Veterans Chronicle November 2022

Military funeral honors and the committal service

The Washington state Veterans Cemetery’s staff car ries out memorial services with the utmost dignity and respect.

What happens during a committal service for a service member?

When you arrive at the cemetery, a cemetery repre sentative will meet you and give you the deceased’s buri al documents. They will lead you and your guests who are gathered to honor the deceased to a committal shel ter. The committal service takes place at this location, not at the gravesite. The service is limited to 30 minutes from the agreed-upon start time. The burial/inurnment will take place before the close of business by staff.

Please be aware that viewing facilities are not available at the State Veterans Cemetery. The family must arrange for funeral services at a different location if they wish to have a viewing.

The family may choose to have readings by a friend, family member or member of the clergy of their faith. They may also request to have military funeral honors performed at the committal shelter.

Please inform cemetery staff if you wish to have mili tary funeral honors as part of the service during the ar rangement conference. WDVA staff will coordinate to have military present for honors if requested by family.

Military funeral honors include:

• The playing of “Taps”

• A rifle detail (This is optional and subject to the avail ability of a rifle team)

• Uniformed service members who present the burial flag

Cemetery staff will order the appropriate headstone or marker. These orders take approximately 60 days to be delivered. Cemetery staff will notify the next of kin once the headstone/marker has been set. Families should an ticipate a delay in setting headstones over the winter.

How can I pay my respects at a committal service?

Floral arrangements are welcomed at the committal service, however only two arrangements may be left for placement at the gravesite.

Visit the gravesite at the end of the workday, but not immediately following the ceremony.

Veterans Legacy Memorial is an online memorial that honors more than 4.4 million veterans interred in State and National Veterans Cemeteries. Visit www.cem. va.gov/VLM/index.asp to find a loved one’s page and post tributes.

Out of respect for the deceased and their family and guests, pets are not allowed on the premises. The use of tobacco or vaping products is also not allowed.

Visit www.dva.wa.gov/veterans-their-families/ cemetery and toggle on MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS to preview NCA Burial Service Videos.

To learn more, contact the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W. Espanola Road, in Medical Lake. It can also be reached at (509) 299-6280, by email at cemetery@dva.wa.gov or online at www.dva.wa.gov/ cemetery. Office hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Gulf War Illness has baffled scientists. Until now.

By Matt Saintsing DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

The origins of Gulf War illness have eluded veterans and medical researchers for decades. But now, a new study seems to have cracked the case on how roughly 250,000 veterans were sickened during the 1991 Persian Gulf War: exposure to the chemical weapon sarin.

While combat lasted 43 days, the harmful health effects on some who served in the conflict have stretched for decades. Known as a cluster of once inexplicable symptoms, Gulf War illness — sometimes called Gulf War syndrome — can include muscle aches, joint pain, dizziness, memory lapses, headaches, fatigue and in somnia.

For more than 30 years, federal efforts have come up short in deci phering the root causes of these puz zling symptoms. To help solve the mystery, a team of researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School looked at the genes and surveys of those affected.

“Quite simply, our findings prove that Gulf War illness was caused by sarin, which was released when we bombed Iraqi chemical weapons storage and production facilities,” said Dr. Robert Haley, the study’s lead author and director of epide miology in the internal medicine de partment at UT Southwestern.

“There are still more than 100,000 Gulf War veterans who are not get ting help for this illness, and our hope is that these findings will accelerate the search for better treatment.”

The researchers included 1,016 veterans of the Persian Gulf War— about half of whom have Gulf War illness. They also tested for a pair of gene variants, one of which efficient ly breaks down sarin and one that processes some pesticides but not sa rin. Different combinations of these gene types can have varying impacts on developing Gulf War illness.

The study found that those with the least protective genotype, and who heard chemical alarms during the war, were nearly nine times more likely to develop symptoms.

Sarin was not only stored in Sadd am Hussein’s Iraq but also used on the country’s citizens. In 1988, as the Iran–Iraq War was drawing to a close, Iraqi Kurds in Halabja, an Iraqi town about 9 miles from Iran, were targeted with a mixture of chemical weapons, one of which was sarin.

Armed with the knowledge of past use, American and coalition forces sought to eliminate the likeli hood of sarin being deployed against them. However, little did they know it would result in American troops being unknowingly exposed to toxic substances once again.

“As is common with toxic expo sures, we may not have immediate answers as to why groups of veterans develop certain symptoms or illness es,” said National Commander Joe Parsetich. “But there is still a need to care for those who were made ill in service and to continue pressing for research that will help us better un derstand those connections.”

Looking for local help? See “How Can I Get Help?” in this publication.

VETERANS HELP NET

Don

Walker

Bryan Bledsoe MANAGING

EDITOR

11, 2022

the third Friday of every month to increase awareness about veteran issues and to help veterans find hope and help.

To share a veteran story or information about resources for veterans, please contact info@ veteranshelpnet.com or visit www.VeteransHelpNet.com.

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ART DIRECTOR Anne Potter

Scott Baumbach

COURTESY OF VANTAGE POINT

Jeff Grimes, Mandy Desgrosellier and Emily Osborne, of the Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club, help with the community’s Memorial Day breakfast. The Rotary Club, City of Liberty Lake and Avista have all come together to honor and remember their Hometown Heroes. READ MORE ON

VETERANS CHRONICLE

WHAT IS A VETERAN? Official definition fits many brave people

Wesley S. Anderson VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT

Webster’s Dictionary defines a veteran as: a; a former member of the armed forces b; an old solder of long service.

Veterans stand for honor, sac rifice and commitment to the American way of life. Though there is much dispute about who qualifies as a veteran, federal law determines a veteran to be any person who has honorably served their country on active duty in the armed forces of the United States.

Veterans come from all walks of life. Many brave people have stepped up when the country needed them most, including during World War II or follow ing the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Others enlisted in the military as a career. Because the United States has an all-volunteer mili tary, defending the country is an important citizenship r espon sibility – a responsibility that many veterans have embraced at great sacrifice

What are the types of veterans?

