Florida County Veterans Service Officers Associations

CVSOA President’s Message

By John Haddox

Greetings to all!! I hope everyone enjoyed a great Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. It’s hard to believe that Christmas is here already.

The executive board met at the Florida Association of Counties Conference from November 14^th through November 16^th. We discussed numerous topics, but the main area of concern remains the property tax cuts and how each county’s budget cuts will affect the attendance at our training conferences. The contracts that we sign with the hotels require that our members book a certain number of rooms. If we do not meet this room block, we have to make up the difference from our treasury. Rick Marquith, our site selection coordinator is working very hard to get us the best price and also ensure that we meet our contractual obligations. With our current registration fee of $125.00 there is very little margin of error. Your area vice presidents will be presenting options that will affect our training conferences for the next three to five years at the Area VP Meetings at the May Conference. Please attend these meetings so that you will have all of the information needed to vote on future site selections at the General Membership Meeting.

There are several things that you can do to help our association. First is the vendor program. There will a separate article which will address vendors. Also, in the past several counties have obtained and contributed donations from their Veterans Councils to the CVSOA. If you have a good working relationship with your council or individual posts please consider asking them for a donation. Another possibility is when clients offer us money for our assistance with claims. Rather than just telling them that it is not legal for us to accept anything in return for our efforts, ask if they would consider a donation to the CVSOA which would benefit all veterans by assisting with our training.

I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Joyous, Prosperous and Healthy New Year.

Immediate Past President (Yet Again!)

By Glenn McGuffie

I am proud to be able to serve our association yet again as immediate past president. It only took four intervening presidents to either retire or take other jobs for this to happen. First, let me share a very successful event with you. Our local newspaper agreed to run an article entitled Veterans Unaware of Tax Savings. The focus of the article was too many veterans are unaware of the additional $5,000 property tax exemption they can get if rated 10% or more by the VA. The article appeared this morning and we have, in a half a day, had over 50 phone calls from veterans unaware of the extra exemption to include 3 veterans who have been rated 100% P&T for over 20 years and have never applied for their total property tax exemption!!. Talk about a great unanticipated result!! When these veterans come in for the eligibility letter from our office we are also using this opportunity to address whether they should seek increased ratings for their existing service connected disabilities. Working great! Next, I am writing to let you know of a significant change in how VA handles NSC claim for single veterans or surviving spouses who are living in an ALF. I had gotten a reading from the VA regarding the $90 special monthly pension for veterans or surviving spouses residing in an ALF (Assisted Living Facility) who are on the Medicaid Diversion Program and had it sent to all counties. In a nutshell, the VA had ruled that if the veteran or surviving spouse is a resident in an ALF “and” on the Medicaid Diversion Program that VA considers that the same as if they were residing in a nursing home on Medicaid. Consequently, VA will only pay the $90 special monthly pension. Thanks to some help from Jerry Derrick, VA reversed the way they treat these claims and if a single veteran/surviving spouse is living in an ALF and meets Housebound or A&A criteria then in most cases the VA will continue to presumptively subtract the entire cost of the ALF from the claimants gross income to determine any NSC Pension entitlement amounts. One key here is do not call it a “Medicaid” Diversion Program even if your county calls it that. It is really a program run by DOEA and DCF combined and you should be careful to identify it as help from the State Long Term Care Diversion Program. Use of the word Medicaid unnecessarily muddies the water. Finally, if you noticed the new $500 OIF/OEF bonus program for certain disabled veterans paid by American Legion you need to also know, to be eligible, the veteran does not have to be an American Legion member. Kick the tires and light the fires – Go Air Force!

Senior Vice President

By Paul Hiott

For God and Country…

Capt. Adam Snyder, died Dec. 5 from injuries he suffered in a roadside bombing in Beiji, Iraq. He grew up in St. Lucie County and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1^st Brigade Combat Team and was stationed in Fort Campbell, KY. He was serving a 15-month tour in Iraq. This was his second tour.

