Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 11-10-08

1. Peake Expects Review Of Salisbury Plan This Week.  
2. Peake Calls For Recognition Of Veterans.  
3. Federal Law Allows Veterans To Salute Flag.  
4. American Veterans Center Hands Out Awards.  
5. Local Ceremonies Planned To Mark Veterans Day.  
6. Federal Workers Urged To Honor Veterans.  
7. Veterans Day Events To Be Held In North Carolina.  
8. Few Expected To Attend Veterans Day Parade In California.  
9. Hefner VAMC Co-Hosts "Welcome Home" Celebration.  
10. DoD Launches Website For Wounded Veterans.

HAVE YOU HEARD?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES!  You are 233yrs young and still going strong!
GreatAmerican.com, a new web video portal focused on American role models and backed by the firm that created YouTube, launches Veterans Day November 11 with stories of the men and women who serve our nation in uniform. The purpose of the Great Americans movement is to celebrate people in every area of our society whose lives offer a positive example to others. As the first step in the pursuit of this vision, GreatAmericans.com focuses on men and women in uniform who put their lives at risk to protect our nation at home and abroad. GreatAmericans.com employs a cutting-edge online video platform to tell the stories of the millions of men and women who serve our nation in uniform. Visitors can view videos featuring everyday American heroes submitted by military personnel, military support organizations, veteran’s groups, law enforcement, fire and rescue and NASA. Visitors can also upload videos, comment and discuss content, or visit an online memorial to American heroes in uniform who have been wounded or lost their lives in the line of duty. Visit this online salute to patriotism at http://www.GreatAmericans.com and join in celebrating the lives, service and sacrifice of those who serve us all.

1.      Peake Expects Review Of Salisbury Plan This Week.   In continuing coverage, the Salisbury Post (11/9, Huffman) profiles Zane Robertson, a Salisbury veteran who "was the driving force behind a protest staged Friday by veterans and others" outside the Salisbury VA. Meanwhile, "some union leaders who represent VA workers have warned that the changes could result in hundreds of job losses, an accusation that Carolyn Adams, director of the VA, denies."
      The Winston-Salem Journal (11/9, McNeely, 84K) also reports on Friday’s protest, noting that "the outcry about the service changes has prompted a full review of the plan by VA Secretary James Peake. In a letter written in October, Peake said he would have the results of the review by Nov. 15. ‘Our plan must and will consider and respect the perspectives of all stakeholders, especially our veteran patients and VA employees,’ Peake. Wrote."

2.      Peake Calls For Recognition Of Veterans.   The Lake County (CA) News (11/10) reports, "Special commemorative events are scheduled to take place around Lake County and the nation on Veterans Day, this coming Tuesday, Nov. 11." The News notes that during Veterans Day, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake "calls on Americans to recognize the nation’s 23.4 million living veterans and the generations before them who fought to protect freedom and democracy." As "part of the national Veterans Day observance, Peake will join White House and military officials and leaders of the major veterans organizations at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery at 11 a.m." The New Haven (CT) Register (11/10, Amarante) also notes Peake’s call.
      Various Events In Louisiana To Celebrate Veterans Day.   The Shreveport (LA) Times (11/10, Prime) reports an 11 a.m. gathering Tuesday at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery will be "part of a flurry of events that will pay tribute to veterans around the state." The cemetery event will "coincide with a celebration at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge," where Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Lane Carson "will induct a dozen members into the Louisiana Veterans Hall of Honor." The Times adds, "This Veterans Day may look a little different in action this year, due to recent changes to federal law that allow" US veterans and military personnel "not in uniform to render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the National Anthem, as well as during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag." In a press release noting the law change, Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. James B. Peake said, "The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation’s armed forces. This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nations flag."

3.      Federal Law Allows Veterans To Salute Flag.   The Kansas City InfoZine (11/9) reports, "A change to federal law allows US veterans and military personnel not in uniform to render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem. … ‘The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation’s armed forces,’ Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. James B. Peake said. ‘This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation’s flag.’" 

