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Nevada Department of Veterans Services Newsletter October 2016
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To print this e-Newsletter for distribution, simply copy and paste into a new
Word Document. To enlarge the printed version, use the
enlargement function on your printer settings.
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NDVS is recruiting now for AmeriCorps members statewide for the Nevada Vet Corps. If you are a veteran or family member and would like more information about how you can become an AmeriCorps member and serve as part of Nevada Vet Corps, click here.
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Marine veteran Frank Reynolds and volunteers of the Nevada Veteran's Coalition were honored by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval for their contributions to veterans and families last month at the Governor's Mansion in Carson City.
Reynolds, a 20-year veteran who served in Vietnam and Desert Storm was distinguished for the community efforts he leads, including Honor Flight for Vietnam Veterans in America, founded in 2014. Perhaps the greatest goal of this Marine is the establishment of a Nevada Veterans Museum. It is a natural for the man who was a history major in college -- "military science, battles, logistics." Reynolds is actively pursuing this non-profit effort.
Members of the Nevada Veteran's Coalition (NVC), were recognized for their role in support of veterans. The NVC honors fallen veterans whose final resting place is the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery (NNVMC). Based in Fernley, NVC's main focus of 50 veterans and civilians is to support the NNVMC (learn more at: www.supportnnvc.org/). The NVC Honor Guard provides military-funeral services to any and all veterans interred at NNVMC, conducting Unaccompanied Services for the internment of unclaimed veterans each fourth Thursday of the month.
"The NVC has always stepped up to provide a Military Honors Service for these heroes," said NVC President Brett Palmer. Living veterans also are honored by NVC, as evidenced by the selection in late-2015 of Dillon Erickson and his family to live in a remodeled home, rent free, for a full year, following Erickson's discharge from the U.S. Army.
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South Korean Consul General Key Cheol Lee, traveled to Nevada last month to meet Governor Brian Sandoval and visit Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery (NNVMC) in Fernley and lay flowers at the Korean War memorial. He and his entourage were greeted by NDVS Director Kat Miller, NNVMC staff, and members of the Nevada Veteran's Coalition.
Ambassador Lee was appointed Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles in April of 2016. Ambassador Lee has served posts throughout the globe including Austria, Libya, Great Britain, Israel, and the United Nations. He was honored with the Service Merit Medal (1997) and the Civil Serviceman award (2015) from the government of the Republic of Korea.
Top photo: Ambassador Lee lays flowers at the Korean War Memorial at NNVMC.
Bottom photo: U.S. Veterans of the Korean War host Ambassador Lee, fourth from left, with Director Kat Miller, NDVS. and Eric Grimes, NNVMC Superintendent, far right.
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MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT REQUIRES NEW, TEMPORARY ENTRANCE
TO NORTHERN NEVADA VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY
(FERNLEY, NV) –
The Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery (NNVMC), in cooperation with the State Public Works Department (SPWD), has broken ground on a major construction project as part of the state’s Capital Improvement Program.
This project will affect the main entrance, main parking lot within the cemetery grounds, and the plaza area between the Information Center and Pavilion. New pavement and concrete will replace the old entrance and plaza. The project is expected to be completed before the end of this year.
To ensure the cemetery is accessible through the duration of the project, a second entrance has been opened along the cemetery’s west fence line, just north of the maintenance area. Signage, directing traffic away from the work zone to the new entrance, has been installed.
We ask for understanding and cooperation from the public as the Nevada Department of Veterans Services continues to improve the NNVMC for our veterans and their families.
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The Nevada Department of Veterans Services thanks those hundreds of newly registered Nevada VetNet members who, in just two months, signed up. Since the re-launch of the online resource for veterans, military, family members, more than 300 new registrants have registered on the former
Green Zone Network. You, too, can join this vibrant web-connected community -- it's quick and easy. Go to: www.veterans.nv.gov and hit the VetNet button to
Sign up NOW!
