News Blog

LVMAC News — Why War Stories Matter

 DAVE VENDITTA AND HIS WAR STORY PROJECT

Newspaper Logo 70%Dave Venditta, Content Editor for The Morning Call newspaper, spoke to the Council at its business meeting on 18 July on the subject of war stories and why they matter.

He got interested in the subject in the mid-1990’s while trying to find out how his cousin, Nicky, a twenty year old helicopter pilot, had actually died in Vietnam within eleven days of his arrival. Venditta was a 15 year old at the time of the funeral, but memories of his cousin haunted him. In the end, he discovered the official version of death by enemy action was untrue. Instead, Nicky had actually died at the hands of his own while undergoing an in-country orientation. Whether or not the sergeant pulling the pin of the grenade in a demonstration of its safe use actually new it was a live grenade or thought it was a dud or practice grenade was never determined, but three died as a result. One of them was Nicky. However, in the process of relaying the news to the family, his cousins and uncles began recounting their own war stories. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Valley’s Health Care Executives Will Meet July 19 Regarding Military/Veterans Health Care

Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council to Update on “Health Care in Our Community” Initiative

On July 19, after six months of collaboration with representatives from all the major health care providers in the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) will host a luncheon meeting to present a “Health Care in Our Community” project status report. The chief executive officers of all the Valley’s hospitals will attend this historic gathering. [Editor’s Note:  This is not an event open to the public but a business meeting for those who have partnered through LVMAC.] (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Assistant District Attorney Luksa Explains DA’s Veterans’ Mentor Program

LEHIGH COUNTY SEES ITS VETERANS’ MENTOR PROGRAM AS A SUCCESS

Steve Luksa, First Assistant District Attorney for Lehigh County, spoke to the Council on 20 June at its business meeting about the District Attorney’s Veterans’ Mentor Program. Other program team members present with him were: Debbie Garlicki, Executive Aide (Public Relations), DA’s Office; Brenda Trayes, Administrative Assistant, DA’s Office; Shane Schmeckenbecker, Probation Officer II; and Maureen McManus, Executive Director of Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services

According to Mr. Luksa, the one-year old, Veterans’ Mentor Program (whose motto is “Leave no veteran behind.”) started out as part of Team MISA (Mental Illness and Substance Abuse), now in its seventh year and an effort which has reduced cost and recidivism while still protecting the community. An increasing number of veterans were using the that program, but there was no way to address treating them uniquely (as he believed they should be).  Hence the program was created. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Veterans Sanctuary: Closed Up for Good?

Treatment Trends Announces Suspension of Operations

It is with profound dismay that the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council informs you of Veterans Sanctuary’s suspension of operations. It was our only local, long-term residential addiction and PTSD services treatment facility exclusively dedicated to military veterans. This important asset to our veterans statewide is no longer accepting clients. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Lang Says Schools Need to Pay More Attention to their Veterans

LANG EMPHASIZES ROLE OF THE STUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA, INC.

On 16 May 2012, Mr. Joshua Lang, Vice President, National Leadership Council, Student Veterans of America,  spoke to the Council at its business meeting on the topic of “Student Veterans of America and Returning Veterans.”

Mr. Lang served in the 82nd Airborne Division from 2005 to 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan. Subsequently he has served in the National Guard.  He is one from the youngest generation of veterans.

At the beginning of his talk, he highlighted the process of “getting out.”  In his experience, many veterans, especially the younger ones, are not set up for success when their term of service expires – both financially and mentally. The Department of Defense has acknowledged this and begun taking steps forward.  The Student Veterans of America, Inc. (SVC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is all about “setting up veterans prior to their getting out and sending them on the path to success.” (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Older Vets Retraining Assistance Update

“VOW to Hire Heroes” Act’s Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) About to Begin Accepting Applications

This is an update to the 28 March article.  Short story is:

  1. Applications will accepted starting 15 May but the application form is still unknown;
  2. High demand occupations the program will support are now specified;
  3. One can now sign up to receive personalized email notifications to keep abreast;
  4. Competition can expected to be heavy considering the number of slots available and the state of the economy — get up early and get there first.

And here is the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say: (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Mensch Says More Can Be Done

SENATOR MENSCH SAYS STATE MUST PAY MORE ATTENTION TO ITS VETERANS

 State Senator Bob Mensch, 24th District, spoke to the Council at its business meeting on 18 April 2012.

A Valley Forge Military Academy graduate, he served in the Army Reserve as a platoon sergeant of a heavy engineer equipment platoon during the Vietnam Era. Currently, among other committees, he serves on the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, headed by Senator Lisa Baker.  He is on the only legislator in the valley to so serve on a veterans affairs related committee.

He began by stating he recognizes that the Vietnam War veterans often returned with unattended problems and with little due respect from their society. He has had buddies who suffer from Agent Orange diseases and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Consequently, he feels strongly we must do better by our veterans.

Things are significantly different now, he related, and we have learned to respect our troops, no matter our disagreements about the current war.  Nonetheless, our state legislature is not doing as good a job as it should in helping to catch returning veterans who need help, particularly in the area of mental health and PTSD. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Sign Up for “Salute to the Troops” Dinner

Ninth Annual Dinner to be Held to  Honor Our Military Service Members

The entire community is invited to participate with the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) and the City Allentown in an event which brings together active military, ROTC, veterans, elected officials and the general public for an evening filled with thanks and appreciation for those who serve in our military. Local service men and women and Gold Star mothers attend free of charge through sponsorships by organizations, businesses and individuals from around the Lehigh Valley. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Talk DBQ (Not English) to Your Doctor

VA Expands Medical Forms Program to Support Faster Claims Processing

Previously, we have reported upon the importance of asking the doctor examining you during a compensation claim if he has reviewed the medical information found in your claims file (c-file) before he starts examining you and follow-on steps to be taken if he/she has not.

On the heels of it, the Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the adding of sixty-eight, new forms to help speed the processing of disability compensation and pension claims. This now brings the total number of  these documents known as Disability Benefits Questionnaires (or DBQs for short) to 71. The purpose of the initiative is to better guide physicians in properly completing their reports of medical findings to ensure the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA — the Regional Office located in Philadelphia in our case) has exactly the medical information needed to make a prompt decision. Each questionnaire addresses a specific set of conditions and associated symptoms for diagnosis. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago