VFW Post 2667

ATLANTA - There is an under-used, special monthly pension benefit available to Georgia's wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans incapable of self support and in need of regular personal assistance. "Many wartime veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the federally mandated limit for a basic VA pension may still be eligible for pension at the higher housebound or Aid and Attendance rate," points out Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler. "Although this is not a new program, not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility." The Aid and Attendance pension benefit may be available to any wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing-homes or assisted-living facilities. "Especially helpful if they have large medical expenses that they may not receive reimbursement," noted Commissioner Wheeler. For a wartime veteran or surviving spouse to qualify for ...

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced 3,174 Veterans have already been notified of the results of testing they underwent recently, that testing was conducted because of improperly reprocessed endoscopy equipment that may have been used in their care. These Veterans, in the Tennessee, Georgia and South Florida areas were among 10,555 Veterans sent letters offering free testing. VA patients, who believe that they may have been exposed to cross contamination, were patients that received endoscopic procedures at the VA’s Murfreesboro, TN, facility from April 2003 to December 2008 and the VA’s Augusta, GA, hospital from January 2008 to November 2008 and the VA’s Miami hospital from May 2004 to March 2009. As of April 1, 2009, 17 veterans have tested positive for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or the Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) Virus. Five Veterans tested positive for Hepatitis B virus; eleven for Hepatitis C; and one for HIV. Of the positive test results, eleven ...

The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the preliminary stages of designing a medallion (IAW Public Law 110-57, December 2007) to be affixed to an existing privately-purchased headstone or marker to signify the deceased's status as a veteran. VA estimates the new medallion will be available in the summer of 2009. If requested, this new product can be furnished in lieu of the traditional headstone or marker. This benefit is only applicable if the grave is marked with a privately-purchased headstone or marker. In these instances, eligible veterans are entitled to either a traditional Government-furnished headstone or marker, or the new medallion, but not both. SOURCE: www.cem.va.gov/hm/hmtype.asp

Come see the Southern Pride band at the Coweta Veterans Club Friday night, April 17th. Just $5 cover to hear great music! Band starts @ 8:00 pm.

On April 13, Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade Bravo Company Second Battalion will leave Newnan on the first leg of their deployment to Afghanistan. The community is encouraged to show support by lining the streets of Newnan to see them off. The company will travel to Camp Shelby, Miss., on April 13. The brigade will remain in Mississippi until the end of May/beginning of June, at which time they will deploy to Afghanistan. Approximately 130 soldiers are attached to the local brigade, which is based in Newnan at the Jackson-Pless National Guard Armory next to Newnan High School. Their mission abroad during the year-long tour will be to train and mentor the Afghan National Army. Roughly half of the 130 soldiers went with the brigade to Iraq in 2005. According to Newnan Police Chief Douglas L. "Buster" Meadows, the unit is scheduled to depart the armory at 10 a.m. -- though that time is subject to change -- and the route will take them to the Court ...

The Coweta Veteran's Club annual golf tournament, held this fall, was successful in raising $4,000 in support of Community Welcome House. The club, consisting of the members of the American Legion Post 57 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2667, has sponsored the event for four years. Proceeds are part of the club's community outreach charity donations. "We live here and want to be a serving spirit to our city and county." said Chairman Dick Dennis. "While our principal effort is to help veterans and families of veterans, we feel that Welcome House touches the lives of everyone. We sincerely appreciate the support of the players and our business partners who make our tournament successful." Welcome House Director Linda Kirkpatrick received the donation. "The Veterans' Club serves as a great example of caring organizations, who unselfishly give of themselves to help the spouses and children who are victims of abuse and neglect," said Kirkpatr...

