Page 15 – Military Connection

The VA and Women Veterans – A Matter of Trust

March 29, 2021/in Community News

The VA and Women Veterans – A Matter of Trust

Women Veterans are turning to the VA for care four times more than they were twenty years ago, and the VA has known for a long time that there is a disparity in the level of trust they garner with women veterans compared to their male counterparts. So they’re doing something about it!

Each Veteran’s journey is unique. In an effort to better support the needs of women veterans (and hopefully earn their trust), the VA recently compiled a list of the most common questions received by women on the VA’s White House Hotline. Top concerns include:

The VA is using this information to influence and improve outreach and engagement efforts by the VA. Women veterans have seen quite a few changes since October and can expect more in the coming months.

A Women Veterans Quick Start Guide was created and added to the VA Welcome Kit to address issues specific to women in the military.
The VA is building and strengthening relationships with organizations supporting women veterans and their families such as WoVeN, Women Veterans Alliance, the Military Sisterhood Initiative, and more.
Women focused resources are provided at Veterans Experience Live events.
Women’s health transition training is being provided to help female service members learn about VA resources while transitioning to civilian life.

The VA is focusing efforts on adequately identifying and responding to the needs of women military Veterans. Visit their website for more details and to learn about additional programs aimed at achieving this goal.

Rescue Dogs and Incarcerated Vets Help Each Other Heal

March 26, 2021/in Military Veteran, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Special Interest

The Saginaw Correctional Facility in Michigan is attempting to improve the quality of prison life for veteran inmates by training them to be dog handlers.

Vietnam War Veterans Day 2021

March 25, 2021/in Holidays & Events, Military History

Vietnam War Veterans Day 2021

contributed by Melissa Lucas, senior staff writer

On March 29^th, 1973 the final round of U.S. troops was withdrawn from Vietnam. Forty-eight years later, we are celebrating the fourth anniversary of National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which was established by the Vietnam War Veteran Recognition Act of 2017.

Nearly nine million United States soldiers served during the Vietnam War Era, and today we lose close to 3,900 Vietnam Vets each week. There are several organizations which have made it their mission to honor and preserve the legacy of those who served, while educating each generation about the Vietnam War and its impact.

Vietnam Veteran Support Organizations

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) was established in 1980 and is famous for the conception and creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also known as The Wall, which lists the names of the 58,000 American soldiers who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.

The VVMF assists in the upkeep and care of The Wall, supports the collection and curation of all tribute items left at The Wall, hosts ceremonies to commemorate those who served and sacrificed, and distributes educational material to teach students about the lasting impact of the war in Vietnam.

In 2009 The VVMF embarked on a mission to connect every name on The Wall with a face and a story. The Wall of Faces, is nearly complete, with a few photos missing from only three states and one territory.

Vietnam Veterans of America

Vietnam Veterans of America seeks to serve local communities while advocating for Veterans issues specifically relevant to Vietnam Vets. They’ve created outreach programs focused on Vietnam Veteran concerns such as the consequences of exposure to Agent Orange, educational opportunities, and PTSD, substance abuse.

Vietnam Veterans of America chapters can be found throughout the country. The organization also produces a bi-monthly publication titled The Veteran, which is available in print for VVA members and online for anyone who is interested, at no cost.

U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration was launched in 2012 to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of significant U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Since then, the organization has striven to present all 6.2 million U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War with a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin as “a lasting memento of the Nation’s thanks.” The Commemoration will continue until 2025.

Celebrating National Vietnam War Veterans Day 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the usual events held to honor National Vietnam War Veterans Day have been cancelled, postponed, or gone virtual. There are still several ways to show your support for our Vietnam Vets.

Facebook has profile picture frames for both Vietnam Veterans and their supporters.
On National Vietnam Veterans Day, The VA will be releasing videos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in honor of the sacrifices made by our service members and their families during the Vietnam War.
The VVMF will host their annual commemoration virtually; a live stream of the service can be viewed on their website and Facebook page at 1:00 PM ET on March 29^th.

More from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund has several ways Americans can support our Vietnam Veterans, fallen soldiers, and their families.

Learn about Vietnam War history via the timeline of the Vietnam Era on their website.
Take part in one of the many ceremonies held by the VVMF once restrictions related to COVID-19 are lifted.
Virtually Explore the Wall of Faces which includes a page for every person whose name is inscribed on The Vietnam Veterans
Donate to the In Memory Program which memorializes those veterans who served the Vietnam War, returned home, and later lost their lives as a result of their service.
Explore the era by signing up to receive free Vietnam Era resources from the VVMF.
Shop the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund store.
Consider visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Use the Mobile Tour App (available for both Apple and Android operating systems) while you’re there.
See if the Wall That Heals Tour (a travelling ¾ scale replica of The Wall) is coming to a city near you.
Take a virtual tour of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall.

