NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting will be held in conjunction with the Mount Jackson Heritage Days on the 7th of May. We will have our table set up in the vicinity of CJ's Carpets on Main Street - across were the old town hall and police station used to be. Just look for our banner and the VVA flag. We will be there from 9AM until 5PM. All are encouraged to come by. Meet your neighbors and have a fun day. Anything of importance will be passed on to you when we see you. So, please come on by, help us man the table and let's sell some raffle tickets.

CHAPTER ELECTIONS
During our regular monthly meeting on April 9th we held our elections. This time the term of office is for two years. After the Pledge of Allegiance, invocation and special announcements, our President Pete Mulligan turned the meeting over to Past President Lou James. Lou announced that the current officers plus three new members for the Board of Directors were all running for reelection/election and asked three times if there were any nominations from the floor. There being none he declared that the current officers were reelected by slate of acclamation. The three new members to the Board of Directors are; Charlie Towe, Ken Watts, and Bill Fadely. Ray Oska was appointed as chairman of the Finance Committee. Ken Watts will also serve as an alternate to the Virginia State council.

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
(Washington-April 19, 2005) At a press conference in Washington DC, two top Bush administration officials expressed strong support for legislation being sponsored by U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) which will help soldiers and their families financially when they are wounded or otherwise traumatically injured.

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson called the legislation "a big step toward providing security for the families of veterans" and Dr. David Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness also expressed support for the measure.

"The amendment I propose would provide an immediate infusion of resources to meet the needs of severely injured servicemembers at the time they and their families need it most. The amendment would pay between $25,000 and $100,000 based on the severity of the traumatic injury," said Craig, who serves as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Veteran Affairs Committee.

"The money would help cover housing, travel and other expenses families incur when their soldier is hurt."

House Veterans Affairs Committee
(Washington) Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) held a hearing to receive testimony on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration (NCA). The purpose of the hearing was to examine the policy and operational issues facing NCA, including short- and long-term goals with respect to new cemetery construction, and what efforts NCA is taking to address the 928 restoration and repair projects identified in 2002 by the Logistics Management Institute. The Subcommittee also took testimony on the State Cemetery Grants Program.

“Our Nation’s final gesture of gratitude to servicemembers and veterans is burial in a national cemetery. I am committed to ensuring that VA cemeteries reflect our commitment by maintaining these areas as national shrines, which is why NCA oversight was the subcommittee’s first hearing of the 109th Congress,” Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Miller said.

Mr. Richard Wannemacher, Jr., Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, testified on behalf of the Administration. Mr. Wannemacher was accompanied by Mr. Daniel Tucker, Director of the Office Finance and Planning at NCA, and Mr. G. William Jayne, Director of State Cemetery Grants Service.

Vietnam War Missing in Action Servicemen Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of four U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Marine 2nd Lt. Heinz Ahlmeyer Jr. of Pearl River, N.Y.; Marine Sgt. James N. Tycz of Milwaukee, Wis.; Marine Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Sharp Jr. of San Jose, Calif.; and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Malcolm T. Miller of Tampa, Fla. Ahlmeyer, Tycz, and Miller will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on May 10. Sharp was buried Saturday in San Jose and will be honored at the Arlington ceremony.

The four men were part of a reconnaissance patrol operating near the U.S. Marine base in Khe Sanh, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. They came under enemy attack shortly after midnight on May 10, 1967, while occupying a defensive position. During the firefight Ahlmeyer, Tycz, Sharp and Miller were killed. The patrol’s surviving members were rescued by helicopter later that morning but the bodies of the four men could not be recovered.

COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL
In accordance with section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding Cold War Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991.

Cold War Recognition Certificates are available to qualified individuals at no cost. All members of the armed forces and federal government civilian personnel who faithfully served the United States during the Cold War era, Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991. Individuals requesting a certificate will certify that their character of service was honorable. Acceptable supporting document for proof of service is any official government or military document with recipient's name, Social Security Number or Military Service Number or Foreign Service Number, and date of service.

Due to the remarkable success of this program, turn-around time for mailing certificates will be a minimum of 6 months. The CWRS Operations Team is working as fast as possible to clear the backlog. Please do not request feedback prior to 6 months from the request date. To obtain an application on line go to:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/tagd/coldwar/default.htm#application
* If you are unable to print the application you may submit a signed and dated letter containing the same information as the application (full name, address, identification including type (SSN, MSN, or FSN), applicant name if different from recipient, and email address (if available)). You must include the phrase "I confirm my faithful and honorable service to the nation during the Cold War Era." (NOTE: Although Congress did not authorize the minting of a Cold War Victory Medal, you may obtain one on line at medalsofamerica.com)

Veterans group observes milestone
With their war 30 years in the past, a small group of Vermonters were asked to keep in mind a new generation whose war has not yet ended.

