The National Defense from VFW's 110th National Convention

Listen to VFW's talk radio show, The National Defense, from the 110th National Convention. VA secretary, Eric Shinseki, discusses backlogs, budget and efforts to improve VA Healthcare system. We visit with Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock-Identity Theft Protection, a partner to the VFW. Also, Mike DeRosa of Burger King talks about BK's support for VFW's Unmet Needs program.

SCAM ALERT: Another "Artist" Preys on VFW & Veterans

SCAM ALERT!

Veterans are reporting that they are receiving calls from people claiming to be from the VA Pharmacy. The callers are telling Veterans that the billing procedure for prescriptions has changed, and that the Veteran needs to provide his/her credit card number for prescription payment before Pharmacy will fill their medication requests.

Please alert your Veterans that this is a scam! All billing for any VA treatment and/or prescriptions is done through the MCCR Section of the VA. If the Veteran wishes to pay his/her account by credit card, the Veteran must provide the credit card number to our Agent Cashier. Our Agent Cashier is the only VA employee authorized to accept credit card payments.

U.S. Department of Labor- Redesigned and Relocated Website for Disability Information

The U.S. Department of Labor recently launched Disability.gov, a redesigned federal government Web site which connects the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities – their families, employers, workforce and human resource professionals, veterans, educators, caregivers and many others – to thousands of trusted resources on disability-related issues, programs and services.

Formerly DisabilityInfo.gov, the site has been completely redesigned and updated with new social media tools, including a blog and a Twitter feed, to encourage feedback and interaction among visitors. Visit the new site at Disability.gov.

Wisconsinite Elected to Head Nation’s Largest Organization of Combat Veterans

Thomas Tradewell is New VFW National Commander
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 21, 2009-America’s largest organization of combat veterans has elected a Vietnam War veteran to head the 1.5 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Thomas Tradewell, a resident of Sussex, Wis., was elected VFW National Commander on August 20, 2009, during the VFW’s National Convention, held August 15-20 in Phoenix, Ariz.

During his acceptance speech Tradewell, who served in the Army from 1966-1968, introduced his theme Honoring Our Military Heroes, stating, “to honor our military heroes is to ensure that our military and our veterans are honored, recognized and cared for … which is the focus of every program we conduct at every level of this great organization.”

He also reminded the mostly Vietnam-era audience that to remain a vibrant organization, the VFW must seek out and educate Iraq and Afghanistan veterans on the history and importance of the organization.

“I ask each of you today to go back to your communities and seek out those Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, because they will be the main force of this organization in the not so distant future,” he said, “…we must explain to them who we are, what we do, and who we do it for. I ask you to explain our legacy…this new generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans must be made aware that the VFW is first and foremost a veterans’ service organization … and we need to be there to answer their questions on what VA programs are available … and where to go for claims assistance,” he added.

Tradewell went on to say that he would like to increase membership during his leadership year, challenging leaders from each VFW Post to recruit or reinstate five new members. He also asked all members of the VFW community to maintain a positive attitude and assume the role of that positive image so many are looking to follow, “because that’s what our country needs right now…and better times are ahead.”

During the Vietnam War, Tradewell served as a demolition specialist. His military decorations include the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal.

In 1968, he joined VFW Post 6498 in Milwaukee, Wis., where he maintains his life membership. He has served in elected and appointed positions at the Post, District and Department (state) levels, including Department Commander and National Inspector General. He also served as the District 11 National Council representative for members from the Departments of Wisconsin and Iowa.

Tradewell is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Military Order of the Cootie, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America and Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.

During his yearlong term, Tradewell will log thousands of miles to promote the VFW, veterans' issues and quality of life initiatives for active-duty, Reserve and Guard members. By the time the commander's term ends, he will have visited every state and numerous overseas areas.

Also elected were Richard L. Eubank, senior vice commander-in-chief, of Eugene, Oregon, and Richard L. DeNoyer, junior vice commander-in-chief, of Middleton, Massachusetts.

Speech transcript

President Obama Addresses the VFW 110th National Convention

Phoenix, Ariz., August 17, 2009 - President Obama addressed thousands of delegates to the 110th VFW National Convention this morning, stating "to all those who have served America—our forces, your families, our veterans—you have done your duty. You have fulfilled your responsibilities. And now a grateful nation must fulfill ours. And that is what I want to talk about today." Obama's Speech

President to Speak Monday at VFW Convention

WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2009) – President Barack Obama has accepted an invitation to speak Monday at the 110th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. The annual convention of America’s oldest major veterans’ organization starts Saturday in the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz.

“It is a time-honored tradition for the commander-in-chief of our nation’s armed forces to address the national convention of America’s largest organization of combat veterans, which celebrates its 110th anniversary next month,” said VFW National Commander Glen M. Gardner Jr., a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas.

“We are grateful to President Obama for taking the time to speak to us on issues that are vitally important to our nation’s veterans, her military and their families.”

Almost 13,000 VFW and Ladies Auxiliary delegates will represent the 2.1 million-member organization at the weeklong convention. Their mission will be to approve new national priorities to guide the organization’s advocacy efforts in Congress on behalf of the nation’s 23.5 million veterans, 2.2 million servicemembers and their families. Advocacy issues include military and veterans’ healthcare, benefits, and Quality of Life programs, as well as military readiness and national and homeland security.

Convention delegates will elect a new VFW national commander as well as recognize prominent individuals for their support of veterans and military personnel, to include astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Scott Carpenter; hall of fame entertainer Connie Stevens; Operation Comfort founder Janis Roznowski; Major League Baseball player Rick Monday; Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Rhonda Cornum; and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the CIA.

Also addressing the delegates will be Arizona Gov. Janice Brewer and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.), and House VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.).

Although the VFW National Convention is a closed event, the public is invited to watch live streaming video of convention activities starting everyday at 8 a.m., MST, Aug. 17-20. To view, go to www.vfw.org.

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MEDIA NOTE: The VFW National Convention is not open to the public. Only registered and credentialed media from bona fide news organizations will be approved to cover convention activities. To register, contact Peggy Allee, beginning Aug. 16 in the VFW Communications Office in room 123 of the Phoenix Convention Center. The phone numbers will be (602) 626-8771 and 8772, and fax 8773. Additional onsite contacts are VFW National Headquarters communications director Jerry Newberry, cell 816-835-1851, and VFW Washington Office public affairs director Joe Davis, cell 202-374-9998.

VFW Post 56 Knows how to send a Unit off Right!

On August 5th 2009, following a formal Farewell Ceremony for the 705th MP Battalion I/R in the Lewis & Clark auditorium, VFW Post 56 and some 25 volunteers hosted a farewell picnic at the hunt lodge on Ft Leavenworth for the soldiers, families and friends of the 705th MP BN. The appreciation expressed by the soldiers, and especially spouses, was over whelming; it was a huge success.
The Post and Ladies Auxiliary provided, prepared, cooked and served food to over 175 people. They also provided kid activities such as clowns, music and a FMWR inflatable house in order to send the unit off right. Soldier, family and community support are fundamental to local VFW Post 56 programs.

Post Commander Lynn Rolf III attends all scheduled FRG meetings to help the families in anything they need. He told the Unit on Wednesday to “focus on their mission due to the strategic impacts it will have and not worry about their families because the VFW has their back here and will take care of their families”. A huge welcome home event will also be planned for the units return as part of the Adopt a Unit Program.

CSM Phil Johndrow, the Combined Arms Center Ft Leavenworth Command Sergeant Major, personally sent a thank you email to Post 56 Commander and stated, “I was able to attend both the ceremony and the farewell party at the hunts lodge, and the set-up and the support you had for both the Soldiers and their families was a first rate performance. Every one of the members who were out there in full force made each and every one of us proud to know that we have such a fine institution that supports Our Soldiers and their families.”

The motivational comments were right on cue, "Don’t worry about anything back here because, we have your Back." It’s events like this that bring us all closer together no matter the service or the time we wore the uniform, you all continue to serve proudly. With this event yesterday and everything your organizations does to support our Soldiers, there is no wonder why the VFW and its Auxiliary contribute more than 13 million hours of volunteerism in the community per year”.

