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Carteret County Veterans Establish Internet
Presence
A First in North Carolina - a
joint effort - your Veterans Services Officer and your Carteret County Veterans
Council come on-line with a veterans community web site. The site has been
published with its own domain name "www.carteretvets.org" since September,
1998. Effort is underway to expand veterans associated articles.
See Activities
Calendar for schedule at veterans organizations. There are many holiday
gatherings you won't want to miss!
Fast Track to Services
A way to quickly research a
veteran benefits topic, saving you time by offering a one-stop method for information -
right from home. WEB LINKS lead to dozens of links of interest.
VSO Office Features -
 | Current monthly News Feature
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| Recent VA Announcements
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| Old News in Review
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| Links to special web corners (SEE BOTTOM OF
THIS PAGE)
 | Activities Calendar |
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Current
News Feature:
COASTAL
LIVING
July
2010
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Hank Gotard
Veterans Services Officer
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Special Invitation to our
World War II Veterans
The Rotarians of our Crystal Coast, in conjunction with the Honor Flight Network, would like to extend an invitation to our World War II Veterans be they Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines to participate in a very special, one-day trip to our Nation’s Capital, free of charge to visit their Memorial, and, in turn, to give our community the opportunity to thank our Greatest Generation for what they have done for our Country and for the World.
Some background, Rotarians of our Crystal Coast and the Honor Flight Network have joined together in this undertaking to take our World War II Veterans to Washington, D.C., to see their Memorial. This is not our idea, while we surely would like to claim title to it. That said, we are following in their footsteps and utilizing the blue prints of the Honor Flight Network, a non-profit organization with a single mission and that being to honor the service and sacrifice of our Greatest Generation by flying them to Washington, D.C., to walk the ground of their Memorial before it’s too late. Founded in 2005, the Honor Flight Network has flown over 18,000 World War II Veterans from all across the United States to our Nation’s Capital to see their Memorial.
On September 22, 2010, we are planning our first flight from the Crystal Coast launching an Airbus 320 Aircraft at first light, from Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, in New Bern, to Dulles International Airport, just outside of D.C., with a relatively short bus ride to the World War II Memorial. On board that aircraft we are planning to have one hundred and eight (108) veterans, thirty-six (36) volunteer guardians, a medical support team, and other volunteer team members.
We will have an opportunity not only to see the WWII Memorial, but to also visit the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, and other memorable sites. The pace will surely be measured and relaxed. We are planning this journey to be a trip of a lifetime and, in turn, to provide each participant a great memory.
Concerning the subject of Guardians, for the Members of our Community, we have a great opportunity for you to serve those who served. That said, Honor Flights just wouldn’t happen if it were not for the generous support of individuals of the community willing to step forward and function as Guardians on these Honor Flights. Their mission is to fly with our veterans providing assistance and help to our heroes. Their duties are numerous and include assisting our veterans at the airport with boarding and deboarding the aircraft, navigating steps at the memorials, making sure that our veterans’ trip is a pleasant, safe and memorable experience. That said, Guardians are responsible for paying their own way for the trip, which is really a small price to pay for an unforgettable day with members of our Greatest Generation.
For more information about Honor Flight of Southeastern North Carolina, please contact Tim Necaise at (252) 342-8848 or email: honorflightsenc@gmail.com .
For a Veteran or Guardian application please contact the Carteret County Veterans Services Office at (252) 728-8440. They can also assist you in filling out the application if you desire.
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Recent
VA Announcements
NEWS
RELEASE
June,
2010
“My HealtheVet”
The Gateway to VA Health and Wellness
“My HealtheVet”, is an award-winning Department of Veterans Affairs e-health website, which offers veterans, active duty service members, dependents and caregivers, internet access to VA health care information and services. It is a free, online personal health register that allows veterans to become informed partners in their VA health care.
With “My HealtheVet”, one can access secure and current health information as well as record and log personal, important health and military history information at ones convenience.
Registering and using “My HealtheVet” is easy and costs nothing. Just a few items that one can access through this website are:
- Disease and Conditions Centers
- Healthy Living Centers
- Mental Health Information
- Trusted Health and Medical Information
- Information on VA Benefits and Services
- Local VA Events and Activities
- Personal Health Journals
- Ones Personal Vitals Tracking and Graphing Charts
- Military Health History
- Activity and Food Journals
“My HealtheVet” also provides interactive tools to check for prescription drug interaction, calculate ones health status, explore the human anatomy and let one learn about system-specific diseases and conditions and also offers other self assessment tools,. The VA has thousands of veterans receiving their prescription medications, fast, easy and secure, from the VA by using this internet portal.
