News Blog

LVMAC Tidbits — NCC Tribute to the Troops Dedication

You are invited to join the Band of Brothers, Northampton Community College’s (NCC) veterans organization, for the dedication of  the recently completed Veterans Plaza in the Susan K. Kubik Tribute Garden at 11:30 a.m. on 1 November 2012. The Tribute Garden is between Penn and Commonwealth Halls on the NCC Main Campus at 3835 Green Pond Road in Bethlehem. A free luncheon hosted by the NCC Alumni Association will follow the dedication. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Upcoming LVMAC Council Speakers

26 September 2012:  Mr. Rick Baldwin, Community Engagement Leader, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, on “Gaining an Understanding of Thrivent’s Veterans Benevolent Program.”

17 October 2012: Ms. Kristy Gehman (Dir. of Core and Housing Services) and Mr. Eladio Gonzalez (Community Support Coordinator) of LVCIL will speak on “Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living and Its Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program”

21 November 2012: Mr. Robert Kendrick, the new Director of the Philadelphia VA Regional Office (VBA), will give a VBA update.

19 December 2012: Ms. Aruna Bhatia, MD, Chief of Mental Health and Behavioral Service, Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center will speak on “Mental Health Services in the VA.” (more…)

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Forward Observer — ‘Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012’ Enacted!

NEW VETERANS OMINBUS BILL SIGNED INTO LAW ON 6 AUGUST

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Surprisingly, nothing has been mentioned in the local media on the recent passage of H.R. 1627 (now known as Public Law 112-154), Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, despite its importance to the veterans community. It is an omnibus bill affecting many; and it finally brings some, though not total, resolution to the Camp Lejeune water contamination situation which has been previously written about.

Several veterans organizations withheld their support because the Lejeune provision set a dangerous precedent in their opinion. In their minds, the bill unfairly levies requirements on the VA to take care of an essentially Department of Defense (DoD) or TRICARE problem.  While we might agree with them from one perspective, the larger issue is the government taking responsibility to care for those in need of it, no matter whence it comes. We are more concerned about the fact that no one currently knows when the VA will implement the Lejeune actions required, since no deadline has been set. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — LVMAC Awards Its Scholarships

NINE RECIPIENTS ARE RECOGNIZED

The 2012 award recipients of the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council’s Scholarship Program were honored at the Council’s business meeting on 15 August 2012. Phil Hublitz of the Scholarship Subcommittee, presented the awards, assisted by Dave Binder, Board Member.  The awardees had been vetted by a team consisting of Phil Hublitz and Bob Rothenberger as Co-Chairs, Lois Binder, JoAnn Van Billiard, and Tom Shaunessey

Most of the awardees are high school seniors and the most are enrolling in ROTC in college with plans to serve in the military – several plan twenty year careers in the service. The majority are enrolled in local colleges. Two who are a veteran’s child plan on military service. One homeless veteran is returning to college. Applications from returning veterans continue to be problematic probably due to the generous Post 9/11 GI Bill. Local colleges have a large veteran enrollment, the college financial aid staffs have been contacted and are well aware that scholarships are available from LVMAC. Veterans have a record of success in college. An application has never been received from a Reservist or Guardsman from a local military unit, except for their children. Those recognized, together with their families, were: (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — The Lejeune Matter, Some Good News Finally?

U.S. Senate Finally Steps In

LVMAC Poster Art 2005

For months there has been a hold-up in the passage of an omnibus veterans benefits bill in Congress, H.R. 1627, but this time to the good. The bill had started life providing only “…for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington National Cemetery …”, evolved into The Honoring Americans Act of 2011 from the House and finally emerged, mutated, from the Senate as the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.  What idiot said bill ‘riders’ are bad? (more…)

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LVMAC Tidbits — TRICARE Prime Increase Starts in October

TRICARE Management Recommends Quarterly or Monthly Payments Due to Possible Changes

In a 23 July media release, TRICARE announced the Fiscal Year 2013 TRICARE Prime enrollment fee increases for uniformed service retirees and their families will go into effect 1 October 2012.

For all retirees, the annual enrollment fees for 2013 will be:

– $269.28 for retirees
– $538.56 for retirees and their family members (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Valley’s Top Healthcare Execs Bless “Healthcare in Our Community” Initiative as Active Partners

Lehigh Valley’s Health Care Executives Met July 19 Regarding Military/Veteran Health Care

On July 19, 2012, after six months of collaboration with representatives from all the major health care providers in the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) hosted a luncheon meeting at Northampton Community College to present a “Health Care in Our Community” project status report.  The following chief executive officers of the Lehigh Valley’s hospitals attended this historic gathering: (more…)

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LVMAC News — Why War Stories Matter

 DAVE VENDITTA AND HIS WAR STORY PROJECT

Newspaper Logo 70%Dave Venditta, Content Editor for The Morning Call newspaper, spoke to the Council at its business meeting on 18 July on the subject of war stories and why they matter.

He got interested in the subject in the mid-1990’s while trying to find out how his cousin, Nicky, a twenty year old helicopter pilot, had actually died in Vietnam within eleven days of his arrival. Venditta was a 15 year old at the time of the funeral, but memories of his cousin haunted him. In the end, he discovered the official version of death by enemy action was untrue. Instead, Nicky had actually died at the hands of his own while undergoing an in-country orientation. Whether or not the sergeant pulling the pin of the grenade in a demonstration of its safe use actually new it was a live grenade or thought it was a dud or practice grenade was never determined, but three died as a result. One of them was Nicky. However, in the process of relaying the news to the family, his cousins and uncles began recounting their own war stories. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago