Happy Saturday folks.  By the time I thought about getting the News out yesterday... it was already today!  :-)

Attached (CJCS.WWEB.EOW) is a compilation of selected Warrior & Survivor Care news stories from this week.  The topics include combat stress, warrior care, support for families, homeless Vets and, what is CJCS describes as, “The Sea of Good Will” – the actions of people and communities assisting returning warrior and their families to reintegrate back into their communities.   As with the daily W&SC Early Bird, feel free to print/forward to your leadership/principals and others as appropriate.  Thanks to Richard Osial at CJCS, PA Office!

Prayers and blessings for you and your loved ones and for our brave Troops and their loved ones everywhere.

Sincerely...................................Wayne

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Please give the following VA message widest dissemination...it would be appreciated.

From: Secor, Kevin

Sent:   Friday, July 01, 2011 9:32 AM

Subj: VA Response - Houston Nat'l Cemetery

June 30, 2011

STATEMENT FROM VA PRESS SECRETARY JOSH TAYLOR

“Invoking the name of God or Jesus is not only allowed, it is common at VA National Cemeteries across the country.  However, VA’s policy is that VA-sponsored honor guards should not make recitations at committal services unless requested to do so by the deceased’s survivor(s).”

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Background: Attached are National Cemetery Administration policy documents. Both documents reiterate in policy that “NCA will allow the reading of recitations at the committal services, but will do so only if such recitations are requested by the deceased’s survivors.”   The Houston policy also says, under #7: “Religious Services: On occasion, a family may request that a member of the Clergy provide a brief religious service.  This may include a reading from scriptures or a brief prayer.  If the family provides their own clergy, the honor team will not provide this service.”  It also says, and most importantly, under 8c that “NCA employees, including VA sponsored Volunteer Honor Guards, will not be selective in determining which recitations will be read.  The deceased’s survivor(s), and only they, will identify the text to be read.  Subject to paragraph d, NCA will accept for reading at its committal services any such texts including those which reflect any, all or no religious traditions on an equal basis.”

Paragraph d then says the only limitations on texts, which do not include religion: “VA will not accept for reading any texts that would, as determined by the cemetery director, have an adverse impact on the dignity and solemnity of a cemetery honoring those who served the Nation.  Among the texts that would not be read would be those that are obscene, racist, are “fighting words,” or are coarse, abusive, or politically partisan.” 

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CJCS PA News for Friday, July 1, 2011, Thanks to Richard Osial at CJCS PA Office

COMBAT, OPERATIONAL & POST-DEPLOYMENT STRESS/PTS/TBI 

·         Reality Of Life When Husband's Away At War: (WASHINGTON POST) --- “No one pays attention anymore.” The same could be said about Jessie, albeit for different reasons. For her, avoidance of the reports out of Afghanistan is less about lack of interest and more about self-preservation in the face of crushing anxiety. She doesn’t want to know if Jake’s base was mortared or if a colleague was shot at: “I won’t be able to function.”  http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/reality-of-life-when-husbands-at-war/2011/06/30/AG6YGfsH_story.html

·         Chapel protects the human weapon systems: (USAF NEWS) --- "The impact of a person's heart, soul and spirit has as much to do with the ability to accomplish the mission as the mind and body," said Chaplain (Col.) George Meister, 332nd AEW Chapel wing chaplain. "We advise commanders on moral and ethical issues pertaining to religious issues, health and welfare and the impact they have on accomplishing the mission," continued the colonel who is deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. "We also provide worship opportunities for all faiths." http://www.balad.afcent.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123262394

SUICIDE 

·         Veterans Die Facing Mountains of Red Tape: (DANGER ROOM -WIRED) --- When Clay Hunt returned home to Texas after two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the struggle didn’t end. Tormented by flashbacks and post-traumatic stress, he sought medical help from the Department of Veteran Affairs – but faced a pile of paperwork. While waiting for help, he turned his energy towards helping his fellow veterans, raising money for the wounded and appearing in public service announcements for veterans struggling, like him, with the psychological trauma of war.  Hunt took his own life on March 31, 2011. His disability checks arrived five weeks later.  http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/06/veterans-die-red-tape/

WOUNDED WARRIOR CARE/TREATMENT 

·         Top Pentagon Doctor Lauds Overseas Labs: (DOD NEWS) --- Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, called the overseas Army and Navy labs that have helped protect deployed service members for the past 60 years -- and civilians around the world as well -- “a national investment and a national treasure.”  http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=64517

WOUNDED WARRIOR & FAMILY SUPPORT

 ·         Welcome Back Veterans awards $4M in grants: (MLB.COM) --- The University of Michigan (Tigers), Emory University in Atlanta (Braves), the Red Sox Foundation and the University of California-Los Angeles (Angels) each were awarded a $1 million grant through Welcome Back Veterans and the backing of respective local clubs, Major League Baseball Charities and the McCormick Foundation announced on Thursday. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110630&content_id=21219754&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

