Honoring Our Vets 11.05.2021 by Brentwood Press & Publishing

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HONORING OUR

NOVEMBER 5, 2021

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HONORING OUR VETS

NOVEMBER 5, 2021

An annual day to honor all veterans

ovember is a special time for the nation’s veterans. While Memorial

Day honors fallen soldiers and service people, Veterans Day, which takes place each November, is an opportunity to commemorate the efforts of all who have been in the armed forces, with a special emphasis on living veterans. While people are encouraged to thank veterans throughout the year, Veterans Day is a particularly poignant time to show your appreciation for the men and women of the military. Veterans Day takes place on November 11 and marks an important moment in history. On November 11, 1918, World War I, known at the time as ‘The Great War,’ unofficially ended when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, took place between Germany and the Allied nations on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. World War I ended on paper when the Treaty of Versailles was

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Veterans Day, which takes place each November, is an opportunity to commemorate the efforts of all who have been in the armed forces, with a special emphasis on living veterans. signed on June 28, 1919. In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Armistice Day became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. However, after subsequent wars, including World War II and the Korean War, veterans’ service organizations lobbied for

Armistice Day to be revised so it would be more inclusive of all veterans. On June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to strike the word ‘Armistice’ from the holiday’s name in favor of ‘Veterans.’ Since then, November 11 has been known as ‘Veterans Day’ and has honored veterans of all wars. Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October for seven years under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which sought to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating certain national holidays on Mondays. But since November 11 bore such significance, many states disapproved and continued to observe the holiday on November 11. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed legislation to return the observation of Veterans Day to November 11 beginning in 1978. Should the day fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the federal government observes the holiday on the previous Friday or following Monday, respectively, according to History.com. The United States isn’t the only country to celebrate its veterans. Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and France also commemorate the veterans of World War I and II on or near November 11 as Remembrance Day or Remembrance Sunday. – Courtesy Metro Creative

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Non-veterans help Trilogy veterans group support efforts DAWNMARIE FEHR

ot only does the Trilogy Vineyards Veterans Association help veterans,

but it also lets non-veterans join the group. And one of the most passionate nonveterans in the group of about 50 -- the largest active group in Contra Costa County and one of the few that allows non-veterans to enter its ranks -- is TVVA Commander Mark Carter’s son. One of the group’s non-veterans, Carter joined because of his son, Medal of Honor recipient Ty Carter. Mark Carter said his passion for helping veterans is largely inspired by his son’s service. “I’m just somebody’s dad, and my excitement for assisting veterans was brought on by that,” he said. Carter joined the group 18 months ago, when past commander and Navy veteran Steve Farber made the decision to allow nonveterans to join. “I’m responsible for getting him into the organization because Mark had never served in the military,” said Farber, one of the group’s founding members. “One of the things I did as commander was to allow non-veterans into the association because I felt anyone interested in helping veterans deserved to be in the organization.” Carter said the veterans group is great at helping veterans who have come back from deployment, recently left the military, or just need help. They offer assistance to homeless veterans through Stand Down on The Delta, a four-day event offering homeless veterans a variety of medical, housing, employment and counseling services. Though the event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans are already in place to host the renamed Stand Up on the Delta event in June, 2022. TVVA assists veterans in earning college degrees, buying books and obtaining laptops through programs available at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg and Las Positas College in Livermore. They support Fisher House at Travis Air Force base, a place of comfort for families to stay when a loved one is hospitalized.

The Trilogy Vineyards Veterans Association will host two Veterans Day ceremonies, a flag raising at 7 a.m. that will include reveille played over loudspeakers and speeches from some of the group’s members; and a flag retreat at 5 p.m. These will take place at Club Los Meganos, 1700 Trilogy Parkway, in Brentwood. For more information, or to donate, call 925-809-7180 or visit www.trilogyvet.com. The group also supports the Martinez Veterans Association outpatient program, and Tony La Russa’s Pets and Vets program, which provides emotional support animals for veterans dealing with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, anxiety and severe depression. They donate to the Livermore Veterans Home, and Dignity’s Alcove, where homeless veterans can find transitional housing and supplies. They support the Red Cross by hosting blood drives three or four times a year, and have stayed active virtually throughout the pandemic. “We are really dedicated to helping veterans in need,” Farber said. “We are a nonprofit and every dollar we raise goes to helping a veteran in need. We raise a lot of money and a lot of that is because of where we live. We are lucky to live here in a resort community and this entire community supports that, whether you’re a veteran or not. The respect we have for veterans here is unbelievable.” For a list of other Veterans Day events, see page 11A To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

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Brentwood relaunches annual veterans banner program K A I T LY N G L E E S O N

tarting on Friday, Nov. 5, residents can apply for the first-come, first-served banner

program in honor of local veterans. Every year for the past five years, the City of Brentwood has hosted a program in which individuals can pay for a banner with the image of a relative, friend, or resident who served in the military to be hung on lamp posts in Veterans Park.

