Updated April 27, 2008

CWVA Goals

(1) Build sustainable networks of altruistic outreach to the less fortunate whom Cold War Veterans are dedicated to serving,
(2) Ensure access to quality VA health care for honorably discharged Cold War Veterans,
(3) Eliminate discriminatory treatment of Cold War Veterans by governmental entities and fellow Veterans' Service Organizations, and
(4) Sustain the continued growth of the Cold War Veterans Association.

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(1) Once again, May 1^st (2008) is being recognized as Cold War Victory Day around the nation. As in years past, CWVA Chairman Vince Milum will be delivering a speech to the Johnson County (Kansas) Commissioners and other attendees at a proclamation ceremony.

(2) In conjunction with Cold War Victory Day, a drawing was held for a brand new AM-FM CD Player.  Cold War Veterans Lynn Norris and Brian Lawrence conducted the drawing (see photo below). Eligible for the drawing were all Platinum, Gold and Silver Honor Roll members. The winner was CWVA Platinum member José Alfaras. (NOTE: Holding the drawing prize in the photo is CWVA database administrator Norm Kinnaugh.)

(3) Cold War Veterans Richard Isaac and Nils Parr will once again represent the CWVA at the 2008 Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. The leader of this event will be President Bush.

(4) Cold War Veteran Richard Keeney has assumed a leadership position for the CWVA in the state of Kansas. He will represent the CWVA before the Kansas (state) Commission on Veterans Affairs.

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Thanks to our Honor Roll Members

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(1) As stated above, the following are CWVA’s Current Goals

   (a) Build sustainable networks of altruistic outreach to the less fortunate whom Cold War Veterans are dedicated to serving,

   (b) Ensure access to quality VA health care for honorably discharged Cold War Veterans,

   (c) Eliminate discriminatory treatment of Cold War Veterans by governmental entities and fellow Veterans' Service Organizations, and

   (d) Sustain the continued growth of the Cold War Veterans Association.

(2) In keeping with goal (a) stated above, CWVA Chaplain Fr. Patrick Rohen will be meeting this month (January 2008) with the CWVA Chairman. As part of his visit, Fr. Rohen will be meeting with veterans incarcerated at Fort Leavenworth military prison.

(3) In keeping with goal (b) stated above, the congressional advisory task force upon which the CWVA chairman serves is tentatively scheduled to meet on Monday, February 11, 2008,* at 1600 hours in the Overland Park office of Congressman Dennis Moore.  (*Updated on January 18, 2008)

The group will focus on DoD and VA health care issues but will also address other issues as time permits.

(4) In keeping with goal (c) stated above, Mick Stewart has assumed the role of Texas Legislative Affairs Director for the Association and will direct all related interactions with Texas-based government officials.

(5) In keeping with goal (d) stated above, CWVA Europe member Joe McColgan will be flying to the states to meet with the CWVA Chairman. As part of their itinerary they will be exploring expansion of CWVA representation abroad.

(6) In keeping with the goals stated above, CWVA Florida Director Scott Sutherland reports that he is "looking into some mass communication options in an effort to reach out to the Florida Veterans community and increase our membership. My affiliation with the AIR FORCE SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION is proving to be a real benefit in that regard."

(7) In keeping with the goals stated above, CWVA New York Director Nick Valhos reports the following:

   (a) At a recent Veterans Advisory Board meeting for Congresswomen Kirsten Gillibrand (upon which he serves), they discussed (i) legislation that she has supported for veterans and their families and (ii) her support for the NYS Military Museum's Veterans’ Oral History Project (which will preserve the stories of New York's Veterans). 

   (b) (Per Nick:) "We also discussed her desire for better communications with veterans and their families to better serve them. For a congresswoman in her first term she is doing a great job and truly concerned."

   (c) (Per Nick:) "I have spoken to a little over 100 veterans at American Legion Posts 1303, 1466, and VFW Post 170. I talked about the Cold War Veterans Assoc., and why they should join and many of the incidents that happen during that time period and the number of veterans who died during this period. I told them that congresswomen Gillibrand supported the Cold War Medal and handed out a membership form to each veteran."

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The minutes for the October 15, 2007 meeting of Congressman Dennis Moore's Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force are now available

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As previously announced by the CWVA (see the bottom of CWVA News below), an integrated (i.e., seamless) disability system for DoD and VA is in the works. The following is the first formal announcement as to the status/progress of that integration:

VA and DoD Pilot Single Physical: One Exam Used for "Fitness for Duty" and Disability Pay

Opening paragraph: In a landmark agreement to simplify life for service members with medical problems as they leave the military and return to the civilian world, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) signed a memorandum to pilot a single physical examination to be used by both Departments.

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Study: 1 out of 4 homeless are veterans

WASHINGTON - Veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States, though they are only 11 percent of the general adult population, according to a [new] report.

Click here for the complete story

Check out the member profile of CWVA Chaplain Matt Davison who is leading our efforts to address this travesty.

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US Navy Cold War Veteran Ronald Lackey has accepted the position of Illinois Legislative Director for the CWVA.  Ronald brings  a wealth of professional and academic experience to his new position.

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US Army Cold War Veterans Jim Lederle and Jim Miller have accepted the positions of Indiana Legislative Director and Director of Communications — Midwest (respectively).  Both gentlemen bring outstanding résumés including a doctorate degree (in the case of Dr. Lederle) and Membership on the China Roundtable at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (in the case of Mr. Milller). 

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Number of uninsured veterans nears 2 million

By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The number of uninsured veterans jumped sharply in the first half of the decade to 1.8 million in 2004, a new study shows.

Conducted by researchers at the Harvard Medical School, the study shows the uninsured veteran population rose twice as fast as the uninsured in the general population.

The increase in veterans lacking insurance coincides with Bush administration policies aimed at limiting the number of veterans eligible for VA coverage, according to the study published online Tuesday in the American Journal of Public Health.

In 2002, the administration stopped marketing veterans health care and, in January 2003, cut off access to future veterans earning more than $30,000 to $35,000 annually on average. Both times, VA officials cited budgetary constraints and backlogs in untreated patients.

Only a minority of veterans — those disabled by military service — are automatically eligible for VA care, the study says.

Coverage continues for veterans already enrolled, poor veterans, Purple Heart recipients and former prisoners of war.

"Most uninsured veterans are low- to middle-income workers who may be too poor to afford private coverage but are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid for Medicaid or free VA care," the study says.

Click here for the complete story

As we have stated previously, addressing this issue is paramount on the CWVA legislative agenda.

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Tax Breaks for Cold War Veterans - Sullivan County, New York

Cold War veterans will get a 15 percent break on their assessment, not to exceed $12,000, after the Sullivan County Legislature unanimously passed a new county tax exemption yesterday [November 15, 2007]. With roughly 1,700 Cold War vets in the county, the exemption could reduce county revenue by $100,000.

About 25 veterans attended the public hearing yesterday to speak in support of the exemption. But they also spoke out against the state, which created the tax break but did not fund it. The state bill, veterans said, was written sloppily.

Cold War veterans have to send away for a special certificate before receiving their break and reapply every year. The cut only benefits veterans who own property.

The state passed enabling legislation in August, allowing counties, towns, cities and villages to adopt the tax break.

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Cold War Veteran Scott Sutherland, who served in the US Air Force (and is an an active member of The Air Force Sergeants Association), is assuming a leadership position with the CWVA.  Among other duties, Scott will help coordinate technology matters for the CWVA as well as help guide recruitment in the state of Florida.  In Scott's own words: "I am a very 'hands on' type of volunteer.  I enjoy, whenever possible, visiting returning and/or wounded Vets and helping them with whatever personal or familial needs they may have.  I likewise enjoy visiting senior Veterans at their homes and/or facilities in which they reside.  I also enjoy and am very adept at speaking with young people, ROTC etc., and explaining the importance of our Nation’s military history and current role as well as helping develop tomorrow’s leadership."

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Cold War Veteran LCDR Nicholas Valhos, who is currently serving with the New York Naval Militia, (and who previously served in the Navy and is a Retired Special Agent with the US Dept of the Interior), has assumed a leadership position with the CWVA.  Initially, his duties will include serving as a Veterans Advisory Board member for Congresswoman Kirsten E. Gillibrand of the Twentieth Congressional District in New York.  He will also coordinate meetings with other Veterans Organizations to develop awareness and issues related to the Cold War.

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The CWVA participated in a ceremony in honor of Korean War and Era Veterans, hosted by the York County Pennsylvania delegation to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The Ceremony in Honor of Korean War and Era Veterans took place on Thursday, October 11th in Memorial Hall at the York Expo Center, York, Pennsylvania. As part of the ceremony CWVA member Nils Parr (who is an Air Force veteran) received a pin and certificate from his local State Representative, Ron Miller.

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CWVA Chairman Vince Milum (who is an Army veteran) is serving on a nine-member task force for the third (U.S.) congressional district in Kansas. "The primary purpose of the task force is to look at what Congress and the [Bush] Administration are doing for yesterday’s and today’s defenders of freedom [and to give our] thoughts and recommendations about how these actions are affecting Third District residents and how further actions can benefit [third district] residents and families." The task force is chaired by a retired Marine Corps (Brigadier) General. "The Task Force is nonpartisan and [is] autonomous in that its considerations and recommendations [are] up to the members to determine."

At its meeting on October 15, 2007, the 3rd District task force reviewed the report generated by the Veterans' Disability Commission entitled, "Honoring The Call To Duty: Veterans' Disability Benefits in the 21st Century".  Forthcoming from the reviewed report will be the implementation of a new VA Rating Schedule along with an integrated (i.e., seamless) disability system for DoD and VA.  On October 16, 2007, President Bush proffered new federal guidelines for implementing recommendations from the Dole-Shalala report* which had been the previous subject of review by the nine-member task force.  (*The formal title of the Dole-Shalala report is the "Report of the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors".)

For an announcement regarding the forthcoming integrated disability system, see:

VA and DoD Pilot Single Physical: One Exam Used for "Fitness for Duty" and Disability Pay

Opening paragraph: In a landmark agreement to simplify life for service members with medical problems as they leave the military and return to the civilian world, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) signed a memorandum to pilot a single physical examination to be used by both Departments.

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Join the CWVA or renew your membership today!

Thanks to our Honor Roll Members for your continued support