Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Military / Veterans Report

VA Announces Modernization Plans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced several major enhancements at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in New York state to include new construction and renovation. VA has officially opened its National Suicide Prevention Hot Line at Canandaigua, which will provide round-the-clock national assistance for veterans. The hot line is staffed by mental health professionals taking toll-free calls from veterans across the country. The number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans in need of assistance are connected with on-call professionals, then referred for follow-up treatment at their local VA facility.

Station Seeks WWII Stories
World War II veterans and their families are requested to supply KETC-TV (Channel 9) in St. Louis with information, letters and memories. Creation of the project "Your Stories: St. Louis Remembers World War II" began this spring in anticipation of Ken Burns' 15-hour epic documentary, "The War," which will be broadcast on PBS affiliate stations during a two-week span beginning Sept. 23, 2007. The station invites the sharing through postal mail and e-mail on the KETC website. The "Your Stories" project will continue through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2007. The mailing address is: Your Stories, KETC, 3655 Olive St., St. Louis Mo. 63108. Check out Military.com's History Channel to read Veterans' Stories from past conflicts.

Personal Information Stolen From AXPOW Headquarters
On August 11 or 12, 2007, there was a break-in at National Headquarters for the American Ex-Prisoners of War, 3201 East Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40, Arlington, Texas 76010. All computer hard drives were stolen, along with several days of mail, checks and cash awaiting deposit and assorted paper files and records. These records include National Service Officer work, protected under Federal law.

The Arlington Police Department, IRS, Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Federal Attorney in Dallas and the USPS Postal Inspector were all notified.

The concern is the database of members. These records, approximately 35,000, have social security numbers, dates of birth and VA claim numbers in them, along with names, addresses and other personal information. AXPOW members need to be alert for any fraudulent activities concerning their finances.
Did You Know?
The term "the whole 9 yards" came from W.W.II fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards."

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
Only in America can a homeless combat veteran live in a cardboard box and a draft dodger live in the White House. (1993-2001)

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