer attorneys as well as support them with mentors and materials once they accept a case. Information on our program is available at http://www.vetsprobono.org/ .

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
2101 L Street, NW, Suite 420
Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: 202-628-8164
Toll Free: 888-838-7727
Fax: 202-628-8169
E-Mail: mail@vetsprobono.org
www.vetsprobono.org

*Please contact the ABA Commission on Homelessness & Poverty at amy.hortonnewell@americanbar.org to add or amend your program to this directory.

Interactive Map and Links HERE

Veterans Against Myeloma

Know the Enemy

Veterans diagnosed with myeloma face a challenging new threat. What can we do about it? Find out here about myeloma, treatment options, and the latest research.

Plan of Attack

There are a tremendous amount of resources available to veterans suffering from multiple myeloma. VAM has the info you need to start the fight.

Join the fight

The fight against multiple myeloma is a difficult - but winnable - one. Take action now: Join the VAM Team to help wipe out this disease.

A MUST SEE for Veterans with wonderful links HERE.

How to Prove Your Disability for VA Claims

Oftentimes only people with disabilities know the extend of their own suffering and difficulties, but there are times when letting the outside world know how you feel, as best as you can, is important.

In the case of applying for disability claims, there are some things you should know for giving yourself the best chance at success, as noted in this recent column by Ken Cruickshank, a retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and the Veterans Services Officer for Tulare County in California.

Among the most important points made by Cruickshank:

-You should apply for a service-connected disability benefit as soon as possible after your discharge date, which will help you prove it was service-connected

-The verification process is the first step, and you typically need three items of support: medical evidence of a current, chronic (continuous) disability; evidence of having suffered a disease, injury, or event while engaged in active service; and evidence linking these two items together.

Two Categories to Know

Your claim will fall under one of two categories: direct service connection or presumptive service connection.

Direct service connection meets all of the three conditions mentioned earlier, while presumptive disability refers to a health condition that could possibly have arisen during service.

For a more detailed explanation of what you should know before you apply, check out Cruickshank’s column by clicking here.

LINKS HERE 

Veterans Day Freebies & Deals 2014

On Tuesday, November 11th, veterans and active duty military can feel even more appreciated for the sacrifices they’ve made to serve our country with loads of freebies from restaurants and other businesses. Enjoy everything from free meals to a free car wash.

Make sure to bring valid proof of service as most places will request it for the discounts and specials to apply. Since promotions vary by location, it’s also a good idea to call the location nearest you before heading out to verify they are participating.

7-Eleven: Veterans, active members of the US military and their immediate families can enjoy a free small Slurpee drink on Veterans Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Applebee’s: Veterans and Active Duty Military can enjoy a free Signature Entrée from its Veterans Days menu on November 11th. The menu includes dishes like The American Standard All-In Burger, Three-Cheese Chicken Penne, Double Crunch Shrimp, 7 oz. House Sirloin and more.

Carraba’s: Enjoy a free appetizer of your choice with military ID or proof of service.

Chili’s: Those who have served and active military veterans may choose a free meal on Veterans Day. Choose any lunch combo during lunch hours, or between 7 meals during the dinner hour.

Denny’s: Veterans and active, non-active and retired military personnel can come by between 5 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Veterans Day to enjoy a free Build Your Own Grand Slam.

Free Car Wash: Head over to Grace for Veterans for a full list of participating locations to enjoy a free car wash on Veterans Day.

Friendly’s: Veterans and those with a valid military ID or honorable discharge card can enjoy a free breakfast, lunch or dinner on Veterans Day. Choose from their Big-Two-Do’s breakfast options or the All American Burger with fries and a beverage for lunch or dinner.

National Parks: Enjoy free admission to national parks on Veterans Day!

On The Border: All veterans and active duty military receive free OTB’s “Create Your Own Combo menu” on Veterans Day.

Outback Steakhouse: Veterans and active duty military get a free Bloomin’ Onion and a non-alcoholic beverage free on Veterans Day. When dining Nov. 12 to Dec. 31, 2014, receive 15% off your purchase.

Red Lobster: Veterans and those with military ID may choose from a select list of appetizers to enjoy for free on Monday, November 10th – Thursday, November 13th.

Starbucks: Call locations beforehand to see if they’re participating in offering active duty military, veterans, and their spouses a free tall brewed coffee on November 11th.

LINK

(From Nan...... Hooter's normally participates, too!)

Best Company Ever? Veteran Beer Co. exists to employ vets, provide quality beer

Could the Veteran Beer Co. be the best company ever? The microbrewer, started by Navy pilot Paul Jenkins, exists to provide jobs for disabled veterans and provide customers with quality beer.

The company opened in Chicago on Veterans Day and has now made inroads into northwest Indiana, The Times of Northwest Indiana reported. The company’s beers include the Veteran and the Blonde Bomber, and an IPA and black ale are in the works.

“These guys have a very special mission. When we met with Paul and his team it was obvious they had the passion and the heart and a very clear mission to help veterans and that made it really special and unique and very interesting to us,” Bob Jacobs, Indiana Beverage vice president of sales and marketing, told the Indiana paper.


“I can’t thank Paul enough for letting me be a part of this company,” said John Herman, who served three tours in Iraq and now is employed as the microbrewer’s regional brand ambassador. “It’s given me a mission again. It’s given me something to really be proud of.”