“The banners get hung before Memorial Day, and they are displayed in Veterans Park for about six months, and on Veterans Day they get taken down,” explained recreation supervisor Ben Keisic. The banners, which cost $75 and are given to those who initially purchased them at the end of the display period, are meant to honor and recognize residents who have served in the military. Registration for the banners to be put up in 2022 will open on Nov. 5 and remain open until April 22, 2022. Those who apply will be able to look forward to seeing their loved one displayed in Veterans Park on one of the lamp posts. Anyone who is unable to have their

banner displayed due to lack of room or too many applications will be waitlisted until the following year. The number of banners is based on the number of lamposts in the park -- 32.

“It’s a great way to honor active military or someone who is a veteran, whether it is a friend or family member,” Keisic said. “It gives a personal family feel to our park.” “I think it is pretty cool,” he added. “My father is a retired Navy, and I did a banner for my grandfather last year and I plan on doing a banner for my father this year.” Anyone hoping to provide a treat to their family members or friends this holiday season might want to look at the banner program as a way in which they can show their love and appreciation for local veterans. For more information, visit the City of Brentwood website at: www.brentwoodca.gov.

Healthcare tips for veterans

ocal licensed health insurance agent Cathy Little has compiled some information

about healthcare for veterans. What is VA Healthcare? VA stands for Veterans Affairs, now called the Department of Veterans Affairs. They oversee the benefits Veterans receive from the federal government. VA Healthcare is for Veterans, Reservists and National Guard who meet eligibility and qualification requirements to access benefits. Veterans gain health benefits and can receive treatment at VA healthcare facilities and providers that participate in the Community Care Network (CCN) under the VA system. VA Healthcare currently serves about 4 million veterans over 65 years old. To view the Veteran Community Care Fact Sheet: https://bit.ly/3o9H7vR What is TRICARE for Life (TFL)? This is a Medicare wrap-around coverage for veterans who are TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries and have Medicare Part A and B. It provides health coverage for military retirees and spouses who are enrolled in Medicare A&B. It is available worldwide and pays after Medicare in the U.S. and U.S. territories. TRICARE is the first payer overseas. TRICARE works like a Medigap plan but includes drug coverage. TRICARE beneficiaries have access to government sponsored vision and dental programs like FEDVIP. To view the TRICARE for Life Fact Sheet: https://bit.ly/3EIOP6L What is CHAMPVA? CHAMPVA is an acronym for Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It’s for the dependent spouse or child of a veteran who was/is 100% disabled or was killed as a result of their service. It requires enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B. CHAMPVA provides health and drug coverage for see Healthcare page 5B

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Healthcare from page 4B spouses and dependents if the veteran is rated permanently and totally disabled or died due to a service-connected disability or died during active duty and the dependents are not eligible for TRICARE benefits. It acts like a Medigap plan – Medicare always pays first, then CHAMPVA. There are no premiums, no networks, no copays, and drug benefits are built in. It is not recommended that a CHAMPA Beneficiary enroll in an MA/ MAPD plan. Do veterans need Medicare Part D? No. Veterans who have coverage through the VA, CHAMPVA or TRICARE already have prescription drug coverage at least as good as Medicare Part D (also known

as creditable prescription drug coverage). Why should veterans consider MA-Only plans? Many veterans could complement their VA health care coverage with an MA-Only plan designed with veterans in mind. MA-Only means there is no prescription drug coverage embedded into these plans. MA-Only plans provide added value and benefits to veterans. To start, veterans will receive individualized customer service and care management for chronic conditions. Veterans will be able to reduce their out-of-pocket costs if going to a non-VA facility that doesn’t participate in the CCN. Veterans may receive enhanced supplemental benefits that go beyond original Medicare or VA benefits such as dental,

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or the first time in 20 years, we celebrate Veterans Day in relative peace.

