30 Jun
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/traffic/100628-fort-bend-county-park-ride-medical-center
Fort Bend County Park & Ride to Medical Center
Updated: Monday, 28 Jun 2010, 9:10 AM CDT
Published : Monday, 28 Jun 2010, 9:10 AM CDT
HOUSTON – Starting on Monday, residents in Fort Bend County will be able to travel directly to the Texas Medical Center without having to worry about searching for a parking spot.
The Fort Bend County Express Park & Ride Service will pick up passengers at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg, the University of Houston System at Sugarland campus and at the AMC First Colony 24 parking lot near First Colony Mall. Stops in the Texas Medical Center will include the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The service will serve passengers during the morning and through the afternoon.
“This convenient Park and Ride service will undoubtedly benefit employees of the Medical Center, Veterans and others seeking medical treatment by allowing them to park their cars in a location close to their home, and then transporting them to a drop off point convenient to the entrance. This is the perfect way to avoid the hassles of parking and congestion,” said Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert.
29 Jun
Veterans’ Medallion Available for Order
New Option for Marking Veterans’ Graves in Private Cemeteries
WASHINGTON (June 29, 2010) – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offering bronze medallions to attach to existing, privately purchased headstones or markers, signifying a deceased’s status as a Veteran.
“For Veterans not buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery, or those without a government grave marker, VA is pleased to offer this option that highlights their service and sacrifices for our country,” said Secretary Shinseki.
The new item can be furnished instead of a traditional government headstone or marker for Veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.
Under federal law, eligible Veterans buried in a private cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished grave marker or the new medallion, but not both. Veterans buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery will receive a government headstone or marker of the standard design authorized at that cemetery.
The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inches and 1 ½ inches in width. Each bronze medallion features the image of a folded burial flag adorned with laurels and is inscribed with the word “Veteran” at the top and the branch of service at the bottom.
Next of kin will receive the medallion, along with a kit that will allow the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the medallion to a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or columbarium niche cover.
More information about VA-furnished headstones, markers and medallions can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmtype.asp.
VA is currently developing an application form for ordering the medallion. Until it is available, applicants may use the form for ordering government headstones and markers, VA Form 40-1330. Instructions on how to apply for a medallion are found on the VA Web site at www.cem.va.gov/hm_hm.asp.
Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or grave marker.
The new medallions will be available only to Veterans buried in private cemeteries without a government headstone or marker. Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment.
VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites. More than 3 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict — from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan — are buried in VA’s national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA Web site on the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.
25 Jun
OPEN CALL FOR NEW WOUNDED WARRIOR BAND LOOKING FOR MUSICIANS THAT ARE COMBAT WOUNDED VETERANS (medically retired/discharged) OF OIF/OEF My name is Army SSG(ret) Paul Delacerda I’m a US Army combat wounded veteran formally of the 82nd Airborne Division and born and raised in Houston. I recently put together a band that is like no other, it is a wounded warrior band by the name of ” Warrior Spirit ” which will be completely comprised of disabled combat wounded veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and since I started it I have been looking for members to fill its ranks. The main goal for this bands it to show strength and courage after coming back from a combat zone and overcoming a major disability to play music. Some potential members might be an amputee or have TBI (traumatic Brain Injury), and PTSD like myself and played prior to their injury and maybe started again afterward to express themselves and help with the healing process. The music we play will show the commitment we made to make this country free and show that giving up was never an option. I am still currently looking for members that have ANY musical talent and as any band has… its a process and local musicians would be easier to find seeing that I live in Houston, but I will consider out of the area if they can travel on their own and make time ?(some assistance can be provided). I know that some potential candidates might not be as experienced as I want but I will still listen. Understand once the band is together that the opportunities to play are endless as far as touring is concerned. I already have locations around the US that want the band to play. We will be ambassadors to many disabled veterans and the talent of the band is important as the general public will focus on our playing abilities. I’m looking for:* SINGERS – MALE/FEMALE* BASS PLAYERS – ALL TYPES* GUITAR – LEAD/RYTHM* HORNS – TRUMPET/ SAX* KEYBOARDS – ALL TYPES* ALL OTHERS WILL BE CONSIDERED*** If equipment is a problem I will try to get some for the practice and try outs *** IF INTERESTED AND FOR TO TRYOUT CALL ME ( PAUL DELACERDA – 910-977-3734 )
25 Jun
NEW HOTLINE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS New Hotline for Homeless Veterans1-877-4AID VET Veterans in need, or concerned families and friends, can find food,shelter, and assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
25 Jun
PELICANS FOR PATRIOTS PROGRAM
We are writing to you to communicate the details of the Pelican for Patriots program and ask for your help. The brochure at http://www.pelican.com/PFP/Pelican%20for%20Patriots2.pdf explains how Pelican is offering a free Protector Case™ to the 900+ courageous men and women of the U.S. Military who have lost a limb while serving in either Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The program launched on April 27th, 2010 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and now we’re looking to extend it through word-of mouth and to other military medical facilities across the U.S. Your assistance in getting the word out to the military community would be greatly appreciated. To expedite requests we have created an online form that can be found at www.pelican.com/PFP. We can never repay soldiers who have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedom, but we can offer a small token of our appreciation to help protect the prosthetic devices that maintain their freedom of mobility.The Pelican Marketing Group23215 Early Avenue, Torrance, CA 90505Tel: 310.326.4700 | Toll free: 800.473.5422pelicanmarketinggroup@pelican.com | www.pelican.com
25 Jun
Vets4Vets is having the 1st local retreat @ Forest Glen retreat just north of Houston. All expenses paid weekend for OEF/OIF veterans. Please contact Bill Grieshaber @ bill@vets4vets.us Anyone interested in learning more about the Vets4Vets organization can go to the website at www.Vets4Vets.us.
24 Jun
While the Veterans Health Administration is well prepared at the national level to handle emergencies, it needs to improve its degree of preparedness at the local level, according to The American Legion.
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24 Jun
American Legion Past National Commander William Detweiler and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki are among the dignitaries scheduled to attend Friday’s groundbreaking for the 1.7-million square-feet New Orleans VA Medical Center. The ceremonies begin at 10 a.m.; Detweiler is scheduled to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
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23 Jun
The American Legion is calling upon Congress and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to move quickly in granting benefit claims for three diseases recently declared to have presumptive connections with exposure to Agent Orange defoliant.
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22 Jun
IS YOUR LOVED ONE A RECENTLY RETURNED OEF/OIF VETERAN? The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is conducting research on the transition back to civilian life. We will be holding focus groups with family members of returned OEF/OIF Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Focus Group will last 90 minutes and participants will be compensated $40 for their time.If you are interested in participating, please contact Smita Pamar or Ashley McComb at 713.791.1414 ext. 6367 for more information.
