Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 4-22-09

What’s Inside Today’s Local News for Veterans

1. Veterans Said To Be Pleased With Obama.  
2. Senate Committee Approves Duckworth’s VA Nomination.  
3. VA Planning To Open New Vet Center In North Carolina.
4. Veterans Career Fair To Be Held In Indiana.  
5. Iraq Vet Testing Artificial Knee.  
6. VA Partners With Red Cross Facility To Assist Vets.  
7. Vet Center Helps Write Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Day Proclamation.  
8. Doctors Develop Anesthesia Recovery Device.  
9. Beckley VAMC Being Investigated.  
10. New VA Clinic To Be Dedicated In Early May.

---

IT’S EARTH DAY AT VA AND AROUND THE WORLD
Today, millions of people around the globe come together to celebrate Earth Day. Since its founding in 1970, Earth Day has led to the passage of major environmental protection legislation, the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and many other positive actions for a cleaner, healthier, and safer environment worldwide. The annual observance of Earth Day provides all an opportunity to renew and strengthen their stewardship commitment to the environment. All VA facilities are being encouraged to conduct or participate in an Earth Day event or activity that raises environmental awareness. Typical Earth Day activities include tree plantings, recycling drives, educational fairs, and joint community clean-up campaigns. Visit http://www.EarthDay.gov to learn how you can support Earth Day at work, at home, in the community, or in the classroom. This Web site also provides links to other federal and local community events and volunteer opportunities.

---

1.      Veterans Said To Be Pleased With Obama.   CongressDaily (4/22, Condon) reports, "While past and present military leaders aren’t about to change their largely Republican leanings, they are willing to credit" President Barack Obama "with some shrewd moves that allowed him to avoid the mistakes that made for such a hostile relationship between the military and the last non-veteran president — and Democrat — Bill Clinton." One "of the smart things" retired Army Lt. Col. James J. Carafano, currently a defense expert at the Heritage Foundation, "said Obama did to reassure the military was to appoint respected retired military people to key posts — Army Gen. Eric Shinseki as head of the Veterans Affairs Department," for example. Obama’s "only major military stumble came from a budget proposal" to charge veterans’ private insurance plans for service-connected injuries. But Craig Roberts, "media relations manager for the 2.6-million-member" American Legion, "noted that veterans’ groups are ‘generally encouraged’ by what they have seen from Obama, singling out…the sensitivity to military families" that the First Lady has shown "and the overall VA budget proposal" from the President.

2.      Senate Committee Approves Duckworth’s VA Nomination.   In continuing coverage, the Chicago (IL) Daily Herald (4/22, Carden) reports that on Monday night, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee "unanimously approved" Tammy Duckworth’s nomination "to a top job" in the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Duckworth, a disabled Iraq veteran, "saw her nomination held up earlier this month" by US Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), "who said he had questions concerning paperwork Duckworth submitted to the committee." The Herald notes that the "full Senate must now approve" Duckworth’s appointment.

3.      VA Planning To Open New Vet Center In North Carolina.   On its website, NEWS14-TV Charlotte, NC (4/21, Pacetti) noted, "The Department of Veterans Affairs recently said it will develop 39 new veteran centers across the country, including one" in North Carolina’s Onslow County. The facility, which "is supposed to open this fall," would "offer counseling services for veterans and their families as well as bereavement counseling for family of service members killed while on active duty." NEWS14 added that the VA "says it has hired 100 Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans as outreach specialists" for the 39 new veteran centers.

4.      Veterans Outreach Health Fair To Be Held In Michigan.   The Edison-Metuchen (NJ) Sentinel (4/22) reports, "The AMVETS Post No. 3 and the American Legion Post No. 65 will host a Veterans Outreach Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25, at American Legion Post 65, Route 27 in Metuchen." Services to be provided at the fair "include a general exam (noninvasive)" by a Veterans Affairs doctor, "blood pressure screenings," dental exams, and cancer screenings.

5.      Iraq Vet Testing Artificial Knee.   In continuing coverage, the WFLD-TV Chicago, IL (4/21) website said the US Army’s Greg Gadson, who "lost both legs in a roadside bombing in Iraq," is the "first person in the world to test" the Power Knee, which "could eventually change lives all over the world." The artificial knee, which was "manufactured by a company in Iceland called Ossur," should be "available to the general public sometime in 2010."

6.      VA Partners With Red Cross Facility To Assist Vets.   In a story noting the recent renovation of the American Red Cross service center in Boca Raton, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (4/21, Pensa) said the facility’ "has partnered with the Palm Beach Vet Center, which is under" the US Department of Veterans Affairs. For the "past month, a social worker has counseled war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other adjustment issues. ‘We wanted to get into southern portion of Palm Beach County,’ said Marshall Goby, team leader of the vet center based in Lake Worth. ‘It was a good partnership.’"

7.      Vet Center Helps Write Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Day Proclamation.   The Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News (4/22) reports, "At the request of District 4 Doña Ana County Commissioner Scott A. Krahling, the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners will proclaim April 28, 2009, as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day in honor of battle-tested veterans of the United States military." Krahling "said he worked in conjunction with the Las Cruces Vet Center to create the wording of the proclamation," which "will be read in its entirety at the April 28 regular meeting of the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners."

8.      Dorn VAMC To Honor Volunteer.   The AP (4/22) reports the William Jennings Bryan Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Columbia "is honoring a military veteran who has volunteered more than 17,000 hours of his time over the past 25 years in the South Carolina facility." Hospital officials "say 85-year-old Emanuel Poston is getting the hospital’s top volunteer honor in a ceremony Wednesday. Poston volunteered 289 hours over the past year, adding to his overall record" of "17,135 volunteer hours."

9.      Beckley VAMC Being Investigated.   In continuing coverage, West Virginia Public Broadcasting (4/22, Higgins) reports the US Department of Veterans Affairs "is investigating allegations ranging from harassment, sexual misconduct, patient neglect and abuse at the Beckley VA Med Center. This follows" the facility’s "own internal investigation where several employees have been cited and ordered to respond to allegations of abuse and harassment."
      Facility Honored For Blood Donation, Collection Efforts.   On its website, WVNS-TV Bluefield, WV (4/21, Fritz) reported, "A mission of mercy" for the Beckley VAMC "is helping more than just veterans. Over the past 15 years the management and staff of the hospital have donated 35 hundred units of blood." It is "an accomplishment that has earned them the Partners for Life award from the American Red Cross." On Tuesday, Red Cross officials presented "the hospital with a plaque marking the milestone. The hospital also received the Community Hero Award," which is "presented to community members who help facilitate blood collection."

10.    New VA Clinic To Be Dedicated In Early May.   The Clare County (MI) Review (4/22, Maurer) reports, "After nearly two years of planning and preparation, the dedication of the new Clare Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be held May 8 at 11 a.m." The new facility "is located just east of Clare…at 11775 North Isabella Road."