Recently, Veteran Beer Co. secured the business of a local Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee, Brandon Jones, who owns 30 of the restaurants.

“I heard of the story of the brand and I called Indiana Beverage right away and before they even had distributing rights,” Mr. Jones told Indiana newspaper. “I said, ‘what’s the story on this brand? I want it.’”

“[Veteran Beer Co. has] been amazingly well-received,” Mr. Jacobs said.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/4/best-company-ever-veteran-beer-co-exists-employ-ve/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&google_editors_picks=true#ixzz2mYOarop2 
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

Agent Orange – What Veterans Should Know

What every present day Veteran Should Know

Most of the veterans around today are of the Korean war, Vietnam war and Gulf war. In the past 10 to 11 years, Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Those of past wars and those who served in peace time need to explain to their sons, daughters, grand kids and maybe for some great grand kids, who may be serving their Country. How important it is to maintain records.

Upon discharge from any branch of the Armed Forces, the service member receives a DD-214, release of service discharge. A very important document. Sometimes on that discharge document it might state medals earned and duty stations served at. It is not always the case. Often times the person typing up the DD-214 does not go through the members service record to record medals and duty stations.

Upon discharge from any branch of service along with receiving a DD-214, they should ask for copies of their medical records, record of medals earned and duty stations and or commands served under. Also they should keep copies of all transfer orders and travel orders. These are important documents.

You may ask why keep those documents? It can be very likely they may be needed at some point in time years after discharge from military service.

An old injury creeps up on you that might be service connected or an illness that could be service connected. So you submit a VA claim. The VA asks for evidence of your service that may have caused an injury or illness. They will want to know what medals you earned, especially combat medals. They will want you to prove what duty stations and or commands you were attached to. Injury’s that may be service connect you have to prove with your medical records as well as medical records from a health care provider. Illness’s that may be service connected and prove where you were that could attest to a location.

If you don’t have these records or did have them and threw them away or misplaced them, good luck. It is a nightmare to get those records of service, that holds true to all branches of service. I could take mountains of paperwork on your part to find what you need as evidence for a VA claim. It could take several months even a year or more to find the documents needed. Any documents relative to the above should be kept in a safe place. A family member, wife, child, father, mother, etc. should now where you keep those documents for any event. By having these documents, it will be so much easier to submit a VA claim if and when needed for disability. The VA will not search for these documents for you, you are on your own to present them.

I am a Vietnam war veteran and I had saved all of my service documents over my 22 years of service. When I came down with Agent Orange exposure, those documents I saved were like gold. I had every thing the VA asked for and then some. It only took me a year to be rated disabled. On the other hand, if I did not have those documents, it conceivably could have taken several years to be rated disabled, that is if I were able to find what was needed by the VA.

Another important thing a veteran upon discharge should do is register with the VA to be in the system. This can be done by a phone call or on-line to get a form of registration and sending it in with a copy of your DD-214. Also all documents you collect must show your SS#, just write it on the top of each page. There is the possibility you may one day need to submit a VA claim. Safe guard your service documents, they may one day be important to you. Don’t cause yourself a nightmare later in life when you find you need help.

This advice is given by: © John J. Bury, US Navy, retired, Vietnam War veteran
Author for COVVHA

LINK

VA won't say how many veterans die waiting for disability benefits

How many veterans die annually while they wait for the embattled U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to approve their claim for disability benefits? The answer: The VA won’t say.

In half a dozen calls and emails, The Baltimore Sun asked the VA over a period of about two weeks for information about its backlog to process disability claims for American veterans — and the consequences of the delays on servicemen and servicewomen.

The Sun’s report showed the Baltimore office, which handles claims for all of Maryland’s 450,000 veterans, is the worst performing in the country. The local office was the slowest and had the highest error rate in the U.S., according to latest information available.


The VA has made strides in improving transparency and access to information with an interactive online database of processing times and error rates called ASPIRE. The agency also created an online portal called eBenefits for veterans to learn the latest status on their claims, although many find it confusing and the information it provides not timely.

The ASPIRE Dashboard was integral in producing the Sun investigation. But it couldn’t answer all the questions, most notably, the number of veterans who die before the agency approves or denies their claim.

Nearly 19,500 veterans died from October 2011 to September 2012, the federal fiscal year, while they waited for benefits, according to an article published in San Francisco’s Bay Citizen. That figure is based on the $437 million in retroactive benefits paid to the survivors of the deceased veterans, according to the report. The number of veterans who died waiting during that period is likely higher.

The VA did not respond to repeated requests to provide the figure for veterans whose claims were pending at the time of their death. When pressed on the existence of the data, an agency spokeswoman said the retroactive benefits paid to survivors "aren’t necessarily cases where veterans died while waiting for their benefits." No further explanation was provided.

The number of deceased veterans with outstanding claims increased as the backlog did, the California newspaper reported. This year, more than 900,000 veterans have outstanding disability claims, which take an average of nine months to process nationally and nearly 12 months at the Baltimore office, according to VA statistics.

In addition to the lack of information on deceased veterans, the agency would also not provide the number of VA managers and senior-level staff members who were removed from positions, retrained or reprimanded because of the ongoing problems, among other information.

LINK

A GREAT WEBSITE HERE