On November 11, 1918, Ralph Lindsey wrote from his hospital bed in France “Armistice signed at 11 o’clock. Grand celebration all over France. War is at last over and I am still alive!” Later in life, if you asked him about the scars on his chest he would simply respond with a shrug and say, “I zigged when I should have zagged.” Ralph was my great grandfather, and now, nearly 103 years after he wrote those words, our nation once again finds ourselves celebrating the contributions of our veterans during a period where their sacrifices may be less visible than they have during the past 20 years of war. After returning from WWI, like many others from his unit, he found tremendous success. He took over the family business, and raised a family. His friends, H.A. Durkee and Fred Mower, both former infantrymen, started a small company based on a unique marshmallow confection. To be clear, the end of the United States’ involvement in the Afghan war

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doesn’t mean our service members are serving without risk. Our military will continue to execute missions across the globe in support of our national security. Some of those more sensitive missions may never be known to us. That aside, superficially this Veterans Day will be much like years past with parades, speeches, and free meal deals in honor of the nearly 19 million veterans living in our communities. Unfortunately, for many veterans – especially those who served in combat – may see this acknowledgement as, at best, shallow and at worst, patronizing. Even before the fall of Kabul, many veterans complained that while they believed Americans were genuinely grateful for their service, few cared enough to actually learn about the sacrifices our all-volunteer military makes on their behalf. This civilmilitary divide is not only impacting the military’s ability to recruit new troops, but also our veterans’ ability to find meaningful post-service careers. A few years ago, I was traveling from a conference in Washington, D.C. in uniform, I was seated next to a young man who was wearing a sweatshirt from

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Vets from page 6B a very prestigious college in the D.C. area. He was clearly bright, affable, and I was enjoying our pre-flight conversation when he turned to me and said, “So you’re in the military. Did you not get a chance to graduate high school?” This is just one of the many, many cringeworthy stories demonstrating the real-life challenges of this civil-military divide. This divide is even more pronounced in Congress where in the 1970s, nearly 80% of the members of Congress had served in the U.S. military; today, less than 20% of members of the 117th Congress have ever worn a uniform. When my great grandfather, and grandfather returned from WWI and WWII, respectively, they entered a job market that was saturated with fellow veterans, who understood them and the value they bring to our communities as did our elected representatives. A congressional study in the late ‘80s looked at the return on investment on veterans programs (e.g., the GI Bill) found that for every dollar spent on veterans’ benefits, nearly $7 came back to the community through some form of economic output. Having worked with numerous veterans’ groups since leaving active duty I can tell you, this figure is an understatement. The truth about our veterans since the end of the draft in the ‘70s has become increasingly diverse as individuals saw (and continue to see) the military as a way to achieve economic mobility. They are smart, driven, resilient, and entrepreneur-

ial – words that most Americans like my seatmate don’t always associate with a veteran. After WWII, nearly 50% of veterans owned their own business. There is still work to do. While many veterans thrive in their post-service years, others struggle. veterans continue to be over-represented in the homeless population, court system, substance misuse disorders, and suicide deaths. These are hard problems, but they are solvable ones. For the past 20 years, Americans have claimed we support our troops, but how we choose to treat our veterans over the next few years will be the measure of whether we meant it or not. As a nation, we put an impossible burden on a small group of men and women who volunteered to serve – fully knowing the hazards of their chosen profession. If we are truly grateful for their service, we will invest in those individuals who have invested so much in our freedoms. Each generation of veterans has shown time and time again, that when they thrive, our communities, and our nation, thrives as well. – Joseph Reagan Joseph Reagan is the director of military and veterans outreach for national nonprofit Wreaths Across America. The organization’s mission – remember, honor, teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

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Because of what they have heard…

all is my favorite season. It is like we are beginning to settle in, like a bear getting ready for hibernation. Hot apple cider, crisp

cool air, a walk amongst the falling leaves, the colors so rich - deep red to bright yellow. When we arrive home, we light a fire and enjoy a hot toddy. It just feels so warm, like a blanket wrapped around our whole family.

This Fall seems a little different. Our business is busier than ever. Our phones are ringing off the hook. We are talking to people of all walks of life. But so many of them seem to be feeling a little extra stressed. One client just lost her husband, suddenly and unexpectedly. She said, I just lost a bit over half my income, but my bills didn’t get cut in half. On top of that, she has the expenses of the service. They talked about taking care of that expense ahead of time, but they didn’t expect “the time” to come so soon. Another client called in saying she is working at Target to make ends meet. She is 74 years old, and they just switched her to night shift – the closing shift. She told them that she didn’t think that was good for them or good for her. Her 28-year-old manager told her that that was the shift that was available and if she didn’t want to work that shift, she didn’t have to work at Target. Perhaps a management course is in order. Another client is working at Walmart. She doesn’t tell her friends that she “has to work there”. She is worried all the time that someone she knows is going to walk in. I told her working for a paycheck is something to be proud of, that she could hold her head up high knowing she is doing an honest day’s work. I do understand how she feels though, I just wish she didn’t have to feel that way. She spent her working life managing an insurance office. Another client got rid of cable and her home phone and stopped going out to her weekly lady’s lunch. She said it was usually a $50.00 tab by the end of the lunch and she just couldn’t afford $200 a month. Her girlfriend said she would pay, she would even give the money to her before the lunch so no one would know, but my client is too embarrassed. You know what, I AM MAD!! A reverse mortgage would solve every one of these situations. Allowing every one of these people to enjoy their retirement, have financial security, and feel safe without having to leave a job at midnight walking through a parking lot. But each one of these people said, “I was afraid to call because of the things I have heard”. Knowing the answer I asked, ‘what have you heard?’. My friend said I would lose my home. My husband said the bank would own our home, and then take it when we die. My Uncle said they could kick me out, whenever they wanted. My kids said, ‘but what about our inheritance’. Let me just start with the basics. ♦ As long as you pay your property taxes, your homeowner’s insurance, your HOA, if any, and you live in and maintain your home, NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME due to your reverse mortgage. ♦ You own your home, not the bank. You own it exactly the way you do now!

