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Veterans News & Views
Volunteers Honored
New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes conducted their Annual
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheons in April at Vineland
on the 20th, Paramus the 24th and Menlo Park on the 28th
(pictured above). The luncheons honor the veterans organizations
and the role they play in the volunteer support to the
homes. Photo courtesy New Jersey Veterans memorial
Home at Menlo Park.
VA Announces Site For National Cemetery
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected
a 214-acre property near Dolington in southern
Bucks County as the site for a new national cemetery
25 miles north of central Philadelphia.
VA plans to begin burials in a small section of the
cemetery as soon as late 2008.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained
from national cemetery offices, from a VA Web site at
www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices tollfree
at 1-800-827-1000.
Iraqi Vet VA’s 18 Millionth Home Loan Guaranty
One of the most widely used veterans benefits in
America reaches a major milestone May 13 when Secretary
of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson will announce
that an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran from
Texas is the recipient of the 18 millionth home loan
guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“VA’s home loan guaranty program has been helping
veterans purchase homes for more than 60 years,”
Secretary Nicholson said. “This VA no-down payment
loan program reflects our nation’s appreciation of the
brave men and women who put on our country’s uniforms
in defense of freedom and our way of life. It also highlights VA’s contribution to turning the United
States into a nation of homeowners.”
Since 1944 when President Franklin Roosevelt
signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act into law,
the GI Bill, as it is popularly known, has secured more
than $892 billion of financing for veterans’ and service
members’ home loans. In fiscal year 2005 alone, VA
guaranteed more than 165,000 loans for mortgages
valued at more than $24.9 billion.
VA-guaranteed home loans are made by banks and
mortgage companies to veterans, service members
and eligible reservists. With VA backing a portion of
the loan, veterans can receive a competitive interest
rate without a down payment, making it easier to buy a
home. On Jan. 1, 2006, the VA loan guaranty limit for
no-down payment loans was increased to $417,000.
The previous ceiling was $359,650.
Information about VA home loan benefits is available
on the Web at www.homeloans. va.gov/ or by calling
1-800-827-1000.
Records Added To Online Gravesite Locator
The burial locations of more than five million veterans
for whom the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
has provided grave markers are now available on the
Internet.
Online since April 2004, the nationwide gravesite
locator ( http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov) helps veterans’
families, former comrades-in-arms and others find the
graves of veterans.
VA recently added 1.9 million records for veterans
buried primarily in private cemeteries to its database.
The gravesite locator previously carried records on 3
million veterans buried in VA national cemeteries since
the Civil War, and in state veterans cemeteries and
Arlington National Cemetery.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained
from national cemetery offices, from a VA Web site at
www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices tollfree
at 1-800-827-1000.
Legion Buys Beds for Vets
Joseph M. Gugliuzza (left), Department Commander, American
Legion, presents a check for $7,500 to Joseph
Brandspiegel (right) Chief Executive Officer, Veteran Memorial
Home at Menlo Park, for the purchase of low beds.
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VA Traumatic Injuries Payments Begin
Troops and their families now have more financial
security, thanks to the Department of Veterans Affairs’
(VA) new Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic
Injury Protection (TSGLI) program. Prudential
Financial Inc., the insurer, has began making payments
under the program.
The TSGLI payments, ranging from $25,000 to
$100,000, are made to service members who have
suffered certain traumatic injuries while on active duty.
The new insurance program became effective
December 1, 2005, and is designed to provide financial
help to military families through extended periods
of medical care and healing. Benefits are also payable
retroactively to October 7, 2001 for service members
and veterans who suffered certain traumatic
injuries while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom
or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
For more information visit the VA’s website at
www.insurance.va.gov or call the Servicemembers’
Group Life Insurance at 1-800-419-1473.
Doyle Cemetery Seeks Volunteers
The BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery
is working toward designation as a Certified
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. They are looking for
volunteers for outreach and education.
Scouting groups, veteran service organizations,
youth groups and other interested individuals are encouraged
to contact Iven C. Dumas 1st Sgt, USMC (Ret) Assistant Superintendent, at 609-758-7250 ext.
17 or by e-mail at Iven.Dumas@njdmava.state.nj.us
National Purple Heart Hall Of Honor To Open Nov. 11
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is scheduled
to open on Nov. 11 at the New Windsor Cantonment
State Historical Site located at Vails Gate, N.Y.
Servicemembers who have received a Purple
Heart and wish to be listed should send a copy of their
DD-214 to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, P.O.
Box 207, Vails Gate, NY, 12584.
Expanded VA Coverage For Southern New Jersey
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical
Center (VAMC) in Wilmington, Del., has expanded its
services to southern New Jersey. These services,
which include emergency care and specialty services,
are available to eligible veterans enrolled at the
Wilmington VAMC.
Veterans seeking these services must first obtain
a referral from a Wilmington VA provider. Primary care
services are offered at the Vineland and Ventnor Community
Based Outpatient Clinics. Both are currently
enrolling new veterans. For more information call 1-
800-461-8262, extension 5212. For authorization of
services call 1-800-461-8262, extensions 4154 or 5217.
Statues Presented To Homes
On March 17, the New Jersey Advisory Committee for Women
Veterans presented the Minutewoman Statue to the chief
executive officers (CEO) of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial
Homes.
From left to right: Helen Brudner, Committee
Member, Dorothy Dempsey, designer of the statue and former
Committee Member, Joseph E. Romano, CEO, Vineland;
Doris R. Neibart, CEO, Paramus; Joseph Brandspiegel,
CEO, Menlo Park; and Anna Hoffman, Committee Chairperson.
Photo by Kryn Westhoven, NJDMAVA/PA.
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