VSO Office

COASTAL LIVING
July 2008

Hank_Got.gif (29821 bytes)

Hank Gotard
Veterans Services Officer

New Law Concerning Eligibility for Headstones and Markers

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased, eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death. Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbariums for cremated remains.

The above said, Public Law 110-157, signed on December 26, 2007, allows the VA to furnish a Government headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. Under the previous law, when the grave was already marked, only veterans who died on or after September 11, 2001 were eligible.

This Public Law also gives the VA authority to furnish, upon request, a medallion or other device, of a design yet to be determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to signify the deceased’s status as a veteran, to be attached to a headstone or marker furnished at private expense. This benefit will be available in lieu of a Government furnished headstone or marker, for veterans in privately marked graves who died on or after November 1, 1990.

For eligible veterans that died on or after November 1, 1990, the VA may also provide a headstone or marker for graves that are already marked with a private headstone or marker. When the grave is already marked, applicants will have the option to apply for either a traditional headstone or marker, or a new device/medallion.

The VA is in the preliminary stages of designing this device/medallion and the VA anticipates that it will be available in the spring of 2009.

A note, this new device/medallion 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 a new device, but not both.

Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a Government furnished headstone or marker unless they are buried in a National Cemetery, State Veteran’s Cemetery, or a Military Post/Base Cemetery.

While there is or will be no charge for the headstone or marker, or device/medallion, the arrangement for placing it in a private cemetery is the applicant's responsibility and all setting fees are at private expense.

If you would like more information on headstones and markers, one can contact the Carteret County Veterans Services Office at 252-728-8440.

National Charitable Organizations Rated

If you are interested in donating to a charity, but are unsure where to begin or if you are just concerned about the legitimacy of the organization in general, there is an informative website to help in your decision making. Considering there are many factors in determining the “worthiness” of a charity, the information from this website is a good guide to aid in your decision making. The American Institute of Philanthropy, a leading charity watchdog which runs this website, issues a “report card” with grades based largely on the charities’ fundraising costs and the percentage of the money raised that is spent on charitable activities. That said, before sending a check, we would also recommend you contact the charity in which you’re interested, to determine if their mission and philosophies match your own. The website provides a point of contact for many nationally know charitable organizations.

For more information contact http://www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html or call the Carteret County Veterans Services Office at 252-728-8440.

Translate Your Military Skills to a Civilian Job

As a veteran from our military, you have acquired training and skills from the military, skills that would be invaluable to businesses across North Carolina. Unfortunately many times it is almost impossible to “translate” your military experience into a civilian job description. The N.C. Military Foundation and the N.C. Military Business Center have developed a website that they hope will solve this problem.

Users can access the database by going to www.ncmbc.us and clicking on Transitioning Military Personnel. From that website you can view civilian occupational equivalents and civilian job titles.

For more information contact the Carteret County Veterans Services Officer at 252-728-8440.

North Carolina Military Facts

Mr. Charlie Smith, the Director of the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs, has shared some interesting facts with me that I would like to share with our readers. That said, in North Carolina:

11.20% (792,646) of NC adults are veterans of the Armed Services.
NC has the 4 th largest concentration of Active Duty military at 107,000 service members.
Currently, there are 24,470 Guard and Reserve dispersed throughout NC’s 100 Counties.
Currently, there are more than 3,000 Reserve service members mobilized.
35% of the NC population is either military, veteran, spouse, parent, or a dependent.
82,050 military retirees and 9,552 surviving spouses reside in NC.
NC military retirees received $1.75 billion in benefits from the Department of Defense in 2007.
There are 110,000 service members at military installations within the State and the State has 25,000 Reservists and National Guard.
There are 8 military installations within our State.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs spent $2.6 billion in NC in 2007. Of the $2.6 billion, about $1.7 billion goes directly to veterans, their dependents and survivors.
In North Carolina, VA Health Care Services are provided by 4 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, 5 Vet Centers, 2 Outpatient Clinics, and 6 Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.
111,000 NC veterans receive VA disability compensation.

Am I Eligible for Free Prescriptions?

The question is often asked about the eligibility for free prescriptions when enrolled in the VA Health Care System. The answer is that medication co-payments are mainly charged for each 30 day or less supply of medication provided on an outpatient basis for nonservice connected conditions. The co-payment for a 30 day supply of a medication is $8.00.

Exemptions from this co-payment requirement are provided for veterans service connected 50% or more, former POWs and for veterans whose income is less than the established dollar threshold.

Also exempt from the medication co-payment are veterans receiving medication for the treatment of conditions related to Agent Orange, ionizing radiation, Persian Gulf, military sexual trauma, and certain cancers of the head and neck. Recent combat veterans are exempt from medication co-payments for two years following discharge when being treated for conditions related to their military service.