Armed Services Corner

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☆☆Support for Troops & Veterans☆☆

Deb Robbins , Armed Services Chairwoman - phxlass@cox.net

Armed Services

Corner

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Please consider helping!

VFW Post 541 Free Thanksgiving Dinner for Veterans

Post 541 is again hosting its traditional Thanksgiving dinner for Veterans from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Thursday, November 24. Their location is 202 North Arizona St. in Prescott.

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 donates to this cause every year.

This 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/

Unheard 22

Yavapai College Student Government Association initiated a project

to pay tribute to the 22 Veterans who commit suicide daily in an effort to raise

awareness about mental health issues facing veterans and gain support to reduce those numbers to Zero. The solemn but inspiring ceremony was held on November 11 at both the Prescott and Verde Valley campuses. Each month on the 22nd , they will again display 22 combat boots with flags as a reminder that each one of us can make a difference by remembering S.A.V.E.

S - Signs - Look for signs of suicidal thoughts

A – Ask what they are going through

V – Validate their feelings

E – Encourage them to get help

Everyone is welcome to stop by to see this powerful visual on the 22nd of each month.

The speakers were Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai College; Jamie Oltersdorf, President of the Student Government Association at Yavapai College and a retired Air Force veteran of 10 years having served in the Security Forces; and JennyLee Challis, VA Suicide Prevention. All speakers added value to the ceremony by adding their own stories and struggles.

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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 at 6:00 p.m. so the next meeting is December 1, 2022.

The address is 202 N. Arizona Avenue in Prescott. For questions call 928-776-

1125; email info@vfwpost541.org or visit vfw541.org. Their next event is hosting veterans at their annual Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 24 between 1:00 pm and 3:00 p.m.

PACT Act

Congress passed a new law 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. Enrolled veterans will get an initial toxic exposure screening, then a follow-up screening every 5 years. 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.

VFW’s Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship Applications for Spring Semester

The VFW offers scholarships up to $5,000 and you can apply between August 1 and November 15. Scholarships will be awarded in January for the Spring Semester. There are qualifications such as:

U.S. Citizen; Retired, Honorably Discharged, or Active Military or a member of the National Guard or Reserve; Have completed Basic and Advanced Training; E5 or below rank; Show the need for assistance. Go to vfw.org/assistance/student-veterans-support for details and to apply.

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.

Sea World San Diego Waves of Honor - Get a complimentary admission ticket for you and up to 3 dependents once a year to Sea World! For Active Duty Military, the offer is good until 12/31/22. You must be registered with ID.me.

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.