Veterans & Military Families Monthly News

April 2014 Vol. 5 No. 2

2014 Lest We Forgot Reenactment See Page 3 for more Details.

Agent Orange Residue on Post-Vietnam War C-123 Aircraft
2. It is expected that exposure to Agent Orange in these
aircraft after the Vietnam War was lower than exposure during the spraying missions in Vietnam. Potential Agent Orange exposures were unlikely to have exceeded standards set by regulators or to have put people at risk for future health problems. How Veterans may have been exposed During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Air Force used C-123 aircraft to spray Agent Orange to clear jungles that provided enemy cover in Vietnam. At the end of the spraying campaign in 1971, the remaining C-123 planes were reassigned to reserve units in the U.S. for routine cargo and medical evacuation missions spanning the next 10 years. Crew members aboard one of these post-Vietnam C-123 planes reported smelling strong odors, which raised concerns about Agent Orange exposure but Agent Orange is odorless. These odors may have come from various chemicals associated with aircraft. Health effects of Agent Orange residue The health effects of exposure to Agent Orange residue on airplanes differ from direct contact with liquid Agent Orange. In liquid or spray form, Agent Orange can enter the body through inhalation or ingestion (such as hand-to-mouth contact or getting into food). But in the dry form for example, adhered to a surface Agent Orange residue cannot be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, and would be difficult to ingest.
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By: Donnie La Curan From Veteran News Some Veterans who were crew members on C-123 Provider aircraft, formerly used to spray Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, have raised health concerns about exposure to residual amounts of herbicides on the plane surfaces. Responding to these concerns, VA asked the Institute of Medicine to study possible health effects. Results are expected in late 2014. If you have health concerns, talk to your health care provider or local VA Environmental Health Coordinator. Testing for Agent Orange residue on planes The U.S. Air Force (USAF) collected and analyzed numerous samples from C-123 aircraft to test for Agent Orange. USAFs risk assessment report (April 27, 2012) (2.3 MB, PDF) found that potential exposures to Agent Orange in C-123 planes used after the Vietnam War were unlikely to have put aircrew or passengers at risk for future health problems. The reports three conclusions: 1. There was not enough information and data to conclude how much individual persons would have been exposed to Agent Orange.

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The potential for health effects depends on the amount of Agent Orange present, as well as its ability to enter the body. After reviewing available scientific reports in 2011 and 2012, VA concluded that the exposure potential in these planes was extremely low and therefore, the risk of long-term health effects is minimal. If crew exposure did occur, it is unlikely that sufficient amounts of dried Agent Orange residue could have entered the body to have caused harm. We will continue to review new scientific information on this issue as it becomes available. Weve also asked the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, an independent non-governmental organization, to study possible health effects from Agent Orange in C-123 post-Vietnam crew members. Results are expected in late 2014. Research studies on Agent Orange Research on the health effects of Agent Orange has been extensive and it continues. Diverse populations have been studied, including herbicide sprayers and manufacturers, other Vietnam-era Veterans, and those exposed during industrial accidents. This information helps us to determine what potential health effects may be related to different levels of exposure. Find out more about research on health effects of Agent Orange. Health concerns? If you have health concerns about Agent Orange, talk to your health care provider or local VA Environmental Health Coordinator. Not enrolled in the VA health care system? Find out if you qualify for VA health care. Compensation benefits for health problems The risk of long-term health problems from exposure to Agent Orange residue on post-Vietnam C-123 airplanes is minimal. Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to exposure to Agent Orange residue on post-Vietnam C-123 airplanes. Veterans must show on a factual basis that they were exposed in order to receive disability compensation for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis. File a claim online.

Some Useful Links

Air Force Times www.airforcetimes.com Navy Times www.navytimes.com Marine Corps Times www.marinecorpstimes.com Army Times www.armytimes.com Military Times www.militarytimes.com TRICARE www.tricare.mil American Legion www.legion.org Veterans of Foreign Wars www.vfw.org AMVETS www.amvets.org The DAV www.dav.org Department of Defense www.dod.gov Military/Veterans Report www.militray.com The Pentagon Channel www.pentagonchannel.mil Veterans Administration www.va.gov Military Order of the Purple Heart www.purpleheart.org

If anyone has a site they would like to have added to this growing list please let us know! Contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.

Thank you for your Support!

