COASTAL LIVING

        November  2000

          The Carteret County Veterans Council is indicating that the 2000 Veterans Day Parade, which will be held in Morehead City on Saturday, November 11^th, is going to be significantly larger than those parades conducted in the past.  At this writing, there are over 1600 participants and the list of participants continues to grow.  The parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the route of march being Arendell Street from Saint Egbert's Catholic Church to the entrance of the Morehead City Port Authority.

          The Grand Marshals will be Major General Thomas A. Braaten, the Commanding General of all Marine Corps Air Bases on the East Coast, and Major General Dennis Krupp, Commanding General of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing with units at Cherry Point, New River and Beaufort, SC.  U.S. Representative Walter B. Jones, Jr., N.C. House Representative Jean Preston and N.C. House Representative Ronnie Smith will be special guests.  Participating in the event will be many county and local municipal officials, POW's, numerous active and retired armed forces members, and the military commanders of many area units.

          The cadence will be set by bands from the Second Marine Aircraft Wing, Croatan High School, East Carteret High School, West Carteret High School, and the Morehead Middle School.  Angela Baker will also be honoring our veterans by singing at the event. 

          There will be color guards and military equipment from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Army Reserve, and from numerous veterans organizations and their auxiliaries and, in some cases, military equipment and marching units from these organizations.  In the parade we will also see members from the Pearl Harbor Survivors, the WW II China Burma India Campaign veterans group, WW II Mariners from Sailors Snug Harbor, and numerous Son's of the Confederate veterans groups (camps) will be represented.

          Also participating will be the West Carteret High School and Havelock High School ROTC units, "Young Marines" organizations from Havelock and from Jacksonville, Girl and Boy Scouts, Daisy Troop members, Brownies and Cub Scouts from both Carteret and Craven Counties, the Boys and Girls Club of Carteret County, and a 4H group.  The veterans will also be honored by the presence and participation of students from Carteret Community College and the Carteret County Senior Cheerleaders.

          Surely it wouldn't be a parade without Shriner participation.   In turn, our local Beaufort Shriners Club's "Mariners" will be performing, as will some Craven County Shriner groups.  

          Our local antique car club and our military vehicle club will also have many of their priceless vehicles driving in the parade which surely adds to the uniqueness of the occasion.  

          The list of participants goes on and on.

          It is not too late to participate or to help in the event.   All are welcome.  If interested, please contact Tex Cavett at 728-2411 (W), 728-3878 (H) or Bill Goodwin at 726-8806 (VFW Post 8986), 247-6892 (H).

          On behalf of the veterans, may I extend to all a sincere invitation to join them at this special occasion.

3.5 COLA for 2001

          TROA's legislative update indicates that most recipients of military and federal retired pay, Social Security, VA disability compensation, and Survivor Benefit Plans (SBP) will receive a 3.5% increase, with the first increased payment in January 2001, check or direct deposit.

Low Use of Educational Benefits

          According to VA officials, nearly half of all service members who are eligible for Montgomery GI Educational Benefits regularly turn it down by failing to use it within the ten year designated timeframe following release from active duty.   The loss of benefit is substantial with the maximum value of benefit $536 for 36 months, or over $19,000.  The benefit may be used for:

·        Degree and certificate programs

·        Flight training

·        On-the-job training

·        Apprenticeship programs

·        Certain remedial, deficiency and refresher courses.

For more details, contact Veterans Services at 728-8440.

Prescription Medications through the VA