Greetings!

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Veteran Memorials -

Gurnee

Prayers to all our

Gold Star Families



The VAC Commissioners meetings for 2024-25 will be held on the following dates:

 

September 10, 2025

November 19, 2025

At the Gurnee American Legion Post 771 (749 Milwaukee Ave).

Meetings begin at 10:30 am. Visitors are welcome.

You can also use the link below to log into the meeting:

https://meet.goto.com/754472005

OR dial in using your phone.

in United States, call: +1 (312) 757-3121

and use Access Code: 754-472-005

Congratulations to Superintendent Andrew Tangen

On his election as President of the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers (NACVSO). Clearly this illustrates how well our VAC is succeeding as one of the leaders in the country's county veteran service organizations!

Here's How to Maximize VA Benefits over Your Lifetime

Military.com | By JJ Montanaro

Published June 27, 2025 at 1:36pm ET

Empowering those who've served with one thing can truly change a life: knowledge. If you're a veteran, you've earned a suite of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs, but understanding which ones apply to you -- and when -- isn't always easy. So, let's work on that.

Whether you're fresh out of uniform, in the thick of civilian life or reflecting on decades of service from the comfort of retirement, VA benefits can be a critical element of your financial plan. Here's a three-tiered look at how to make the most of what's available, based on where you are in life.

Click here to see the benefits at each of the three tiers.

Who's Winning the Multi-Billion Dollar Battle

over Veterans Benefits?

The War Horse | By Leah Rosenbaum

Published June 12, 2025 at 2:59pm ET

Veterans' advocates have worked for years to stop unaccredited consultants from charging vets thousands of dollars for help filing disability claims​, b​ut setbacks in court and on Capitol Hill indicate their quest to ban the deep-pocketed companies could be in peril.

With Republicans in control of Congress, a bill legalizing for-profit claims consultants nationwide will advance to a full House of Representatives vote, the first time such a measure has made it out of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Meanwhile, a competing bill introduced by a Democrat, which would crack down on for-profit companies by imposing criminal penalties, has not advanced.

And in a case closely watched by other states, a federal appeals court has suggested that a New Jersey law banning the companies in the Garden State could violate their First Amendment right to advise veterans -- even if they're doing it to make a profit. 

Read More

Ask a VSO - This feature is written by the VSO's at the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

What Is The Additional Compensation Defined As CRSC Or CRDP ?

 Minela Tarpley, VSO

CRSC is Combat-Related Special Compensation

CRDP is Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay

These two programs were authorized by Congress to give eligible military retirees monthly entitlements for disabilities in addition to retired pay. In your initial year of joint eligibility DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) will automatically apply the entitlement that is most beneficial to you. You can change to the other entitlement during Open Season, which usually takes place in January. Retirees cannot receive both CRSC and CRDP.

There is a general rule that military retirees cannot receive both military retired pay and VA disability compensation concurrently. CRSC and CRDP provide a limited exception to this general rule. Under this limited exception military retirees who meet eligibility criteria listed below may have the right to concurrently receive their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation.

CRSC - To qualify for CRSC you must:

•     Be retired and entitled to and/or receiving military retired pay and
•     Be rated at least 10% by the Department of Veterans Affairs and
•     Have a service-connected disability that is combat related. Disabilities that may be considered combat related include injuries incurred as a direct result of:

o  Armed Conflict (in combat or during an occupation or raid) or

o  Hazardous Duty (like demolition, flying or parachuting) or

o  An Instrumentality of War (like a military vehicle or weapon) or

o  Simulated War (like live fire weapons training practice or hand-to-hand combat training).

How do I apply for CRSC? Retirees must apply to their Branch of Service by completing a

DD Form 2860

Is it taxable? No, CRSC is processed as a separate payment, It is not taxable and will not appear on any tax forms or on the on the RAS (Retirement Account Statement).

CRDP applies to retired veterans who are also receiving disability compensation. This additional compensation reimburses the veteran for the retirement amount that has been waived due to the disability payment. To qualify for CRDP you must:

•     Be a retired veteran with 20 years of active service or
•     Be retired from a Reserve component with 20 qualifying years of service and has reached retirement age and
•     Be receiving retirement pay and
•    Have a 50%+ VA disability rating

How do I apply for CRDP? No application is needed for CRDP. It’s automatic.

