Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News

From The VA

Secretary Shinseki on VA’s Obligation to Vets

This past week, Secretary Shinseki spoke to National Public Radio about the obligation VA has to Veterans. He touched on topics ranging from wait times for claims to the GI Bill. Learn more

Top Veterans Stories in Today’s News

Special Notice
To help make sure our Veterans receive the best care possible, my son,” a disabled United States Marine,” and I designed a website for veterans and their families to voice the good and bad concerning their treatment in V A Facilities across our great country. This information will be used to share with other Veterans when looking for information concerning a certain V A Facility and the quality of care at that facility. Take the survey or leave comments here.  Dave Barnes, Sr

1. VA’s Shinseki Extols Value of Volunteerism Washington, DC – Random acts of kindness are nice, but Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki told graduates at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) that the world needs more “people who are regularly, habitually and deliberately kind.” “We can no more put a value on kindness than we can put a price on heroism,” Shinseki told nearly 1,300 graduates. “People who make caring for others a personal devotion, a part of their everyday lives, that’s what’s needed – people who are willing to serve the needs of others.”
2. A new kind of battle tests wounded veterans Colorado Springs, Colorado – An Afghan insurgent’s homemade bomb shattered Marc Esposito’s lower legs, broke his back and knocked him cold for four days. But the Air Force staff sergeant says the worst part was being torn from his Special Operations teammates who stayed in the field after he was evacuated. A year later, Sgt. Esposito said, he’s found a new team fighting a different kind of battle — the U.S. military’s first Warrior Games for wounded servicemen and women at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
3. Thousands of Vietnam veterans set to gather at Lambeau Field next weekend Madison, Wisconsin (AP) – Thousands of veterans are expected to converge on Lambeau Field in Green Bay next weekend. The Wisconsin Historical Society, the state Department of Veterans Affairs, Wisconsin Public Television and more than two dozen other groups have invited veterans from across Wisconsin and beyond to the Green Bay Packers’ legendary stadium and grounds for food, camaraderie and memories.
4. First step on burn pits Washington, DC – The Veterans Affairs Department has issued guidance on how to determine benefits for vets exposed to environmental hazards, including burn pits, in the war zones. The move is significant: The 30-page training letter marks the first time VA has ever addressed potential battlefield exposures and the first time it has issued guidance on benefits for a war-related health issue without specific direction from Congress or the recommendation of large, independent health organizations.
5. Paired kidney exchange attracts VA Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Sometime in the next month, more than 600 veterans waiting for kidney transplants at VA hospital transplant centers in Pittsburgh and three other locations across the country could have a new option for finding an organ match.
6. U.S. steps up for wife of brain-injured vet For nearly five years without income, Aimee Zmysly relied on love and charity as she cared full time for her severely disabled husband, Afghanistan and Iraq Marine veteran Yuriy Zmysly. Now — thanks to a new act passed with bipartisan support and signed by President Obama — the government’s finally helping out with cash.
7. Thousands of Vietnam vets to gather to be thanked Madison, Wisconsin – Thousands of Vietnam-era veterans are set to converge on Lambeau Field next weekend hoping for the words they’ve waited 40 years to hear: Thank you.
8. Disabled vet to begin cross-country trip on motorcycle Rancho Cucamonga, California – If you happen to be near Victoria Gardens Wednesday morning, you’ll probably hear hundreds of motorcycles rev in unison as a group of veterans begin their journey across the country. That thunderous roar is like an aria to motorcycle aficionados, a sound that defines speed, open views and freedom.
9. City to unveil plan to protect veterans’ memorial Albuquerque, New Mexico – The city of Albuquerque is working to put an end to vandalism at Veterans’ Memorial Park. Next week, the city will unveil a plan to restore and protect the memorials at the park. They’re also considering paying for the damage and installing security cameras. For veterans, the vandalism cuts deep.
10. Kansas ranks last in service reps per veteran, says head of state commission Topeka, Kansas (AP) – The state agency responsible for reaching out to the 235,000 former service members in Kansas ranks dead last in the ratio of service representatives to veterans. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs has just one service representative for every 11,000 veterans in Kansas. The national average is one representative for every 3,500 veterans.