Any person who has been hon orably discharged is considered a veteran. Veterans either volun teered or were drafted to serve their country. Some endured ex treme weather, rugged terrain, went days without a bath, a hot meal, or a good night’s sleep. Some served in support roles stateside, and some treated the wounded or carried the dead.

Many of our wartime veter ans returned with physical and psychological wounds which re main with them today. Veterans served in critical roles during peacetime to prevent unstable situations from developing into a conflict or another war. Those who put on the uniform deserve

honor and our respect for their service to our country.

Former Vice President Mike Pence stood at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and said these words, “I see men and women who served in World War II, in the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I see many more who have stood watch over our country in times of peace, so if you have worn the uniform of the United States of America, would you please stand and give us an opportunity to show the gratitude of this nation for your service?”

Serving in the armed forces is a decision that does not come lightly but it can be one of the

most rewarding things you ever do. Your life as a veteran will not be an easy one, but he can live his life with the pride that you have given back to the country that you love.

When the American soldiers returned home from World War II in 1945, they were greeted as heroes. But the homecoming was vastly different for Vietnam vet erans. They came back to find the United States divided over the Vietnam War. There were no vic tory parades or welcome-home rallies. Instead, most Vietnam veterans returned to disrespect and anger toward veterans. As a result, today, Americans make it a point to thank our veterans.

George Washington said, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how jus tified, shall be directly propor tional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

When we joined the armed services, we wrote a blank check to the government for an amount of up to and including his or her life. For some that check has been cashed. For Others we still carry that check with us, as a reminder of what we did and the commitment we made to the people of the United States to de fend it from all enemies. When

we joined the armed services we swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the Pres ident of the United States.

The veteran will never forget this oath. This is what makes us a veteran.

Wesley S. Anderson is a Veter ans Help Net Correspondent and Department of Washington Chaplain, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 51 Service Officer and Post 51 Chaplain.

Thanks to all the veterans

Ruth Aresvik VETERANS HELP NET CORRESPONDENT

We hear the word "vet eran" all the time. We all know that a veteran is actually a person who has had long experience in a particular field. For example, I am a veteran of constantly misplacing my glasses. I am a veter an of picking up my dog’s “gifts” from the back yard and during assorted walking trips. And I am a United States Navy veter an.

The definition of the military veteran, as out lined in the 38 U.S. Code101, is a person who has served in the naval, air or space military ser vice and was released or discharged honorably. It is active duty, active duty for training where the person has become disabled or has passed away, or inactive duty where the person has become disabled or has passed away because of an injury, infraction, or accident. And what, you may ask, is the clear-cut separation and definition of "active" versus "inac tive”? I shall refer you to "The Soldiers Project" at www.thesoldiersproject. org for that lesson. However, as we cele brate and give honor on this Veterans Day, here are some other interest ing definitions and facts:

War veteran: War veterans are active-duty or reserve military mem bers who have been in an area of conflict with another nation or in the surrounding waters to support activities against a national enemy.

Combat veteran: Combat veterans are ac tive-duty or reserve mil

itary members who have encountered any degree of combat for a period of time in a foreign space because of an offensive, defensive, or friendly-fire action with a national en emy.

Retired veteran: Re tired veterans are any military members who have served for a min imum of 20 years in an active-duty or reserve position. Members who are medically retired because of injuries sus tained during service are also considered retired veterans, regardless of their number of years in service.

Protected veteran: Protected veterans are written under the 38 U.S. Code-4212 as "safeguard ed" from discrimination. There are four subcate gories for a protected vet eran:

• Disabled veteran: A disabled veteran is any military member who has been injured during com bat or because of peace time incidents while serving and from then, permanently disabled.

• Recently separated veteran: Any military member who has been released or discharged within the last three years from active duty.

• Campaign badge

veteran: Also referred to as an active-duty war time veteran, a campaign badge veteran is any mil itary member who has served during a period of war or a campaign or expedition where a cam paign badge is issued by the Department of De fense.

• Armed Forces Service Medal veteran: Any military member who has been awarded an Armed Service Medal while on active-duty ser vice and the medal is list ed on the DD214 form.

We all most likely are veterans in one way or another. But simply tak ing that original defini tion and applying it to a military veteran is not enough. What reminds us of the freedoms we have on any given day? School children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance; singing the National An them at a sporting event, watching a military Hon or Guard leading a Fourth of July parade; a sea of small flags on graves at a Memorial Day event; Wreaths Across America on those same graves. A red crepe paper poppy. These and much more possible, and many times at a great cost, courtesy of your United States mil itary veterans.

VETERANS CHRONICLE

VETERANS: GREAT STORIES NEED TO BE TOLD

By Benjamin J. Van Meter

Another Veterans Day is upon us to appreciate our veterans that served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is a tradition that began with the end of ma jor hostilities during World War I, declared on the 11th hour of the 11thday of the 11th month of 1918.

Over the past 18 years that I have served in the U.S. Army, it has always been interesting to hear stories from veterans from past generations. Stories about the people they served with, aspects of service they miss, and common grievances shared among all generations of veter ans such as the quality of field rations. The military offers clear structure, a sense of common purpose, and opportunities to forge unbreakable bonds with fellow service members during difficult missions. These are the aspects that veterans miss when they leave the service and find it difficult to connect within the communities they find them selves in.

The stories veterans carry with them are unique and only those who served seem to truly understand. Some of those sto ries are dark and difficult. So, oftentimes veterans choose to bottle up these stories and feel ings not easily forgotten while focusing on other aspects of life.

It took a long time for my fa ther to open up to me about his combat experiences in Vietnam. If I asked him about it, he would refuse and become visibly upset. However, after my first deploy ment to Iraq in 2005, he sudden ly seemed far more willing to open up to me - but I was also ca pable of understanding his expe riences in ways that I could not before. Some of his stories were funny, some fascinating, some horrifying. No matter the sto ries, I was very thankful to con nect with my father in this way. Years later, his experiences and stories would end up serving a greater purpose that neither he nor I would have imagined.