To take advantage of this great resource, go to: www.myhealth.va.gov or if one would like assistance, or access to an on-line “Training Site”, one can call the Carteret County Veterans Services Office at 252-728-8440.
The Department of Defense (DoD)
Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)
The Department of Defense recently established a new Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) to review disability ratings of wounded warriors and to provide another avenue of administrative recourse for wounded veterans. Our Congress created the Board after inconsistencies were found in how the Service Branches assign ratings for level of disability before service members are discharged.
The issue is, that service members who are rated by their Service Branch, below 30 percent disabled with less than 20 years of service, receive only a one-time severance payment in lieu of a monthly retirement check, health care for the veteran and his family are terminated at discharge, and the veterans only resource for care is an already strained VA Health Care System.
The above said, any veteran who was separated from the Armed Forces between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2009 due to a physical disability of 20 percent or less, may have his or her case reviewed by the DoD Physical Disability Board of Review. Also eligible to seek review are surviving spouses, next of kin or other legal representatives.
Applications for review should be submitted to the Central Intake and Tracking Unit located at Randolph AFB, TX on a DD Form 294, as the Department of Defense has designated the US Air Force as the lead component for implementing this PDBR process. The complete address is provided: SAF/MRBR, 550-C Street West, Suite 41, Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4743. When presenting a review an applicant should submit statements, briefs, medical records and affidavits to support their application.
If one needs assistance in applying for re-consideration, contact the Carteret County Veterans Services at 252-728-8440 and they will surely assist you.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The CBOC Morehead City has partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Durham to offer a class for the family members of veterans diagnosed with mental illness. The 12 week courses will be taught by trained NAMI members who have lived with similar experiences. The NAMI members will offer education and support, while giving the family members the knowledge and skills needed to cope more effectively with individual family issues.
The courses are offered in a confidential setting with other families like yourself. To gain insight into how mental illness affects your relationship with your family member that is a veteran, or to get more information about the courses please contact Tom Holbrook, LCSW, at 252-240-2349 x 246.
Federal Benefits for Veterans,
Dependents and Survivors
The 2010 Edition of the Department of Veterans Affairs Handbook has recently been published and is being distributed. If you would like a copy, visit the Carteret County Veterans Services and they will gladly provide you with one. The office is located at 3710-B John Platt Drive, in Morehead City. For directions, contact the Carteret County Veterans Services Office at 252-728-8440.
VA To Reconsider Claims for Gulf War Veterans
The VA reports that they will soon be reviewing and possibly be reconsidering rejected service connected claims of our Gulf War Veterans. For the last 15 plus years, many of these in-country Gulf War Veterans, 200,000+ in number have stated that their service in the Gulf War had caused mysterious illnesses; a pattern of symptoms that cover a wide spectrum from mild to very severe rashes, to chronic fatigue, to memory problems, headaches, muscle and skeletal pain, sleep disorders, and stomach issues. What information that has been promulgated has generated more questions than answers.
The above said, the Secretary of veterans Affairs, Secretary Shinseki, is on a mission. More to follow on this important subject as it becomes available.
VA Changes Eligibility for Headstones,
Markers and Medallions
The VA reports that Federal Legislation now allows the VA to provide a Government headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, regardless of whether the burial site is already marked with a headstone or marker that was privately purchased. Under the old law, when a grave was already marked, only veterans who died on or after September 11, 2001 were eligible for a Government grave marker.
The new Legislation, also gave the VA authority to provide a “medallion” or other device determined by the VA to signify the deceased’s status as a veteran. This medallion would be affixed to a headstone/grave marker that was provided/furnished at private expense. This medallion will be available in lieu of a Government marker for deceased veterans in privately marked graves who died on or after November 1, 1990.
The VA reports that this new medallion will be available in the late June, early July timeframe and the VA will be accepting claims at that time.
An important note, this benefit is only available if the grave is marked with a privately purchased marker. In these instances, eligible veterans are entitled to either a traditional Government marker or the new medallion, but not both.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
[CLICK UNDERLINED TEXT]
 Monthly VETERANS Activities Calendar
ONGOING County Veterans Events
For more information,
contact:
Carteret County Veterans Services Officer
3710-B John Platt Drive
Morehead City, NC 28557
Tel:
1-252-728-8440
FAX:
1-252-728-8582
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Many thanks to Patrick
McCammond of Morehead City for creating this web site as a part of his Eagle Project
and to the NC Carteret County Veterans Council for participating in its
creation. Click here for EAGLE SCOUT STORY. |
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