Veteran 2-15-2013 by Veteran Voice, LLC

35 cents

VOL. 1/ISSUE 15

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2013

Dog demo

Vets: Be careful about giving to ‘veterans groups’ Photo courtesy of Indian River Colony Club Staff Sgt. Steven Hanks (center) and ‘Kelly’ along with Staff Sgt. Tovar and Senior Airman Fouts lead the Dog Parade to kick off the DogFest at Indian River Colony Club in Viera. Kelly and the team from Patrick Air Force Base later provided a demonstration of the patrol and narcotic dog’s skills.

Indian River Colony Club residents treated to performance by ‘Officer Kelly’ By Joyce Wilden For Veteran Voice VIERA — Denni Burr is a dog lover and the driving force

behind the recent DogFest at Indian River Colony Club in Viera. The canine event kicked off with a dog parade led by Kelly, a 6-year-old patrol and narcotic

dog from Patrick Air Force Base. Accompanied by her military handlers, Kelly, a Belgian Ma-

See DOG page 2

Mini-camp set to run By Shelley Koppel Staff writer MARTIN COUNTY — Ten boys, ages 9-14, will have the chance to attend a weekend mini-camp from April 12-14, sponsored by the nonprofit foundation, Operation 300. To qualify, boys must be the sons of service members who have died while in service. The organization was formed to honor the memory of Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Vaughn, a member of the elite SEAL Team 6. He was killed in 2011 when the helicopter

in which he and 37 others were riding was shot down over Afghanistan. Forty-four children were left fatherless. The mini-camp will be held at Angel Fire Ranch, a 400-acre property in Martin County that is owned by the Angel Fire Foundation. The organization sponsors outdoor activities for disabled veterans. Angel Fire is letting Operation 300 use the site at no charge. For Tara Vaughn Baldwin, Aaron Vaughn’s sister, this is the first step in a plan to offer week-

See CAMP page 3

Appearances can be deceiving; ‘uniforms,’ signage may not be legitimate, or local By Patrick McCallister For Veteran Voice They’re in front of nationally known retailers. Their signs say “veterans.” Who’d pass on the chance to help veterans, right? “Walk away,” said Marty Zickert, president of the Veterans Council of Indian River County. “What’s going to happen to that — it’s cash. The guy at the end of the day gets to dip his hand into the bucket. You can’t account for it.” Ed Irons, commander of the American Legion Post 189, Sebastian, and Zickert, said questionable individuals and organizations have been soliciting donations in Indian River and area counties. Many seem to be from the Fort Lauderdale area,

See GIVING page 7

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For Veteran Voice The Valiant Air Command will present the 36th annual TICO Warbird Airshow March 22, 23 and 24 and advance tickets are on sale now, through www.TicketDerby.com, or at the museum’s website at www.vacwarbirds.org for electronic ticket or to see ticket sales locations in our area. Don’t wait! The theme this year honors the B-17 Flying Fortress with special appearance of the USAF Thunderbirds. There will be aircraft on static display such as the F-14, ME208, F-80, F-86 A-6, F-8, A-4, F-9 Panther, Wildcat, MiG-15 and MiG-21, C-123 and many others. Also, flying will be many B-25s; along with vintage warbirds such as the P-51, Corsair, T-6, T-28, T-34, L-39, aerobatic teams and military demonstrations. In addition to advance tickets, there are a limited number of tickets for other venue options.

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linois, later provided one of several exciting demonstrations of canine skill to the assembled crowd of onlookers. Other activities during the sunny January afternoon included a dog blessing and multi-class dog show. Rescue groups, product vendors and trainers were in attendance for the “all things dog” event. Indian River Colony Club is a fully maintained and gated neighborhood of nearly 800 homes on 453 acres. Once a retirement destination exclusively for military officers, membership has now expanded to include up to 20 percent of former enlisted or non-military personnel over the age of 21. Organizer Denni Burr was overwhelmed with the enthusiastic response by Indian River Colony Club members. “People just love their dogs and had a great time showing them off to friends and neighbors,” said Burr. “We had 22 dogs participate in the dog show, along with many more dogs in the parade and great demonstrations of amazing canine skills. We can’t wait to do it again next year!”