During summer 2019, I was

nearing the end of my assign ment to Italy and had recently returned from another combat deployment to Iraq. It was a busy time preparing to leave, but I invited my then-73-year-old fa ther to come visit since he had always dreamed of seeing the “Old World” and it was probably now or never given his age.

Despite all the preparations and goings-on, I had an epiph any about the nearby U.S. Navy Hospital. Since my father served as a U.S. Navy Corpsman (field medic) with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, I recog nized this as a fitting opportu nity for him to share some of his experiences with the many young Corpsmen that staff the hospital since many could go on from Italy to an assignment with the Marines. I spoke with the hospital leadership and made arrangements for this speaking engagement the next day, and only three days before my offi cial departure from Italy. I was definitely cutting things close, but this was an important op portunity to take advantage of –so I thought.

As we were winding down that Thursday evening, I told my fa ther about the speaking engage ment with the young Corpsmen the next day. To my surprise, my dad became very upset and exclaimed, “You know I don’t like talking about that stuff, why would you put me up in front

of a bunch of people like that?” I responded, “Because many of these young Corpsmen haven’t been to combat and could even tually receive an assignment to a Marine Corps unit - just like you were. This is your opportunity to give them perspective as an experienced, combat Corpsman. To tell them everything you wish someone would have told you at some point.”

He glanced down and thought about it for a moment. “OK. But, I don’t want to do anything like this again.” His reluctance was understandable since he had never done something like this before and it was natural for him to be defensive after all these years of keeping his experiences private and mostly bottled in side himself.

The next day was a mad dash. I had some final items to turn in and paperwork to sign before departing the upcoming Sunday. As I finished up paperwork, I

realized I was late for the speak ing engagement. I beat feet to the hospital in the mid-summer Italian heat. I had told my father to meet me at the hospital and a sense of dread overcame me as thinking about all the con fusion that could be ensuing. I also wondered how many sailors would voluntarily stay to hear my father speak or would use the opportunity to leave early to start their weekend. Once I got to the hospital, I burst into the room, and was shocked to see 30-40 sailors in the room with my father at the front of the room already. In that moment all eyes glanced to me having made quite in inglorious entrance. Without skipping a beat, my father said, "You're late Major! You owe me some pushups." A look of glee came across all of the Navy sailors when as I be gan to move into the pushup position. They never imagined they would witness an old junior

Sailor make an Army Officer do pushups, but the unthinkable was happening before their very eyes.

After achieving atonement with a sufficient number of pushups, I explained to the young U.S. Navy Corpsman in the room that I had invited my father to provide them with per spective from his time in combat in the hopes it would better pre pare them for a Marine Corps assignment in the future. My dad hadn't stood up in front of a large group to share his story like this before, so I began to ask him questions to help guide the discussion and encourage the young sailors to ask their own questions.

As my father began to tell his stories and engage with the audi ence of young sailors, he seemed to change. He didn't sound like a polished motivational speaker.

Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Van Meter

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LT. COL. BENJAMIN J. VAN METER Hospitalman John “Doc” Van Meter, left, during the Vietnam War.

STORIES

He spoke with candor and un canny detail as if decades had fallen away and we were hearing from my father as a 20-year-old Hospital Corpsman that had just returned from combat recently. The speaking session became very raw and real in a refreshing way for the young sailors in the audience.

The stories my father told were powerful and poignant. He started out telling them that "At Corpsman School, they taught us emergency medical treat ment and procedures, which is why the Marines often refer to any Corpsman as "Doc.” But the school didn't tell or prepare us for everything else we would have to do like burning the shit!"

The young sailors laughed.

On this lighthearted note, my father proceeded to tell a sto ry from Vietnam about a fellow Corpsman that, as he put it, “… wasn’t the brightest penny in the pocket.”

According to my father’s rec ollection, this fellow “dull-pen ny” Corpsman really wanted to get his hands on a miniature parachute that deploys as part of an illumination flare the Ma rines fired into the air during night operations for visibility of the battlefield. The fellow Corpsman found a flare and be gan picking at the casing to see if he could pull the parachute out. However, he accidentally dis charged the flare, which sound ed just like an incoming rocket to everyone else on the camp. The sound caused everyone in the nearby command post to flee into a muddy trench for protec tion from the perceived incom ing barrage. After everyone real ized what happened, it seemed like the whole camp gave chase to the dull-penny Corpsman for causing pandemonium.

After the laughter subsid ed, the storytelling took a more somber tone. In my father's words, Marines had such a strong regard for a Corpsman because they served in many unofficial roles within a platoon. "I ended up volunteering for mail call," my father said. "Mail

usually got everyone excited but sometimes we'd have guys that would receive the dreaded 'Dear John' breakup letters from girl friends.”

He explained that to lift the spirits of the Dear John recip ients, he would gather them all together as a group to share their experiences. Often, the discussions would turn to dark humor in the form of a compe tition to determine who had the lamest excuse for breaking up or laugh at the stark similari ties that many letters shared as if the girls had simply signed pre-printed letters.

These group sessions reduced the emotional trauma and sense of abandonment experienced by Marines in difficult circum stances while strengthening the bonds among the platoon. My father continued saying that, “As the Corpsman, you're naturally someone they trust to talk things out or shed some tears with. You end up being a counselor be cause you naturally want to help treat their broken heart.”

There was a brief pause as my father thought of the many

men that he had been a pillar of strength for during dark and difficult times. He then moved on to talk about his combat ex periences. "I never imagined playing the role of 'defender' but during the Tet Offensive, we had so many wounded Marines in the company that the Corpsmen had to pick up rifles and help lay down suppressive fire as all of us worked to evacuate all of our casualties." Many of the young sailors raised their eyebrows in surprise and awe. They had not considered that their call to duty may include saving their patients with more than IV bags and bandages.