My staff and I attended services for Capt. Snyder on Friday Dec. 14. I did not know Adam personally, but as I listened to the many friends, church members, and military personnel share their memories and stories of time spent with Adam, I felt a profound sense of loss. This 26-year-old soldier touched so many lives, brought such incredible honor to God, his family and his Country, that it is to my sorrow I never had the opportunity to simply shake his hand.

Adam graduated from Lincoln Park Academy in Ft. Pierce. , going on to graduate with honors, in the top 10 percent at West Point with studies in Arabic and Middle Eastern history. At his church, Westside Baptist, he had been heavily involved with the youth group. Every summer, he volunteered as a counselor at vacation Bible camp. One of his Pastors said "He made coming to church cool to the kids, Adam didn't have to go to West Point to learn how to lead."
The year he graduated, Capt. Snyder volunteered to be a bone marrow donor before heading to Ranger School, and despite concerns he went to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the procedure. Within two weeks, he was off to Ranger School His military career was exemplary and anyone we spoke to told of his strong belief in his mission and duty. Taking care of his own was of the utmost importance to Capt. Snyder. Many people who spoke about Adam told of his resourcefulness in finding extra gear for the men in his command. One group had recently met his request for individual body armor side plate carriers so that all of his men would be protected. Adam had reported back that “ that all were deployed and the men were happy”

To say the legacy left by Capt. Snyder has inspired me to be a better man is an understatement. After seeing his life through others, I know those “random acts of kindness” I try to perform will continue – and I will do my best to honor his memory in doing so. Almost on a daily basis I think about the famous words of John F. Kennedy “ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for your Country…” Capt. Snyder answered that call, with dignity, respect, and courage.

Please take a few moments and visit the website:

www.westsidebaptistchurch.net , then click on the link “Capt. Adam Snyder Memorial Service”.

Nearly 11,000 soldiers in the 101st have deployed to Iraq for a third yearlong tour that began in October. With Capt. Snyder’s death, the division has lost 172 soldiers since the Iraq war began in 2003. Thus far, more than 3,800 have been lost – and this one is near and dear to our hearts.

God bless our troops.

Treasurers Report

By Dave Lockhart

I am very pleased to report to you that our Treasury continues to be in good shape. We will conclude 2007 with approximately $14,000.00 in our general funds, approximately $3,500.00 in our scholarship account and $3,000.00 in reserve. Thanks to all of you for getting your dues and registrations in on time. Many, many thanks for your participation in the 50-50. We all also need to express our thanks to the VFW, Veterans Memorial Center of Merrit Island, Veterans Council of Martin County, AMVETS and The Pinellas County Veterans Liaison Council. Each of these organizations made a significant donation to our organization which allows us to put on the top notch conferences we have every year.

I reported to you in the September Newsletter that there seemed to be a relationship between buying CVSOA pins and success at the 50-50 drawing. I can now report to you without reservation that there is a direct correlation between buying CVSOA pins and winning prizes in the drawing. Nine pins were sold at the Tampa conference and all nine purchasers won at least one prize in the drawing. Many of those buying pins were multiple winners. I currently have 36 CVSOA pins in stock and will be selling them on a first come, first served basis at the Jacksonville conference. For those wishing to pre-purchase a CVSOA pin prior to conference I’m sure we can work out an accommodation. The first purchase I’m going to make with the cash I hope to get for Christmas is another CVSOA pin as I understand the 50-50 Mojo only applies to current purchases. Don’t miss this opportunity!!!!!!!

I hope each and everyone of you has a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and Happy New Year. Y’all take care , I’ll see you in Jacksonville and as always:

GO GATORS

Site Coordinator

By Richard Marquith

The members of the Executive Board have been working hard to keep our conference costs as low as possible. To this end, there may be only hors d’oeuvres to provide an evening snack rather than a dinner for the President’s Reception, five pots of coffee rather than ten pots during the morning breaks, one cookie rather than two cookies during the afternoon break, etc. I will have a couple of initiatives that could provide a great savings, so that the Association is not forced to increase our registration fees for the next 3 years. These initiatives will be discussed during the Area VP Meetings on Monday afternoon during the May conference.

