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December 2019 Veterans Voice Newsletter
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Message from the Director
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Message from the Director - December 2019
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I speak for all of us here at NDVS in wishing you and your family the very best this holiday season! This month our newsletter contains a lot of information you will find very useful this time of year.
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Wreaths Across America Remembers, Honors, Teaches
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Join us on December 14, 2019 as we honor, remember and teach future generations about the service and sacrifice of our military members in the annual Wreaths Across America Day.
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Vito Valdez and Pahrump Disabled American Veterans Chapter 15 Receive Special Honor
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By Chuck N. Baker (PHOTO: Governor Sisolak with Veteran of the Month Vito Valdez)
Congratulations to Army veteran Vito Valdez and the Pahrump Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 15. Valdez was named Veteran of the Month and the Pahrump DAV received the Veteran Supporter of the Month recognition in a special ceremony at the Grant Sawyer Building in Las Vegas in November. Governor Steve Sisolak attended, presenting special certificates signed by him, along with thanks and praise.
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A Promise Kept to 17 Veterans in Boulder City
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By Chuck N. Baker
The promise made to 17 veterans when they joined the military has been kept, thanks to the efforts of the Women Veterans of Nevada, Nevada Veterans Coalition and many others. The cremains of these 17 warriors had been sitting on a mortuary shelf, unclaimed, some, for years. But due to the efforts of dedicated volunteers, and the assistance and support from the Pahrump Family Mortuary and Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial in Las Vegas, these veterans received a military burial with full honors at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in November.
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Remembering Pearl Harbor Survivor Captain Robert Lloyd
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Captain Robert Lloyd, USAF Retired, died November 17, 2019, just a week shy of his 98th
birthday. He was born November 24, 1921. A Memorial Service was held last month at Faith Baptist Church in Silver Springs, Nevada. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Ann, the Lloyd family and his friends.
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Emotional Veterans Day at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home
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By Chuck N. Baker/Staff (PHOTO: Governor Sisolak and First Lady Mrs. Sisolak stand with members of the Star-Spangled Singers, and Music Director Eileen Hayes on left)
Each year, Nevada honors Veterans Day with sponsored events. The Governor goes back and forth, attending an event in the north one year, the following year in the south. In 2019, was the south's turn.
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Health and Wellness
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VA and Walgreens Partnership Offers Free Flu Shot Convenience
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By U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
During flu season, protecting your health with a flu shot is now easier than ever - and it's as close as your local VA or neighborhood Walgreens.
The VA and Walgreens have partnered to provide no-cost quadrivalent flu shots to enrolled veterans of the VA health care system.
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Program Takes Mystery out of Understanding Presumptive Conditions
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In the weeks ahead, you will be learning more about a new NDVS initiative, Veterans Healthcare Champion. This new public awareness campaign is designed to educate veterans and health care providers in Nevada about presumptive conditions.
Many may not be aware that service in the U.S. military could result in exposure to a range of chemical, physical, and environmental hazards that could impact one's health. A presumed condition is an illness, disease or condition the VA recognizes as being directly related to U.S. military service. The list of presumptive conditions is long. So are the potential exposures. But a new VA mobile app makes it easy to understand and evaluate one's exposure risk and potential health impacts. The app is a tool for both veterans and healthcare providers.
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When You're Not Feeling Holiday Cheer
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"It's the most wonderful time of the year..." well, not for everyone. My name is Kim Donohue and my work at NDVS includes suicide prevention efforts. There are many reasons you can feel down around the holidays. You may be separated from loved ones, suffered a death, lost a job, or have gone through a divorce. You may find yourself alone and lonely or coping with a serious illness. You might just have the "holiday blues" due to stress or conflict.
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Programs and Services
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Nevada Veterans Advocate Program Reaches Rural Lincoln County
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By Chuck N. Baker (Photo: Rollins on left seen with VSO Marie Holcomb)
(Panaca) -
There are many ways to help veterans who require assistance filing claims, requesting government discounts and seeking medical examinations. One way is to become a volunteer through the Nevada Veterans Advocate (NVA) program.
Many NVAs are veterans, but it is not a requirement. What is required is the ability to lend a sympathetic ear, help, assist, advise and relate to veterans and their families. One NVA who fits this bill is Linda S. Rollins. Rollins is uniquely qualified to assist others and is one of only three NVAs in rural Lincoln County.
