Veterans Support

LVMAC Tidbit — Are You Coming? Have you registered?

AO Town Hall Logo wo backgroundEditor’s Note:  It has been written about before on this blogsite, but the September 19 date for the Lehigh Valley’s first Agent Orange Seminar is nigh and we think it important that you do not miss out on a chance to educate yourselves because your children may be affected — whether or not you are a Vietnam War veteran or ever served.  It is high time to register and reserve a seat.

Expert speakers from as far away as the state of Maryland are coming to the Lipkin Theatre, the site of the seminar.  Dr. Peter Kahn of the Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology at Rutgers University; Dr. Tom Berger of the Vietnam Veterans of America’s (VVA) Veterans Health Center; Professor Kelly Allen of the Sustainability Committee of Northampton Community College; Paul Sutton, the VVA’s special advisor to the National Committee on Agent Orange and Mike Eckstein, the VVA State Council Chair for New Jersey’s Agent Orange efforts, will all speak. 

This is an unique opportunity to listen and learn about a subject constantly in the papers but not well understood.  The Press Release below tells you more: (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Understanding Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemptions in PA and NJ

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Real Estate tax exemptions for veterans have come up more than once at veterans group meeting. Confusion often reigns. Word of mouth frequently leads to misunderstandings.  Perhaps the worst part is surviving spouses are often forgotten – to include the surviving spouses of a servicemembers killed in action. This article is an attempt to clarify the situation for our members who live in Pennsylvania and that other country, New Jersey.  While it is beyond the scope of this article to determine with certainty any local ordinances regarding exemptions exist (none are currently known), the existing laws in both states are discussed.

First, the belief that real estate tax exemptions for a disabled veteran are federal law is not true.  Any real estate tax exemption, waiver or reduction (hereafter, called “exemption”) is the result of a local ordinance or state law. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Last Call — for Our Annual Salute Your Troops Dinner!

LVMAC Salute to the Troops Dinner Flyer 22May2015LVMAC Logo (Best Small PNG)The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council  is conducting its “Salute to the Troops” this year on 22 May, starting at 6 p.m., again at the Days Hotel (The Jetport), 3400 Airport Road in Allentown.  Please come, but immediately make your reservation.  Don’t worry if you a few days beyond the suspense date on the form, though tables are filling quickly and we do need to get the order in to the caterer as soon as possible.
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By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Are You Transitioning? A’s for Vets Has an Education Fair for You

Soldier Grad 3The key purposes of a GI Bill are to assist a returning military veteran in readjusting and retraining for new employment.  While not all veterans have the need or seek the use of their educational benefits, approximately 25 per cent of returning veterans do within two years of discharge.  It therefore behooves us to pay attention to their needs for us to reap the biggest gain for our society.  Academics for Veterans, or A’s for Vets, intends to do just that; and it is about to conduct its first major event with that intention.  The LVMAC alliance will conduct an education fair for military veterans and their families  on 28 February, beginning at 8 a.m., at Moravian College’s Haupert Union Building.  Click here for the details and on how to register while space is available. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — VA Perhaps Takes a Significant Step Towards Future Reforms Under MyVA Initiative

VA Announces Single Regional Framework under MyVA Initiative

Internal Organizations to Realign Their Existing Structures

LVMAC Poster Art 2005As a result of last year’s scandals, Washington Headquarters announced on 26 January that is taking the first steps under the MyVA initiative to realign its many organizational maps into one map with five regions utilizing state boundaries to better serve military veterans.  We will be part of Region 1 (the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and a couple of South Atlantic states). (more…)

By LVMAC, ago