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Monday, June 14, 2010
National Commanders of VFW, Legion, MOPH Urge President to Replace Mojave Memorial.
National Commanders of VFW, Legion, MOPH Urge President to Replace Mojave Memorial. http://www.vfw.org/PR/lettertoPres.pdf
Friday, June 11, 2010
Army Veteran Named VFW 200 Grand Marshal-Michigan International Speedway
BROOKLYN, Mich. June 4, 2010 - Michigan International Speedway and the VFW Foundation have announced that local U.S. Army veteran Michael Montange of Chelsea, Mich. will serve as grand marshal for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series VFW 200 on Saturday, June 12 at MIS.
As grand marshal, Montange will be introduced during pre-race ceremonies for the VFW 200 and will give the famous command for drivers to start their engines before making parade laps in the official Ford Mustang pace car prior to the start of the race.
Montange, who served three tours in Iraq, will be joined by his parents, his sister and her husband as special guests of the VFW Foundation’s Salute to Military Families program and will receive VIP treatment throughout the June race weekend. Montange’s girlfriend is currently serving in Iraq and could not join them for the event.
The family will be provided with a RV for weekend accommodations in the Graves Farm Campground at MIS. MISCamping.com, the official RV rental company and camping sponsor of MIS, and Home Depot partnered to build an access ramp for Montange, who was wounded by an IED bomb during combat and returned home in 2007 a disabled veteran.
Montange and his family will also receive suite passes and garage passes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s events. They will enjoy garage tours, pace car rides and special access to drivers’ meetings, pre-race ceremonies and victory lane celebrations.
Through their Salute to Military Families program at MIS, VFW will provide over 500 local veterans and active duty military and their families with grandstand tickets, chalet and suite hospitality with complimentary food and beverage, and special VIP treatment throughout the event weekend at MIS.
The VFW 200 and Salute to Military Families events are part of the VFW Foundation’s nationwide Return the Favor awareness and fundraising campaign designed to honor and celebrate active-duty and retired military and their families.
“Unfortunately, U.S. troops rarely have the luxury to attend sporting events or entertainment activities, so that’s where we step in. It’s our way of ‘saying thanks’ for all they do,” said John G. Lowe, VFW Foundation Deputy Director. “Our Return the Favor events not only boost troop morale but also draw attention to the urgent needs of U.S. military service personnel. It also allows us to get the word out about our other programs and services. These include free communication options for troops overseas so they can call home on a regular basis and financial assistance to their families for rent, mortgage, utilities, vehicle repair, food and medicine.”
The VFW Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and the official charity of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), America’s oldest and largest service group for combat veterans. The VFW Foundation receives no government funding, and instead relies solely on public and corporate donations.
Donate today to “return the favor” to those who have given so much. Find out more about the VFW Foundation and make a donation by visiting www.ReturnTheFavor.org. You can also make a $10 donation by texting “RETURN” to 90999 now.
As grand marshal, Montange will be introduced during pre-race ceremonies for the VFW 200 and will give the famous command for drivers to start their engines before making parade laps in the official Ford Mustang pace car prior to the start of the race.
Montange, who served three tours in Iraq, will be joined by his parents, his sister and her husband as special guests of the VFW Foundation’s Salute to Military Families program and will receive VIP treatment throughout the June race weekend. Montange’s girlfriend is currently serving in Iraq and could not join them for the event.
The family will be provided with a RV for weekend accommodations in the Graves Farm Campground at MIS. MISCamping.com, the official RV rental company and camping sponsor of MIS, and Home Depot partnered to build an access ramp for Montange, who was wounded by an IED bomb during combat and returned home in 2007 a disabled veteran.
Montange and his family will also receive suite passes and garage passes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s events. They will enjoy garage tours, pace car rides and special access to drivers’ meetings, pre-race ceremonies and victory lane celebrations.
Through their Salute to Military Families program at MIS, VFW will provide over 500 local veterans and active duty military and their families with grandstand tickets, chalet and suite hospitality with complimentary food and beverage, and special VIP treatment throughout the event weekend at MIS.
The VFW 200 and Salute to Military Families events are part of the VFW Foundation’s nationwide Return the Favor awareness and fundraising campaign designed to honor and celebrate active-duty and retired military and their families.
“Unfortunately, U.S. troops rarely have the luxury to attend sporting events or entertainment activities, so that’s where we step in. It’s our way of ‘saying thanks’ for all they do,” said John G. Lowe, VFW Foundation Deputy Director. “Our Return the Favor events not only boost troop morale but also draw attention to the urgent needs of U.S. military service personnel. It also allows us to get the word out about our other programs and services. These include free communication options for troops overseas so they can call home on a regular basis and financial assistance to their families for rent, mortgage, utilities, vehicle repair, food and medicine.”
The VFW Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and the official charity of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), America’s oldest and largest service group for combat veterans. The VFW Foundation receives no government funding, and instead relies solely on public and corporate donations.