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VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • 3

CAMP from page 1 long camps throughout the summer for boys, and eventually girls, as well. “This is our pilot camp,” she said. “We’ll see what works.” Prospective campers and parents can go to the Operation 300 website and click on the tab ‘Attend Camp’” to apply. The camper, a parent and siblings will receive transportation to the camp as well as free lodging. “We’re looking for boys 9-14 because we want them to be able to do activities together,” Baldwin said. “Everything will be at no cost to the kids and moms. We hope to have most (of them) from Florida, to keep travel expenses lower. If they drive, they should bring gas receipts. We don’t want them to worry about anything, down to the gas it takes to get there.” The camp will meet at the beach. Surf Central will provide two hours of surfing lessons, paddle boarding and other activities. Then the boys will go to the ranch. They will be housed in motor homes that are on loan. Baldwin said that more mobile homes or campers are needed. Baldwin is still working on meal arrangements. Food will be brought in, and a donor has offered a hotdog and hamburger grill. Again, Baldwin welcomes

donations of food by local businesses for any of the weekend meals. Friday night, Pastor Tom Mullins of Christ Fellowship Church will speak. “He’s a great storyteller,” Baldwin said. “He’ll tell an historical story about bravery and courage with a spiritual emphasis.” Saturday will be packed with activities and moms and younger siblings are welcome to join in. “In the morning, there will be sailing at the US Sailing Center in Jensen Beach,” Baldwin said. “After, we’ll have a trail ride for half the boys while the others get instruction in tacking and grooming. Then they’ll switch. The local equestrian community has loaned the horses and they are all trail-certified.” The afternoon features archery instruction with youth-size bows. Riflery will also be available. There will be downtime, when campers can rest, ride kid-sized ATVs or throw around a football. After dinner, they’ll be more time to relax. The day will end with a campfire. On Sunday the group will go to Christ Fellowship Church, which meets at South Fork High School, down the road from the camp. After church, the kids will receive instruction in the use of com-

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When Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Vaughn, a member of the elite SEAL Team 6, was killed in Afghanistan in 2011, he left behind son Reagan, in photo at left, with his father, and daughter Chamberlyn. Vaughn’s family has started a foundation to raise money for a camp for the children of service members killed while in service.

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4 • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

Photo courtesy of Marty Zickert Councilman Jim Hill, Mayor Bob McPartlan, Councilman Don Wright, Purple Heart designees Craig Waskow, Vietnam; Ron Stevens, Korea; James Ridnour, Iraq, Councilman Jerome Adams and Councilwoman Andrea Coy at a recent Sebastian City Council meeting.

Cities of Sebastian, Vero recognize local Purple Heart recipients By Brian Heady For Veteran Voice On Jan. 15, Indian River County became one of a growing number of communities throughout the U.S. to recognize Purple Heart recipients. Ron Stevens, Korean War; Craig Waskow, Vietnam; and James Rednour, OEF/OIF accepted the proclamation on behalf of all Purple Heart recipients in our county. These veterans were also on hand when Vero Beach issued a similar Proclamation on Jan. 8 and the city of Sebastian will recognize Purple Heart recipients on Jan. 23. The Sebastian chap-

ters of the VFW and American Legion have been notified the Proclamation will be read. As recently as August of last year, there were only four Purple Heart counties in the United States. Joining a nationwide movement, our communities join a tradition of support for veterans who have been wounded while serving. The heritage of the Purple Heart originated with George Washington, who issued heartshaped purple pillows to wounded veterans. General Washington also issued the Badge of Military Merit for enlisted servicemen injured during meritorious service.

