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If you know a veteran, please forward this issue to him or her as it provides important updates, resources, and information.
Save the Date for My Veterans Appreciation Breakfast
I will be hosting a Veterans Appreciation Breakfast on Monday, Nov. 4, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in the Presidential Ballroom of the Eden Resort, 222 Eden Road, Lancaster. It is always my honor to thank the brave men and women who have served our country. The breakfast will feature a special presentation by the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard. Speaker TBD. Please register here. Celebrating 46 Years of Chris Riggs’ Public Service
Congratulations to Deputy Chief Chris Riggs upon his retirement from the Lancaster County Office of the Sheriff, concluding a career spanning 46 years of service. Deputy Chief Riggs served this country with honor and distinction as a member of the United States Armed Forces for 24 years. During that time, he served with the Marine Corps, the National Guard, and the Navy. He was deployed to Kuwait in 2006 and Iraq from 2008-09. During his two decades with the Lancaster County Office of the Sheriff, he has served in a variety of positions. In addition, he was a member of the United States Marshals Service Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force for seven years. Best wishes to Deputy Chief Chris Riggs! Thanks to Garden Spot Village for a Great Veterans BBQ
Photo from left to right: Matt, Sharon, and Mark Lockwood, Sen. Ryan Aument, Larry Martin, Lamar Martin, Mike Martin This summer, I attended a veterans’ barbeque at Garden Spot Village (GSV). As an Iraqi veteran, I especially appreciated the opportunity to talk with veterans from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam and their spouses. Thank you to GSV staff Mark Lockwood, Matt Lockwood, and Dawn Giffy for organizing the event and the New Holland VFW Post 7362 for sponsoring it. Expanded Access to Benefits for PA Disabled Veterans
A new Pennsylvania law that went into effect recently exempts 100% of disabled veterans’ benefit payments from income calculations for any Commonwealth program or benefit. Act 27 of 2024 ensures veterans who receive disability compensation will not have those payments counted against them when applying to programs such as the Real Estate Property Tax Exemption, the Educational Gratuity Program, the Veterans Temporary Assistance Program, and the Military Family Relief Assistance Program. The exclusion also applies to unspent veterans’ benefit payments and is extended to the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran upon that veteran’s death. Guitar for Veterans Program Helps Veterans Cope with PTSD Through Music
A musical program for veterans, Guitar for Veterans (G4V), helps those who served deal with their PTSD. There are more than 130 chapters of G4V across the country. In Pennsylvania, there are chapters in Altoona, Butler, Pittsburgh, and Lebanon, but the national nonprofit organization is expanding and looking for more volunteers to start new chapters. If you’re just interested in learning to play guitar, the one-on-one lessons are free for all veterans and run for 10 weeks. The organization also has a cyber chapter that allows veterans to enroll in the G4V program free of charge and complete 11 weekly online private lessons. These lessons are individualized and designed to help veterans learn guitar at their own pace. Upon completing the 11-week program, veterans will receive a new acoustic guitar and all the accessories needed to continue playing the instrument. Learn more about the cyber program here. Claims Predators Want to Prey on Your Benefits
More veterans are getting VA health care and benefits than ever before, which also presents opportunities for scammers to commit fraud against veterans and their families. There are companies and individuals, not accredited by the VA, offering claims assistance services and charging hefty fees when they do. There are also individuals and companies who are misleading veterans to think it is okay to exaggerate disability symptoms to get higher disability ratings. These are what the VA refers to as “claims predators.” They aggressively prey on veterans’ benefits through various channels such as mail, telephone, or online platforms. They try to take advantage of veterans and their beneficiaries by using high-pressure tactics, sharing misleading information, and making false promises to convince veterans to sign up for their services. These services usually come at a high cost to veterans with little to no actual benefit. Always verify the legitimacy of the individual or company before providing any information. Remember: you should never pay a fee to file an initial claim for benefits; it’s unlawful for anyone to charge a fee for preparing an initial claim. Only VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, and Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives can lawfully assist veterans with their initial benefits claims. You can find VA-accredited claims agents, attorneys, and VSOs here. These individuals and organizations are recognized by the VA, having established the good character and competence necessary to navigate the VA benefits system, ensuring veterans and their beneficiaries receive the benefits they have rightfully earned. To learn more about fraud scams and how to safeguard your benefits, visit the Protecting Veterans from Fraud website. There’s also the new government-wide website – VSAFE.gov – and call center (1-833-388-7233) designed to protect veterans, service members, and their families from fraud and scams. VA Redesigns Burn Pit Registry
In response to veteran and service member feedback, and to help reduce the burden of participating in the registry, the VA redesigned its Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, i.e. the Burn Pit Registry. The Burn Pit Registry is a database that combines veteran and service member data to help the VA better understand, research, and ultimately improve treatment for the health challenges faced by veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits during their military service. According to the VA, veteran and service member data provided to the registry is accessible to select VA epidemiologists, researchers, and institutional review board-approved researchers, with the data to be used to conduct medical and public health research to improve treatments, predictive medicine, decisions related to presumptive conditions, and targeted proactive and preventative care. The VA notes that if you enrolled in the registry any time before the launch of the redesign, you will be automatically rolled into the new registry. Additionally, if you deployed to an eligible theater of operation or location for specific time periods, you will be automatically included into the registry; this includes deceased veterans or service members who meet the eligibility criteria. You can opt out of the registry by visiting the registry webpage and submitting an opt-out form. For more information about the registry, you can check out the registry webpage or contact your local environmental health coordinator. Veterans Job Listing
Every week, the Pennsylvania Nation Guard Associations updates its free job board with good openings for National Guard members, veterans, and their families across Pennsylvania and in nearby states. The board features nearly 10,000 employment and internship postings. What are Vet Centers?
VA vet centers provide free and confidential readjustment counseling for war-zone veterans and their families, from World War II to the current Global War on Terror. Vet centers are small, non-medical, counseling centers conveniently located in our region. They’re staffed by highly trained counselors and team members dedicated to seeing you through the challenges that come with managing life during and after the military. Our region is served by the Lancaster Vet Center, which is one of 12 vet centers in Pennsylvania and more than 300 across the country. Whether you come in for one-on-one counseling or to participate in a group session, at vet centers you can form social connections, try new things and build a support system with people who understand you and want to help you succeed. Who is Eligible to Receive Services at Vet Centers?Vet center services are available to veterans at no cost, regardless of discharge character, and without the need to be enrolled in VA health care or having a service-connected disability. If you are a veteran or service member, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, you can access vet center services if you:
Contacting Your Local Vet CenterEven if you are unsure if you meet the criteria to receive services from a vet center, please contact a center. Center services are also available to family members when their participation would support the growth and goals of the veteran or active-duty service member. If you consider them family, so does your local center. Bereavement services are also available to family members of veterans who were receiving vet center services at the time of the veteran’s death, and to the families of service members who died while serving on active duty. The Lancaster Vet Center, located at 1817 Olde Homestead Lane, Suite 207, Lancaster, PA 17601, can be contacted at 717-283-0735 or toll free 24/7 at 1-877-WAR-VETS (927-8387). The other vet center locations in Pennsylvania are:
For more information, please visit www.vetcenter.va.gov.
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