4.      American Veterans Center Hands Out Awards.   The Washington Times (11/10, Drost) reports, "Major League Baseball veterans of World War II, who despite their potential for fame and glory decided to serve in the military, were among those honored over the weekend at the American Veterans Center’s 11th annual awards banquet." Six" veterans who deferred their major league dreams to serve their country — Jerry Coleman, Monte Irvin, Joe Anders, Bob Feller, Ralph Kiner and Lou Brissie — attended the event to accept the prestigious Audie Murphy Award, named after the most decorated soldier of World War II. Former Washington Senator Mickey Vernon," who died this past September, "also received the award. The Audie Murphy Award was one of five major accolades presented by the group Saturday night, each to a veteran of a major conflict." The Times goes on to quote US Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake, who said, "Our nation endures because of our veterans."

5.      Local Ceremonies Planned To Mark Veterans Day.   Many local media outlets, including the Macomb (MI) Daily (11/9, DeFrank, Hotts), the Danville (IL) Commercial News (11/9, Wicoff), and the Talladega (AL) Daily Home (11/9) report on preparations by local organizations for Veterans Day ceremonies. Meanwhile, some outlets provide calendars or schedules for Veterans Day events, sometimes including discounts or other offers available to veterans this week.
      The Ironton (OH) Tribune (11/9, Rapp), the Austin (TX) Daily Herald (11/9, Bonorden), and the Georgetown (KY) News-Graphic (11/9, Oakley) report on the history of Veterans Day, noting that it was celebrated as Armistice Day until President Eisenhower signed legislation to institute Veterans Day.
      The Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader (11/9, Warren) reports that the local Veterans Day parade "will highlight the sacrifices and contributions of women who have served in the US military. Accordingly, all of the parade grand marshals will be women." And the Big Spring (TX) Herald (11/9, Reagan) reports that "the Big Spring VA Medical Center will honor this community’s only Medal of Honor winner when it holds Veteran’s Day ceremonies."
      The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (11/9, Uebelherr, 240K) profiles several local veterans who attended Milwaukee’s 45th annual Veterans Day celebrations.

6.      Federal Workers Urged To Honor Veterans.   In his "What’s Brewin’" Government Executive (11/10) blog, Bob Brewin writes, "This Tuesday marks Veterans Day, and federal workers have two choices on this day off: shop or honor veterans." Brewin argues that because "the economy has tanked," the workers should "save money and take the time to pay tribute."

7.      Veterans Day Events To Be Held In North Carolina.   The Salisbury (NC) Post (11/10) reports, "Veterans Day activities set for Salisbury Tuesday include" a 9 a.m. wreath-laying service at "Old National Cemetery, 202 Government Road." At 10 a.m., a Veterans Day program is scheduled to be held at the Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center "in Building 6, 1601 Brenner Ave." The Post also notes that at 1 p.m., a parade is scheduled to be held at Hefner.

8.      Few Expected To Attend Veterans Day Parade In California.   The San Diego Union-Tribune (11/10, Liewer) reports that "each year on Veterans Day" in San Diego County, "a small group of former service members battles public apathy, a chronic lack of funding and weak marketing to put on a parade that pays tribute to the men and women who have served in the nation’s armed forces. At 11 a.m. Tuesday," this year’s parade will start moving down Pacific Highway, but if "history is any guide, only the sparsest of crowds" will be there to see it. Instead, most "San Diegans will stay home to watch TV or barbecue," if they are given the day off, that is. The Union-Tribune adds, "Some of the parade’s boosters would like to see San Diegans with deeper pockets step in to help transform it into a major happening."

9.      Hefner VAMC Co-Hosts "Welcome Home" Celebration.   In continuing coverage, the Salisbury (NC) Post (11/9, Chaffin) reported, "Several hundred veterans and their families, local dignitaries, representatives of agencies serving veterans," and employees of the Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center "and VA clinics in Charlotte, Hickory and Winston-Salem attended" a "Welcome Home" celebration Saturday for veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The event, held in Mooresville at JR Motorsports, was cosponsored by Hefner, and among "those participating in the…celebration were Carolyn Adams," Hefner’s director, Debra Volkmer, manager of Hefner’s Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom program, and "Chaplain Paul Schellbach, readjustment counselor at the Vet Center in Greensboro."

10.    DoD Launches Website For Wounded Veterans.   Federal Computer Week (11/7, O’Hara) reported, "The Defense Department has launched a new Web portal designed to help service members and their families find health information and programs available to them. The www.WarriorCare.mil portal has links to health-related programs and resources offered by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps," DoD, and the "Veterans Affairs Department." FCW also noted that DoD and the VA "have established an interagency program office to improve the sharing of computerized health data between the departments."