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New licenses will carry special Veteran designation for honorably discharged vets Mike Major, as a proud veteran who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, says he will carry one of the new drivers licenses for veterans once they become available. Why? The same reason he has an Afghanistan veterans license plate on his car. Im proud of my service to my country, he said, adding the new drivers license says a lot about how veterans are seen in Michigan. Secretary Johnsons efforts really underscore that Michigan is a veteran-friendly state and that Michigan is a great place to be for veterans, said Major, 37, of Saginaw Township, who served in both the Michigan Army National Guard and is still active with the United States Navy Reserve. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson says her departments new drivers licenses for veterans, marked with the word VETERAN in bold red on the front, will help those who served their country get the benefits and discounts they have earned and deserve. We are indebted to these courageous men and women, said Johnson. I hope every store clerk, every bank teller who sees these licenses will take a moment to thank that veteran for their service and sacrifice. Michigan Veterans Affairs Director Jeff Barnes also supports the new veterans designation. This is one more way Michigan can honor our states veterans and make their day-to-day lives a little easier, Barnes said. I look forward to being able to display the veterans designation on my license after May 1. Veterans can sign up for the new drivers licenses and state ID cards at their local Secretary of State branch. If they are renewing their license, theyll only have to pay the normal renewal fee. If it isnt time for them to renew, they can order a duplicate drivers license or state ID. Bob VanFleet, commander of American Legion Post 24 in Waterford and a Vietnam-era veteran, says hes getting one of the new licenses. Plenty of his fellow Legion members, from World War II vets to Gulf War vets, are interested too. VanFleet, who served in the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard, says the reason is simple: I think all veterans should stand up and be proud. When asked if hes going to get the new drivers license, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Steve Striggow of Holly, a member of American Legion Post 149, said You bet I will! Im a veteran and Im damn proud of it. Dick Rossell wants one of the new licenses too. He said for 40 years, he never really talked about his military service. But times and attitudes changed. Today hes even got a veterans license plate on his battered old Jeep outside. A lot of us had mixed feelings, said the U.S. Army veteran. I never did talk about it much, but it was always important to me.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announces May 1 debut of new drivers licenses for veterans

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FAQs What is the veteran designation? The veteran designation gives veterans an easy way to prove their veteran status to receive discounts from businesses. It also allows the Secretary of State's Office to partner with the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency, and veteran service organizations to provide referral information so veterans better know what resources and services are available to them. The word Veteran will be printed in red on the front of the card. Who is eligible to have a veteran designation on their license or ID card? Military veterans who served in any branch of the U.S. armed forces and have an honorable or under honorable conditions (general) discharge may have a veteran designation printed on their Michigan drivers license or state identification card. Qualifying services include the U.S. Air Force, Air Force National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy, as well as their Reserve components. Individuals who actively serve in the National Guard or Reserves at the time of application may qualify for the designation if they have a DD214 with an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge. What documentation is required to obtain the veteran designation? Veterans must provide acceptable documentation to receive the designation. Any submitted form must indicate the character of discharge. Acceptable forms include: DD214 (or correction DD215), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, any copy except Copy 1 Form NGB FM 22 or 23, Report of Separation and Record of Service, which must indicate honorable or general discharge Forms WD AGO, such as WD AGO 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation

Honorable Discharge GSA 6954, Certificate of Military Service NAVPERS 553, Extract of Notice of Separation from U.S. Naval Service Secretary of State offices will accept other documents issued prior to 1950 if they indicate an honorable or general discharge. Photocopies of official documents are acceptable. Veteran documentation will not be retained by the Secretary of State and will be destroyed if provided by mail. Documentation needs to be presented only upon the initial request for a drivers license or ID card with the designation. Subsequent licenses and ID cards will have the designation unless you request that it be removed. How can I obtain a copy of my DD214? For copies of your military discharge papers, write to: National Personnel Records Center 1 Archives Drive St. Louis, MO 63138 Or you can request a copy from the National Archives online, or from Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency online or by phone at 1-800-MICHVET. Is there a cost for obtaining the veteran designation? If you are renewing your license or ID card, or applying for one for your first Michigan drivers license or ID, you will pay only the normal drivers license or ID card fee. Otherwise, the standard fee for a duplicate or corrected license or ID card will apply. How do I add the veteran designation to my drivers license or ID card? The designation may be added by visiting any Secretary of State office and providing the required documentation. If the designation is added when you apply for your first Michigan drivers license or ID card, or at the time youre renewing, you will only pay the normal renewal fee. Otherwise, the standard fee for a corrected license or ID card will apply. Continued...
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If you are renewing your license or ID card by mail, you must include the required documentation and the completed Veteran designation application along with your renewal form so the designation is included on your new card. Please note the documentation submitted will not be returned to you. Copies are accepted. If you want to add the veteran designation outside of your renewal period and do not want to visit a Secretary of State office, send in the completed Veteran Designation Application form, the required documentation and the applicable fee. Current renewal and correction fees for standard licenses and state IDs are listed at http:// www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-1271627_14648-75447--,00.html, and for enhanced licenses and state IDs at http:// www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-1271627_8669_9040-213056--,00.html. Mail your completed application, veteran documentation and applicable fee to: Michigan Department of State Renewal By Mail Unit Lansing, MI 48918. The veteran designation cannot be requested when a drivers license or ID card is renewed online. Am I required to obtain the designation? No. The designation is optional. Will my veteran status be shared with other organizations? Besides providing veterans with an easy way to prove their veteran status to receive discounts at retailers, the designation also allows the Secretary of State's Office to partner with the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency and veteran service organizations across the state to provide referral information so veterans better know what resources and services are available to them. Can my spouse and dependents have the veteran designation? No.