The May Training Conference will be at the Crown Plaza – Riverfront in Jacksonville. 1201 Riverplace Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. You should be getting your Training Packets in February 2008. Once you get the packet, please make your reservations, as quickly as possible but to get the Association’s contract price, you have to confirm your reservations no later than April 9, 2008. The hotel is located on the south side of the St. Johns River. The dates are: May 2 – 9, 2008. The daily room cost is $99.00.

October Training Conference will return for a third year at Embassy Suites at USF. The training dates are: September 28 – October 5, 2008.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Richard J. Marquith

CVSO Hendry County

Editors Note

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year. I would also like to take this time to apologize to Bruce Waters of Brevard County. Bruce sent me some pictures of the May 2007 conference and it seems I had some difficulty manipulating the pictures and was therefore unable to put them in a newsletter. Bruce I appreciate the input but sometimes this electronic manipulation just will not work – sorry. George

Nominating Committee

By Joseph Dionne

As a reminder, it is time for nominations and elections to start up. As the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, e-mails and letters will be sent out the first of part of January 2008 with information.

My e-mail address is: Jdionne@hcbcc.org and it can be used for questions Thanks, Joseph

North Area Report

By Mike Matulis

Leon County Veteran Services Division hosted the fourth annual Veterans Day Parade on Monday, November 12. James R. McDonough was the Grand Marshall of the parade. Mr. McDonough is the Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections and was appointed by Governor Bush in 2006. He is a graduate of MIT and the United States Military Academy. He served a full career as a United States Army Officer before assuming his current position and has published three books; Platoon Leader (also a movie), The Defense of Hill 781 and The Limits of Glory. Also honored at the parade was the family of Corporal Julian McMackin Woodall, USMC, who was killed on May 22, 2007.

Leon County Veteran Services has a photo display honoring Leon County’s men and women in uniform. The actual photographs are located at the main library and can also be found on our website: http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/ADMIN/veteran/pic.asp. It’s a great idea that gets the community involved and not hard to administer

NE Area Report

By Jim Lynch

Most counties in our area celebrated Veterans Day with community ceremonies. In Gilchrist County CVSO Major Stroupe, in cooperation with the local Historical Society, conducted the 2^nd Annual Veterans Day Parade in Trenton. Citizens honored local vets by dedicating a plaque listing all known active duty personnel from Gilchrist County that have served since Sept 11^th, 2001. The plaque will be on display in the County Commission meeting room and has additional space to name those that enlist in the future. Duval County conducted numerous events including parades, dedications and community recognitions. In Alachua County the longest and largest motorcycle parade in the state, possibly even in the country, was held honoring veterans. Over 1500 cycles paraded through the streets with thousands lining the roadways waving flags and banners. This was the seventh year the event was held and raised over $16,000.00 which will be divided up and given to local veterans organizations in the county. In addition the Gainesville VAMC and County Veterans Office teamed up to present the Annual Veterans Day Celebration with a six WW II plane flyover, skydivers bringing down the US and POW flags, military re-enactors wearing authentic uniforms from 1776 to present, middle school bands, Army drill team exhibition, speeches from generals to VAMC directors to County Veteran Service Officers with ceremony ending with a 21 gun salute and “echo” taps and community BBQ.

