Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News

From The VA
More than 1,700 historic properties under the VA’s stewardship are a tangible connection between today’s heroes and the men and women of past generations who served our country. During the midst of the Civil War in 1862, Congress authorized President Abraham Lincoln to purchase land to be used as national cemeteries “for soldiers who shall have died in the service of the country.” Three years later, Lincoln established the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers to care for Union veterans. Now almost 150 years old, these cemeteries and institutions of care were the first facilities of what is now the Department of Veterans Affairs. With remembrance of the past and visions of the future, the VA’s Historic Preservation Program strives to preserve these significant resources. With some facilities continuing to provide veteran care, the VA’s Historic Preservation Program is working with other agencies and resources to find innovative uses for other buildings the VA no longer needs. For more information visit the VA’s Historic Preservation Program.

Top Veterans Stories in Today’s News

1. Bill requires VA, DOD to create Web portal for veterans Washington, DC – A new bill would require the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to create an Internet-based portal for veterans to access their records and benefits.
2. University of Utah opens first National Center for Veterans Studies Salt Lake City, Utah – The University of Utah announced the opening of their National Center for Veterans Studies on Monday. It’s the first center of its kind throughout the nation. It’s geared toward improving the lives of veterans once they return home from war.
3. The Changing Veteran Poses Challenges For The VA Carolyn Schapper was an Army sergeant who served in Iraq with a military intelligence unit north of Baghdad. Today, several years out of uniform, she keeps up with veterans online — on Facebook, blogs and chat groups.
4. New Poll Finds Majority of Americans Are Unaware of Issues Facing Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans and Troops Washington, DC – A new public awareness poll, Supporting Iraq and Afghanistan Troops and Veterans, found two out of three Americans know someone who has served, but the majority of Americans are unaware of the issues Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and troops face.
5. Group of Injured Veterans to Bicycle Sea to Shining Sea San Francisco, California – A team of exceptional athletes, many of whom are wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans representing all military branches, will depart from the Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday, May 22 for World T.E.A.M. Sports’ inaugural bike trek across America called Sea to Shining Sea. The goal of Sea to Shining Sea is to honor the courage of our service men and women, recognize the strength of the American spirit and challenge perceptions of how we view athletes. The ride will conclude in Virginia Beach on July 24
6. Honor Flight marks five years of taking veterans to their memorials Washington, DC – Five years after the first Honor Flight was organized, World War II veterans from southwest Minnesota boarded a Sun Country Airlines 737 bound for Washington to view the memorial built in their honor.
7. Veterans Benefits Administration Heeds Congressional Directive, Plans New Claims System Washington, DC – John Hall (D-NY), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, conducted a hearing to examine the effectiveness of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s employee work credit and management systems in processing compensation and pension claims and appeals. Responding to repeated calls from Congress and veteran stakeholders, VBA announced plans to take new steps to incentivize both quality and timely work by its benefit claims staff. This announcement comes ahead of a report on the benefit claims process to be released by the VA.
8. VA Assigns Levels of Inpatient Surgery Services The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has become the first hospital system nationwide to develop and implement a new method of monitoring and classifying where complex and difficult inpatient surgeries should be performed—based on specific criteria among its 112 surgery programs—to promote quality care and safer surgeries.
9. Colin Powell to dedicate Korean War memorial in Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, Iowa (AP) – Local authorities say former Secretary of State Colin Powell will speak in Cedar Rapids next month to help dedicate a new monument honoring the more than 700 Iowa natives who died in the Korean War.
10. Women veterans winning battle on health care Reading, Pennsylvania – Ardelle J. “Teddi” Williams served in the Women’s Army Corps from 1952 to 1955. But the war for her didn’t start until almost 20 years later when the Reading woman hurt her back and tried to access the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system.