A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
VA Stories of Note: June 4 – June 10
Daily Press (Hampton, Va.), June 4: Hampton American Legion volunteers continue work at VA as group gets OK to build anew
Space is a little tight where Mary Magahay manages the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program. Keeping her air conditioning running, Magahay’s small office at the Hampton VA Medical Center’s campus is the hub of a massive distribution effort. There, volunteers and veterans from the region and neighboring states pick up kits to assemble thousands of crepe-paper poppies.
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, Nev.), June 4: Long-awaited veterans cemetery coming to Northern Nevada
After a decade of waiting, northeastern Nevada men and women who fought for their country can be buried with military honors in Elko after the Department of Veterans Affairs agreed to buy a parcel of land from the city for a National Veterans Cemetery.
Cherokee Phoenix (West Palm Beach, Fla.), June 4: Veterans Affairs to host Virtual Tribal Women Veteran series
The U.S. Veterans Affairs Office of Tribal Government Relations, in collaboration with Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Women Veterans Program, is hosting a series of virtual events for women veterans. The VA is calling the events the Summer Tribal Women Virtual Veteran Event series, plus one virtual roundtable discussion with Elizabeth Estabrooks, the VA director for the Center for Women Veterans.
WIBW (Leavenworth, Kan.), June 4: Medal of Honor recipient relocated to Leavenworth National Cemetery, receives full military honors A Medal of Honor recipient now has a proper resting place at Leavenworth National Cemetery. He was laid to rest Friday, with a proper military ceremony that he never received. Six years ago, three women discovered a family connection that brought them to the grave-site of their great, great grandfather.
The Journal (Martinsburg, W. Va.), June 6: Veteran Larry Dunn continues to serve after 30 years
Shepherdstown native, Larry Dunn has been in the West Virginia Air National Guard since the winter of his senior year of high school in 1987. After enlisting, he went to basic training in July 1988 to be a member of the 167th Tactical Airlift Group of the West Virginia Air National Guard. His military service and career have spanned 30 years prior to retirement, and he continues to serve as the Emergency Management Specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs full time.
The Providence Journal (Providence, R.I.), June 7: Veterans Voice: Rowing his way to a gold medal
His adventure began with a trip to the Providence VA Medical Center. “In 2016 I was meeting with Adele Geringer, a VA specialist for the visually impaired, and she was telling me that they had a program for blind and visually impaired veterans and they were meeting in Warren, right around the corner from my house, so I had no excuse,” remembers Sanchas.
The Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Fla.), June 7: Tuskegee Airman Cornelius Davis dies at 100
The parking lot at Forest Meadows Funeral Home was filled with army veterans and law officials on motorcycles, gathered to support the family who had recently lost their grandfather and patriarch, Cornelius Davis, who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. […] The Combat Motorcycle Veterans Association were there through their Final Mile program to escort Davis's body to the Vann Funeral Home in Marianna, a sign of respect. The Final Mile program came from the Tampa VA medical center.
Audacy (Connecting Vets) (Philadelphia, Pa.), June 8: VA plans benefits expansion for three diseases related to certain toxic exposures
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced major changes related to presumptive conditions associated with Agent Orange and particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia. […] “Many of our nation’s veterans have waited a long time for these benefits,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough in a release.
KWES (NBC-9, Video) (Odessa, Texas) June 9: West Texas VA launches 'Beat the Heat' medication pilot program, getting meds to vets before hot temps arrive
The West Texas VA definitely beat the 100 degree heat this week by teaming up with the US post office to help them deliver 90-day prescriptions to West Texas veterans' front porches. "We beat the heat and now the heat is here," said Wendy Brown, associate chief of pharmacy at the West Texas VA.
WFXG (FOX-54, Video) (Augusta, Ga.), June 9: Charlie Norwood VA launches program to help Veterans access telehealth
Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center is launching a new program to increase veterans' access to telehealth. The Digital Divide Consult loans Internet-connected devices to veterans who may not otherwise have access or helps them apply for federal subsidies for their needed technology.
PLEASE PRODUCE LOCALLY FOR ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT ROUTINELY ACCESS EMAIL DUE TO THEIR SPECIALTIES