The mission of the 705th MP BN is to conduct detainee operations at the Theater Internment Facility Reconciliation Center, which is similar to the unit’s last deployment to Iraq in 2006. They will also be involved with training Iraqi correctional officers. Their mission is one of the most critical for the success and transition of all missions to the Iraqi Government and security forces. They will train the Iraqi forces to assume all detention operation within Iraq.

VFW Post 56 plans to hold various events over the year long deployment ranging from dinners to holiday parties to thank the families and build a support network for them. The Post Commander has commanded a Military Police Company in Iraq and can pass his lessons and insight to the families and answer any burning questions they may have.

A Small VFW Post has a Giant Impact

By Ralph E. Gebes with VFW Department of Illinois, Assistant Public Relation Director

The old adage “big is better” is not necessarily true especially when it comes to communities and organizations. Sometime the larger an organization becomes, the more that it loses sight of its mission. Smaller organizations many times out do larger ones because they work harder in order to accomplish the mission. Working together they truly become a “band of brothers” supporting each other as they work to make a difference. One such organization is VFW Post 8222 in Albion, Illinois.

This post in this small Illinois town with a population of 1,933 stands at the forefront of what is means to be a VFW Post. Prior to 2002 the post used 10 rifles for the firing squad and need everyone to participate. Then the post signed 75 new members which not only expanded the size of the post but also the enthusiasm which became contagious throughout the community. As the post grew so did the interest in belonging to the Honor Guard. The growth of the post sparked a new energy in the community of Albion which saw neighbors and friends wanting to be a part or this patriotic group. Today the Honor Guard has 33 members including 6 Iraq vets and a local minister. The post raised $7,000 to purchase uniforms, including rain suits, ties, covers, lapel pins, patches and gloves.

The Honor Guard is encouraging people to participate and help with honoring our veterans. “The team is made up of special people who take great pride in their service, wanting to be professional in their attire as well as provide an honorable memorial for veterans who served their county in whatever capacity request by their government” stated Dean Wiseman member of the Albion Post. Members of the post help with Memorial Day, Veterans Day and school/church activities. Community members help the post with these programs. Albion is a small community with a big heart.

The community of Albion has donated whenever the need had arisen: repair of the Veterans Memorial Arch on the Courthouse Square in Albion, $3,700; lighting of the 140 burial flags on the Courthouse Square in Albion, $2,000; trailer to store the burial flags, $7,800 of this $5,500 of the funds were donated by 11 community members; this past Memorial Day, $1,000 was donated that stated that the services and flags were very impressive.

To learn more about this outstanding VFW Post contact Dean. L. Wiseman, 618-446-5360 or dwiseman@wabach.net. Dean would be happy to share some ideas. You won’t see this post on the front cover of the VFW Magazine or high in the stats about VFW posts but what they have accomplished in this small community is a lesson to be learned by many other organizations. Post 8222 is what the VFW is all about, serving veterans, the active duty, families and the community. Next Memorial Day you might take a trip to Albion to see how it is done.

VFW Celebrates 110 Years of Veterans’ Service in Phoenix, Arizona

Thousands of delegates from the Veterans of Foreign Wars will journey to Phoenix,
Arizona for the VFW’s 110th National Convention. The convention, held August 15-20, 2009, at
the Phoenix Convention Center will include a memorial ride, veteran’s health fair, and patriotic
rally.

VFW will also recognize many avid supporters of veterans’ causes, including:

• Connie Stevens, singer & actress, will receive the VFW Hall of Fame Award.
• Rick Monday, Major League Baseball player (1966-84), will receive the VFW
Americanism Award.
• Astronauts Scott Carpenter & Buzz Aldrin will receive the VFW Aviation & Space
Award.
• Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum, USA, will receive the VFW Armed Forces Award.
• Gen. Michael Hayden, USAF Retired, former NSA & CIA Director, will receive the
VFW Dwight D. Eisenhower Award.

Special Presentations by:

Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel, Liberty Legal Institute, on the “Fight to Save World War I Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial” at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19.

Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, addresses delegates Tuesday, August 18 at 9 a.m.

Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock addresses delegates Tuesday, August 18 at 11:15 a.m.