DISCOVER THE BENEFITS - find real-time information links about health, education, housing, and employment to help you
ASK A VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER (VSO) - Quick, confidential information concerning your particular situation and related benefits
CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY - Ask questions, find answers, learn about upcoming events, and become part of the ongoing conversation
SUPPORT & HELP OTHERS - By sharing helpful information. you help change lives by contributing your knowledge and services
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The Five-Star Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City, NV has been presented this year's HealthInsight Quality Award for "high performance in quality care measures."
HealthInsight, a nonprofit, community-based health care collaborative working to improve health and health care for patients and providers, presented the 2016 HealthInsight award to recipients at Focus on the Future: Partnering for a Healthier Tomorrow, an inaugural health care conference held at Harveys Convention Center at Stateline, NV.
Click here for the rest of the story.
NSVH staff pictured are,
first row: Vivian Carlisle, LSW, Social Worker Supervisor; Edith LoMonaco, RN, MDS Coordinator; Dotty Campain, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Linda Gelinger, Administrator; Poppy Helgren, RN, Director of Nursing Services; and Jena Walters, LPN, Admissions Coordinator. Second row is: DeMadeline Rice, RN, Nurse Manager; Sally Gray, RN, QA/PI/Nurse Educator; Shirley Pfannebecker, RN, Nurse Manager; Alonzo Thornton, RN, Nurse Manager; Tamara Walcott, RHIA, Health Information Director; and Nicole Hujer, Registered Dietician.
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The Nevada State Veterans Home hosted a POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony in September, coordinated by Susan Garlow of the VFW Auxiliary and Peggy Randle, HM2, of the Women Veterans of Nevada. This was the second year of this recognition with approximately 75 guests in attendance.
The significance of the POW/MIA table is to symbolize the frailty of prisoners alone against his or her oppressors. The table was set for five place settings to represent each branch of service.
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Taking pause during the Veterans Services Commission (VSC) meeting held at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery last month, Commissioners and staff honored the late-Charles "Chuck" Harton at his cremation plot. VSC Commissioner Harton died August, 2016 at age 91.
From left are: Henna Rasul, Deputy Attorney General; David Johnson, Executive Assistant to NDVS Director Kat Miller; Bill Baumann, VSC Chairman; Jeanette Rae Evans, VSC Commissioner; Tony Yarbrough, member, UVLC/VFW; Robin Mason, AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer; and Felicia Tate and Sally Wiley, VSC Commissioners.
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U.S. Small Business Administration statistics show veterans make highly successful business owners. To help veterans take advantage of this trained aptitude, the U.S. SBA recently launched Boots to Business: Reboot, a training program that provides an overview of small business ownership designed for veterans and their spouses.
According to the program, “Veterans have the character, discipline and skills needed to succeed as small business owners and entrepreneurs.”
Click here
to read more.
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“The Importance of Capturing the Stories of Women Veterans” is the second of three collaborative blog posts featuring authors from the VA’s Center for Women Veterans, the Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP), and a sailor whose story is preserved among the permanent collections of the Library of Congress. The first "Making a Difference" post is by Kayla Williams, director of the VA's Center for Women Veterans.
When my twin nephews were young, they went through a phase of fascination with all things military, idolizing soldiers and wanting to play war.
'I was in the Army,' I offered, excited to be able to share some of my experiences with them.
'No way!' they exclaimed in unison, 'You’re a girl!'
If it were an isolated incident from two young children, I could easily have dismissed it. Sadly, however, the presence of women in today’s military and as veterans remains unrecognized by many adults as well."
Click here
to read more.
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Members of the Mesquite City Council officially proclaimed Mesquite as a “Purple Heart City” during an afternoon Council meeting at City Hall recently.
In taking this action, the City of Mesquite pays special homage to America’s sons and daughters, and particularly those from the Mesquite area, who have been killed or wounded in combat against the enemies of the United States or as a result of acts of international terrorism.
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Len Yelinek and April Garza install a Purple Heart parking sign at the Summerlin I-Hop restaurant. Yelinek is commander of the Las Vegas chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Garza is general manager of the restaurant where the Purple Heart chapter meets monthly.