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Your heirs inherit your house, not the bank. No one can kick you out of your home as long as you do the things listed above in #1. ♦ As for your kids…. Your money is your money for your health and safety and comfort, until the day you die, then it is theirs to worry about. Until then, they should not be worried about, or laying claim to, your money. You earned it through a lifetime of hard work. I will say most “kids” want their parents to be secure and spend their money. The parents ‘think’ the kids are thinking about their inheritance. Now let’s face the facts. Seniors are much more likely to have a traditional mortgage loan application rejected. It is a fact. It does not matter whether you are employed or not, whether you have great income, or low income, whether you live in a new house or an older home, you are more likely to be rejected for a traditional ‘forward’ mortgage. In different age groups the likelihood of having your mortgage application rejected varied but it was consistently higher than younger age groups. By age group, the percentage of seniors rejected for a new traditional forward mortgage due to debt-to-income ratios is astonishing. This means that their debt is too high for them to qualify to refinance their mortgage at a lower rate. They are paying the mortgage at the higher rate, which equates to a higher payment, and yet they cannot get a new loan to lower their payment. 75 years old+ = 18.7% were rejected; 65 years – 74 years old = 15.4%; Younger than 65 = 12.1% When seeking cash out from their homes using a traditional “forward mortgage” the rejection rates were even higher. 75 years old+ = 21.2%; 65 years old -74 years old = 15.6%; <65 years old = 11.4 Using HMDA data and 2019 Consumer Finances data, researchers found that rising consumer debt has played a big role in the likelihood of seniors being declined for mortgage loans. Senior debt has increased consistently over the last 20 years. In addition, coming into retirement more seniors have large mortgage debt than at any time in history. This is obviously an issue. Why are seniors accumulating large amounts of credit card and personal debt? And why do they have huge mortgages coming into retirement? One of my clients said it so well. He said “Beth, you have no idea how scary it is when you have no more income, just outgo, and that outgo shrinks with every passing day”. Often the loss of a spouse exacerbates the problems seniors face. One income is suddenly gone. The last thing someone wants to dwell on is ‘how am I going to pay my bills’ and yet that is exactly what they must spend their time focusing on at the most inopportune time. Equity extraction has become a way of life, a way of living, a means to ‘make it to the end’. The problem with traditional forward mortgages is what I just described. Seniors are frequently rejected for the very loan they need, for the very reason they need it. Even though, in many cases, they have been making a higher payment successfully. We all know that expenses just keep increasing, from PG&E to cable, to cell phones and Christmas gifts. Let’s not even mention the cost of bread, meat, milk, and eggs, yet seniors are unable to take money out of their home, unable to access their equity. And are too scared to consider a reverse mortgage. What is so frustrating, is when I meet these clients

Beth Miller-Rowe has been in the mortgage industry for 38 years specializing in reverse mortgages for the past 12 years. Beth has degrees in economics and business administration. they are often on the “brink” because they were still uncomfortable calling me because of “what they have heard”. Please, call me today. Educate yourself. If a reverse mortgage is right for you, great! If it isn’t, that is totally okay too! And you will have made an educated decision. No pressure. No obligation.. The best time to think through solutions is before the crisis. Call me, let’s chat. No pressure and no obligation. Zoom, phone, email, or in person, let’s set something up. – Advertorial

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*Reverse mortgages are loans offered to homeowners who are 62 or older who have equity in their homes. The loan programs allow borrowers to defer payment on the loans until they pass away, sell the home, or move out. Homeowners, however, remain responsible for the payment of taxes, insurance, maintenance, and other items. Nonpayment of these items can lead to a default under the loan terms and ultimate loss of the home. FHA insured reverse mortgages have an up front and ongoing cost; ask your loan officer for details. These materials are not from, nor approved by HUD, FHA, or any governing agency. **American Pacific Mortgage Corporation is not financial service company or licensed tax advisors; the material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee it is without errors. We are not financial or tax advisors, please contact your financial professional for your personal financial situation.