26.                       Army Remains Committed To Health Of Troops. USA Today Dr. Lisa Zacher, a pulmonary consultant in the Army Office of the Surgeon General, writes that the article on how dust in Iraq and Afghanistan may be hurting troops through heavy metals, bacteria, and fungi "omits current and past investigations conducted by military researchers into the possible relationship between dust inhalational in Southwest Asia and clinical disease in deployed personnel." The US Army Public Health Command concluded that the dust "had a similar composition to other desert regions." Published peer-reviewed research by Army infectious disease experts did not find "a connection between bacteria in the soil and infections in servicemembers." Zacher concluded, "The health of our servicemembers has been and remains a top priority for the Army Medical Department and our Department of Defense colleagues."

27.                        Smart-Phone App For Vets With PTSD Hits 5,000 Downloads.  Government Computer News A new smart-phone app developed for the Veterans Affairs and Defense Departments that offers "support to veterans and service members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder has hit 5,000 downloads." The app provides "a self-assessment for PTSD, support and treatment options, and tools for managing stress from the condition."

28.                       Veterans Return To High Unemployment, Tight Job Market.  Orlando Sentinel "Unemployment among...recent veterans is higher than among the rest of the population and among military veterans overall." Military officials say that jobs "are harder to come by these days at defense contractors, historically big employers of veterans." Furthermore, that gap "could widen later this year if the US military, as scheduled, pulls its remaining troops out of Iraq and begins its 'drawdown' of personnel in Afghanistan."

29.                       Health Program Receives Award. St. Cloud (MN) Times The St. Cloud VA Healthcare System Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program "recently was awarded the VA Midwest Healthcare Network Mental Health Team of the Year award at the annual Mental Health Conference in Sioux Falls, S.D."

30.                       Soldiers' Burn Pit Exposure Scrutinized. WFLA-TV Two US senators "want action to protect our servicemen and women from this: Burn Pits." Army sergeant William McKenna, died from cancer believe to be cause by his work at a burn pit. His wife, Deana, "fought with the Department of Veterans Affairs to get her husband 100% disability." After the station aired a segment on her flight, the VA granted him 100% total and permanent disability. "McKenna says her battle with the Department of Veterans affairs is far from over. In fact, she says she'll continue to fight for other veterans that were exposed to the burn pits. ... Dina McKenna also says that the VA needs to move more quickly to help troops that have already been exposed to the toxic fumes. ... Because of complaints from veterans and pressure from lawmakers, the VA is now funding a study on the possible effects of burn pit exposure."

31.                        Council Pushes Feds To Back St. Albans VA. New York Post New York's City Council "unanimously passed a resolution Monday that asks the Veterans Administration to fully renovate" the St. Albans Veterans Center instead of tearing "down the hospital and renovate 30 acres for a new hospital while leasing the rest of the space for private development." Veterans and elected officials have also called for the VA to reconsider its plans. "A representative from the VA said the agency has seen the resolution and continues to evaluate the development plan."

32.                        Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center To Host Job Fair.  WJBF-TV On June 9, "the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center's Seamless Transition Center will host a Job Fair...for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) Veterans and their family members." It will include "representatives from the Medical Center's Human Resources Office, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Columbia County Sheriff's Department and Northrop Grumman."

33.                       VA's Rural Health Team Makes Two Area Visits Next Week.  WWAY-TV VA's Rural Health Team is stopping twice in the Wilmington, North Carolina, "area to enroll veterans in the system, and provide health screenings and information." At the stops, there will be "nurses who will be conducting health education, a nurse educator who can provide materials and discuss such issues as diabetes management and tips on controlling hypertension and cholesterol levels...pharmacists who can answer pharmacy related questions and review medications with individuals," as well as "an eligibility and enrollment specialist will be on-hand to discuss VA health benefits and accept veterans' enrollments on the spot."

34.                       Couple Painted Murals Together.  Dayton Daily News Henri and Nelda Franceus. The two ran a painting studio, and around 2000 the Dayton VA hopsital asked them to paint several murals. Henri said, "We started the VA mural project in late 2001 and worked through 2003." It included three 9-foot by 20-foot murals and five 8-foot by 9-foot canvases of historical scenes for the restaurant.