Is it taxable? Yes, CRDP is taxable income.  CRDP appears on the veteran’s RAS as a separate line but it is combined with the retirement income on the IRS form 1099-R for reporting taxes so you can’t see the split unless you look at the RAS.

If this has you confused and you think CRDP or CRSC apply to your retirement income, email or call the office (veterans@lakecountyil.gov, 847-377-3344) and one of the VSOs can give you a hand with your specific situation.

‘We need to be doing a better job’: Veterans crisis line overwhelmed by volume of contacts, disruptive callers



WASHINGTON — Responders at the 24-hour veterans crisis line encounter abusive callers, incessant contacts from “disruptive” callers and pressure from their own managers to answer multiple texts from suicidal veterans simultaneously. Leaders at the national suicide hotline run by the Department of Veterans Affairs are focused more on worker productivity as call volumes grow than on addressing the needs of individuals in crisis. Former crisis line workers delivered that message at a hearing Wednesday of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee that looked at the performance of the veterans crisis line that fields 80,000 to 90,000 calls, texts and chats monthly.

Read More

PTSD and Marriage: 5 Things Spouses Need to Know

Military.com | By Amy Bushatz

Updated June 20, 2024 | Published January 13, 2017

Like the rest of marriage, loving someone who suffers from PTSD or who is trying to work through the ghosts of trauma -- whether combat related or not -- doesn't come with a guidebook. And although the whole thing can feel very isolating (everyone else seems fine! Is my marriage the only one in trouble?) that doesn't mean you're alone.

You never invited combat stress or post-traumatic stress disorder to be a part of your marriage. But there it is anyway, making everything harder.

Sometimes you want to give up. Why does everything have to be so, so hard? Other times, you wish someone would just give you a manual for dealing with the whole thing. Surely there's a way to know how to handle this disease?

Therapists who specialize in PTSD know that while some couples may put on a good show for the outside world, dealing with trauma is hard work and, no, everything is not perfect.

If you're dealing with PTSD at home, you are not alone.

Husband and wife team Marc and Sonja Raciti are working to help military couples work through how PTSD can impact their marriages. Marc, a veteran, has written a book on the subject, "I Just Want To See Trees: A Journey Through PTSD." Sonja is a licensed professional counselor. The Racitis said there are five things that a spouse dealing with PTSD in marriage should know.

Download Safety Plan App

May 6, 2025

Matthew Miller, Ph.D., MPH Executive Director, VA Suicide Prevention, Office of Suicide Prevention

A Safety Plan can help Veterans facing a crisis. VA’s Safety Plan app was developed to help Veterans create their own unique Safety Plan.

Having a plan can make a big difference in how your day goes. It doesn’t have to be complicated—sometimes it’s as simple as “get up, take a shower, grab some breakfast.” Having structure in your day can provide direction and help you know what to expect.

For Veterans who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide, having a safety plan is critical for addressing a crisis. That’s why VA worked with Veterans and health care providers to create an app to help you easily build your own safety plan with a mental health provider and easily access it at any time.

The app guides you through the process step by step, making it easier to create a plan that works for you. For extra encouragement, you can tap a sun icon to read hopeful messages from other Veterans who’ve faced similar experiences. These messages serve as powerful reminders that even though you may be facing life challenges, you don’t have to face them alone.

What can I expect when I download the app? Click here to find out.

Push to Help Combat-Injured Retirees Continues With Senate NDAA

By: Kevin Lilley

July 23, 2025

Combat-wounded veterans, military and veteran advocates, and other supporters take part in a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 21 hosted by the Wounded Warrior Project in support of the Major Richard Star Act. (Photo by Mike Morones/MOAA)

The most recent step in the long fight to overturn an unjust pay offset faced by combat-injured military retirees came July 22, as three senators announced plans to include the text of the Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the must-pass FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Backed by MOAA and dozens of other military, veteran, and survivor groups, the amendment would allow tens of thousands of veterans to receive both their DoD-provided retirement pay and their VA-provided disability pay. These veterans now face a dollar-for-dollar offset of that earned compensation – essentially a “wounded veteran tax.”