Sloan Gibson, USO President addresses delegates Tuesday, August 18 at 9:45 a.m.

Diana Tremblay, GM Vice President, Labor Relations, and Cal Rapson, UAW Vice President address delegates on Tuesday, August 18 at 10:00 a.m.

Convention Highlights:

VFW Health Fair: Held daily in Halls1-6 Pre-Function Area, the Merck-sponsored Health Fair will offer free medical screenings for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and more—all veterans are welcome.

Vander Clute Memorial Motorcycle Ride: At 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 15 at Freedom Park in Avondale, Ariz., there will be a check presentation for Fisher House. The ride is supported by Cycle Care, AirTrans, and American Airlines.

Patriotic Rally: A tribute to American’s veterans will start at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, in Halls 5-6. The American Belles, Presidio Brass, NH Chorus, and Ernestine Dillard will provide entertainment.

VFW Field Competition Contest: Starting Monday, August 17 at 8 a.m. in North Exhibition Hall A, VFW Color Guards and junior drill teams will compete. Rifle competitions will also take place.

Scam Artist Strikes Again

A con artist continues preying on the generosity of sympathetic veterans, managing to bilk numerous VFW Posts around the country out of as much as $400 each by posing as either a veteran who has “filled out an application” to join a specific Post or as a current VFW member.

The scammer has used a couple of different approaches when he calls a Post asking for a specific Post Officer by name for financial assistance, usually alleging to be experiencing some sort of car trouble and has even gone as far as to claim to be the parent of an Iraq veteran on his “way to the funeral for his son killed in Iraq.” He has also used a bogus story about how he recently visited a Post while introducing his son, “just back from Iraq” to various Post members. The swindler apparently goes on-line beforehand and obtains information about the Post in order to include details about the Post to help lend credibility to his story. He has been known to use several different aliases, such as “Michael, Marvin, and Mark Sharp.”

According to information received by VFW national headquarters, VFW Posts in AL, OK, WV, TX, FL, KS, MI and MO have responded by wiring money to the man who promises to repay the cash as soon as he returns home. So far, the sum being requested is in the $200- $500 range. Western Union doesn’t require identification for sums under $1000.

Any Post that believes they have been scammed should contact the local authorities and media. Remember to always be cautious when approached with requests for money.

VFW Set to Stream 110th National Convention Live From Phoenix, Aug. 17-20

VFW is pleased to announce — for the first time in convention history — this year’s VFW National Convention will stream live on www.vfw.org from the Phoenix Convention Center.

Live streaming is set to begin at 8:00 a.m. (MST) on August 17, during the call to order of the VFW/VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Joint Opening Session. The live stream will continue for the duration of the session, including presentations of the VFW Hall of Fame Award to Connie Stevens, the VFW Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award to Gen. Michael Hayden (ret.), as well as appearances by many other notable guests.

Streaming of the VFW general sessions will continue live August 18 – 20, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Replays will run from approximately 1 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. the next day.

Don’t miss Buzz Aldrin, Scott Carpenter, World Wrestling Entertainment’s Sgt. Slaughter, the installation of our next VFW Commander-in-Chief Tommy Tradewell and much more!

VFW Washington Weekly August 7, 2009

In This Issue:
1. VFW Protects Health Care Programs
2. Vet Bills Update
3. New GI Bill Benefit Begins
4 Senate Hearing on Disability Compensation
5. Congress on Recess

1. VFW Protects Health Care Programs: VFW is working closely with House leadership to ensure national health care reform legislation does not change the way veterans, military retirees and their families receive their health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs or the military’s TRICARE program. Key VFW-supported amendments adopted by the House include:
• Exclude TRICARE from all reform movements;
• Exclude VA health care from all reform movement, and maintain the VA secretary’s current authority to operate the organization as he deems appropriate.
• Give veterans using VA health care the option of purchasing additional insurance under the new national health care plan. This would expand, not restrict, health care coverage available to them and their families;
VFW will continue to work closely with Congress to ensure that neither VA nor TRICARE are adversely affected under the national health care reform proposal. We have also received assurances from the President that veterans and servicemembers will be safeguarded under any bill passed by Congress.