35.                       In Interview, Dentist Says He's Central Figure In Ohio VA Scare And Is Insulted By Claims.  AP  Dr. Dwight Pemberton, a dentist who is accused of failing "for years to change gloves or sterilize instruments between patients while working at" the Dayton VA Medical Center in Ohio, "says he's insulted" by the allegations and believe the complaints "were leveled against him by co-workers whose ultimate target was his boss." He also "accuses the VA of ignoring possible employees who would have testified in his favor." Pemberton "said no patients were put at risk and that the VA had 'aroused suspicions and doubts and fears' by offering testing." VA spokesman Todd Sledge said the department "cannot say whether Pemberton is the dentist accused of violating sanitation procedures."

36.                       Bedford VA Counselor Charged With Selling Veterans Illegal Drugs. Walpole (MA) Times  Patrick M. McNulty "was arrested Tuesday on a criminal complaint charging him with distributing cocaine at the VA Medical Center in Bedford," where he supervised veterans undergoing substance abuse treatment. "According to the affidavit, a VA patient came forward in November 2010 to complain that McNulty was selling cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy to patients." McNulty could receive 20 years incarceration, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

37.                       Syracuse VA Medical Center Visits County Jails, Searches For Military Veterans Who Need Assistance.  The Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard Syracuse VAMC "is visiting county jails in search of military veterans who need housing, treatment for drug and alcohol addictions, job training and other services. Veterans Justice Outreach is a new national program, part of the VA's efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans." Like other VAMCs, the Syracuse hospital has hired a coordinator to reach out to veterans incarcerated in local jails. Kynna Murphy, formerly forensic coordinator at Hutchings Psychiatric Center and a psychiatric social worker at the Onondaga County Justice Center, runs the Syracuse VAMC's program. She will "work with unsentenced, incarcerated veterans in the 14 counties served by the Syracuse VA."

38.                       VA Walk Promotes Wellness.  Danville (IL) Commercial News The Veterans Affairs Illiana Healthcare System "will host a 2K walk and roll event June 2 in support of employee wellness month." The paper notes that the local event "is just one of many 2Ks taking place that day at other VA facilities across the country," promoting VA's "WIN" (Wellness is Now) employee wellness program.

39.                       The VA is A-OK.  Westside Today (CA) A volunteer at the West LA VAMC takes issue with earlier criticism by an ACLU official over outside groups being allowed to use parts of its campus, charging that the ACLU "goes out of its way to slam a terrific facility. Ask those who use its services." He also argues that revenue from those groups is "used for VA needs, not all of which are provided by our government."

40.                       Interest Grows In Navy SEALs And Their National Museum Located On The Treasure Coast.  Treasure Coast Palm Since the killing of Osama bin Laden by Navy SEALs, the director of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce "said calls, letters and post cards have been arriving from throughout the world." The museum, the only one of its type, also expects to see increased attendance at a Memorial Day service there open to the public.

41.                       Marine Corps Can't Find Records Of Critical Tests. St. Petersburg (FL) Times "Some soil at Camp Lejeune, N.C., was so saturated with fuel and chemicals by the late 1980s, the Marine Corps knew it was critical to test the air in nearby buildings for carcinogens." Although a base environmental engineer publically said in 1988 that testing would begin "in the very near future," the Marine Corps told the paper that "they could find no documentation that testing was completed before the late 1990s."

42.                       Warrior Games Showcase True American Heroes.  Perkiomen Valley (PA) Patch The ongoing Warrior Games in Colorado Springs brings together "220 wounded, injured and ill active duty servicemen and women from all branches of the military -- Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The athletes all have physical or emotional disabilities, but they don't let things like amputations, post-traumatic stress disorder, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury or visual impairment get in their way. Through sheer determination, these contenders compete in archery, cycling, basketball, shooting, swimming, track and field, and volleyball."

43.                       Armed Forces Day Observances. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle The Armed Forces Day celebration at the Monroe County Fair & Expo Center, noting that the national observance was first "held in May 1950, created by then-President Harry S Truman to honor branches of the military, such as the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines."

44.                       Letter: Nurses Earn Honor.  Amarillo Globe News

45.                       NFL/Wounded Warrior Contingent Reaches Top Of Mount Kilimanjaro. USA Today

46.                       VFW In Willingboro Back In Business. Burlington County (PA) Times

47.                       Ms. Wheelchair Winner Focuses On Abilities.  San Diego Union-Tribune

48.                       Veterans Pair With Pets To "Rescue" One Another. WMTV-TV