The NE Area is also proud to report that University of Florida football player Tim (or “Little Timmy” as his mom calls him still today) Tebow has won the 2007 Heisman Trophy. What a year this has been for that young man and our football team. If we had a decent defensive secondary we would be playing for the National Championship (again) but instead we are playing in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando. Our congratulations to the Gators and condolences to FSU and Univ of Miami (again !!). Probably won’t be much FSU/Miami items available during our banquet auction/raffle in Jacksonville next May but you can count on numerous Gator memorabilia…

NW Area Report

By Ray Carroll

Everything is quiet in the NW area. We are still waiting on a building for the CBOC in Jackson County. This calendar year we have added 401 new clients through the 28th of November. It's getting to be pretty busy in Bay County. I'm happy to report that the NW area has completed TRIP training. Ray

More News From NW Area

A Four Day Celebration for Veterans Day in Santa Rosa County

By Karen Haworth

Friday, November 9th, began our Veteran's Day Celebration with a Candlelight Vigil held at the Santa Rosa County Veterans Memorial Plaza.

The weather cooperated and Taps was beautifully sung a cappella.

Saturday night the Milton Elks Lodge, #2377, hosted a steak dinner for our veterans. Sunday highlighted the First Annual Veterans Thunder Ride (Motorcycle Parade) in honor of our veterans. We had 196 riders and hope the Motorcycle Parade will continue to grow and become a substantial fund raiser to benefit needy veterans in Santa Rosa County.

Monday the Veterans Day Parade ended at the Veterans Memorial Plaza with speakers, special guests, entertainment and an unveiling of the latest monument, the "Wall of Tears". This "Wall of Tears" monument appropriately symbolizes the families of veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice. A Veterans Day Picnic concluded the festivities hosted by 4-H and Santa Rosa Medical Center; we could not have requested a more beautiful weekend to honor our veteran heroes!

Gulf County

By Jim Kennedy

Gulf County, especially on Veterans’ Day, remembers and thanks military service personnel and their families, past and present. November 11, 2007 was no exception. In a moving ceremony, veterans and their families gathered to re-name and re-dedicate Gulf County’s Beacon Hill Park in honor of American veterans of war.

The re-naming resulted from the visit of the traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, “The Wall That Heals,” to Beacon Hill Park in March of this year. Along with 34 flag-bearing honor guards, approximately 160 people attended the ceremony to re-name the park “Veterans Memorial Park of Beacon Hill.” Plans are being developed for the park, which will include static displays and informational kiosks on the five military branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

POW/MIA Flag Raising

By Beatrice Love-moore

Okaloosa County recently commemorated POW/MIA Day on September 21^st in very solemn ceremonies. The Okaloosa County Veterans Services Offices were doubly honored as ceremonies were carried on at both of our offices, in the north end and the south end of the county. The Board of County Commissioners took time out to participate in this day, and there were two commissioners at each of the Veterans Services Offices. This day was marked by the County Commissioners declaring that henceforth all county buildings would fly the POW/MIA flag continuously. Besides the County Commissioners at each office, there were former POW’s who, along with a commissioner, actually raised the American flag and the POW/MIA flag. The Veterans Service Office in the south end is actually in a new building and had just recently had a new flag pole installed. So it was an honor on this day to raise the POW/MIA flag ceremoniously honoring the fallen, but never forgotten. It means a lot to our servicemen and veterans to see that flag waving on our buildings in perpetuation of the sacrifices that they have made while in harms way. The POW/MIA flag flies as a daily reminder, along with the American flag and our own county flag as a memorial to what it takes to maintain our freedom. “Whoo-Ah!”

CE Area Report

By Mike White

Mike White appointed permanent Director of Veterans Services for Volusia County and wishes everyone a very happy and safe holiday season, Volusia County also applauds the actions of the members of the Executive Board at the recent Florida Association of Counties Meeting in St. Augustine, each win is a victory, each victory adds up to success.

More News From CE Area

Flagler County

By Sal Rutigliano

Veterans’ charity's practices worry some locals

By JACQUE ESTES

Daytona Beach News-Journal Staff Writer

November 28, 2007

During the past few weeks, members of a group calling itself Veterans Support Organization have been collecting money at traffic lights and in front of department stores in Palm Coast.