Do I qualify for veteran designation if I am on active duty? No, unless you are Active Reserve and possess a DD214. How can I have the designation removed? The designation can be removed at no charge at any time by visiting an office or requesting the removal by mailing to Michigan Department of State, Renewal By Mail Unit, Lansing MI, 48918, or faxing your request to (517) 322-6822. What if I already have a veteran designation from another state? You will be required to provide your service documentation, such as a DD214, to have the designation put on your Michigan drivers license or ID card. Does the veteran designation qualify me to receive veteran benefits? No, the veteran designation is not legal proof of veteran status and does not qualify you for receiving benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency, or other state and federal agencies.

A Note From: Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau

This notice from LWF is to inform the reader of the development of a Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau. Since our organization has conducted three yearlong courses at Lake Michigan College, we have many topics and many qualified speakers to present information from WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have developed formats for school children of all ages, and for veterans organization. Whatever the event we will gladly produce the correct format We would be glad to present any topic of interest to any group. As coordinator, I will be glad to help with the choices of presentations and help with planning. Gary C. Lulenski Coordinator Speakers Bureau 269-428-3442 Garykaye2@comcast.net
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Members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces face a unique set of challenges when separating from service and transitioning into the civilian workforce. In the best of times, acclimating to a new civilian environment after years of immersion in a predictable and structured military profession poses difficulties. However, these are most certainly not the best of times. Our economy has been weakened by governmental spending, generating budgetary deficits considered by many economists to be unprecedented in the recorded history of the United States. Corporations once thought to be too large to fail are failing in record numbers, and a weak labor market is generating unemployment numbers which havent been this high since the Carter Administration in the 1970s. To make matters worse, policy decisions by the Obama Administration are generating so much uncertainty that businesses are freezing their plans for expansion and hiring. While this discouraging scenario plays out on the national stage in our mainstream media, military veteran and author Michael I. Kaplan has recently published a cutting-edge book he believes will provide sensible answers to this problem. Based on the 5-STAR reviews his book is currently earning on Amazon.com, many military veterans who have read his book believe hes correct. Kaplans book, The Prior-Service Entrepreneur, was just released in January 2014 and is already being hailed as a valuable resource by veterans who have read it. Kaplans writing style is refreshingly direct and to the point, offering military veterans an unapologetic assessment of the employment outlook and a unique set of proven solutions which allow them to succeed in the civilian workforce. His extensive background spans more than 25 years in government professions and entrepreneurship, experience which he believes allows him to see both sides of the military mindset / civilian workforce equation. This is my opportunity to give back to a community that gave me so much, states Kaplan, and what took me 25 years to learn I can teach back to military veterans in 266 pages. The strategy outlined by Kaplan is simple and easy to understand. The Prior-Service Entrepreneur provides a tactical advantage to military veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce, Kaplan explained to us, because it cuts through the business jargon and helps the reader to understand both their

Veterans have a New Weapon in their Arsenal of Job-Seeking Tools.

actual and symbolic value to Corporate America. It touches uncomfortable topics others avoid, and provides veterans creative solutions the mainstream tends to ignore. Is this book only for veterans who wish to become entrepreneurs? Absolutely not, says Kaplan, but military personnel are uniquely suited for that task. What most veterans dont realize is that the skill sets required to be successful in entrepreneurship are identical to those theyll need to be competitive and successful within any corporation in America. Veterans have a new weapon in their arsenal of job-seeking tools: The Prior-Service Entrepreneur. Order your copy of the book today and be better prepared to transition into the civilian workforce successfully. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR ARTICLE Amazon link to book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Prior -Service-Entrepreneur-Experience-Profitable/ dp/1494949172/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1396142514&sr=81&keywords=the+prior-service+entrepreneur