Donate today to “return the favor” to those who have given so much. Find out more about the VFW Foundation and make a donation by visiting www.ReturnTheFavor.org. You can also make a $10 donation by texting “RETURN” to 90999 now.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
VFW Facebook Fans Surpass the 30,000 Mark
KANSAS CITY, MO., June 9, 2010 - The VFW is pleased to announce that its National Headquarters’ Official Facebook page has reached and exceeded the 30,000 mark. Gaining momentum last summer, it has evolved from information relating to mainly legislative issues to all news of veteran and military interest.
The VFW’s Facebook page is a place to connect with other veterans and active duty military, to keep up with announcements of support initiatives, national calls to action like the Albert Snyder Declaration of Support, reminders to troops overseas about VFW Military Assistance Programs(MAP) such as Operation Uplink™ "Free Call Days” and Unmet Needs.
This social media tool has provided the opportunity for connection interaction between its members and veteran supporters around the world.
It is a place where fans learn about VFW, its initiatives and what it does daily for troops, veterans and their families, as well as learn about current issues, history and share experiences.
Facebook enhances VFW’s reach beyond its 1.6 million members to a new, growing audience.
Having the option to share real-time information allows the VFW to gauge how ideas are received “out in the field” and gives the fans a chance to express their opinions and knowledge.
The VFW is very excited about its online community growth and expects its audience will only continue its rapid growth.
To become a fan of the VFW on Facebook, visit us at facebook.com/VFWFans and click the “like” button.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
National Health Care Law Now Complete
Programs provided to 8 million VA beneficiaries now recognized
WASHINGTON D.C., June 2, 2010 — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is thanking President Obama for signing H.R. 5014 into law Thursday to recognize all Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare programs as meeting minimum essential coverage standards under the new national healthcare law.
"I want to thank the president for his signature to protect the integrity of all VA healthcare programs, as well as the entire Congress for their unanimous support of this much needed legislation," said VFW National Commander Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., of Sussex, Wis.
"I especially want to recognize House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and ranking member Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), Senate VA Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and ranking member Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Jim Webb (D-Va.), and House VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) and ranking member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) for championing these protections," he said.
Skelton announced just days before a full House vote on S. 3162, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that only a portion of the Defense Department's Tricare program was recognized as meeting minimum essential coverage standards. His discovery resulted in a closer review of the 2,400-page document, which revealed that not VA healthcare programs were recognized, either, to include those provided to widows and dependent children.
"We know that national healthcare will help many veterans who do not qualify for DOD or VA care, but missing from the original legislation was language that would clearly recognize and protect the hard earned healthcare programs of those who do," said Tradewell. "The new law had to be fixed, not for what it provided, but for what it omitted."
The VFW national commander is quick to praise congressional leadership for their understanding of the problem and for their legislative support to ensure that all the healthcare programs provided by the nation's two largest federal departments were recognized as meeting minimum essential coverage standards under the new national healthcare law.
"The president signed H.R. 4887 into law April 26 to protect the healthcare programs provided to more than 9 million military families, retirees and nonappropriated fund employees. Getting H.R. 5014 signed into law now completes the circle for more than 8 million VA beneficiaries," he said.
"The VFW is proud of taking the lead on this issue on behalf of all of America's veterans, servicemembers and their families. It's a prime example of what we do as advocates here in Washington, D.C."
WASHINGTON D.C., June 2, 2010 — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is thanking President Obama for signing H.R. 5014 into law Thursday to recognize all Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare programs as meeting minimum essential coverage standards under the new national healthcare law.
"I want to thank the president for his signature to protect the integrity of all VA healthcare programs, as well as the entire Congress for their unanimous support of this much needed legislation," said VFW National Commander Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., of Sussex, Wis.
"I especially want to recognize House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and ranking member Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), Senate VA Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and ranking member Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Jim Webb (D-Va.), and House VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) and ranking member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) for championing these protections," he said.
Skelton announced just days before a full House vote on S. 3162, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that only a portion of the Defense Department's Tricare program was recognized as meeting minimum essential coverage standards. His discovery resulted in a closer review of the 2,400-page document, which revealed that not VA healthcare programs were recognized, either, to include those provided to widows and dependent children.
"We know that national healthcare will help many veterans who do not qualify for DOD or VA care, but missing from the original legislation was language that would clearly recognize and protect the hard earned healthcare programs of those who do," said Tradewell. "The new law had to be fixed, not for what it provided, but for what it omitted."
The VFW national commander is quick to praise congressional leadership for their understanding of the problem and for their legislative support to ensure that all the healthcare programs provided by the nation's two largest federal departments were recognized as meeting minimum essential coverage standards under the new national healthcare law.
"The president signed H.R. 4887 into law April 26 to protect the healthcare programs provided to more than 9 million military families, retirees and nonappropriated fund employees. Getting H.R. 5014 signed into law now completes the circle for more than 8 million VA beneficiaries," he said.
"The VFW is proud of taking the lead on this issue on behalf of all of America's veterans, servicemembers and their families. It's a prime example of what we do as advocates here in Washington, D.C."
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