2. Vet Bills Update: It has been a busy session of hearings and votes – VFW has had many successes and thanks everyone for their advocacy in advancing our legislative priority goals – below are some key bills that have cleared.
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 (Advanced Appropriations) which authorizes funding for VA medical accounts two-years in advance passed the House and Senate (the Senate cleared the bill yesterday before recessing for the rest of the month).

Other VFW-supported bills that have passed the House include:
HR 466- The Wounded Veterans’ Job Security Act prohibits discrimination and acts of reprisal against persons who receive treatment for illnesses, injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service.
HR 1037 authorizes VA to conduct a five-year pilot project to expand on existing work-study activities
and allows student veterans to participate in work-study positions in academic departments.
HR 1088 The Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009 provides a one-year period for training (instead of the current three) for new DVOPs and LVOPs through the National Veterans Employment and Training Institute.
HR 1089 enforces employment rights of veterans and members of the armed services employed by the Federal Government Services Institute.
HR 1170 provides grants up to $200,000 for development of technologies to improve adaptive housing for disabled veterans.
HR 1171 reauthorizes the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program through 2014, and also includes special grants to programs and facilities that provide for homeless female veterans and homeless veterans with children.
HR 1172 directs VA to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors.
HR 1211 – The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act expands and improves health care services available to women veterans, including studies in barriers to care, mental health services for PTSD, MST and extended health care to newborns of female veterans immediately following birth.
HR 1293 increases the amount veterans receive for improvements and structural alterations for home health services.
HR 1377 expands veteran eligibility for VA reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished by non-VA facilities.
HR 3155 authorizes training, support and medical care to family and non-family caregivers of veterans. It would also create a stipend to cover housing and expenses incurred by primary caregivers to certain veterans.
HR 3219 combines provisions from eight other bills, to include establishing a Director of Physician Assistant position within VA; eliminating the deduction in accelerated death payments to terminally-ill veterans and service members under SGLI and VGLI; allows certain veterans to increase the amount of life insurance they carry under VGLI; prohibits catastrophically-disabled veterans from having to pay copayments or other fees for critical medical services; and permanently authorizes hospital care, medical services and nursing home care for Vietnam and Persian Gulf War veterans exposed to herbicides
For more on any of the bills type the bill # in the box.

3. New GI Bill Benefit Begins: This week, VA began implementing the new Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit. VFW played a key role in getting the historical legislation passed last year. The Chapter 33 benefit provides 36 months of full tuition at every public college or university in the nation, plus fees, books and a housing stipend. It eliminates the $1,200 enrollment fee, extends the time to use the benefit from 10 to 15 years. It also permits reenlisting servicemembers to transfer some or all of their educational benefits to a spouse or children. It automatically adjusts itself as tuitions and fees increase, greatly enhances the amount paid to Guard and Reserve members, and provides a dollar-for-dollar tuition match to more than 1,100 private schools who chose to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program. To calculate your benefits or get the list of education institutions participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program visit the VA website
VFW press release

4. Senate Hearing on Disability Compensation: The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing on the veterans’ disability compensation process and how to make improvements at VA and DOD. VFW submitted testimony for the record outlining a proposal, which calls for the creation of a test program, entitled the Provisional Claims Processing Program. The program would be limited to service members leaving the Armed Forces or recently discharged veterans. An initial evaluation would be conducted based on existing evidence, and the veteran would have the opportunity to accept or decline the provisional rating. The testimony also called on VBA to improve training and better utilize technology to create efficiencies within the disability compensation process.
Read our testimony
For more on the hearing visit the Senate VA website.

5. Congress on Recess: August recess has begun for Congressional members – you will find them in their district offices and/or travelling in their home States. Now is a great time to schedule a meeting and discuss VFW priority goals and key legislation. We are continuing to push for passage of Advanced Appropriations (House passed – Senate is pending) as well as the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act and many provisions found in the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Bill. For our priority goals as well as a list of the bills we support, visit the VFW website and click on the Capitol Hill section.