Links for Michael I. Kaplan Website: www.michaelikaplan.com LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/in/ michaelkaplan4pmg/ Email: mikdivemedic@gmail.com
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From: RAO Bulletin February 2014 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238 -1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines. Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/ NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/ AD37 member) The Department of Veterans Affairs launched today an online GI Bill Comparison Tool to make it easier for Veterans, Servicemembers and dependents to calculate their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and learn more about VAs approved colleges, universities and other education and training programs across the country. We are pleased that Post-9/11 Veterans are taking advantage of this significant benefit program, said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. The new GI Bill Comparison Tool will help future beneficiaries as they make decisions about what education or training program best fits their needs. The GI Bill Comparison Tool provides key information about college affordability and brings together information from more than 17 different online sources and three federal agencies, including the number of students receiving VA education benefits at each school. The GI Bill Comparison Tool is one item in a series of resources VA is launching in response to President Obamas Executive Order 13607, which directs agencies to implement and promote Principles of Excellence for education institutions that interact with Veterans, Servicemembers and their families; and to ensure beneficiaries have the information they need to

GI Bill Update

make educated choices about VA education benefits and approved programs. Recently, VA also instituted a GI Bill online complaint system, designed to collect feedback from Veterans, Servicemembers and their families who are experiencing problems with educational institutions receiving funding from Federal military and Veterans educational benefits programs, including benefits programs provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the DoD Military Tuition Assistance Program. The executive order, signed April 27, 2012, directs federal agencies to provide meaningful cost and quality information on schools, prevent deceptive recruiting practices and provide high-quality academic and student support services. VA works closely with partner institutions to ensure the needs of GI Bill beneficiaries are met. More than 5,000 education institutions have agreed to the Principles of Excellence. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a comprehensive education benefit created by Congress in 2008. In general, Veterans and Servicemembers who have served on active duty for 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001 are eligible. Since 2009, VA has distributed over $30 billion in the form of tuition and other education-related payments to more than one million Veterans, Servicemembers and their families, and to the universities, colleges and trade schools they attend. The GI Bill Comparison Tool can be found at: http:// benefits.va.gov/gibill/comparison. [Source: VA News Release 4 Feb 2014 ++]

Since the first TRICARE Service Center opened in the mid 1990s, TRICARE has seen a shift in how you get information. With todays technology, anything you can do at a TRICARE Service Center can be done online or over the phone. Consequently, walk-in service ends at TRICARE Service Centers in the U.S. by April 1, 2014. Because our overseas areas are unique, walk-in service at TRICARE Service Centers in all overseas areas will continue. This change does not affect any TRICARE benefits or health care services. For more detailed information and updates go to www.tricare.mil/TSC or call their Regional Office NORTH: 1-866-307-9749 SOUTH: 1-800-554-2397 WEST: 1-800-558-1746

Walk-in Service at TRICARE Service Centers to end by April 1, 2014

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A story over 100 Years in the making.

A story that needs to be told. Especially as we approach the 100th Anniversary of the start of the First World War in 2014. Stay tuned in 2014 for more details! We cannot wait to see the film once finished!
Veterans Radio is dedicated to all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. Our mission is to provide all veterans with a voice, to give them a forum where they are able to discuss their issuesand tell their stories. You can listen to the show on: WDEO (990-AM Ann Arbor/Detroit), WMAX (1440-AM, Saginaw), WDEO-FM (99.5 FM, Naples FL), KAGY (1510-AM Port Sulfur/New Orleans LA), KIXW (960-AM, Apple Valley CA) and KMRC (1430AM Morgan City, LA). Or, listen to our Webcast and archives at: www.veteransradio.net.

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From: www.wwimemorial.org In March 2008, Frank Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, visited the District of Columbia War Memorial, on the National Mall in Washington DC. He observed that this peaceful, secluded memorial, dedicated in 1931 as a memorial to the 499 residents of the District of Columbia who gave their lives in that war, sits neglected and in extreme disrepair, and that there is no national memorial to World War I. Mr. Buckles issued a call for the restoration and re-dedication of the D.C. memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial. The World War I Memorial Foundation was formed to make Frank Buckles dream a reality. The mission of the Foundation is to advocate and raise funds for the re-dedication of the DC War Memorial as a national World War I memorial, dedicated to all those Americans who served in the Great War. In 2014 the world will mark the centennial of World War I. Nearly 5 million Americans served during the war, and 116,516 Americans died in defense of democracy overseas. Americas support of its allies in World War I marked the first time in this nations history that American soldiers went abroad to defend foreign soil against aggression -- and it marked the true beginning of the American century. Yet while the later conflicts of the 20th century World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War -rightfully have national memorials on the National Mall, there is no such memorial to the Great War, even though more Americans gave their lives in World War I than in Korea or Vietnam. The D.C. memorial, which is already located adjacent to those other memorials, is the most fitting site for a national World War I memorial.

The World War I Memorial Foundation

From: www.esgr.mil ESGR, a Department of Defense agency, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 4,800 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Volunteers, hailing from small business and industry, government, education and prior military service bring a vast wealth of experience to assist in serving employers, service members and their families. Together with Headquarters ESGR staff and a small cadre of support staff for each State Committee, volunteers work to promote and enhance employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve. ESGR has served our country for 40 years, developing and promoting a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. These citizen warriors could not defend and protect us at home and abroad without the continued promise of meaningful civilian employment for themselves and their families. ESGR has continued to adapt to meet the needs of our Reserve Component members, their families and Americas employers by joining forces with a network of other national, state and local government and professional trade organizations as together, We All Serve!