These proposed changes could have a significant impact to retirees... WASHINGTON (AFRNS) -- The Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation has recommended fee changes to Tricare, the military's health system. The recommendations would mostly affect retirees and will not affect active-duty servicemembers or their dependents, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jan D. "Denny" Eakle, the director of the study, said in a Pentagon briefing Aug. 5. "Retiree fees ought to relate to how much the plan is worth," she said. "The... higher-value plans should have higher premiums associated with them." The panel believes fees need to be fair to all retired military members, General Eakle said. "They ought to reflect how much income an individual has, so that if they make more money and are therefore better able to pay for a system, they should do so," she said. The full article is available at www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle/aspx?id=50705

There will NOT be a Post meeting in June as it conflicts with the State VFW Convention in Macon. There will NOT be a meeting in June. Our next scheduled meeting will be a family breakfast on July 12th. Thanks for an excellent year and for all you do to support the VFW so that the VFW can support veterans, the military, and the community.

Jack Lucas, who forged his mother's signature on an enlistment document so he could join the military at 14 during World War II and who became the youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, has died. He was 80. Lucas, who was diagnosed with leukemia in April, died Thursday at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss., after asking to be removed from a dialysis machine, said Mary Draughn, a close friend. Three years after joining the Marines, Lucas was stationed at a supply depot in Hawaii when he stowed away on a ship headed to Iwo Jima because he was afraid he would never see combat, he later recalled. On Feb. 20, 1945 -- six days after he turned 17 -- Lucas was fighting Japanese soldiers in a trench during the Battle of Iwo Jima when he dived on top of two grenades and pushed them deep into the beach's volcanic ash to shield three other Marines from harm. More on the article at www.LATimes.com

Post Winner* Miss Casey McCully Soaring Eagles Co-Op Runner-Up* Miss Sarah Mitchell Newnan High School 3rd Place Miss Kiren Ali Woodward Academy * Entry submitted to the District 4 Voice of Democracy competition. As part of a new program this year, Miss McCully, as the Post Voice of Democracy winner, was invited to lead the Pledge of Allegiance during the Newnan Memorial Day ceremony. Miss McCully placed first in the District 4 Voice of Democracy competition and her entry was forwarded to the Department contest. Miss Mitchell's audio essay placed second in the District 4 competition.

Commander Jeff Carroll Sr. Vice Commander John O'Connor Jr. Vice Commander Brad Swentor Quartermaster John Skinner Adjutant Dick Stender Chaplain Willie Boyd Trustee: 3-Year Ron Freese Trustee: 2-Year Bobby Hammond Trustee: 1-Year Dick Dennis Service Officer Joe Smith

Newnan's Post 2667 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will once again conduct the community ceremony for Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, at 11:00 AM, at Veterans Memorial Plaza, on Jackson Street. For nearly 50 years, the post has sponsored Memorial Day activities for Newnan-Coweta citizens. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be held in the McKoon Funeral Chapel. This year, in keeping with the theme, "Honor All By Remembering One," the ceremonies will seek to remember the life of Robert Earl Beers, the youngest son of one of Newnan’s old families. Known during the late thirties as the "Newnan Flash," Bobby Beers was an outstanding high school athlete and a football standout at Georgia Tech. While short of stature, at just five feet 8 inches and weighing no more than 155 pounds, "Little Bobby Beers" captured local headlines with his prowess on the gridiron and received national recognition for his exploits in games against perennially ...

Loyalty Day originally began as "Americanization Day" in 1921 as a counter to the Communists' May 1 celebration of the Russian Revolution. On May 1, 1930, 10,000 VFW members staged a rally at New York's Union Square to promote patriotism. Through a resolution adopted in 1949, May 1 evolved into Loyalty Day. Observances began in 1950 on April 28 and climaxed May 1 when more than five million people across the nation held rallies. In New York City, more than 100,000 people rallied for America. In 1958 Congress enacted Public Law 529 proclaiming Loyalty Day a permanent fixture on the nation's calendar.

Come join us Saturday, May 3rd at Noon! as VFW Post 2667 presents a Membership Drive & Low Country/Crawfish Boil simmered to delectable goodness $10 - All You Can Eat (or till we run out) New VFW Members Eat Free! (You must sign-up and pay that day)

On Wednesday, April 23rd, the Senate approved legislation to rename several U.S. Post Offices in Georgia in honor of fallen soldiers. The U.S. Post Office located at 3035 Stone Mountain Street in Lithonia, GA, will be renamed the “Specialist Jamaal RaShard Addison Post Office Building.” The U.S. Post Office located at 5815 McLeod Street in Lula, GA, will be renamed the “Private Johnathon Millican Lula Post Office.” The U.S. Post Office located at 116 Helen Highway in Cleveland, GA, will be renamed the “Sgt. Jason Harkins Post Office Building.” These men served without desire for credit, but on behalf of their country and everything positive that we stand for. Naming these post offices after them is one small way to honor the sacrifices they made to make the United States and Georgia a better place. Learn more about these brave men .

The Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 is a comprehensive bill providing benefits to veterans, their families and their survivors. Provisions of the bill include expanding eligibility for traumatic injury insurance, increasing benefits for veterans pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training programs and expanding eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance. The bill also provides an automatic annual increase in burial benefits (based on inflation) for the families of veterans. Watch the status of this bill at www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s1315/show

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) praised the passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag. "The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service," Senator Inhofe said. "Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform. "Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not. "I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, pa...

Under a brilliant blue sky Monday afternoon, a gathering of trustees, donors, fans, politicians and veterans officially broke ground for a major expansion of the National World War II Museum on Andrew Higgins Drive, across the street from the original location. The 2-square-block site, decked out in red, white and blue balloons, held about 200 seats for guests, along with a World War II Jeep, a PT boat, a half-track and a Sherman tank. A flyover by four F-17 planes in formation kicked off the ceremony, which included music by a U.S. Navy band, a trooping of colors by the Washington Artillery and a burst of confetti. Set to be completed by 2015, the $300 million expansion will include a campus of six new buildings covering 5.7 acres bounded by Magazine Street, Andrew Higgins Drive, Calliope Street and the Camp Street down-ramp of the Crescent City Connection. The ambitious expansion will quadruple the size of the original museum, which opened in 2000. http://blog.nola.com/el...

Family and friends of servicemen and women who died or vanished in the Vietnam War no longer have to travel to Washington to pay their respects at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. An interactive version debuted online this week, a project of historical document archive site Footnote.com in conjunction with the National Archives and Records Administration. The virtual version of the famous memorial -- which is a pair of 246-foot black granite walls inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 American military casualties -- is searchable. Every name etched onto the real-world wall is viewable online and linked to the veteran's service record. Online visitors can add photos and describe their memories of the servicemen and women who died in the war. For more of this article: News.Yahoo.com . To see the virtual Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Go.Footnote.com/thewall .

All Americans are urged to join the nation in a moment of national reflection April 9 in remembrance of the 5th anniversary Iraqi Liberation Day and the fall of Baghdad to celebrate the hope given to the Iraqi people because of the courageous actions of U.S. and multinational forces. At 5 p.m. EDS -- as the sun sets across Arlington National Cemetery-- Americans are urged to honk their car horns to celebrate, honor and recognize the courageous actions of U.S. and multinational forces in giving hope to the Iraqi people. The National Remembrance Ceremony will culminate with a joint U.S-Iraqi wreath–laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as salute our troops, our veterans and our military families. The national remembrance moment is being initiated by “ Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission ," a not-for-profit 501(c)3 grassroots coalition of Gold Star and Blue Star families, veterans and Americans, who...

The 11th Biennial Reunion of the 1st Brigade (Separate) 101st Airborne Division will be in Hampton, Virginia, September 25-28, 2008. All members of assigned and attached units, who served between July 1965 and January 1968 are welcome. For more detailed information, contact Ivan Worrell at firstbrigades101magazine@yahoo.com or visit www.FirstScreamingEagles.org .

The Third Infantry Division Society and attached units in wars and in peacetime will hold their 89th reunion September 18-21, 2008. The reunion will be held at the Sheraton Hotel Four Points in Columbus, Georgia. For more information, visit www.3rdiv.org . The Society of the Third Infantry Division is also seeking those who served in the 3rd and attached units in wars, peacetime, or special interest to join the Society. For more information, visit www.3rdiv.org .

For all those of you who don't remember, we're having breakfast at the Post tomorrow morning at 09:00 with a meeting to follow. We'll have a guest speaker, Miss Casey McCully, the Post and District Voice of Democracy winner. Hope to see you there.