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the Major Richard Star Act]

Read complete article

VA’s disability calculator produced wrong results,

costing some vets thousands of dollars

By LINDA F. HERSEY, STARS AND STRIPES • June 6, 2025

A federal watchdog reported findings from a review of an automated compensation calculator that was part of a web-based benefits management system. Errors resulted when the calculator was figuring payments for certain disability combinations.

Click here to see of you are affected.

Field of Honor



The Lake County Honor Flight is honored to be one of two veteran organizations benefiting from this year’s Field of Honor, presented by the Village of Deerfield, alongside our friends at Midwest Veterans Closet.

This powerful tribute takes place November 7–11, 2025, at Jewett Park in Deerfield, IL. Join us in honoring our nation’s heroes, supporting local veterans, and consider dedicating a flag in tribute. 

To dedicate a flag to your honored veteran, Support here.

The Veterans Closet has been over stuffed with clothing and household goods for as long as I have been in contact with them - over 10 years! In addition to clothing and household items, the Closet hosts a Mobile Food Market once a month.

During the first 5 months of 2025, they have supported almost 4,000 family visits, consisting of over 11,000 family member visits. Over 60 percent of these visits are active duty families!

VA urges holdouts still receiving veterans benefits by paper check to move to electronic banking



By LINDA F. HERSEY STARS AND STRIPES • June 24, 2025

More than 120,000 veterans and their family members still collect paper checks from the Department of Veterans Affairs by mail for disability, survivor support and other compensation.

The VA is pushing veterans to receive the money directly deposited to a bank account. (Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs is making a final push to move veterans who receive benefits by paper check to get the money directly deposited to an account after President Donald Trump ordered a shift to electronic banking for federal agencies by Sept. 30.

Click to read more

VA is Here for You During Times of Emotional Distress

Call the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 at  988



Feeling distress is a normal response to negative events, especially events that feel personal. Veterans and those who care about them are encouraged to learn more about available mental health and healing resources.

Your suicide crisis doesn’t have to define your future

Originally published in Military.com, June 12, 2024 by Matthew Miller, Executive Director of VA Suicide Prevention, Office of Suicide Prevention

Most suicidal crises are brief. Be prepared before a crisis happens. Being prepared can save your life!

Not every Veteran will face a crisis. And not every Veteran who faces a crisis will have thoughts of suicide. But if you or a Veteran you care about is going through a tough time, you can be ready in case a crisis happens. The first major step is to ensure that weapons and ammunition are locked safely and in separate locations.

There are people who want to help and resources ready to support you.

Every VA facility has mental health specialists. Find one near you.

• Community-based Vet Centers are available to you. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
• Maketheconnection.net offers stories of hope and healing for Veterans experiencing challenging life events.
• Have a question for VA? 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411) is available 24/7.

If you are in need of food support, click here.

If you are interested in supporting Northern Illinois Food Bank by volunteering (as I do), Click here to see the types of volunteer opportunities you can sign up for and where they are.

If you have any questions, contact Allan Ayers at 847-377-3344

In all the situations below, you can always contact the VAC (847-377-3344) directly for further assistance. If you are struggling with rent or mortgage payments with the elimination of pandemic forbearance programs, Call the VAC immediately!

• Rent or Mortgage payments or Emergency Housing
• Utility payments
• Food - Northern Illinois Food Bank - See Schedule or
• Midwest Veterans Closet (See the calendar below)
• Medical Care - Contact VAC when civilian benefits lost - Do not go to VA if not registered with them. Contact the VAC to get you registered.
• Family problems - In Lake County, contact 211 for referral to proper resource.

Your Coin Helps Vets In Need Through the VAC Not For Profit

Coins are $5.00 and you can pick one up when you come into the office, or you can send a check (make the check out to "Lake County VAC - Not-for-Profit - and mail to the address below) and we'll mail it to you. 

Mail check to:

Veterans Assistance Commission

Hawkston Hall II

1790 Nations Drive, Suite 221

Gurnee, IL 60031

If you're wondering what the VAC and other veterans organizations are doing.