What is ESGR

Photo: The Late Frank Buckles during his 2008 visit to the Washington D.C. World War I Monument.

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From: RAO Bulletin November 2013 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238 -1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines. Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/ NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/ AD37 members Its official. The 2014 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for military retired pay, SBP annuities, Social Security checks, and VA disability and survivor benefits will be 1.5%, effective December 1, 2013. It will first appear in the January checks, which will be paid on December 31. For the month, the CPI increased to 230.537. The COLA baseline for next year is 230.327. The 1.5% 2014 COLA will be the fourth-lowest COLA since the turn of the century trailing only the zero-COLA years of 2009-10 and the 1.4% of 2002. But there are two categories of military retirees who wont receive a 1.5% COLA Some servicemembers who retired during calendar year 2013 will receive a somewhat smaller, partial COLA for this year only, because they werent in retired status for the full year. Their partial COLAs generally reflect the amount of inflation experienced in the calendar quarters since they retired. Jan.-Mar. retirees will receive 1.5%; Apr.-Jun. retirees, 0.9%; and Jul.-Sept. retirees 0.4%. Those who retire after Oct. 1, 2013, will see no COLA this year. All members who retired during 2013 will receive full-year COLAs in future years. REDUX Retirees: Servicemembers who entered service on or after Aug. 1, 1986 and who elected to accept a $30,000 career retention bonus at the 15-years-of-service point agreed to accept reduced retired pay and COLAs as a trade-off for the bonus. REDUX retirees COLAs are depressed 1% below the normal COLA rate, so theyll see a 0.5% COLA this year.

COLA 2014 Update-Final COLA Announced

New Nonprofit in Michigan to Help Veterans, Soldiers and Families

Created by a Veteran for Veterans, Soldiers and their Families
Metamora, MI, August 1, 2013: Suits for Soldiers is a new nonprofit in Michigan, but available nationwide. We are looking to help Veterans, Soldiers and their families with a variety of services and as we grow, increase the services that we provide. The initial services we will be offering are: clothing for interviews and jobs, mentoring, resume writing and review, interview assistance, local job connections, education counseling, VA education benefits help and connecting Veterans with realtors and mortgage professionals who are familiar with working with Veterans. Our goal by the end of the year is to have a place with computer access where those who need our services can come and get clothing, improve their resumes and apply for jobs, get face to face mentoring from local business professionals, take classes and get training that will improve skill sets to get them ready for gainful employment. There are many programs currently out there that offer similar services, but at times are overwhelmed by the number in need of help. Suits for Soldiers would like to be another option for Veterans, Soldiers and their families. There can never be enough resources for the men and women who have served our country. Without these heroes who have sacrificed their families and themselves, we would not be able to be as free as we are today. Suits for Soldiers is asking for the help of those in the television, print and social media to spread the word of our organization, so that we can grow and not only help in Michigan, but reach out to more states and those who are in need of help. Each Veteran we help touches the lives of so many!!! Below are the ways in which you can find Suits for Soldiers on the web: www.suitsforsoldiers.org www.facebook.com/suitsforsoldiers Twitter: @suitsforsoldier Thank you, Scott Fader Suits for Soldiers

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BENTON HARBOR - Southwestern Michigan's Lest We Forget organization is sponsoring the tour "WWII and The Western Front," commonly referred to as the "Band of Brothers Tour." The tour, to take place in summer of 2014, will give you a tangible connection to the most crucial moments of World War II. You will stand where the soldiers fought, see where the leaders met, and walk where the civilians lived. The tour will range from Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms in London, to the D-Day beaches of Normandy, to the battlefields at Bastogne and the historic sites such as Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate and the Wall in Berlin. For a very nominal fee the tour can be extended three days to Nuremburg, Munich and Salzburg where you will see the Dachau concentration camp, Hitler's Eagle Nest at Berchtesgaden and much more. You will truly experience first-hand the war that changed the world forever! This historic tour is produced by Education First Educational Tours (EF) of Cambridge MA, the international leader in educational tours for group travel. EF has been in existence for over 50 years and has over 400 offices and schools in over 50 countries around the globe.