Many residents have expressed concerns to the city of Palm Coast, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office and local veteran organizations as to the legitimacy of this organization.

Bryant and Sheri Kisbert, assistant chief operating officer and secretary of the organization's Daytona Beach chapter, say they want to work with the local veteran organizations.

But that is something Flagler Veterans Services Officer Sal Rutigliano said has not been done to his knowledge.

"We have invited them to meet with us but they have not," Rutigliano said.

Sheri Kisbert said it is the local organizations that have been resistant to working with them. She said that they had contacted the St.

Augustine VFW and never received a return call, and had tried to set up a meeting with the Flagler VFW.

"I would like to work together and I would like them to relax and let us do what we do," she said. "We are both doing the same thing."

The local VSO chapter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and provided documentation to the News-Tribune of donations to the Emory Bennett Nursing Home in Daytona Beach and to the VA hospital in Gainesville.

Rutigliano said the group is vastly different from other veteran organizations he works with.

"The money our veterans' organizations raise go to our veterans,"

Rutigliano said. "One hundred percent of money collected is given to veterans. I have been told that they pay the 'volunteers' collecting for them."

The Kisberts confirmed that Veteran Support Organization volunteers were paid and reimbursed for expenses.

"The volunteers keep 25 percent of what they collect," Sheri Kisbert said, adding that they are reimbursed for gas and food expenses.

The Kisberts attended a meeting of the Military Officers of America luncheon at Halifax Plantation on Sept. 27, where they met with retired Rear Adm. LeRoy Collins Jr. of the Navy Reserve. Collins is the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.

"We did attend this very important day. We did not see one VFW representative at this meeting," Sheri Kisbert said in comments faxed to the News-Tribune. "We were privileged to meet with the Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. who gave us the recognition for our strive to help with our veterans."

When Collins was asked about the meeting and whether he endorsed the Veterans Support Group, he said he did not specifically recall meeting the Kisberts.

"In September I attended an event at the Halifax River Yacht Club hosted by three local chapters of the Military Officers Association of America," he said in an email to the News-Tribune. "I spoke with many veterans and veterans' advocates at the luncheon, but I do not recall endorsing any organization or any specific proposals. If Veterans Support Organization would like to meet with FDVA to discuss their initiatives, we would be happy to do so."

Palm Coast resident and businesswoman Celia Pugliese was one of those who donated money to the organization and then became "seriously concerned" about where the money would go. Pugliese, the mother of a Navy veteran, said she asked the man who approached her car in full camouflage uniform if he was in the service.

"He told me he was on leave and they would all be going back," Pugliese said. She also asked him how much of the money would go to the soldiers and was told 100 percent.

"I believed that he was a soldier because he was in full uniform from the hats to the boots," she said.

Sheri Kisbert was not happy to hear about the collector's response and said that money is donated to veteran groups and hospitals, not the active military.

"Some of them (collectors) are veterans and some of them are not," she said. "None of them are on active duty."

Kisbert said the paid volunteers are supposed to be wearing name tags while they are collecting and the VSO would like to be notified of any violations.

"We are once a year in Palm Coast," she said. "The southern chapter (in

Lauderhill) does it every day of the week and they don't get questioned."

CW Area News

By Daisy Diaz

Ocala’s Patriotic Horse

The patriotic horse was donated by Chris Spears and family of Prestige Auto Sales, Ocala, Florida. Artwork was done by Kim Samson, painter of the original “Old Glory” pony from the Painted Ponies

series. The people portrayed on the horse are veterans within our local the community. The official unveiling of the horse was on November 11, 2007 at the Veterans Light the Stars event. Spears added, “The park is a tribute to Veterans, and we hope that his horse is a positive enhancement for all to enjoy.” The horse will become a permanent fixture on the corner of Ft. King Street and 25^th Avenue (date to be announced). Come visit the park between the hours of Dawn until Dawn. Volunteers staff the park Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am – 1pm. If you have any questions, please give us a call 671-8422 or 401-5346.