·         Gary Sinise launches new foundation and film to boost troops: (WASHINGTON EXAMINER) --- With that, Sinise decided to create the Gary Sinise Foundation, which he hopes will honor the nation's defenders, veterans, first responders and their families by supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire and strengthen communities. "We can never do enough for our veterans. As far as I'm concerned, we can always do more," he said. http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/yeas-nays/2011/06/gary-sinise-launches-new-foundation-and-film-boost-troops

·         Program offers free homes to those wounded in Iraq, Afghanistan: (SACRAMENTO BEE, CA) --- Those selected to receive a house must agree to participate in a financial and home-care mentoring program. A financial counselor with the foundation is assigned to help home recipients develop a plan to pay off any debts.  To ensure that those who receive the homes don't lose them because of debts, the program specifies that no debt may be placed against the house. After three years, Eakes said, the foundation will deed the houses to the veterans, who may then do with them as they wish. The hope, he said, is that the family during those three years will have mastered skills for good financial stewardship. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/01/3740379/vets-housing.html

·         Wounded Warriors Go Cycling In France: (KSAT-TV, SAN ANTONIO) --- On Wednesday, American Airlines flew 147 wounded warriors from all over the country to France to take part in a 400-mile, six-day cycling expedition.  It's part of a program called Ride 2 Recovery, which uses the sport as its primary tool in helping to rehabilitate the veterans.  http://www.ksat.com/news/28399336/detail.html

·         Bialla Vineyards does its part to support the troops: (NAPA VALLEY REGISTER, CA) --- When Vito Bialla is asked why he spends so much time and effort fundraising for the Wounded Warrior project, the Navy SEALs Foundation and the Semper Fi Fund for Marine veterans, his response is matter-of-fact: “There are 25 million vets in the U.S. and 18 suicides a day.”  http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/wine/bialla-vineyards-does-its-part-to-support-the-troops/article_9104e08c-a37c-11e0-90f9-001cc4c002e0.html

WOUNDED WARRIOR RECOVERY 

·         After losing his legs in Afghanistan, life is different for Farmington grad Kyle Malin: (FARMINGTON INDEPENDENT, MN) --- Now, looking at the past year, that relationship has changed. But it’s been a change for the better. Kyle lost his legs in the explosion, but the couple has gained a lot of perspective.  “Sunshine.”   http://www.farmingtonindependent.com/event/article/id/17648/

“SEA OF GOOD WILL”

·         Employers, veteran groups agree to help job searches: (SALT LAKE CITY TRIBUNE) --- Forty-seven representatives from a range of groups publicly signed the charter for the new Utah Veterans and Military Employment Coalition.  The aim, said Terry Schow, executive director of Utah’s Department of Veteran Affairs, is to provide more coordination so that businesses can better respond when veterans’ agencies ask for briefings or job fair appearances. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52108154-78/veterans-utah-jobs-coalition.html.csp

VA

·         VA: Invoking God at services: OK (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 01 Jul 11) --- The Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday said that invoking the name of God or Jesus is not only allowed, but common at VA National Cemeteries across the country.  Local veterans and volunteer groups have accused VA officials of censoring religious speech undefined including the words Jesus and God undefined at Houston National Cemetery.  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7635190.html

OPINION/COMMENTARY

 ·         Office of Rural Health: (VANTAGE POINT, VA) --- With 41 percent of enrolled Veterans living in rural areas, the need for improved access to quality health care for rural Veterans has led the VA to transform the way health care is delivered. Rural Veterans face challenges when trying to access to quality health care because of the shortage of health care resources in rural areas, as well as the lack of specialty care providers. The Office of Rural Health (ORH) is working to ensure that rural Veterans have access to the health care they deserve.  http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/?p=3576

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NAUS News for week ending Friday, July 1, 2011.  Join NAUS Folks, Join NAUS and make a difference in support of our Vets, Retirees, and Active Duty Folks and Guard and Reserve.  Join NAUS!

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From Kevin Secor at VA HQ.  Thanks Kevin.

Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 9:02 AM

Subjt: VA Awards 14 Major Technology Contracts

Setting the Stage for Long-term IT Solutions to Serve Veterans

Washington, D.C. – Fourteen major contracts to transform information technology in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have been awarded for an estimated program ceiling of $12 billion.  The Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology program, known as T4, will consist of 15 prime contracts, including seven awards reserved for service-disabled Veteran small businesses and Veteran-owned small businesses.

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VA News Release - VA Issuing First Payments to Caregivers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1, 2011  

VA Issuing First Payments to Caregivers

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs will send out more than $430,000 in stipend payments to nearly 200 Family Caregivers of Veterans in July. These Family Caregivers were the first to complete their Caregiver training under the program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.  The first payments to 96 recipients were issued today.

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