LVMAC Tidbit — A Special Retreat for Women Veterans

ALL WOMEN VETERANS IN PENNSYLVANIA,  STAND UP!

 ATTENTION:

What:  Women Veterans Retreat
Where: Comfort Inn, Duncansville, PA
When:  From 22 March at 4:30 p.m. to 24 March at about 9 a.m.
Cost:    Free, courtesy of state VFW Posts and Ladies Auxiliaries
RSVP required:  PAWomenVets2013@gmail.com by 1 March 2013
Primary POC:  Sandy Showalter, Chair, Women’s Programs, VFW Dept. of PA

Registration starts 22 March at 4:30 p.m. Bring a DD Form 214 or its equivalent, VA Card, or Military ID Card.  Program starts 22 March at 6:00 p.m.

This one-of-a-kind event is open to any woman veteran of any period of service and sponsored by women veterans for women veterans. You do not have to be affiliated with any organization — this event is not about organizations. Come learn about your benefits, learn about yourself, enjoy the company of other women veterans, be “vet proud,” and also feel the appreciation of the Blair County community. (more…)

LVMAC Tidbit — Veterans Day Discounts for 2012 and Pennsylvania’s Act 176 of 2012

We frequently get calls about Veterans discount programs.  On Veterans Day, in particular, businesses often discount goods, services and dining at their establishments as a token of appreciation for our our veterans and servicemembers, as well as their families.  One of the more complete and maintained sources is found at Military.com.  Click here for Veterans Day offerings.

By the way, Pennsylvania’s Governor on 24 October signed into law House Bill 2428 as Act 176 of 2012.  Its importance? (more…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

LVMAC Tidbits — Valley’s Health Care Executives Will Meet July 19 Regarding Military/Veterans Health Care

Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council to Update on “Health Care in Our Community” Initiative

On July 19, 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) will host a luncheon meeting to present a “Health Care in Our Community” project status report. The chief executive officers of all the Valley’s hospitals will attend this historic gathering. [Editor’s Note:  This is not an event open to the public but a business meeting for those who have partnered through LVMAC.] (more…)