As Chapter 1 of the Vietnam Veterans of America celebrated their 25th anniversary at The Palms Saturday night, April 16th, a number of speakers extolled those present to keep the people currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan in their thoughts, and to make sure they do not face the same struggles Vietnam veterans did upon returning home.

Disabled Vets Give Thumbs Up to New VA Career Program
By Donna Miles Army News Service April 15, WASHINGTON -A new program at the Department of Veterans Affairs is helping disabled troops train for new careers while awaiting discharge from the military, with the goal of hiring them at the VA.

The program, dubbed "Vet IT," launched as a pilot at the VA headquarters here in October, is winning acclaim as a win-win for everyone involved. Newly disabled veterans get a jump-start on new careers and, ideally, job offers with good benefits and advancement potential.

But Jennifer Duncan, who came up with the idea and oversees the VA program, said her agency gains as well, by attracting young, motivated employees who understand military veterans and their needs firsthand.

VA Secretary Backs Low-Cost "Traumatic Injury" Insurance
WASHINGTON (April 20, 2005) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson has backed proposed legislation creating low-cost "traumatic injury" insurance for members of the armed forces.

"We need to do all we can to help these veterans badly injured on the battlefield," said Nicholson, a combat-decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. "Low-cost traumatic injury insurance is a big step toward providing security for the families of veterans."

Secretary Nicholson endorsed the legislation during a press conference April 19 attended by the provision's sponsor, Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) and Dr. David S. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

Under Senator Craig's legislation, service members could purchase low-cost "traumatic injury" insurance that would provide a lump-sum payment up to $100,000 for certain catastrophic injuries that occurred on active duty. The coverage would also be available to members of the National Guard and Reserves.

VFW Posts Honoring Vietnam Veterans
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the Veterans of Foreign Wars is sponsoring Vietnam Veterans Recognition Week. From May 1-7, VFW Posts worldwide will be honoring the more than 3.4 million veterans who served in the Vietnam War during this recognition week. If you are a Vietnam veteran and would like to participate in recognition week ceremonies, contact the local VFW Post listed in your phone directory.

NATIONAL VSO INFORMATION
The National Service Organizations that file the most disability claims are listed below. Contact information for their VSO in your area is available at the phone numbers or web sites indicated. According to a Knight Kidder survey these VA-accredited VSOs vary in training and oversight. The below includes the survey results in the following five categories:
(1) Number of VA-accredited VSO's in parent organization
(2) Accreditation training required
(3) Accreditation test required
(4) Continuing education required
(5) Later testing required
American Ex-Prisoners of War (817) 649-2979 www.axpow.org (1) 531 (2) No
minimum requirement; provides 8-10 hours voluntary training annually (3) No (4) No (5) No
American Legion (317) 630-1200 www.legion.org (1) 1341 (2) Standards vary by local branch; offers 48 hours of optional training at national schools (3) No (4) One VSO per state must attend national training twice yearly (5) No
AMVETS (301) 459-9600 www.amvets.org (1) 456 (2) 40 hrs one-on-one training for new VSOs (3)Yes (4) Yes - 26 hours annually (5) No
Disabled American Veterans (859) 441-7300 www.dav.org (1) 941 (2) National VSOs: 16 months OJT training; computer-based training course qualifies for 10 college credit hours. State VSOs: Training varies (3) Yes (4) Yes (5) Yes
Veterans of Foreign Wars (816) 756-3390 www.vfw.org (1) 719 (2) 72 hrs of training during first year of accreditation (3) No (4) Yes (5) No -Required tests at training conferences used to gauge overall training needs.
Vietnam Veterans of America (800) 882-1316 www.vva.org (1) 555 (2) Requires 40 hrs training for new VSOs, varies for others (3) yes (4) One advanced course every two years (5) No

FROM SHABOOM’S KITCHEN

1/4 cup extra virgin olive
1 teaspoon coarsely cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1 (3 pound) porterhouse steak
Kosher salt

Combine all the ingredients in a medium baking dish. Add the steak and toss to coat. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours or up to 2 days. Bring steak to room temperature before grilling.

Preheat grill. Remove steak from marinade and wipe off any excess and season with salt to taste. Sear the steak for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Close the grill and continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes for medium rare. Let rest for 10 minutes. Cut into 1/2-inch thick slices.

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

MAILING ADDRESS
VVA Chapter 936
594 Cave Spring Lane
Edinburg, VA 22824

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