See HEART page 11

veteran voice The Voice of Experience

Veteran Voice is a newspaper for veterans, active military, their families and their friends. We are published weekly by Veteran Voice, LLC. 1919 SW South Macedo Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34984 (772) 204-2409 Office • (772) 204-2940 Fax Ted Elkins Publisher

Steve Erlanger

Tammy Raits

Mitch Kloorfain

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Director of Operations

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Advertising Consultant

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Advertising Consultant

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Managing Editor

Staﬀ Writer

Shelley Koppel Staﬀ Writer

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News Clerk/ Administrative Assistant

$18 YEAR (52 weeks) $12 Veterans or Active Military For more information on distribution and subscriptions of this newspaper, please call our main office (772) 204-2409 or contact us by email at: info@VeteranVoiceWeekly.com

Photo courtesy of Tony Reese Left, George Sanders, Martin County Veterans Service Office driver for 14 years, and Ron Polzin, VFW Post 10132, Honor Guard.

County buys third van to transport veterans to clinic By Tony Reese Martin County Veterans Service Officer MARTIN COUNTY — A service that began more than 20 years ago in Martin County will continue, thanks to the efforts of the Veterans Council of Martin County, the Martin County Board of County Commissioners and Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network. The Martin County Veteran’s Service Office recently took possession of a new 12-passenger van to transport veterans from Stuart to their appointments at the VA Medical Center, West Palm Beach. Before being pressed into service, the van decorated in patriotic colors with a massive flag logo and will also display major donors for the purchase of the van displayed on the doors. “This is our third van purchase,” said Bruce Millett, chairman of the Veterans Council of Martin County. Cost has risen but not drastically. The price has raised about $2,000 per year to the current price of $25,000. The van has all seats filled each weekday run. More than 1,700 veterans are transported each year. We’ve had this service

available for so long, it is hard to remember what it was like when we didn’t have it. I hope that day never comes, said Commissioner John Haddox, formerly the Veterans Service Office supervisor. The vans, although purchased through the DAV, are signed over to the VA. The VA then provides insurance and all maintenance on the van. The life of the van is expected to last for about 100,000 miles or seven years. The vans are then returned by the VA to the Veterans Council to be donated or used to raise funds. The most recent to reach the end of its service was donated to the VFW Post 10132, Hobe Sound, for transporting of their Honor Guard to various events throughout Martin County. Before this the Honor Guard had to travel separately to their commitments. Now they can all meet at one location and travel together. Veterans are encouraged to call the Martin County Veterans Service Office at (772) 288-5448 to schedule a ride on the van. If you are interested in making a donation to help keep this service, you can send your check made out to: Veterans Council of Martin County, Inc., P.O. Box 1994, Stuart, FL 34995.

VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • 5

Operation 300 seeking donated supplies for camp

CAMP from page 3 passes to find directions. “Then there will be a team scavenger hunt,” Baldwin said. After lunch, there will an archery competition to use the skills they learned. There will be a dismissal ceremony, and kids can hang out for awhile.” Baldwin hopes to have a week-long camp running this summer. That is a much larger undertaking and requires a lot more money. Donations of cash are welcome, as are donations of equipment. For this camp, much of it is on loan. Baldwin would like the camp to have its

Operation 300 needs the following items for its camp: • Youth ATVs and safety gear • Trail horses and tack • Camping equipment • Archery equipment (youth) • .22 caliber rifles and ammunition • Shooting targets • Youth surfboards • 15-passenger van • Flag Football equipment For more information about Operation 300, visit the website, www.operation300.com. To donate goods, contact tara.op300@gmail.com. Checks may be sent to Operation 300, Inc., P.O. Box 3, Port Salerno, FL 34992

own equipment so that they are not as dependent on donations each time. Baldwin said that she is praying for good weather, but if it rains, they’ll move activities indoors and go bowling or play games. The goal is for boys and mentors to bond and form relationships that can last past the camp. In a Dec. 21, 2012 story about Operation 300, Baldwin expressed the hope that lasting relationships would form. “I envision, in my heart, that someday, a mentor would go to the boy’s hometown and watch him play football,” she said.

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6 • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 59 expands vessel checks to Palm City

ARE YOU READY FOR LAORETTI?

s p i T f l o G ’s y r r La of the Week

By Tom Schram For Veteran Voice

LOFTED SHOTS OR HIGH SHOTS Very effective for short shots around the greens or downwind holes. The first adjustment to make is to be sure the ball is positioned more forward in your stance than normal (more to your forward foot). As I said earlier if you want to keep the ball low you swing the club low both ways. Now we are going to do the opposite, swing club higher on the back swing. Higher on the follow thru. This should produce a much higher ball flight than normal. Your speed of the swing should be the same as your normal pace.

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See VESSEL page 11

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PALM CITY — Most people are acutely aware of the condition of both the auto and the driver before getting in to travel down a highway. The same precautions should be taken by boaters, says Tim Mullen, manager of the Meridian Marina and Yacht Club in Palm City. “Can you imagine being in a car, sitting as a passenger with someone who didn’t know what they were doing when they were driving?” Mullen asked. “It’s frightening because people say ‘I own a boat.’ But the truth is that anyone with a checkbook can own a boat.” It doesn’t take a checkbook to get safety certification by the Coast Guard Auxiliary. It does take a knowledgeable skipper and a safe boat. That’s what members of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotil-

la 59 were aiming for when they provided free vessel safety checks at the Meridian Marina all last weekend. Certified Flotilla 59 examiners went through a variety of potential problems in examining 35 vessels that were inspected over the weekend of vessels at the marina on Southwest Chapman Way. “We look for the presence and condition of equipment that is required by state and federal regulations,” said Hank Cushard, Public Affairs officer for Flotilla 59. “We’re checking that your fire extinguishers are not expired and that you have the correct number; that you have the right amount of life jackets; that your flares aren’t expired; that your lights work; that you know how

VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • 7 “Ask them where the money is going,” he said. “Is it all staying right here in this county? If they say, “No,” then tell them, ‘Thank you but no thank you.’ The money that we raise as a veterans council stays right here in Indian River County for Indian River County.” Marty Zickert

GIVING from page 1 both said. “You’ll see a guy dressed up like a Marine, but he has no rank or name,” Irons said. “That should be your first clue. These guys crop up everywhere. You get rid of one group, and a month later another shows up.” The reason for the “no rank or name”? Back in 2010, the Florida Legislature passed, and then Gov. Charlie Crist, signed a bill backed by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and Florida Veterans Council making it a felony for those who’ve not served in the armed forces to claim they have while soliciting. Steve Murray, communications director for the department, said questionable individuals and organizations have long used America’s wish to help veterans to glean money. “It is a problem around the country and in Florida,” he said. “There are legitimate people out there. They, for the most part, are not going to be on street corners and in front of retailers.” He said the Brevard, Indian River, Port St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties seem to be a hot spot for questionable solicitors

WRITTEN AND STARRING

Photo illustration by Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Before forking over your hard-earned cash to help a veterans organization, look for signs that the group might not be legitimate, such as the absence of name patch and rank insignia on the uniform the representative is wearing. Even if the organization is genuine, ask the representative where the group is based -- you might be surprised to learn the cause is located hours away from your city, which has its own veterans organizations competing for the same dollars. claiming to help veterans. “I know in Central and South Florida, I see news media stuff on this at least once a quarter,” Murray said. There are a few ways donors can know that

their dollars are helping veterans. Biggest one is by keeping local. Zickert said it’s best to be able to hand-deliver a donation to a

