Forward Observer — Understanding Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemptions in PA and NJ

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Real Estate tax exemptions for veterans have come up more than once at veterans group meeting. Confusion often reigns. Word of mouth frequently leads to misunderstandings.  Perhaps the worst part is surviving spouses are often forgotten – to include the surviving spouses of a servicemembers killed in action. This article is an attempt to clarify the situation for our members who live in Pennsylvania and that other country, New Jersey.  While it is beyond the scope of this article to determine with certainty any local ordinances regarding exemptions exist (none are currently known), the existing laws in both states are discussed.

First, the belief that real estate tax exemptions for a disabled veteran are federal law is not true.  Any real estate tax exemption, waiver or reduction (hereafter, called “exemption”) is the result of a local ordinance or state law. (more…)

LVMAC — Photos of Lehigh and Northampton Vietnam Veterans Wanted for Vietnam Veterans Memorial

walloffacesmakingnamesvisible

Source: VVMF’s Education Center Webpage

The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), in partnership with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF) — the nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1980 to build a national memorial dedicated to all who served with the U.S. armed forces in the Vietnam War — is asking that you help them locate more than 600 photos of Pennsylvanians who sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War and for whom VVMF has no photos.  As of 14 August, twenty-eight on the list are from Lehigh and Northampton counties. (more…)

LVMAC Tidbit — Local Vietnam Veterans Memorial to be Dedicated

EAHS Vietnam Veterans Committee Logo 2013-195x285After years of hard work, the Easton Area High School Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee has announced it will be conducting a dedication ceremony for its high school’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial on 29 August at 10 a.m.  The public is invited.

The memorial was erected to pay tribute to those who attended Easton Area High School and went off to serve in the Vietnam Conflict — some of whom never returned home.  It is one of the few such high school memorials in the nation.  Working strictly at a grassroots level, the effort is a stellar, everyman achievement, and speaks well of their community and our Lehigh Valley in regard to recognizing both the importance and price of military service to our nation. (more…)