MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Please give a warm welcome home to our new member Denis Kitner from Fort Valley. Welcome home Denis and thank you for choosing our Chapter.

NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting will be held on the 11th of March at the VFW Post in Edinburg. The Board of Directors will meet at 10:00 and the membership meeting will begin at 11:00.

ALUMINUM CANS
For those of you who have been saving aluminum cans, now is the time to get rid of them. Please bring them with you to the meeting and our Secretary, Ken Watts, will take them off your hands. Ken has found a place in Winchester that will give us a decent price for them.

VETERANS GET NEARLY $81 BILLION IN HISTORIC FY 07 BUDGET
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, R. James Nicholson, announced that President Bush will seek a record $80.6 billion in the fiscal year 2007 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with the overwhelming majority of these resources targeted for health care and disability compensation. The FY ’07 proposal represents an increase of $8.8 billion, or 12.2 percent, above the budget for 2006.

“Veterans are a priority. That’s why the President is proposing this historic budget with a landmark increase to continue the best health care and vital benefits to those veterans who count on the VA the most,” Nicholson said. “With the support of Congress, we can take care of the needs of our newest generation of combat veterans, while honoring our commitment to veterans of earlier eras.”

The FY ‘07 budget proposal calls for $38.5 billion in discretionary funding -- mostly for health care. This budget contains the largest increase in discretionary funding for VA ever requested by a president. For health care alone, the President’s request is an increase of $3.5 billion (or more than 11 percent) over the FY ‘06 level. The budget proposal also would provide $42.1 billion in mandatory funding, mostly for compensation, pension and other benefit programs.

TRICARE RATE HIKES
The Defense Department is proposing that working age military retirees and their families pay higher premiums to help address rising health care costs that have doubled over the past few years. The proposed changes would only apply to eligible military retirees under age 65 and their families. There would be no change for active duty military of their families, or military retirees age 65 or older and their families. The proposed rate hikes will be phased in over fiscal year 2007 and 2008.

BEREAVEMENT
The Veterans Administration has created a “survivors” Web Site (www.vba.gov/survivors) for spouses and dependents of veterans who died on active duty and for the survivors and dependents of veterans who died after leaving the military. The Web Site is organized into two broad categories -- death in service and death after service. It provides visitors with information about a wide range of benefits for the surviving spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents of deceased veterans and active duty personnel. The site also has information from -- and links to -- other federal agencies and organizations that offer benefits and services to survivors and dependents. The Web Site can be reached by clicking the “Survivors Benefits” button on the left of the www,vba.va.gov page.

BIKERS ROLL TO MILITARY FUNERALS TO OPPOSE ANTI-GAY PROTESTS
Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldiers funeral to another, cheering respectfully to over shadow jeers from church protesters.

They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phillips at military funerals. Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking GOD for so-called IEDs - explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.

The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags. “The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares,” said Don Woodrick, the group’s Kentucky captain. “When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement.”

SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE
The date is confirmed and “The March for Millions of Veterans 2006 - Operation Firing for Effect” will be held at 0800, on the 25th of April, 2006. Mark your calendars and ensure you take the day off from work, play, etc... If you absolutely cannot make it to DC, then start preparing your picket signs/posters/bull horns and arrive early the morning of the 25th , at either your State Capitol or your Local/State VA Health Care Facilities and tell them “WE Support our Veterans in Washington, DC!.” Get your local media’s attention and then point them to Washington - to observe “The March of Veterans - Operation Firing for Effect”.

COUNTRY MUSIC STAR HONORED
A legacy of service to military personnel and veterans was honored recently when country music star Toby Keith received the highest award offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during a ceremony at the Nashville Convention Center.

While not a veteran himself, he is the son of a disabled Vietnam veteran. His song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” following the attacks of 9/11 rallied Americans from all walks of life behind the Global War Against Terrorism.

STOCK CAR RACER TEAMS UP
Legendary stock car race and seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty has teamed with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to promote volunteerism at VA hospitals. Petty was named chairman of the 2006 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.

Petty will make public service announcements encouraging the public to volunteer at VA facilities, and be the national spokesman for more than 140,000 volunteers serving veterans at 154 VA hospitals, more than 850 outpatient clinics and 134 nursing homes across the nation.

Members of the public are encouraged to call their local VA health care facilities to participate in activities during the 2006 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. At VA medical centers, they should ask for the Voluntary Service Office, which coordinates the activities.

FROM SHABOOMS KITCHEN
March means only two things---St. Patrick’s Day and Spring, Finally! Whether you’re Irish or not, this dish is traditional---and easy to do as well. Traditional accompaniments are cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and Irish Soda Bread. Non-alcoholic beer works just fine, too, since any alcohol evaporates long before serving time.
Serves: 6

1 3-4 pound corned beef brisket
1 medium onion sliced
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup sliced carrots
4 large garlic cloves -- smashed
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons pickling spice
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 can chicken broth (14.5 oz.)
1 can beef broth (14.5 oz.)
1 can beer, alcoholic or non (12 oz.) at room temperature
Water
2 chile piquin, optional
Creamy Horseradish- Mustard Sauce (Recipe Below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove meat and seasoning packet from packaging; rinse meat thoroughly under cold running weater to remove all the packing gelatin. Dry meat with paper towels and set aside.

Place onions, celery, carrots and garlic into the bottom of a large Dutch oven. Sprinkle with pickling spice and 1 bay leaf. Place corned beef on top of the vegetables, fatty side up. Sprinkle contents of the seasoning packet, peppercorns, thyme and remaining bay leaf over top of the meat. Pour chicken broth, beef broth and beer around the meat (not over top). Add just enough water to barely come up to the top of the meat. Add the chile piquins if using, one on each side of the meat into the liquid.

Cover pan tightly with foil; then cover tightly with pan lid. Place in oven and bake 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees and bake undisturbed for 4 hours undisturbed or until meat is tender.

Carefully remove the meat to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Strain pan liquid into a medium saucepan, pressing on vegetables to get all juices; discard vegetables. Skim fat from surface; bring to boil and boil 15-20 minutes to concentrate (it will remain quite liquid-y).

Slice meat across the grain about 1/4" thick. Some of the cooking liquid may be spooned over the meat if desired. Serve with Creamy Horseradish-mustard sauce on the side if desired. Remaining liquid can be placed in a bowl, covered and refrigerated to use when preparing other corned beef dishes from leftovers (up to 4 days).

* CREAMY HORSERADISH-MUSTARD SAUCE:
In a small bowl, combine 2 heaping tablespoons of good grainy mustard with 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish. Stir in 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Mix well and serve.

Questions? Suggestions? For more information about joining our Chapter, please e-mail us!

MAILING ADDRESS
VVA Chapter 936
P. O. Box 299
Basye, VA 22810

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