More CW Area News

The Legacy of the CVSO’s of Florida

By Tom Fletcher Hillsborough County

Back in June 1990, when I signed on with the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) as a Veterans Service Officer after 26 years in the Air Force, it seemed like just another job. Wow, that executive like annual salary of under $19,000 was something, not to mention the prospects of another retirement in ten years or so. Now, almost 18 years later, the job became a dream come true and retirement will become a reality in few months. Thankfully, for me, the intervening years have been very rewarding. But first, before I say farewell, it occurred to me that I should make a few parting remarks to my fellow CVSO’s. I promise to be brief.

My primary message for you CVSO’s is that you represent all that is good about serving the veterans of Florida and this country. You have always risen above the “obligatory red-tape” of others that pose obstacles in supporting your comrades. Without your persistence, perseverance, and willingness to overcome all rivals, Florida veterans would face extreme hardships that would be overwhelming and unpleasant for many. Your clients wouldn’t stand much of a chance on their own. Whether you know it or not, THIS IS YOUR LEGACY.

You can probably site many instances and examples where you had to depend on our own initiative and your staff to be successful. You and your Veteran Service Officers are the ones who have to adjust to the acts of others in order to find a way to satisfy the urge to serve. You might even be able to remember a few instances when you needed to “get around” the bureaucrats in order to do what is right and still stay within the boundaries of the “Code”. By the way, I’m including your partners at the Service Organization’s and your buddies at FDVA. Sure, you bicker with them some and complain about their demands but when it comes crunch time, you and the National’s are a formidable team when the needs of your clients are in jeopardy. Again, THIS IS YOUR LEGACY.

There is one unfairness in the role you play with the feds that bugs me and it hasn’t changed much since my early days at FDVA. In those times, even within the confines of the Regional Office, the feds had strict rules of accessing claims files and their cyber-space resources. It took just a few days on the job in 1990 for me to realize they had one frequent failing because they often didn’t properly identify the Service Organization selected by the veteran. This wasn’t such a big deal for those based in the St Pete office, but it was obvious it was a significant source of frustration for CVSO’s and FDVA Field Hospital Staff. From that time in 1990, I recall this subject being a major complaint at our conferences and various training events.

Things didn’t get much better until Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Herschel Gober allowed remote access to limited cyber-space resources and some essential information, such as, file location, POA, and identification numbers. What a blessing! We could actually help our walk-in clients even without calling on St Pete VA officials. Actually, during these years we got by fairly well even when POA entries weren’t made properly because we had some information to work with. Those were the good ole days, but, alas those days are gone forever now because some VA employee got careless in Washington DC and the VA has instituted a strict confidentiality policy, Wouldn’t it be nice if the feds would work with State and CVSO’s to solve this issue.

Okay, so I wasn’t so brief. Thank you for supporting your fellow veterans and for helping me when I ask for your guidance. I will forever remember the best years of my working life and your good deeds will be with me even on the golf course, gulf cruises, Las Vegas casinos and Bahaman vacations. God Bless you all.

Manatee County

By Hal Willis

Manatee Co. should be posting two vacancies for us next week. (1) Sr Veterans Services Counselor & (1) Veterans Services Counselor. Will appear on www.mymanatee.org when posted. Chris Wenzel is departing after over two years of dedicated service to Veterans, to pursue further education. We wish him and his family all the best things to come and thank him for all he has done for veterans since his military retirement.