Lest We Forget Sponsors International WWII Tour

Make history come alive for you and your grandchildren. Showing them where you or a member of your family served during WWII will provide a sense of history, reality and a greater understanding of your military experience. We will have a full-time EF tour director accompany our group and at each of the stops there will be expert, licensed local guides. Tour includes eight overnight stays (11 on the extended tour) in hotels and one night ferry accommodation--crossing the English Channel. You will travel from July 14th to 24th, 2014 (or through the 27th if you take the 3-day extension). An introductory meeting is scheduled for Aug 21st, 2013 at 7 pm at Lake Michigan College's Benton Harbor campus in the Blue Lecture Hall. Be certain to attend to learn more about this impressive itinerary which takes you from England to France, Belgium and Germany. The cost for this 11 day tour is $3,810 for students under 20 and $4,205 for adults. With the three day extension the cost is $4,295 and $4,690. To view this tour online, go to www.eftours.com/1449819 . For questions call Don Alsbro at 269-921-7176 or dealsbro@comcast.net.

From: Carrie Miller Our Home Transitional provides various types of assistance to homeless single female veterans (i.e. job training and placement, educational training, home placement assistance, and mental and physical healthcare) through other local and national organizations in efforts to help them transition to self-sufficiency in civilian society. These programs will be offered by Our Home Transitional, along with our partnering organizations, such as the VA, VetBiz Central, Land Bank, SV MAP, Workforce Development Veterans Division, LearnKey Veterans Division, VetQuest, Cars4Vets, National Education Alliance, MI Talent bank and many more! Our Home Transitional will deliver a unique family style environment not offered by any other

About Our Home Transitional of Genesee County

housing placements in our area. We can also create an opportunity to revitalize and beautify the City of Flint by utilizing homes that are empty, acquire and then rehab them for permanent placement of our clients. To learn more about our Board of Directors, please visit our Board of Directors page. To learn more about volunteers working with Our Home Transitional, visit our Volunteer page.

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The 70th Anniversary of D-Day in 2014 is fast approaching and the Lakeshore Lancers band of Stevensville Michigan has been invited by the D-Day 70th Anniversary Commemoration and American Musical Salute Committee to join as an official representative of Michigan in Normandy France in June of 2014. Our kids will join the American Liberation Victory Parade that will step off on the actual anniversary day, June 6, 2014 in the French village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first village to be liberated by American troops. A 3-time State Champion, the band already represented the State of Michigan in 2004 at the inauguration of the World War II memorial in Washington DC. At the time, our students honored each living World War II Veteran of Michigan by wearing an epaulette that was eventually mailed back to them with a card to thank them for their service and provide them with a token of appreciation and gratitude.

With an invitation of such historical significance, we feel our mission should be meant for this generation to remember forever the meaning of D-Day and those Michigan citizens who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom as well as the significant role the State of Michigan played in this war effort. In particular, we are planning on honoring each of the 419 soldiers of Michigan resting at the Normandy American Cemetery by pouring a little bit sand from Michigan on their grave as a symbol of our remembrance of their sacrifice. The Michigan sand will be collected from high schools of Michigan as an educational program and in return, we will bring back sand from Omaha Beach that will be presented back to each participating school as a token of appreciation and a symbol of remembrance. In addition, we plan for our marching students to wear a ribbon in honor of each of the last living WWII veterans of Michigan that will eventually be mailed back to them as a mark of our gratitude. Finally, our students will research the history of leading companies of Michigan during World War II and build boards that illustrate the amazing contribution of our State to the war efforts. To accomplish this extraordinary invasion, the allied forces relied on American manufacturing companies to produce military equipment such as the Sherman Tank, bombers like the B-24, gliders such as the Waco CG-4A, amphibious vehicles like the DUCW, and military transport vehicles like the GMC CCKW350, the Dodge WC, or the iconic Jeep. Continued... We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.

Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933

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What do all these have in common? They were all manufactured by leading companies from Michigan. In fact, the whole State of Michigan and its business leaders threw themselves in support of the war effort like no other as the backbone of what was once called the arsenal for democracy. One can argue that never in the history of Michigan, has our State had such a leading impact on the world as during World War II. Our band is quite large for a high school of less than 1000 students. As a matter of fact, our band has never travelled overseas. Most band parents simply do not have the means to pay for such a large expense. For this event, we started a comprehensive fundraising program. We are reaching out to numerous leaders of Michigan to gather support:: from local businesses, corporate leaders, private donors, foundations, the French American

Chamber of Commerce of Detroit, The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Michigan Department of Education, as well as our State and Congressional representatives. The response is consistent and overwhelmingly supportive as everyone shows their patriotic support and desire to ensure that such a project gets accomplished. As we live in these difficult economic and political times, wouldnt it be extraordinary if we could celebrate in 2014 our glorious past while looking forward to a bright future that we owe to all those who served? I think you will agree that we owe it to the past generations, to the fallen, to our last surviving veterans, and to the future generations. For more information and for contribution interest, a website will be available soon: come visit us at www.ddaymichigan.com!

Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933

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From: www.michiganpva.org MPVA is celebrating its 50th year of service in Michigan. It is a chapter of the national Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), operating according to the standards and practices established by the PVA. MPVA is, however, a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The Michigan programs, services, education, and outreach conducted here are made possible by local volunteers, partners, sponsors, and donors. The mission of Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America is to enhance the lives of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease as well as all citizens with disabilities, by advocating for civil rights, assuring quality health care, supporting continued research and education, and encouraging independence and healthy living through various health, sports and recreational programs. MPVA shall continue striving to remain at the forefront of both veterans benefits services and disability rights, while working toward a better quality of life for all American citizens.

The MPVA Mission

How the Registry Began

The National Gold Star Family Registry is a project of Military Families United, a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to Honor the Fallen, Support Those Who Fight, and Serve Their Families. Through various events held for Gold Star Family members, Military Families United recognized a need for families to be able to share the stories of their Heroes with the world. In the beginning, families attending these events wrote their stories in a notebook to share with other Gold Star families, this concept eventually took the form of the virtual memorial. First launched in 2010, the Registry has been continually upgraded with the latest in technology and resources. This 21st Century memorial ensures that anyone anywhere can honor and remember the Heroes who have laid down their lives in defense of freedom. Whether they gave their life in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, WWII, or another conflict, the Registry is a place to ensure their memory will live on.

From: Wendy Lynn Day (www.goldstarfamilyregistry.com) The National Gold Star Family Registry is the first comprehensive database of the United States fallen Heroes and their families ever developed. The Registry not only affords family members the opportunity to publicly remember their loved one, but serves as a historical log of our Nations true Heroes. By providing educational resources and personal accounts, the Registry ensures that future generations may know who these brave Americans werenot only how they died, but, more importantly, how they lived. The information in the Registry is compiled from a number of different public sources including the Department of Defense and the National Archives. Adhering to Department of Defense guidelines for families who receive the Gold Star Pin, the Registry only includes the names of Heroes who have given their lives on the battlefield. From the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC, to the countless war memorials on courthouse lawns, the United States is peppered with stone monuments honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. These treasures are powerful, but access is limited by geography, and names inscribed in stone dont tell the Heroes full story. The National Gold Star Family Registry serves as a 21st Century monument, utilizing the latest in internet technology to memorialize those same men and women in a whole new way.

National Gold Star Registry

About Military Families United

Military Families United is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) charitable organization whose mission is to Honor the Fallen, Support Those Who Fight, and Serve Their Families. We are a national coalition of Gold Star and Blue Star families, veterans, and patriotic Americans who share a deep appreciation for our men and women in uniform and support them in their mission to keep America safe. Founded in 2005 to provide an avenue for military families to remind the nation of the importance of supporting our military and the mission they have been given , the organization expanded to provide charitable programs offering families direct support. Through a portfolio of unique services, events, and advocacy programs, the organization seeks to ensure that future generations of Americans will never forget the sacrifices of our courageous military.

Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933

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Legal Help for Veterans

From: James G. Fausone Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC is a law firm located in Northville, Michigan. We have a national practice representing veterans on veterans disability claims. This representation occurs at the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Board of Veterans Appeals and regional offices. We have helped veterans collect over $10,000,000 in retro and future benefits. Over the last decade, LHFV has become a trusted name in the legal community for providing legal services to veterans and lecturing at law schools, bar associations and community events. Members of the Legal Help for Veterans practice group are former service members who bring not only legal expertise but an understanding of service and duty. The members of the group have medical and administrative backgrounds as well as finely honed legal skills developed over twenty years of practice and experience. We have represented thousands of veterans and currently have over 650 active clients. For more information about the organization and about legal help for veterans and for contact information www.legalhelpforveterans.com and found on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Our telephone number is 800.693.4800. Our blog discusses current issues facing veterans and the VA. Typically our clients are enlisted men and women who served post Korea. The Vietnam vet is still the one with the most common problems. These include Agent Orange related disabilities, PTSD, psychiatric or orthopedic injuries. Other vets often have hearing loss, military sexual trauma or tinnitus. We are now seeing Iraq and Afghanistan vets with TBI. Many vets do not even begin the disability claim process until many years after service. The trigger may be unemployability and the need for benefits. With a million claim back log at VA, it is a slow and confusing process and many people need professional help establishing the proper diagnosis and service connection. That is what Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC has been doing for clients for years. We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.

