Armed Services Corner

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☆☆Support for Troops & Veterans☆☆

Deb Robbins , Armed Services Chairwoman - [email protected]

Armed Services

Corner

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO OUR HARDWORKING, DEDICATED, AND COMMITTED MEMBERS!

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS OF TIME AND MONEY MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR SERVICE MEMBERS!

U.S. VETS – Prescott If you have extra time or funds this holiday season, U.S. VETS can use the following items for their Holiday Gift Bags and Christmas Celebration (Dec. 23).

1. Donate a turkey/ham

2. Donate dessert(s)

3. Make thank you cards for veterans

4. Donate gifts to be placed in holiday gift bags for our veterans. Examples of items needed: gift cards ($10-$20 each); packaged underwear, thermals, undershirts; gloves; hats; socks; toiletries; hand warmer packages; notepads; tissue packs; lotion; gum;

5. Donate ingredients for holiday cookie-making and decorating

6. Donate your time to a veteran and play a game, or talk and share stories.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Disposal of American Flags

If you have a damaged American flag that you need to dispose of properly,

bring it to the monthly RWOP luncheons where we will have a drop box. Judi Williams, Hospitality and RWOP singer will take them to the VFW Post 6 which handles that process.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA – DECEMBER 17 AT NOON

Wreaths Across America gives you an opportunity to join a grateful nation in saying “thank you” to our veterans. This is a way to honor an American hero at the Prescott National Cemetery, which is one of more than 2,800 locations nationwide on Wreaths Across America Day. It’s a day that’s been set aside to lay wreaths at the places where we can remember, honor, teach and pay tribute to our veterans for their sacrifices. To do that, your support is needed through volunteering and/or donating. The wreaths are sponsored and the hope is that each hero gets one. Each wreath costs $15; you can sponsor as many as you like here: donate.wreathsacrossamerica.org. After you select how many you would like to sponsor, there is a place to enter Prescott National Cemetery. If you want to volunteer, call Becky at 928-533-1897 or RJ from the National Cemetery at 928-445-4860 x7569. Volunteers lay wreaths on each marker of a fallen hero. That volunteer will say the Veteran’s name to ensure that the legacy of duty, service, and sacrifice of that veteran is never forgotten. RWOP donated $1,500.00 this year.

This 35-minute touching ceremony will be held at the Prescott National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17 at noon. There is no parking at the cemetery so you can park at the VA. The VA will run a shuttle to the cemetery and back starting at 10:00 a.m. The last shuttle to the cemetery will leave at 11:45 a.m. After the ceremony, shuttles will return you to the VA.

To get details on other Events for Veterans, go to https://www.va.gov/northern-arizona-health-care/events/

Holiday Survival Guide for Women Veterans

Holidays can be joyful but they can also be stressful and lonely. Go to news.va.gov to read the Holiday Survival Guide for Women Veterans. There’s also a wealth of information on that site

CLAIMS CLINIC FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AND NOW EVERY WEDNESDAY!

If you want to file a claim or check on the status of a claim, the Claims Clinic is the perfect place to do that. Sherry Le Mountain holds one on the first Wednesday of every month, so January 4, 2023, is the next clinic. She is in Building 154 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Mr. Castro from the Arizona Dept of Veteran Services is also holding a Claims Clinic every Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Theatre, Building 15.

PACT (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins) Act

Congress passed the Pact Act on August 10, 2022, that expands eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and extends this to veterans of the Viet Nam, Gulf War, and Post-9/11 eras and their survivors. The Act suggests that service members who had environmental exposures get tested. It could be things like hearing issues due to noise, burn pits, toxins like Agent Orange, etc. You can get more information about this Act by going to va.gov/PACT. The difference is that before this Act, the burden of proof was on the Veteran. This Act includes presumptive conditions like cancers that they presume are a result of your service if the condition occurred as a result of serving during certain times. Enrolled veterans will get a free initial toxic exposure screening, then a follow-up screening every 5 years. The screening is not intrusive, just a series of questions that takes 5 minutes. Nearly 1,800 veterans have been screened already. Of those veterans 41% were exposed; 12% didn’t know; and 47% had no exposure. To enroll, even if just for this coverage, go to VA.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction or call 877-222-8387, M-F, 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m. ET. If you’ve been turned down before, apply again. The rules for eligibility change. The benefits start in January 2023 but will be back-dated to August 2022, when the act was signed. The VA warns all Veterans about SCAMS. You do not need a third-party company to fill out the application for you. Often these companies will give you a blank form to sign and say they will fill it out and mail it, or they will have you sign a contract giving them a percentage of your benefits. If you need assistance, go to an accredited group by the VA such as DAV, VFW, or other local Veteran Service Organizations. This Act provides Veterans and their survivors with the benefits and care they have earned and deserve.

U.S. VETS accepts food donations for their food pantry (RWOP donated $3,000 to them thanks to you!) They also need NEW sheets, new pillows and new towels for the transitional housing. Take items to the U.S. VETS Outreach Center at 1040 Whipple Street.

Veterans of Foreign Wars – Post 541

If you’re a veteran who has been in combat or a battle zone, VFW Post 541 welcomes new members. Their mission is to be a voice for veterans, deployed military, and their families to secure rights and benefits. They meet the first Thursday of every month. The address is 202 N. Arizona Avenue in Prescott. For questions call 928-776-1125; email [email protected] or visit vfw541.org.

Veterans Discounts

Papa Murphys - get 25% off your order! Location: 3298 N. Glassford Hill Rd. Ste 105 in Prescott Valley. Ben, the manager, has been doing this for years and welcomes veterans.

If you need a Veteran ID Card, go to: https://www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/. With this card you can get discounts in many places.

Nurse’s Life Line – 877-252-4866 If you’re feeling ill and not sure if you need to go to the ER or doctor and want to talk with someone, they are available 24/7.

Crisis Line is always available for any vet who needs help by calling 800-273-8255 and press 1 if you’re a vet, or you can have a confidential chat by texting 838255.