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Special Delivery: Henderson Post Office Honors Veterans
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By Chuck N. Baker (PHOTO: Governor Sisolak and Congresswoman Susie Lee unveil new plaque)
The United States Post Office has long been associated with an unofficial motto: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays the couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." The origin of the saying can be traced back to the Persian Wars, when the Persians operated a system of mounted postal carriers, sworn to those tenets. So, it's fitting that the renaming of the Henderson Post Office in honor of American warriors happened on Veterans Day. The new name is Henderson Veterans Memorial Post Office Building.
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Free Gift for Gulf War Veterans
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The State of Kuwait is providing a special "thank you" to the men and women who served in Operation Desert Storm. Gulf War veterans may receive a free commemorative, first-edition book, The Liberation of Kuwait. It includes a companion, feature-length documentary on DVD. The set retails for $49.95 but is yours, free, because of your service.
The high-quality book was published in 2016 by Remember My Service Productions. It is full color and printed on heavy glossy paper. The 9" by 11" book has a hardcover and dust jacket.
We regret we cannot mail the free book sets due to cost. But you may arrange to pick up your free copy by emailing
[email protected]. We can make arrangements for you to pick up your copy from the nearest NDVS office. Thank you for your service!
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Korean War Veteran? This Free Gift Is For You!
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For a limited time, the nationally acclaimed book, Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60 Years of Growth and The Remembered War, is being bundled together in a collector's edition commemorative book and DVD set.
Both the book and DVD remember and honor the brave Americans who served during the Korean War. Their fight for freedom in a war-torn, distant land has nourished a modern and prosperous Republic of Korea, one of the world's most powerful testaments to the fruits of liberty.
The sets are a gift from the South Korean government and are made available to you, Korean War veterans, at NO COST! The book retails for $49.95 but again, it is yours for free, if you are a Korean War veteran. While we honor the service of all who veterans, this offer is a special gift reserved only for those who served in combat during the Korean War.
The high-quality book was published in 2016 by Remember My Service Productions. It is full color and printed on heavy glossy paper. The 9" by 11" book has a hardcover and dust jacket.
We regret we cannot mail the free book sets due to cost. But you may arrange to pick up your free copy by emailing
[email protected]. We can make arrangements for you to pick up your copy from the nearest NDVS office. Thank you for your service!
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News You can Use
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Memorial Location Project - We Could Use Your Help!
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NDVS is launching an exciting statewide initiative to locate every veteran, military or war memorial across the State! We are partnering with Veteran/Military reporter, Chuck N. Baker, who is performing all the leg work.
Baker is currently identifying these memorials and documenting their location. He is also collecting photos and conducting research on each memorial to write any existing history to provide a better understanding of the men and women honored.
There are four State veterans' memorials: the Battle Born Memorial to Nevada's Fallen in Carson City, the Nevada State Veterans Memorial at the Grant Sawyer Building in Las Vegas. The Nevada Veterans Memorial Wall on the State Capitol Grounds in Carson City and the Mustang 22 Memorial in Reno at the Stead Airport.
Additionally, many cities, various groups and individuals across the State have erected their own memorials to give recognition and honor to the men and women who served in the US Armed Forces. For the first time, Baker's work will provide a complete inventory of all these memorials.
This information will be useful for many reasons. Location coordinates for memorials on publicly-owned land will be provided to the public so these memorials can be visited. While the public may not be able to visit memorials located on privately-owned land, they can still learn the history surrounding them. Finally, some of these memorials have been forgotten, neglected, or simply lost to history. This project provides the opportunity for veteran service organizations and others to "adopt" a memorial to bring it up to standard and maintain it. All of this will fulfill the purpose and spirit of these memorials to honor and recognize military service.
We could use your help in finding and identifying Nevada's military, war and veterans' memorials. If you know of a memorial, let us know! Contact Chuck N. Baker at
[email protected] or let us know at
[email protected].
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Help Us Create a Scatter Garden!
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Cremation is becoming more common as an end-of-life choice. As a result, we have received many requests and would like to honor those requests by creating a scatter garden at both our veterans' memorial cemeteries in northern and southern Nevada. This will give families and friends of the deceased more choices and options at our cemeteries.
Scatter gardens are designated places where family and friends of the deceased can scatter the cremains of their loved one. The gardens will be beautifully designed, picturesque, peaceful areas where the final resting place for the deceased will be amongst their veteran or military brothers and sisters. After the remains are dispensed, the gardens provide a sanctuary for family and friends to visit and reflect in a beautiful setting.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 to build these gardens. To donate, visit our website at
www.veterans.gov/volunteer-donate/
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click the cemetery of your choice, then click the donate scatter garden button.