MOAA’s Virtual Career Fair

and Hiring Event

Transitioning from uniformed service? Military spouse with a career on the move? Making a foreseen or unforeseen career pivot?

Join us for an exclusive virtual networking, career, and hiring event featuring military-friendly and veteran-ready employers. Let MOAA help you:

·      Market your education, experience, and skills.

·      Connect with employers looking to hire.

·      Land the position! 

Throughout the event, you'll be able to engage in 1-on-1 chats with talent acquisition professionals and recruiters from companies across various industries and sectors. Be sure you are camera-ready, as our platform supports audio and video functionality: The employer may want to interview you on the spot!

Participating employers include: 

•       ClearanceJobs (featured employer)
•       Amazon                                        Northrop Grumman
•       Booz Allen Hamilton                Parsons Corporation
•       CACI International                              Safe Harbor Marinas
•       Leidos Opportunities                Synchrony
•       ManTech

Don't miss this unique opportunity to get connected, make a great first impression, and have a conversation with your potential future employer!

Register today!

Northern Illinois Food Bank

There are three types of resources within NIFB

My Pantry Express

Pre-register at the link and order from list of items - limited locations and times -

See below for all county locations and times, or click on the link below for all the counties.

Mobile Food Pantry and CLC Pop-up Pantry

VA Resource Navigator:

Quick Guide to All Your VA Benefits

Easily find VA resources and program information, including web links, phone numbers, and QR codes with VA's Resource Navigator.

Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Monthly Newsletter – The Launch –

Hot Tips from the VA Weekly Newsletters

This Benefits Bulletin provides links for vets to understand benefits they might be eligible for.

Contact the VAC to understand any of these VA Benefits - 847-377-3344

VA News - 7/2/2025 - -

• Interested in Owning a Franchise? Vetprepreneur offers free franchise matchmaking for Veterans.

VA News - 7/9/2025 -

• Tips to Recharge Your Brain and Body - Learn simple ways to give your body and brain the rest, sleep and relaxation it needs to restore energy and function at its best.

VA News - 7/23/2025 -

• How to Get Reimbursed for Your VA-related Travel

If you’re traveling for a VA health care appointment, VA will reimburse you for travel costs, including mileage, tolls, parking and authorized hotel stays, if you’re eligible. Your caregiver can get reimbursed, too.

• Sharing the Story of the Purple Heart with Future Generations

The National Purple Heart Honor Mission enrolls Purple Heart recipients into the Roll of Honor, a publicly accessible, online catalogue managed by the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New York.

Insights from the MOAA

(Military Officers Association of America)

MOAA –7/3/25

• Surviving Spouse Corner: Understanding Long-Term Care  

This guidance will help you navigate insurance policies, determine your care needs, and prepare for your family's future.

 MOAA –7/24/25

• Sending a Child to College? Consider These Health Care Options

It's not just about books and meal plans – here's what TRICARE beneficiaries should know.

• I'm Considering Buying a Franchise. What Steps Should I Take? 

Look at these five points before making the leap. Want more expert advice? We've got you covered.

ETWORK WITH CONFIDENCE

Stars & Stripes -

7/9/25 -

• VA ends plan for further layoffs after workforce drops by 30,000

A federal hiring freeze imposed since February — along with deferred resignations, early retirements and regular turnover from attrition — will yield a decrease of 30,000 full-time personnel through September and eliminate the need for sweeping layoffs.

• Veterans in Minneapolis VA study used mindfulness to combat chronic pain

Mindfulness uses breathing, movement, listening, visual or other exercises to help people focus on the present moment and surroundings.  

7/23/25 -

• ‘Gaslit and abandoned’: Gulf War veterans push to declassify documents on chemical exposure

Advocates are pushing the Defense Department to declassify thousands of documents relating to the potential toxic exposures of more than 100,000 troops from the 1991 demolition of a chemical weapons complex in southern Iraq.

Read more >

• Military veterans take a trip to Hawaii — by rowboat

Jere Hartman, a 49-year-old Chattanooga, Tenn., fitness instructor, and four other military veterans completed a 2,800-mile Pacific Ocean journey in a rowboat. “I’m beat up, man,” Hartman said

Have you ever seen the magazine Military.com?