From: Rick Briggs, Major, USAF (Ret) The Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI) Veterans Program utilizes numerous types of outdoor activities to gather Veterans and currently serving military personnel together for a little R&R. These special events are almost always free for the troops depending totally on the kind donations of sponsors and donors. In addition to being a great way to say Thank you for their service, these activities serve as the mechanism to get the troops to open up a little if they are having post-deployment issues. Frequently we find that in the comfortable confines with others who have been there, done that they tend to be more receptive to learn about Invisible Wounds says Rick Briggs the Program Manager, both PTSD and TBI are treatable if they seek the proper help. To find out more about these activities, or to donate to their Veterans Program, please make out checks to BIAMI Veterans Program and send them to 7305 Grand River Suite #100, Brighton, MI 48114 or contact Rick Briggs at veterans@biami.org or call him (810) 2295880 or visit www.biami.org.

Brain Injury Association of Michigan

BIAMI is celebrating its 30th Anniversary as it continues to strive to provide persons with a brain injury and their families, healthcare professionals, and the general public with the resources necessary to enhance brain injury awareness, education, prevention, and support. BIAMI is also fields the first and only dedicated Veterans Program staff within the Brain Injury Association of America.
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About the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI):

Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933

For more information please visit www.supportamericanvets.org and www.grassrootsationteam.org. More details coming soon.
The Grassroots Action Team was created in order to advocate for Veterans and others about issues concerning mental health parity and physical health. We will be doing this first and foremost by educating people and making sure they are aware of the issues. Then we will make sure our leaders in Washington and at the State level are aware of the issues and vote in favor of our Veterans. We will keep the pressure on to make sure programs that are already in place as well as any new programs helping veterans are in fact implemented. If you would like to make a donation or have ideas and/or suggestions for us please write to our President, Hank Fuhs, Lt. Col., United States Air Force/ANG/USAF Reserves (ret.) at 3848 Leonard St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 or email him athankfuhs@gmail.com or info@grassrootsactionteam.org.

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
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Two Great Sources for Veterans/Military Legislative Updates in Washington D.C. Simply click the images to view the site.

Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security

Committee Members
Jim Stamas (R) Committee Chair, 98th District Ray Franz (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 101st District Gail Haines (R) 43rd District Kenneth Kurtz (R) 58th District Tom Hooker (R) 77th District Dale Zorn (R) 56th District Joseph Graves (R) 51st District Harvey Santana (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 9th District George Darany (D) 15th District Dian Slavens (D) 21st District Brian Banks (D) 1st District Henry Yanez (D) 25th District Phil Cavanagh (D) 10th District Ben Cook, Committee Clerk 517-373-2002

Rep. Jim Stamas Committee Chair Welcome to the Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee. The committee's regularly scheduled meeting time is Wednesday at 9:00am in room 308 of the House Office Building in Lansing. I welcome citizens to contact me or other committee members regarding bills or proposals our committee is addressing. Individuals needing special accommodations to participate in a committee meeting may contact my office to request the necessary assistance.

Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933

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Stand Up For Veterans-They Stood Up For US

-The DAV

American Legion Post is in looking for current military members to send care packages to. Please contact Robert Goulet if you know of any military member who might like something. Please see News From American Legion Post 341 below for more information. Thank you very much!
CoordinatorMatthew X. Hauser

Staff & Contributors

Vicki Dunlop Mark Eddy Keith Famie James G. Fausone Rep. Ray Franz Sean M. Furr Denny Gillem Robert Goulet Dr. Jack Grenan John Haggard Larry Harr Dan Heckman

In Memory of Gary Lillie

Louis Nigro Roger Rosenberg Sid Rubin Eugene (Gene) A. Simon Phil Smith Sherry Swann Tim Pascarella Bob Tidmore Rep. Fred Upton Maureen VanHooser Publisher-Hank Fuhs

ContributorsDon Alsbro Rick Briggs Helen Budd Sen. Patrick Colbeck Sam Cottle Rep. Kurt Damrow Matt Davis David Duenow

Dale Hemphill John Hess Norma Housey Sec. of State Ruth Johnson James Julian Adrian Keogh Adele Krovsky Bill Langbehn Merridy Lewis Gary C. Lulenski Claude McManus Chad Miles

News From American Legion Post 341

American Legion Post 341 is seeking the names of troops that are deployed to a combat zone so that we can send them large package of goodies and that their names and address should be sent to the address below. Also post 341 is always seeking new members please contact Robert at the same address if interested. American Legion Post 341 Sr. Vice Commander Robert P. Goulet 6130 Nicholas West Bloomfield, MI rgoulet264@aol.com

Thank you for your service to our country. It is truly the men and women like you who make this nation great, and we must never forget that. Thank you to everyone for all the help you have given us with the newsletter. We have been able to reach more people because of your help. Compared to when we first started, the amount of input and ideas we receive has increased greatly. For that we are very thankful. If you have anything you would like to share, any questions, or have an article idea, please let me know. You may contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org. Sincerely, Matthew X. Hauser and Lt. Col Hank Fuhs

In Closing

Lest We Forget-A Clip from Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Ret, ANG (Just Click the Link Below)
I Fought For You

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.

Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933

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