Another way of honoring the Vietnam Veteran in your life is to explore the possibilities of receiving Aid & Attendance benefits for which your Veteran might be eligible. For more information on Aid & Attendance and whether or not you or someone you know qualifies, visit Veterans Home Care’s VetAssist Eligibility Calculator.

On Vietnam War Veterans Day 2021 Military Connection honors the sacrifices, both past and present, of all of our Vietnam Vets, fallen soldiers, and their families. Thank you for your service.

Labor Day: More than Just a Day to BBQ

Major Events in October with Free Tickets for Service Members, Veterans, and Families

Free Tickets for Vets

Was Bea Arthur in the Marines?

March 24, 2021/in Community News, Marine Corps

Bea Arthur, Marine
Photo: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/bea-arthur-us-marine

Before studying at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School in New York, before Broadway and Tony Awards, and way before the Golden Girls, Bea Arthur was one of the first women to serve in the Marine Corps.

On February 13, 1943 the Marines became the final military service branch to allow women into its ranks. With a war in full swing, The Corps thought it prudent to allow women to serve in WWII as a means of enabling as many male Marines to join combat units as possible.

Five days later, 20-year-old Beatrice Arthur (née Frankel), the daughter of Jewish immigrants from Austria and Poland, enlisted in the Marine Corps. Best known for her role as Dorothy Zbornak of the Golden Girls, much of Private Frankel’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) reads like a description of her beloved sitcom character. She was described as “frank and open” and “argumentative.” One official assessment read, “Officious – but probably a good worker if she has her own way!”

Throughout Bea Arthur’s Marine Corps career, she worked as a typist at Headquarters in D.C., as well as a driver and dispatcher at the Motor Transport School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Arthur had reached the rank of Staff Sergeant by the time she was honorably discharged in 1945.

Bea Arthur’s military personnel file became public in 2010, just a year after her death. The reasons for her denial of having served in the Marine Corps are unknown, but it is certain that she served her country in a time of need, paving the way for women in military over the coming decades. We honor her service.

Tips and Tricks: An OCONUS PCS Guide

March 23, 2021/in Active Duty, Military Family, Military Spouse, Resources, Special Interest

How to plan for an OCONUS PCS move – tips and tricks

Celebrate National Medal of Honor Day on March 25th

March 22, 2021/in Community News

The Army Medal of Honor was created in 1862. By 1915, members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard were also eligible to receive the National Medal of Honor. In the 1960’s the Air Force created their own version of the prestigious award.

While there are many ways to recognize extraordinary action by a member of the Armed Forces, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. government. It can be earned for “meritorious actions above and beyond the call of duty,” while engaged in action against an enemy of the U.S., in operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces against their enemy.

The first Medal of Honor was awarded on March 25, 1863, which is why, starting in 1990, we have celebrated National Medal of Honor Day each year on the 25^th of March. Most observances of the national holiday take place on military bases and within local communities. National Medal of Honor Day 2021 will be celebrated a little bit differently. Many cities have committed to commemorate the holiday with a Moment of Honor at 3:25 PM on March 25^th. Check this list to see if yours is one of them.

If you’d like to recognize Medal of Honor recipients in your own way, consider adopting the gravesite of a fallen soldier who received the award, use social media to share the holiday and what it means to you, make a donation to support the National Medal of Honor Museum, or watch this video during your own Moment of Honor.

Want to learn more about Congressional Medal of Honor recipients? Home of Heroes has a complete listing of each and every recipient, when they received their Medal, and what they received it for.

4 Ways to Determine a Company’s Workplace Culture Before Taking the Job

March 18, 2021/in Employment, Employment Assistance, Jobs

Learn how to determine workplace culture before taking a job with a new company.

National Military Spouse Network’s Roadmap to Employment Stability for Military Spouses

March 17, 2021/in Community News

Review of the National Military Spouse Network’s White Paper: Roadmap to Employment Stability for Military Spouses

Helping Children of Deployed Military Service Members: 11 Ideas for Maintaining Connection During Deployment

March 16, 2021/in Deployment & Reintegration, Military Family, Special Interest

A key to helping children of deployed parents navigate the inevitable range of emotions they will experience is to ensure they maintain a feeling of connection to the deployed parent.