If you are still working and thinking about changing jobs, check out https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs

Recent edition of Veteran Job Insider

Here are links to other recent Military.com articles of interest:

• Rates Have Dropped! Calculate Your VA Loan Rate Now
• How Veteran Job Seekers Can Write a Brilliant Value Pro
• position with AI
• What Benefits Are You Eligible For as a Spouse of a Disabled Veteran?
• How Veterans Can Know if an MBA is an Epic Waste or the Right Move
• Why Veterans Should Be Wary of Free Financial Advice
• Is Your New Civilian Job a Nightmare? 7 Ways Veterans Can Fix Job Problems with Class

What was your first clue that you took the wrong job after a move or after your military transition? It is a tough career spot to be in as a veteran or a military spouse, but you can break free with some simple questions that lead to powerful strategies for change.

• Harvard to Offer Full Rides to 50 Veterans and Civil Servants for Master's Degrees in Public Policy
• 8 Ways to Harness the Power of Storytelling to Communicate Your Value
• 4 Midyear Money Moves for a December to Remember

+++++++++

There is far too much in the various issues of Military.Com to write or even extract from them. The trick is to find the pieces that are important to you. Therefore, we have provided a graphic that shows the various dropdown choices. As you will see, there is information on general news – with the choice to see the news for your own branch, service benefits, Job and transition support, military life and family issues. I get several versions, and then I’ll scan for titles that seem to be related to me. For example, I decided to try the the Veteran Jobs tab for Lake County. It provided over 400 postings for Lake County and Northern Cook County. See the dropdowns below. Then you can click on military.com to set up a subscription and select versions that you are interested in.

In addition, there are a wide assortment of resource links (including discounts for vets and families) to find other specific information. You might want to give the magazine a look.

James A. Lovell FHCC

To stay in touch with the James A. Lovell FHCC, subscribe to the “Launch”, the Lovell Newsletter.

To get a subscription, – click here. 

Here is a directory of the resources at James A. Lovell FHCC. To access the electronic directory, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Here are the available hot links to some of the various VA Resources available. The actual hot links can be accessed at the

bottom of the welcome kit.

Click here to subscribe to the Weekly VA Newsletter.

Click here to register for your records in the new FHCC Electronic Records System

 How do you get "Veteran" on your driver's license?



Effective January 1, 2020, it will be easier to get "VETERAN" recorded on your driver's license. To get the “VETERAN” designation, veterans can bring their DD214 or other acceptable discharge document directly to a Secretary of State Driver Services facility.

If veterans choose to add the designation prior to their renewal date, they may obtain an updated driver’s license for $5 and an updated ID card for $10. Veterans over the age of 65 can obtain an updated state ID card at no cost.

A special note - If you are an older Vet and your DD214 was lost in the St. Louis fire in the early 1970's, you can obtain a "certificate" that replaces the DD214. However, for one vet we know, the DMV didn't accept that certificate.

If you need a complete set of your military records



If you need a set of your military records for any reason, you can obtain them by faxing or mailing a request to the National Personnel Records Center. While they will accept a letter (if you get all the right information into it) it is best to use the standard form SF-180 to request it. You can download that form at Standard Form 180

Mail the completed form to:

National Personnel Records Center

1 Archives Drive

Saint Louis, MO 63138.

OR

Fax the form to 314-801-9195

If you need the records in emergency circumstances, contact our office 

Where is an IDVA Office?

 Deerfield - co-located with the 

Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Deerfield Facility

1755 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 1409

Deerfield, IL 60015-5209

847-948-6981 and 847-948-6982

Hours Monday - Friday 

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Palatine - located in the Palatine Township offices at:

721 S. Quentin Rd, Room 102

(847) 485-2772

Hours Monday -Thursday

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Factual Accuracy and Disclaimer:

Accuracy is important to us. if you believe an error has been made, please email the Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission at veterans@lakecountyil.gov. Use of social media does not imply endorsement on the part of the VAC. Content on these sites is not edited for accuracy and may not necessarily reflect the views of the VAC.