As my father continued to re flect, he became visibly emotion al and said, "The hardest mo ments I ever experienced, were the final moments with a Marine that lay dying. In some foreign, faraway place I was the last person they would see before passing. All I could do was hold their hand, comfort them as best I could, promise I would pass a message for a loved one, and help them feel at peace with God or life. In these moments, the

line blurs between Corpsman and Chaplain. But, that's your Marine and you won't let any of them suffer or die alone." A sol emn look came across everyone in the room, considering that my dad experienced these extraor dinarily human moments at only 20 years old – a similar age to most everyone in the audience. They also started to really un derstand that to Marines, their Corpsman is someone who is willing to go above and beyond in service to them.

After nearly two hours, we reached a natural point to con clude the session. In a touch ing display of honor, every sin gle U.S. Navy sailor voluntarily formed a long line to shake my father's hand and thank him for speaking to them. The last person in line was the hospi tal's Command Master Chief, the senior-most enlisted lead er. He said, "I know it was hard to share those stories, but you made a difference in preparing these Corpsmen for their future and their success will be part of your legacy." He then presented my father with the command's

challenge coin out of appreci ation. My father proceeded to shake the Master Chief’s hand and beamed with a genuine sense of joy.

The telling of stories has been a fundamental part of human so cial interaction since the dawn of time. Exchanging stories builds a sense of connection, relatabili ty, and even helps us think about our experiences as we speak about them out loud. Thanking veterans for their service is cer tainly kind, but the simple act of listening to stories about their service can help a veteran feel a sense of connection and rel evance – and that their stories matter. In this way, veterans can achieve the full value of their ex periences by sharing them with a new generation and providing perspective to the communities we are part of.

With that, thank you for read ing this story about my father and I hope it gives you a sense of the great veterans that walk among us and the stories they carry with them. I recently spoke to my father about this memory from the U.S. Navy Hospital. I asked him, “Are you still upset at me for being late and you getting put on the spot?” “No.” he said. “But I should have made you do some more push-ups!”

Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Van Meter, U.S. Army, currently serves as the Army Reserve Officer Train ing Corps Professor of Military Science at Eastern Washington University.

A Command Challenge Coin from the U.S. Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy.

Hospitalman John Van Meter

GOOSEBUMPS ... BY THE LAKE

By Don Walker VETERANS HELP NET

You get the feeling that there is something different about Liberty Lake when you drive into town from the west on Country Vista Boulevard, one of the small city’s main east/ west roads.

As you drive past the new Ridgeline High School and head toward the main intersec tion with Liberty Lake Road, you may be taken by surprise by the presence of many Amer ican flags on light standards on both sides of the street.

But there’s much, much more.

On each of those light stan dards, below the flag, is a 5-foot by 2.5-foot colored banner with a picture and military facts about each of Liberty Lake’s own military Hometown He roes.

It is quite a moving sight.

The Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club, the City of Liberty Lake and Avista have all come together to honor and remem ber their Hometown Heroes.

The Liberty Lake Hometown Heroes are not all fallen heroes, but some were. They came from World War II and Viet nam, some from the Gulf wars, and some are still serving.

Here are some of the statis tics about the initial 25 Heroes on display:

• 5 served in World War II

• 10 served in Vietnam

• 2 are currently serving

• 2 were killed in action in Vietnam (Richard H. Walker and Gregory Vercruysse)

• 3 received a Silver Star for bravery, (1st Lt Richard Walker, Cpt. David Bray and Col. Rick Nichols)

• 7 received Bronze Stars

• 6 received Purple Hearts for being wounded in action

If they are still living, their banner states “Honoring.” If they have passed, their banner

states “Remembering.” That is exactly the message the com munity of Liberty Lake wanted: “We will always Remember and Honor those that have served.”

Seeing this street of banners and flags give me and many others goosebumps.

As they drove or walked down the street, many teared up. Even if they did not know the folks on the banners, some said the display just took their breath away.

Those of us that helped put the program together hoped it

would have an impact, but it did more than that. We are all proud of our heroes and proud of our Liberty Lake communi ty that does so much to honor those who served.

In future years, the Liberty Lake Hometown Heroes Ban ners will be installed just be fore Memorial Day and taken down just after Veterans Day.

(Liberty Lake Hometown Heroes is now taking appli cations for an additional 25 Hometown Hero banner hon orees. Go to Libertylakehom

etownheroes.com for more in formation and applications. Or call me at (509) 998-6484.

The Fallen Heroes Circuit Course

The Hometown Heroes ban ners are just the start of the ways this community remem bers and honors its veterans all year long.

Did you know that in 2013 Liberty Lake established a Fallen Heroes Circuit course along the city’s extensive trail system, with five different sets of exercise and workout equip ment stations?

Each station is dedicated to a Fallen Hero, one from each mil itary branch. A bronze plaque with their picture and story is located at each station.

The community can walk or run these trails and stop at all or some of these stations for a different circuit workout. Pret ty awesome that those fallen heroes will never be forgotten.

Moving Wall replica

A local group of committed veterans and community lead ers spent 11/2 years working on getting the Moving Wall Viet nam Memorial replica to come to Liberty Lake in September. The wall was here for four days

from Sept. 15-19.

The Liberty Lake Pavillion Park was the site of the memo rial wall on the small rise above the grass amphitheater, facing the pavilion and the lake. Hun dreds of area individuals and families visited the Wall and it was impossible not to be moved watching the emotion and rev erence.

At the same time the Gallant Guards of Liberty worked with the Fallen Heroes Banner orga nization and arranged for a Pa vilion Park display of over 300 banners of Fallen Heroes, who are all connected to this area. All died while in the service since 9/11.

The faces of these young men and women brought many of the hundreds of visitors to tears.

Bryan Bledsoe, one of the volunteers helping set up the banners, was visited by a wom an and a young girl. The young girl looked at the pictures and asked, “How old are they?” As Bryan considered an answer, the woman said her son was on one of those banners. It just so happened that they were about to set up his banner and, in quite a moving moment, the

Liberty Lake community committed to supporting, remembering veterans

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DON WALKER

Liberty Lake’s Fallen Heroes Circuit shares information about local deceased veterans at each station.

The Moving Wall Vietnam Memorial at Liberty Lake Pavillion Park also featured 300 banners of area fallen heroes who have died since 9/11.

GOOSEBUMPS

Continued from 8

mother got to hang her son’s banner among the other he roes.

There were hundreds of moving stories and magic mo ments in this four-day memo rial. Hundreds of names on the wall were penciled onto mem ory sheets. These sheets will be taken home and used as a re minder of the real people that represented each of the 58,781 names on that wall.

Memorial Day and Veterans Day breakfasts

Speaking of Memorial Day, we must acknowledge another Liberty Lake event honoring veterans.

The Liberty Lake Centenni al Rotary Club, in cooperation with the City of Liberty Lake and many others, sponsors a Memorial Day Breakfast at Pavillion Park. The breakfast

is free to all, and the program always has awesome patriotic speakers and music as well as a solemn ceremony honoring and remembering those that have passed.

The park is decorated for the weekend with hundreds of luminaries. Many of them have names on them of those who have passed who someone wanted to honor and remem ber. After dark, the luminaries form an American flag. The whole experience is important and unforgettable.

Another event of note is Liberty Lake Elementary’s an nual Veterans Day Breakfast, which has been on hold during COVID restrictions.

The breakfast is always free to veterans and it carries a mes sage to students that the men and women that served their country have earned a special recognition. The program lets the students invite any veteran family members and friends.

The students are also asked to bring military pictures of

their family veterans and intro duce them at the breakfast. It is so incredibly moving to see this interaction and it is important to the veteran and the student.

Why it works

At Liberty Lake these com munity events clearly show the commitment of the citizens to honor and remember all mili tary veterans.

These programs and events don’t just happen. It takes the cooperation and commitment of the city staff, the commu nity, the support organiza tions, as well as dozens of in dividual volunteers to make these events happen each year. Thank you all.

Final thought: Liberty Lake community, we are proud of you and what you do. You have earned our respect and admi ration. When I think or all the good, honorable things you do every year, well ... it gives me goosebumps! I would never want to live anywhere else in the world.

The Hometown Heroes project led to the installation of 25 banners sharing local veterans, past or present. Students at Liberty Lake Elementary were invited to bring in photos of veterans in their family, who were then honored on posters or banners. Liberty Lake Hometown Heroes is now taking applications for an additional 25 Hometown Hero banner honorees.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DON WALKER

Jeff Grimes, Mandy Desgrosellier and Emily Osborne of Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club help with the community’s Memorial Day breakfast.

VETERANS CHRONICLE

VA to extend caregiver benefits to ‘legacy’ families until late 2025

By Leo Shane III MILITARY TIMES

Veterans Affairs officials will extend caregiver benefits to “legacy” participants of the program through September 2025 under a plan announced recently, ensuring that thou sands of families will continue to receive stipends for the next three years.

The move comes after months of controversy surrounding the Program of Comprehensive As sistance for Family Caregivers, designed to support and com pensate full-time caregivers providing at-home assistance to severely wounded veterans.

Stipends vary based on where veterans live, but generally hover around $3,000 a month for the most severely wounded

individuals and $1,800 for oth ers in need of around-the-clock care.

About 33,000 veterans are currently enrolled in the pro gram. Nearly 20,000 of those are “legacy participants,” post9/11 veterans who applied to the program before October 2020.

In a statement, VA Caregiv er Support Program Executive Director Colleen Richardson said the extension “allows us to continue supporting this cohort of veterans and caregiv ers while VA separately con ducts program improvement initiatives aimed at ensuring the [program] addresses the unique needs of veterans of all eras and their caregivers.”

Many of those families feared losing their caregiver benefits

at the start of 2023, a deadline set by VA officials earlier this year as the cut off for individ uals who no longer qualified for the program after eligibility rules had been updated.

Last spring, following pub lic outcry over those potential program cuts, VA leadership announced they would re-ex amine changes to the eligibility rules and work to keep those families in the program. They also halted thousands of pend ing program dismissals until a full program review could be completed.

An internal review showed as many as 90% of the legacy families receiving VA caregiv er benefits would have been kicked out of the program as a result of the earlier eligibility changes. Lawmakers harshly

criticized those numbers, say ing the large-scale dismissals went against the goal of help ing veterans and their caregiv ers.

Along with the monthly sti pend, the caregiver program provides training opportuni ties, respite care options, fami ly counseling and other techni cal support.

“We will stop at nothing to make sure veterans and their caregivers get the support they need and deserve, and this extension is a key part of that effort,” VA Deputy Sec retary Donald Remy said in a statement. “As I’ve said before, trust is earned, it’s not giv en. We hope we can earn the trust of veterans and caregivers through our continued efforts.”

Lawmakers hailed the an

nouncement as the right move to protect veterans’ physical and financial health.

“This is great news for vet erans and their caregivers who can breathe easy knowing they will keep receiving the critical support they need and deserve under VA’s Caregiver Pro gram,” Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tes ter, D-Mont., said.

Currently, the program is open only to veterans who were seriously injured in the line of duty and only to those veterans who served before May 1975 and after September 2001.

However, the program is set to expand to veterans of all eras Oct. 1. VA officials said they re main on track to begin admit ting those applicants later this year.

MY FOREVER FRIEND BILL

Agent Orange impacted

soldier’s life decades earlier

By Don Walker VETERANS HELP NET

In a lifetime you only get a few chances for a ‘Real Forever Friendship.’ The kind that brings you back to them, no matter what.

We all have some “good time friends” and “most of the time buddies,” but it is rare as hell to have a goodtimes, bad-times, all the times buddy.

We planned to laugh and golf and watch our kids grow up and grow older.

That didn’t happen.

Bill actually started to have serious future ques tions in 1968, before I even knew him. His future was cut short because he served his nation in the Vietnam War as a teenag er.

Bill didn’t get killed or wounded by the enemy, but he received a fatal in jury, all the same, from his exposure to Agent Orange. It took lots of years for it to start killing him, but as sure as a bullet, it started taking his life away.

We didn’t see it until he was around 50 and then his symptoms and health issues started to take away some of his life options.

First it was circulation and respiratory issues and then full-blown Par kinson’s Disease that took away his energy, balance, vision, and hope.

My friend isn’t dead. He’s still the same old can tankerous, opinionated Bill, but now he is in an

assisted living place. For nearly two years nobody could visit him because of COVID. Tough to be hope ful and happy when alone and isolated.

I will never forget my “Forever Friend” Bill.

He never, ever let me down. He often pissed me off, but he always did what he promised and was there when you needed him.

I wish I could be there for you now.

I wish we could share golf and kid stories and make some more….

I never heard Bill blame or complain about “whose fault it was,” and if you asked him how the VA health care treated him, he would tell you, quickly, that he felt he was treated with dignity and respect and he was cared for fan tastically.

They couldn’t stop the march of Parkinson’s, but

they did ease his suffering and did well in helping ex tend his life.

When Bill dies, as we all must, his name should be added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., because he truly died because of fighting for his country.

Thousands of Vietnam veterans are dying each year from the impacts, injuries, and illnesses be cause of their service to our country in the Viet nam war.

My brother, 1st Lt. Rich ard H. Walker’s name is on that Wall. He was killed in action in 1968. Rich was a Silver Star recipient and he would have been proud to have Vietnam veterans like Bill listed beside him on the Wall.

None of those names will be on the Wall …but we will continue to hon or them for their ultimate

sacrifices.

God bless them all and God bless my Forever Friend Bill.

PHOTOS BY DON WALKER/VETERANS HELP NET

Bill, right, and Don Walker went on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2019 before Bill was forced to a wheelchair and had to relocate to an assisted living place.

HEY VETERANS, DID YOU KNOW ... ?

If you are in the market for a VA home loan and have been awarded a Purple Heart, you will be able to save thousands of dollars on your loan. The Purple Heart Medal is a combat decoration awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy.

Purple Heart recipients will be exempt from the funding fee that the Department of Veterans Affairs charges on its guaran teed home loans.

... the PACT Act will provide more benefits?

Millions of veterans are expected to have access to VA health care and benefits as a result of the recently-approved PACT Act, including:

• An estimated 3.5 million post-9/11 vet erans exposed to burn pits

• Approximately 52,000 veterans ex posed to Agent Orange while serving on Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Is land

• An estimated 15,000 U.S. service mem bers deployed to a former Soviet airbase in Uzbekistan called Karshi-Khanabad (K2)

• Approximately 1,600 Palomares, Spain, nuclear cleanup veterans

• Approximately 4,000-plus Eniwetok Atoll nuclear cleanup veterans

• Approximately 500 Thule, Greenland, nuclear cleanup veterans

... how a surviving spouse can receive benefits?

For a spouse to receive DIC VA Bene fits, a service-connected disability or one presumptive of military service must be listed on the death certificate as a primary cause of death or a contributing cause of death.

Be sure the person that will sign the veteran’s death certificate (at the funeral home or a medical person at a hospital) is aware of any and all service-connected disabilities that could have caused or con tributed to the Veteran’s death (Item 35, Part II -n an Death Certificate).

This will help the spouse file a success ful claim to receive VA benefits after the Veteran’s death.

To get more info, visit www.va.gov/dis ability/dependency-indemnity-compen sation/

The Dependency and Indemnity Com pensation (DIC) benefit paid by the VA to survivors of certain deceased veter ans will be increasing by 8.7% for 2023. The basic monthly tax-free DIC benefit will increase from $1,457.66 for 2022 to $1,584.48 for 2023.

In 2023, affected surviving spouses who receive DIC and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments from the deceased veteran's military service will no longer see their SBP payments decreased by the monthly DIC amount. This is due to the phaseout of the so called "widows tax" that becomes complete in the upcoming year.

Low-interest loans and other benefits are available in Washington for certified veteran business owners. It’s a simple process to receive this certification:

• Display proof that you are a honor ably-discharged veteran

• Proof of 51% ownership in a business

• Proof that business is a Washington enterprise

If you meet these conditions, you can be eligible for a “Linked Deposit” loan, which is a state-backed business loan with up to 2% lower interest rate. You also can have your business displayed on the Veterans Affairs public site, which can increase your visibility for state agencies needing products and services from ven dors.

Washington state laws requires that 5% of all contracts go to veteran-owned busi nesses. They are chosen from the Veter ans Affairs public site.

Applying for certification costs you nothing and can be completed in person or online. Contact the Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs for more information and start the process. Call 800-562-2308 or www.dva.va.gov or in Spokane County call the Spokane Coun ty Regional Veterans Center at (509) 4773690.

2022. It will now head to the president's desk for signature. Certain VA benefits in cluding disability compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indem nity compensation for survivors will re ceive the same cost-of-living adjustment

as Social Security benefits. The increase is expected to be higher than in recent years to account for inflation. The adjustment will go into effect on Dec. 1, 2022, and the first checks to reflect the new rate will be on Dec. 31, 2022.

Refueling

The U.S. Senate recently passed HR 7846, known as the Veterans' Compen sation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of

... Purple Heart recipients are exempt from home loan funding fees?

… there are changes in dependency, spouse compensation?

… business loans are available?

… you may receive more money in 2023?

EWU Veterans Resource Center celebrates 10 years

WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO’S BEEN IN MY SHOES. I KNOW THEY WILL BE THERE …’

By David Millet EWU VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER

In summer 2012, members of local and regional veterans organizations, the campus community, and student vet erans gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Eastern Washington University Veterans Resource Center. The Center encompasses over 2,000 square feet of space consisting of offic es and a beautiful lounge area complete with leather furniture, a big screen TV, a kitchen area, books, resources, and a small computer lab. Since that time, the center has become the benchmark in the Pacific Northwest for its space and at mosphere, and for the student-veteran support and programming offered by the administrative staff, VA representatives, and student-veteran workers who work there.

This fall we celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the VRC and I reflect on the incredible growth, support and pro gramming the enter has provided to hun dreds of veterans and military connected students. Just as impactful has been the growth and collaboration of other Veter an Centers at our regional colleges and universities – we have truly become a close-knit community across our institu tions of higher learning in finding ways to better support our student veterans.