We will keep you posted on our progress to create the scatter gardens. All donations are greatly appreciated.
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Employment/Education
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Becoming a Patriot Employer!
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(Photo: Grand Sierra Resort staff posing with Patriot Employer Program certificate)
Congratulations to the Grand Sierra Resort! The resort casino hotel in Reno is the newest Nevada business to become a Patriot Employer!
The Patriot Employer Program provides employers with the tools and knowledge to hire and retain veterans. Just as important, it also demonstrates the benefits of utilizing the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces.
The benefit of hiring veterans goes far beyond tax breaks and incentives. Anyone who has served in the military is familiar with discipline and teamwork. They have respect for policies and procedures and they know the importance of overcoming adversity to complete the mission.
Most former military members are comfortable with technology and have been in positions where they had to learn new skills or adapt quickly. They also come with a set of values that includes integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness. These are all the attributes of an employee who would make any business or company proud. Veterans know what it means to put in a "good, honest day of work."
The Patriot Employer Program provides a "toolkit for hiring veterans" to human resources professionals who complete the Patriot Employer online course. Upon completion, the business is eligible to receive a certificate, signed by the Governor, presented in a special ceremony. The certificate and Patriot Employer decal are meant to be proudly displayed.
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Always Remember
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It was 27 years ago on December 4, 1992, President George H. Bush ordered 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia. Five days later, the first U.S. Marines landed in the first phase of "Operation Restore Hope."
Click here to read more:
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Civil Air Patrol Birthday
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December 1st is the United States Civil Air Patrol's birthday, formed during World War II in 1936. The agency served as the official volunteer civilian auxiliary of the Air Force. It consists of cadets, ages 12 to 20 years old, and senior members who are 18 and older. To date, the Civil Air Patrol is America's premier public service organization for carrying out emergency services and disaster relief missions nationwide. Its 60,000 members selflessly devote their time, energy and expertise toward the well-being of their communities, while also promoting aviation and related fields through aerospace education and helping shape future leaders through the Civil Air Patrol cadet program.
Read more about the Civil Air Patrol and its history here:
It was 27 years ago on December 4, 1992, President George H. Bush ordered 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia. Five days later, the first U.S. Marines landed in the first phase of "Operation Restore Hope."
Click here to read more:
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We Remember Pearl Harbor - December 7 - A Date Which Lives in Infamy
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This year marks the 78th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The surprise attack by Japanese forces left 2,403 American sailors, soldiers and civilians dead and another 1,000 people wounded.
The Japanese hoped to destroy the Pacific Fleet so the Americans would not be able to fight back as Japan's armed forces spread across the South Pacific. In less than two hours, nearly every battleship in Pearl Harbor had suffered significant damage. The ships included: USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS Nevada. All but the USS Arizona and USS Utah were eventually salvaged and repaired.
While the attack destroyed nearly 20 American ships and 300 airplanes, the Japanese failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet. As history shows, the day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan, launching America into World War II.
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Happy Birthday Nevada National Guard!
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The National Guard celebrates its birthday on December 13th and the Nevada National Guard is planning a birthday bash. You're invited to attend! It will be held at the DFAC at the Nevada Air National Guard Base in Reno, 1776 National Guard Way, at 10:00 a.m.
Outgoing Senior Enlisted Leader Sergeant Major Jared Kopacki and outgoing Command Chief Master Sergeant Michael Drisdale will cut the cake, alongside junior enlisted members of the Nevada National Guard. This is a unique chance to give the outgoing senior enlisted leaders of the Nevada National Guard a chance to cut the cake and celebrate the National Guard's 383rd birthday with some of the newest enlistees!
To attend, you MUST RSVP by December 6th. (It is a military installation!) RSVP to Emerson Marcus at
[email protected] or call (775) 884-8439.
The National Guard started with an order by the Massachusetts General Court! The Salem Court created the first militia on the North American continent through its order issued December 13, 1636. It required all able-bodied men, between ages 16 and 60, to create a standing army for protection. With that order, America's National Guard was born.
Click here to learn more:
https://www.military.com/national-guard-birthday
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Mark Your Calendar
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Mark Your Calendar - December 2019
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