South Area News

By Richard Marquith

I’m sure every Veteran Service Office was busy during the Veterans Day activities. Palm Beach County participated in Workforce Alliance Job Fair, held a seminar on Aid and Attendance Benefits, Veterans Day Ceremony at U.S. Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce and Kevin rode a bright yellow ragtop mustang in the Lake Worth Veterans Day Parade. As most people have read, this annual parade was not funded by any governmental agency, so private organizations got together, raised money and the parade happened. Palm Beach County also shuttled veterans to meet Congressman Mahoney and tell their stories with the local news covering the event, and they attended Palm Springs Community Fair. Hendry County participated in Clewiston High School program, City of LaBelle and City of Clewiston Veterans Day ceremonies. Hendry County also received funding to start a Combat Duty Grant program and mailed nearly 250 pounds (9 boxes) to soldiers in Iraq. Charlotte County held a stand down, that was more successful than last year. A lot of hard work does go along way. Not to outdone, Broward County has been just a busy. Staff members were involved in several Health and Wellness Fairs held throughout the county, were part of the local Reserve Units’ Welcome Home sessions, assisted with production work at WLRN for “Veteran’s Voices: Remembering Our Heroes”. Veterans Day activities included ceremonies and parades in: Sunrise, Wilton Manors, Coral Springs, Plantation, Tamarac, Hollywood and Pompano Beach. Collier and Lee County offices submitted additional articles that are elsewhere in the newsletter.

Remember: One-person walking leaves foot prints. Many people walking together leave a trail that others can easily follow.

More South News

Collier County

By Peter Kraley

Collier County’s World War II Capture Living History Project

This oral history project is a joint effort of Veteran Services, Public Information, the Collier County Museum, and the Collier County Veteran’s Council. The purpose is to record the histories of our residents who served during WWII. To date, we have recorded the stories of 147 vets who served, including some who served in the RAF and RCAF. Accompanying the recordings is information about the vet, his unit and decorations, and in many cases, scanned photographs from their personal collections. This project has been very popular with the veterans and their families (in one case, I received an e-mail from the son of one our vets, who didn’t know his dad had been shot down on his second mission over Germany). This project is not expensive to duplicate, and if you would like to see (and hear) how we have set it up, go to colliergov.net, select the drop down for “our community”, and select “WWII Capture Living History Project”.

Monroe County

By Peggy Ricciuto

THERE I WAS

There I was, driving to work, crossing the 7 Mile Bridge, thinking. I do some of my best thinking there. The water on the Gulf side was flat calm and on the Ocean side a little chop. The sun was coming up and illuminating the cloud bank, making it a cross between Ansel Adams and Thomas Kincaid (well actually nothing adequately describes the sunrises and sunsets here in the Keys).

As I said, I started thinking, thinking about all the years of knowledge out there among the CVSO’s and wondered how we can get that knowledge. So I figured, why not in the newsletter. I’m just a new kid here since I know lots of you out there have 20 plus years in this business. Sometimes, however, I feel you keep your knowledge as a closely guarded secret. For instance, what if you learned about some web site or some other information that helped you get a claim successfully adjudicated for the veteran. Wouldn’t that be nice to share? There is so much information on the web site and sometimes it is so overwhelming, you can spend hours looking for a piece of information that one of you out there already knows. SO SHARE IT! Maybe a little synopsis which goes like this: CASE STUDY: Veteran served in US Air Force, stationed in Vietnam, worked on flight line. Suffers from: Hearing loss, headaches, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, etc. So you ask, how many of those are service connected and how best to establish that all so important NEXUS. Do you know how toxic JP4 and JP5 jet fuel is? Do you know what Benzene can do to you? Is there an established pattern of hearing loss associated with jet blast? Sure, you say to yourself, some of these things are just self-explanatory. Everyone knows it’s hard to get a hearing loss claim. Right? Of course, they don’t ALL know. How about the new people? There is no comprehensive instruction book on “HOW TO” (and you certainly don’t learn everything you wanted to know and were afraid to ask at the FDVA Basic Course and TRIP training, although you do get a lot of information and it’s great training), but beyond that it is OJT. There is nothing which tells you exactly how to write up a claim. There is nothing which tells you the wording to use in an appeal. Or is there? Sure, I’m lucky, I can go to my bosses and ask and they will tell me but what about those who have no one to turn to, you are the only one in your office and you just opened up. How about, getting the word out you are even there for the veteran? Does anyone out there see what I mean? Does anyone agree? Well, here is my contribution.