Lainey, USAF Student Veteran

The primary function of the EWU VRC is to provide guidance and support to any student using VA Education benefits and ensure all VA policies and procedures are followed in the VA certification pro cess. But over the years I have come to realize that the VRC staff and work study students are also informal academic ad visors, campus, and community resource connectors and sometimes “social work ers” and financial aid counselors. In many cases we just need to be good lis

teners and advocates for our veterans as they transition from active-duty service to higher education.

To help our entire campus, I have created programming in collaboration with EWU faculty such as “Got Your 6” (got your back) which is a seminar that helps guide faculty, staff and students on their journey towards veteran and military cultural competency. With over 500 veterans and military connected stu

dents at Eastern Washington University it is important that the campus commu nity have a better understanding of their military background, the VA Education Benefits many are using and ways we can support them on their academic jour ney. We continue to grow our Military and Veterans appreciation events around Veterans Day; such as our football game where we have military static displays, a KC-135 flyover, recognition of veterans

and the enlistment of new ROTC Cadets and service members at half-time. We are also fortunate to have a large Veter ans Day display in the EWU JFK Library for the first two weeks of November each year; just a small way of educating our community on what Veterans Day is all about.

“It’s really nice that we have a huge lounge area for peo ple to come, hang out and get to know each other and get to know some of the other veter ans on campus.”

Jon, USMC Student Veteran

Who knows what the next 10 years will bring for the Veterans Resource Center? We are working on creating a “Veterans Reflective Space” on the cam pus grounds to both celebrate the transi tion from “warrior” to “scholar” and as a quiet place anyone can go to reflective and meditate. I know we will continue to have veterans and military connected students coming to Eastern Washington University with their own unique expe riences and challenges; and I know the VRC staff and the University is prepared to offer them the best support to help them achieve their academic goals.

For more information about the EWU Veterans Resource Center Visit or con tact Eastern Washington University Vet eran Resource Center

122 Showalter Hall, Cheney, WA 99004

Or contact Dave Millet, (509) 3592461, dmillet@ewu.edu or inside.ewu. edu/veterans/

“It is nice that if I go there and I want to talk to somebody who’s been in my shoes or un derstands what I went through or what I’m going through now, I know they will be there.”

‘I

COURTESY PHOTOS

Supporters of the EWU Veterans Resource Center enjoy cake.

The EWU Veterans Resource Center has collected badges and other mementos from service members.

WHY WHITWORTH program offers students learning opportunity

University holds military training event for potential ROTC students

By David Sutton SPECIAL TO VETERANS CHRONICLE

Whitworth University turned into a military/mock training fa cility the weekend of Oct. 21-22 with emphasis on recruitment.

High school juniors and se niors who came from cities in Washington, Idaho, and as far away as Virginia joined the Whitworth Department for Mil itary and Veteran Recruitment to experience a taste of military and college life.

Recruiting teams from the United States Marine Corps, the Washington Army National Guard, and the Washington Air National Guard met students and assisted them in making deci sions concerning the future.

Each military branch offered information about their service group, gave tests, and finished surveys before jumping into the mock training. The young men and women competed in physi cal training, field exercises and first aid instruction. Field exer cises and classroom information unique to each service branch were given before all the services kept the program active with sports-related endurance activi ties

The WHY WHITWORTH program appeared for the first time at a major university in East ern Washington. Several other schools across the United States offer the WHY program as part of their recruitment efforts.

"We brought the WHY WHIT WORTH program here in or der to offer students a chance to learn about our university and see how they can receive a firstclass education while serving their country in the military at the same time," said Phil Labrie, Whitworth’s associate director of military and veteran recruit ment. "It's never been at Whit worth before, and we think it will be a tremendous advantage for the high school juniors and se

niors as they plan their futures.”

Students met for a guided tour of the campus, including classrooms and living areas. By accepting the invitation to sit in a regular college classroom the high schoolers got a taste of what it's like to "be in college."

They were invited to ask ques tions and comments. Later a panel of professors and students presented more academic infor mation where the visitors could ask more questions.

"The overall plan for the first day was to give the students a chance to get the feel of college life," said Labrie.

He also emphasized the im portance of studying at a univer sity that is a highly-recognized leader in academics.

"Plus, we offer military pro grams where they can actually participate and be pro-active in their plans for military service," he added.

The second day was dedicat ed to participation in almost ev ery phase of military service. It included physical activities and educational training mixed with instruction and examples of mil itary intelligence. Cadets and re cruiters assisted in the activities, providing details of each branch es' unique Officer Training pro grams.

As the training continued ev eryone got to "taste" the reality of the military by eating MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for lunch. One retired veteran commented, "We used to call them C-rations!"

The general evaluation of the MREs by diners was that they were "really good." But MREs are different than the field ra tions available during the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam eras. Today the MREs come in vegan, vege tarians and with various dietary needs.

"No more cigarettes, gum or other specialty items like we had,” one veteran shared.

Everyone laughed and agreed

that the MREs and the C-Rations were tasty and nutritious.

In the afternoon competi tion the high schoolers vied for points. The winner received a $1,000 scholarship from Whit worth if he enrolled in both pro grams.

Mead High School student Josh Morrison was the over all winner in the competition. The competition consisted of individuals and team efforts in physical events, "puzzle solving," and leadership skills.

One leadership exercise chal lenged the young students to complete a project where only equipment was provided. The object of the exercise (without telling anyone) was to see how a leader would emerge. Would one member of the team rise up and lead or would the team elect a leader?

Recruiters have reported that leadership skills are an import ant element at all levels in every military branch.

Phil Labrie came to Whit

worth as a United States Air Force veteran. He brought skills that would assist in the develop ment of the Department of Mil itary and Veteran Recruitment at Whitworth. He also attended and studied at the FBI Academy at Quantico, Va., where he partic ipated and learned law enforce ment skills with the FBI and Of ficer Training with the Marine Corps.

He served in local law enforce ment after leaving a career as an accountant.

"My dream is to bring full-time recruitment personnel to Whit worth University," he said. "I think it would be beneficial for young people (men and women) all over Washington and the sur rounding states to know they can get a first-class education while serving their country at the same time."