In reserving parking for Purple Heart recipients I-Hop pays special homage to America's sons and daughters who have been wounded in combat.
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Family and friends recently feted Richard "Rich" Bell of Genoa on his 95th birthday with a “drop by” visit at his Genoa Lakes home.
Rich is a WWII Navy veteran, 50-plus year member of Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 105, and an Honor Flight Nevada participant. As a volunteer with the Genoa Candy Dance and15 years with Douglas County Citizen Patrol, he was honored in 2006 as “Volunteer of the Year."
Click here
to read more.
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The initial cost for veteran plates with a standard number is $61 plus a Prison Industry fee of 50 cents per plate. The annual renewal fee is $30. The initial cost for personalized versions is $97 plus a Prison Industry fee of 50 cents per plate. The annual renewal is $50. $25 of the initial fee and $20 of the annual renewal fee are used to support outreach programs and services for veterans and their families administered by Nevada Department of Veterans Services.
Availability Plates with standard numbers are in stock at DMV Full Service offices. You can order personalized versions by mail, fax or in person at a DMV Full Service office. See How Do I Get These Plates?
Veteran Unit Decal Plates : The DMV is authorized to offer veterans plates with extra space for unit logos. Army Airborne and Navy Seabees are available as well as Air Force and Army logos on National Guard Plates.
Motorcycle plates for Army Airborne and Navy Seabees are not in stock and must be custom-ordered. Visit the Nevada DMV website
to learn more.
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NDVS Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) are available to assist any veteran, family member of a veteran, or Nevada resident on active duty. NDVS offers free assistance with filing claims for service-connected disabilities, non-service-connected pension, and other benefits afforded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) at three locations; Reno, 775-321-4880; Las Vegas, 702-224-6025; and Elko, 775-777-1000.
Assistance includes aid in the filing of claims, support during the appeals process, representation at local hearings, and guidance with requests for discharge upgrades. To schedule a claims appointment at one of our offices, call the number (below) of the office closest to you.
In addition to in-office appointments, NDVS offers Rural Outreach events in the following areas:
NORTH -- Austin, Gardnerville, Hawthorne, Silver Springs, Battle Mountain, Ely, West Wendover and Winnemucca
SOUTH -- Beatty, Laughlin, Mesquite, Pahrump and Tonopah
For more information on our Rural Outreach, or to schedule an appointment during one of our Rural Outreach events, please call one of the numbers listed above to contact a VSO in your region.
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The Nevada Attorney General’s Office of Military Legal Assistance (OMLA) provides pro bono (free) legal assistance and representation to active duty, reserve and National Guard service members in a wide area of civil law matters. The OMLA also currently provides assistance to veterans with wills and powers of attorney.
The OMLA is a comprehensive, statewide program combining the joint efforts of legal aid organizations, private sponsors and the State Bar of Nevada to address the need for affordable legal representation in our military communities.
In order to receive legal assistance from this program, active military and reserve service members should seek referral from their respective Judge Advocate General. Veterans should seek referral from their respective Veterans Services Office.
Click here for the statewide listing.
OMLA workshops scheduled through 2016
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Mesquite
October 8
10-2
Veteran's Center
Humboldt
October 15
10-4
National Guard Armory
Douglas County
November 5
10-4
Gardnerville Community Center
Yerington
December 3
10-4
Yerington Public Library
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5 Anger Management Group
10-11:30am,
Las Vegas VA Medical Center -
Women's Health Center
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8 Al Porta Memorial Golf Toumey to support Reno's Veterans Guest House,
9 AM shotgun start, Silver Oak Golf Course, Carson City
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12 Nevada Vet Corps Launch Ceremony, 10-11:30 AM, Governor's Mansion, Carson City
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17 9th Annual Golf "Fore" Recovery,, 9 AM - 2 PM, TPC at Summerlin, Las Vegas
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VETERANS DAY EVENTS, STATEWIDE
Veteran Service Organizations and Community Organizers, please send
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12 Veterans Yoga Project, 6 PM - 7 PM, Zero to Zen Gallery Yoga and Art, Las Vegas
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