I have surfed the web for tidbits of information to help support claims by veterans because many veterans (a) don’t have a computer, (b) don’t know how to use a computer (c) aren’t capable of using a computer due to disabilities or a combination of the above; and don’t get me wrong, this is not a “put down” on abilities, it’s just a fact. That’s where we come in, RIGHT? Right!

You can find things on the web that you would just never know existed. For instance, I ran across a web site which gave me the “Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register (DA Pamphlet 672-3)”. Is this important? It could be. For instance, if a person was assigned to one of these units and the unit received a citation for action in Vietnam, then it could help establish the veteran was there. Web site is: www.armystudyguide.com/content/publications/da_pams/index.shtml, or just do a Google Search and type in “DA Pamphlet 672-3”. What about a list of US Navy ships which had asbestos? One web site I use is: www.mesothelioma-navy.com/index.asp. How about this one? A study entitled: “Acquisition Safety- Noise Control Aboard Ships” and the web site is: www.safetycenter.navy.mil/acquisition/noise. This one talks about noise sources, and there is a link to a study called: “STATISTICAL Analysis of Hearing Loss Among Navy Personnel” by Geoffrey B. Shaw and Robert P. Trost. P.S. If the CTRL + click doesn’t work, just copy and paste the web site into your address block on your browser.

Ok, I just wanted to throw this out there or as they used to say, “Run it up the Flagpole and see who salutes it”. Request lines are open and George, our editor of the newsletter, would just love to have some input because it keeps him busy and out of trouble. Well, one out of two isn’t bad!!! Love ya George.

Collier County

By Peter Kraley

Collier County’s World War II Capture Living History Project

Lee County

By John Ebling

21 Wounded

About thirty years ago a local Vietnam Veteran, Cliff Naylor, was recuperating at the Army Hospital at Ft Gordon, GA. A group of concerned individuals and organizations took Cliff and several other injured soldiers to Miami for much needed rest and relaxation. During the weekend of 5-8 October 2007 the same favor was extended to a group of injured Iraq and Afghanistan Army soldiers from Ft Gordon. One female and 20 male soldiers were brought by bus to Ft Myers for a few days of R&R. Under the efforts of a committee of concerned individuals, the VFW and the American Legion, these soldiers were offered free meals, lodging, transportation, and activities during the course of the weekend.

A special thanks is extended to VFW Post 10127 of N Ft Myers, VFW Post 10097 of Ft Myers Beach, American Legion Post 351 of E Ft Myers, the Tice Fire Department and the Fire Department of the City of Ft Myers. The perseverance, determination, and commitment of these fine men and women is truly an inspiration to all who met the troops. The citizens of SW Florida says thank you to these courageous men and women for their service to our nation. They have given so much in the defense of our freedoms and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their personal sacrifices.

Monroe County

By George Brentnall

Veterans Day in the Southern Most County

Veterans day was celebrated by a host of veterans’ parades throughout the Keys. Marathon held there celebration which was sponsored by the Veterans Council. The parade was well attended with people showing their appreciation for those who served and those that still serve. Our own Peggy Ricciutto was in the parade carrying the flag for the Monroe County Veterans Affairs. In Key West the Navy was in charge of organizing this year’s parade and it turned out great. Throngs of people lined the infamous Duval street to pay tribute to vets, past and present. I had the pleasure of riding in the parade with a special guest, CSM Tom Murray, USA, Retired, a Korean War ex-POW. It was heartwarming to hear the well wishes and thanks from the people.

CSM Murray, his wife Toni (Army vet) and George Brentnall driving in Key West Vets Day parade
October 2007 Conference in Pictures

By Tony Reese, Martin County