Visitation scholarships ($1,000) were offered to those who registered for the day. Addi tional $1,000 scholarships were offered to those who chose to

register to attend Whitworth and join the ROTC program.

Educational opportunities and military training are available to all veterans at Whitworth Uni versity.

Labrie noted that many en listed veterans have used or are using their GI Bill benefits to get an education and enroll in ROTC to re-enlist and serve as an offi cer. He said several military re tirees use the GI Bill benefits at Whitworth to begin a second ca reer. Children of military veter ans are now eligible to use their parents' GI Bill benefits.

For more information on vet eran opportunities at Whitworth contact: Phil Labrie at plabrie@ whitworth.edu or call (509) 7773302.

Dr. David Sutton is a U.S. Army veteran and freelance writer. He served as a Military Journalist on the staff of the Command er-in-Chief Pacific in the Vietnam era. He is retired and lives in Spokane, with his wife, Vickie.

COURTESY PHOTO

Left to right, Sarah Hildahl, homeschool senior; Benjamin Ashworth SFC Army National Guard; Josh Morrison, Mead high school senior; and Ryan Legg, Fishburne Military School senior, work on providing mock first aid to Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Mario Garcia.

THE MAN IN THE ARENA

THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERS

By Don Walker VETERANS HELP NET

The Man in the Arena: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring great ly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor de feat." –Theodore Roosevelt

This Veteran’s Day Special Edition of the Veterans Chron icle is published on the fouryear anniversary of Veterans Help Net, In the last 48 months we have provided most of the information and content for 47 monthly Veterans Chron icles (The Spokesman-Review) and 41 Veteran Press editions (CDA/Post Falls Press). We have a vibrant and informative Web page (veteranshelpnet.com) and an active and impacting Face book page (Veterans Help Net).

The Veterans Help Net Team is committed to the mission of expanding the awareness to vet erans and their families about the benefits and services they have earned with their service.

In our effort to garner support for our efforts we visited with dozens of Veteran Service Orga nization and talked to hundreds of veterans and volunteers.

On this fourth anniversary, I need to reflect on my obser vations about the hundreds of citizen volunteers I met (some veterans, many not).

A couple of things came clear….

First, there are a lot of pas sionate, committed Americans out there spending their time and money finding ways to bet ter the lives of those that have served our country.

Second, there is a big differ ence between. “Thanking you for your service” and “doing something to help.”

That principle was never stat ed better than in “The Man in the Arena” essay from a speech given by then-former President Theodore Roosevelt on April 23,

1910 in Paris, France.

Roosevelt’s sentiment and message from the speech have reverberated in my mind and made me think about how our “Veteran Volunteers” have done exactly that: they have en tered “The Arena.”

It isn’t the critic or the cynic that enacts change, it is the man (or woman) who steps up and tries to do something about it.

Many have great ideas and incredible insight, but few are willing to actually enter the are na and do something to help.

Ideas and good thoughts are

nice but doing and acting are what makes the difference.

It’s Not: “Thank you for your Service”. Although, that is thoughtful

It’s Not: “I wish they had treated you better.” Even if it is true.

IT IS: “HOW CAN I HELP?

There are hundreds of volun teers that have jumped into the arena and are trying to find a way to help. They comment with their actions and they express thanks with their deeds. Instead of offering good words they offer a hand to help.

The volunteers work every day to make the veteran’s world better. They have “entered the Arena” and they are making a difference.

One day at a time.

One veteran at a time.

One family at a time.

Find a place. Find a group. Find an organization. You can be “The Man in the Arena”

Veterans Help Net tries to recognize and support those volunteers by highlighting their missions and their good works. Let us know about your organi zation. Tell us about an impact ing volunteer in the hope we can inspire others to enter “The Are na” and add good works to their good words.

Attention Veteran Organizations!

Send us your story. Tell us about your volunteers. Let’s fill the “Arena” and see what great things we can accomplish.

In future editions of the Veter ans Chronicle and the Veterans Press we will feature a “Man in the Arena” and tell their story of why they jumped in and how they are helping veterans and their families have it better and how volunteering has enhanced their own lives.

We hope these stories will in spire others to volunteer.

Editor’s Note: We will be adding a “Volunteer Opportunities” section and will post all requests on our website and in future publications. Send them to info@veteranshelpnet.com or go to veteranshelpnet.com and post your requests. Or contact me at don@vethelpnet.com or (509) 998-6484

Thank you for your service. For more information, see “How Can I Get Help?” on page 5 of this publication.

North Idaho Veterans Home to be dedicated today

The new North Idaho State Vet erans Home, a skilled nursing facil ity, is being dedicated at 2 p.m. on Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11.

The home, located at 590 S. Pleasant View Road in Post Falls, will have 64 beds subdivided into four household wings, each sup porting 16 private resident rooms with private bathrooms.

Each of these will have its own den, sitting lounge, and living area. There are also two dedicated din ing areas that are each shared by two households and kitchens along with multiple outdoor patio areas.

There will be direct access to the main community center, which will include a chapel, barber/beau ty shop, bistro, activities center, multipurpose room, sports club, and therapy room/gym. There is a central food preparation area, laundry facility, maintenance, sup ply, and administrative offices.

A separate rear entrance will be for the Office of Veterans Ad vocacy. This office will have two Idaho State Veterans Service Offi cers (VSOs) and an office assistant. Their purpose is to assist veterans in obtaining benefits they deserve.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little and other local dignitaries plan to attend.

Limited tours will be available from 3-6 p.m., following the dedi cation ceremony.

Pre-enrollment for the home began in September. Pre-ad mission applications can be found at veterans.idaho.gov/ pressrelease/idaho-state-veter ans-home-post-falls-now-accept ing-pre-admission-applications/

The point of contact is Cody Schaner, Admissions Coordinator, Idaho State Veterans Home – Boi se, who can be reached at (208) 780-1616 or email Cody.schaner@ veterans.idaho.gov.

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COURTESY PHOTO