The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) and the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem are again sponsoring events in May to honor our local military, veterans and their families. The Board of Directors cordially invites the members of our community and those still serving to participate in and provide support for these events: (more…)
Finally, after months and months of delay, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is advertising openly for someone to replace the Disabled Veterans Opportunity Program Counselor lost at the Lehigh Valley CareerLink in August 2018, due to retirement. If you are a veteran and wish to help our community’s veterans, and their spouses in certain instances, in gaining secure and good-paying employment upon return from service and for other reasons, this may be one of the best ways to do it. These civil service positions are federally funded under the U.S. Department of Labor’s US VETS program. Below are the details provided by Doug Monroe, the remaining veterans employment representative at the CareerLink: (more…)
Finally, some good news on this matter! The Secretary of the VA, Mr. Robert Wilkie, has just announced the VA will not appeal a January court ruling that ordered it to provide health care and disability benefits to our Vietnam War, “Blue Water Navy” veterans. (more…)
If you are a veteran in need of home repair or adaptation and reside in Northampton County — but not within the city limits of Bethlehem and Easton — the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) may be a good option for you, especially if you do not qualify for a VA home adaptation program. CACLV is specifically reaching out to veterans. Do not procrastinate. This offer may wrap up by June of this year. Read below. (more…)
Two years ago, President Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act into law. That Act designates every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. It was March 29, 1973, when the last of our combat troops left Vietnam Read more…
Thought you might be interested in the latest on our longstanding joint project: ### As of 6 March 2019
The fourteenth annual Tribute to Our Freedom, to be held on 19 May 2019 between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at its Macungie location (3801 Brookside Road), is an inspiring evening to honor and pray for our veterans. This one is intended to honor Purple Heart recipients. There will be a color guard, armed forces medley, patriotic performances, a Purple Heart veterans presentation and hors d’oeuvres Meet & Greet following. This evening is free and open to the entire community. At this moment, it is seeking Purple Heart veterans to honor (past and present) in two ways: (more…)
On 28 February 2019, Governor Tom Wolf announced that $800,000 of grant money from the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) will be awarded to 29 Pennsylvania organizations that support veterans’ programs throughout the commonwealth, contingent upon completion of a grant agreement. The trust’s funds are meant to be exclusively used for military veterans, and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs administers it. Since 2013, a total of $3,632,860 has been awarded. (more…)
A local Starbucks is sponsoring an Armed Forces Network event this Saturday, 2 March 2019. Tap on the thumbnail of the flyer for when and where.
It is difficult to know what to make of this event and its ultimate intentions — beyond a free cup of coffee and public relations — if you listen to the buzz, (more…)
Priorities, smy-orities … five, six or ten … different ones almost every time you look … when it comes to the Department of Veterans Affairs (and federal agencies in general). It is time to do a little house cleaning as the new year begins because, in these times, on what the VA concentrates will dramatically change its operations in the coming years. For example, implementing the Mission Act listed below is no ‘small potatoes’ matter.
In his words, the Secretary of the VA, Mr. Wilkie, has now whittled down the Department of Veterans Affairs’ strategic priorities for 2019 to four: (more…)