***Thank you for your continuing advocacy on behalf of veterans and our active duty military , guard and reserve members – The Washington Weekly will be published again the first week of September when Congress returns from August recess.***

VFW Free Calls Home for Deployed Troops Surpass 3 Million

The VFW is pleased to announce it has now provided more than three million free phone calls between deployed service members and their families back home in the United States, courtesy of VFW Operation Uplink™ “Free Call Days”.

VFW Operation Uplink™ — the premiere calling program for deployed service members — initially provided calling cards to deployed and hospitalized troops, but on Mother’s Day 2006, due to the growing popularity of the program and thanks to the generosity of corporate donors like Sport Clips and UAW-GM, the program began hosting Free Call Days.

At least one designated day each month, deployed service members making calls to the U.S. from their local Morale Welfare & Recreation (MWR) center are greeted by a recording stating their call will be free courtesy of VFW Operation Uplink™. The program began working through 191 internet cafes abroad and is now offered through more than 866 locations.

CPT Shawn Bailey, Jalalabad, Afghanistan, FOB Fenty, says of the program, “I am so grateful for the ability to hear my wife and my 8-month-old over the phone. Your service is crucially important for the morale of the soldiers. You are doing your country an immeasurable service by ensuring the communication of military families!”

“The fact that we have reached the three million mark in such a relatively short time is a remarkable testament to the generosity and genuine support that our VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary members, as well as the American public have for today’s military service members. It also speaks volumes about the importance of maintaining the connection between our service members and their loved ones. The VFW is extremely proud that we’ve been able to act as a conduit by helping to provide these free phone calls home,” says VFW Adjutant General, Allen “Gunner” Kent.

The next VFW Operation Uplink™ Free Call Day will be held on August 16, 2009, courtesy of Burger King.

VFW Operation Uplink™ works exclusively with DRS Technical Services, Inc. to provide the Free Call Day program — the only program of its kind. Corporations or individuals interested in donating to the program or sponsoring a Free Call Day are encouraged to contact Linda Ferguson of VFW National Military Services at 816-968-1102 or E-mail.

VFW's National Legislative Service's July Testimonies Before the House of Representatives and the Senate

Statement of Justin Brown, Legislative Associate to National Legislative Service Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, United States House of Representatives, with respect to The Evolution of State Approving Agencies.


Statement of Robert Jackson, Assistant Director to National Legislative Services Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, United States Senate with respect to Review of Veteran's Disability Compensation.

NEW GI BILL WILL CHANGE LIVES

WASHINGTON (Aug. 4, 2009) — The national commander of the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries called this week's implementation of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill a significant milestone for military servicemembers, their families and the entire country.

"The original World War II GI Bill opened higher education to the masses and produced U.S. presidents, scientists, scholars, and captains of industry who were directly responsible for America's tremendous era of growth and prosperity in the second half of the 20th century," said Glen M. Gardner Jr., a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas.

"The new 21st century GI Bill will provide today's warrior with that same access to a first class education, and it's all due to the leadership and determination of Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.)," he said.

"The VFW is proud to have been an early supporter of his landmark legislation through the advocacy work of our Washington Office on Capitol Hill and the grassroots efforts of our members in every congressional district. Education changes lives, which in turn strengthens families and our communities and nation. We are proud to have helped this bill become reality."

The Post-9/11 GI Bill, signed into law by President Bush on June 30, 2008, went into effect Saturday. It provides 36 months of full tuition at every public college or university in the nation, plus fees, books and a housing stipend. It eliminates the $1,200 enrollment fee, extends the "Use or Lose" time limit from 10 to 15 years, and permits reenlisting servicemembers to transfer some or all of their educational benefits to a spouse or children. It automatically adjusts itself as tuitions and fees increase, greatly enhances the amount paid to Guard and Reserve members, and provides a dollar-for-dollar tuition match to more than 1,100 private schools who chose to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program. The new GI Bill also benefits officers who were commissioned through a military service academy or ROTC program.

"This is a great day for America," said Gardner, whose organization had been advocating for a new GI Bill since 1997.

"Our servicemen and women who put their lives on hold to voluntarily serve during a time of war have earned our nation's deepest respect and gratitude. The challenge is now for them to take full advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and become the leaders our nation will need for decades to come."

For more information or to enroll in the Post-9/11 GI Bill