Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 4-28-09

What’s Inside Today’s Local News for Veterans

1. Chiarelli Hands Out Purple Hearts During Walter Reed’s Centennial.  
2. Most Families Allowing Coverage Of Fallen US Soldiers’ Return.  
3. VA Mortgages Expected To Be Considered During Housing Bill Mark Up.
4. As Swine Flu Cases Rises, VA Said To Be Ready For Pandemic.  
5. Despite Protests, VA Continuing With Plans To Re-Develop St. Albans.  
6. Bill Under Consideration In Senate Aimed At Protecting Some Vets’ Gun Rights.
7. VA Hospital Receives Diversity Award.  
8. Veterans Fair To Be Held In Illinois.  
9. VA Clinic In Oklahoma To Be Closed For Employee Training.  
10. Former VA Employee Sentenced In Kickback Scheme.  

1.      Chiarelli Hands Out Purple Hearts During Walter Reed’s Centennial.   The Washington Post (4/28, Davenport) reports, "For 100 years, the country’s wounded warriors have been treated" at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which today "serves hundreds of patients streaming back from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan." On Monday, Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the US Army’s vice chief of staff, visited the facility, where he presented Purple Hearts to a number of those soldiers. The Post adds, "To commemorate" the Walter Reed "centennial this week, there are public tours of the hospital every day through Friday," when a "formal ball" will be held.

2.      Most Families Allowing Coverage Of Fallen US Soldiers’ Return.   The AP (4/28, Chase) reports, "In the weeks since the Pentagon ended an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning" to the US, "most families given the option have allowed reporters and photographers to witness the solemn ceremonies that mark the arrival of flag-draped transfer cases." And while critics "had warned that military families needed privacy and peace activists might exploit the images," the coverage up to this point "has not caused problems," although media "interest has fallen off sharply since…the arrival" of Phillip A. Myers, the "first combat casualty whose return to American soil was witnessed by the news media."
      First Vet Covered Under New Policy Laid To Rest At Arlington.   The Washington Post (4/28, Berman), which notes Eddie Myers "said the family was proud that his son was the first to return under the new media policy," adds that on Monday, Phillip Myers became the "90th casualty from the Afghanistan conflict" to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

3.      VA Mortgages Expected To Be Considered During Housing Bill Mark Up.   CQ (4/28, Mattingly) reports the "House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday will mark up legislation designed to significantly overhaul the nation’s battered housing market." A "matter of dispute" concerning the bill is the "narrow scope of language providing ‘safe harbor’ from liability for loan servicers if a mortgage goes bad." CQ notes that a "major manager’s amendment expected to be offered Tuesday" is also "expected to expand the definition of ‘qualified mortgages’ in the safe-harbor section to include…mortgages originated through" the Department of Veterans Affairs.

4.      As Swine Flu Cases Rises, VA Said To Be Ready For Pandemic.       The Milwaukee Public Radio (4/28, Mikkelson) website says the Milwaukee VA Medical Center is among the Federal healthcare facilities in Wisconsin "on the lookout: for swine flu in Wisconsin. Dr. Ralph Schapira, who would coordinate the response, "says the VA hospitals have had a plan in place for dealing with pandemics since the September 11th terrorist attacks." Schapira also "says the best precautionary measures are to keep your hands clean and stay out of large crowds."
      Meanwhile, the website for KNXV-TV Phoenix, AZ (4/27) said that due "to swine flu concerns, some Valley hospitals have seen calls and walk-ins at the emergency room with people fearing they’re infected," even though no "cases have been detected in Arizona." Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Systems Infection Control Specialist Doctor Jeff Marx "said the hospital has received a few phone calls, and is…urging people to remain calm."
      VA Hospital In North Carolina Part Of Swine Flu Discussions.   The Fayetteville (NC) Observer (4/28, Calhoun) reports, "State health officials have identified a handful of people" in North Carolina "who may have swine flu, but the cases can’t be confirmed until Wednesday, said Dr. Jeffrey Engel, the state health director, at a news conference Monday." Also, "health officials from the Cumberland County Health Department" and a VA medical center "met Monday to discuss the outbreak, according to a news release."

5.      Despite Protests, VA Continuing With Plans To Re-Develop St. Albans.   The Queens (NY) Courier (4/25, Mimoni) reported, "Local veterans and concerned residents continue to protest plans to re-develop" the Department of Veterans Affairs "facility in St. Albans, but according to sources in the Department, the process is continuing. At the last demonstration, several dozen demonstrators gathered outside the main gate at 179-00 Linden Boulevard on Sunday, April 19," when they "claimed that ‘thousands of units of housing for non-veterans’ would be built on the 55-acre campus. Not so, said VA spokesperson Ray Aalbue, who pointed to the 2007 Request For Proposals…on the project." Aalbue added, "Everything I’ve heard has demonstrated concern during the process, for the community and the veterans."

6.      Bill Under Consideration In Senate Aimed At Protecting Some Vets’ Gun Rights.   The Navy Times (4/28, Maze) reports, "A bill aimed at protecting the gun rights of some veterans is under Senate consideration. The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, pending before" the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, "would limit the circumstances in which a veteran’s name could be added" to a Federal database "used to do instant background checks for gun purchases. By law, anyone ‘adjudicated as a mental defective’" must "be registered in the database. The bill, S 669, which has 15 co-sponsors, would prohibit VA from submitting names to the National Instant Criminal Background Check database unless a judicial authority finds the individuals to be a danger to themselves or others."

7.      VA Hospital Receives Diversity Award.   The Muskogee (OK) Phoenix (4/27) reports the Jack C. Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center "was recently awarded the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health’s Diversity Award in Leadership Initiatives and Governance Practices." The hospital "also received Muskogee’s NAACP Diversity Award in 2007" and the "American GI Forum’s Award of Appreciation in 2007."

8.      Veterans Fair To Be Held In Illinois.   The Paris (IL) Beacon-News (4/28, Henry) reports, "Veterans have a one-stop opportunity Saturday to obtain information about employment possibilities, education benefits, Veterans Affairs medical claims and other services available to veterans and their families," because the "Armed and Ready program of the Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars will be at the Illinois National Guard 1544th Armory, 1021 North Main, Paris, starting at 10:30 a.m." that day. First Sgt. Keith Butler of the 1544th "said representatives of the State of Illinois, the VA, and other" Federal agencies "will be present" at the event.

9.      VA Clinic In Oklahoma To Be Closed For Employee Training.   The lead story in the Wichita Falls (TX) Times Record News’ "Briefly, April 28" column reports the Lawton Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic "will be closed Friday for employee off-site training."

10.    Former VA Employee Sentenced In Kickback Scheme.   The Central Valley (CA) Business Times (4/28) reports, "Rodolfo Pagsanjan, 65, of Hanford," a former employee of the Veterans Affairs medical center in Fresno, "has been sentenced to one year in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine for a bribery and kickback scheme involving renovations" at the hospital. US District Judge Oliver Wanger "also sentenced Masoud Mirhadi, 67, of Clovis to three years of supervised probation and a $2,500 fine, in the same scheme, for unlawfully supplementing the salary of a government employee." The Times says "Pagsanjan solicited bribes from…Mirhadi" and a "third defendant, Trent Miller, 41, of Fresno," who earlier was sentenced by Wanger to five years of supervised probation. Pagsanjan obtained the bribes "by agreeing to sign-off on inflated contract change orders, according to Assistant US Attorneys Carolyn Delaney and Marlon Cobar, who prosecuted the case."