See GIVING page 9

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*PICTURES, PHOTOGRAPHS, FEATURES, COLORS DRAWINGS, FLOOR PLANS, SQUARE FOOTAGES AND SIZES ARE APPROXIMATE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY AND WILL VARY FROM THE HOME AS BUILT. ALL DRAWINGS ARE THE ARTIST’S CONCEPT. HOME AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION, INCLUDING VALUE, PRICING, INCLUDING FEATURES, TERMS AVAILABILITY AND AMENITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND PRIOR SALE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE OR OBLIGATION. DUE TO D.R. HORTON, INC’S CONTINUAL BUILDING RESEARCH AND POSSIBILITY OF MATERIAL SHORTAGES, THERE MAY BE EXISTING OR FUTURE CHANGES MADE IN BUILDING PRODUCTS, MATERIALS, METHODS, OR DESIGNS USED IN OUR HOMES WHICH ARE NOT REFLECTED IN OUR MODELS. D.R. HORTON IS NOT INVOLVED WITH HE DRAWING AND,ISCOLORS NOT AFFILIATED YMCA AND DOES NOT REPRESENT STATEMENTS MADE BY YMCA.PURPOSES SEE OFFICIALS RULES COMPLETE DETAILS *PICTURES , PHOTOGRAPHS , FEATURES DRAWINGSWITH , FLOOR PLANS , SQUARE FOOTAGES AND ENDORSE SIZES AREANY APPROXIMATE FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY AND WILLFOR VARY FROM THE HOME. AS BUILT. ALL DRAWINGS ARE THE ARTIST’S CONCEPT. HOME AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION, INCLUDING VALUE, PRICING, INCLUDING FEATURES, TERMS AVAILABILITY AND AMENITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND PRIOR SALE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE OR OBLIGATION. DUE TO D.R. HORTON, INC’S CONTINUAL BUILDING RESEARCH AND POSSIBILITY OF MATERIAL SHORTAGES, THERE MAY BE EXISTING OR FUTURE CHANGES MADE IN BUILDING PRODUCTS, MATERIALS, METHODS, OR DESIGNS USED IN OUR HOMES WHICH ARE NOT REFLECTED IN OUR MODELS. D.R. HORTON IS NOT INVOLVED WITH HE DRAWING AND IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH YMCA AND DOES NOT REPRESENT ENDORSE ANY STATEMENTS MADE BY YMCA. SEE OFFICIALS RULES FOR COMPLETE DETAILS.

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VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • 9

VA overpaid disabled vets $943 million U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs The Department of Veterans Affairs lost $943 million from 1993 to 2009 in overpayments to veterans who had received a 100 percent disability rating, according to an audit by the VA’s Inspector General. The Veterans Benefits Administration failed to adequately track veterans’ health through follow-up exams to validate the 100 percent rating. Losing track of their progress resulted in thousands of veterans receiving payments that the VA later determined they should not have received. The House Veterans Affairs Committee’s disability assistance panel held a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill to discuss overpayments that were overseen by the Veterans Benefits Administration. Linda Halliday, VA assistant

inspector general for audits and evaluations, told the subcommittee that her office determined that VBA regional staff “did not correctly process claims for about 27,500 veterans with 100 percent ratings and that since January 1993 VBA had overpaid these veterans a net amount of about $943 million.” The IG projected that unless VBA got its system under control it could expect an additional $1.1 billion in overpayments between now and 2016. Halliday noted that VBA considered the IG’s analysis flawed, but did accept several recommendations it made including the plan to conduct a review of all temporary 100 percent disability evaluations to make sure each has a follow-up exam date in his or her electronic record. But she said VBA did not begin the review until September 2011, and then pushed back the deadline for it to be completed

several times, finally settling on Dec. 31, 2012. “We have not tested the system modifications, so we have no assurance they’ve resulted in systemwide corrections,” she said. VBA officials need to embrace a fully electronic system for scheduling exams and follow-up exams for veterans awarded temporary 100 percent disability, Rick Weidman, executive director of Vietnam Veterans of America, told the panel. The Vietnam Veterans of America is urging the agency to get as many human beings out of the system as possible. “Automate what you can and avoid a lot of heartache,” Weidman said on Tuesday. “Concentrate on where you need the human factor brought in.” Congress typically chastises VA leaders for not delivering

See VA page 10

GIVING from page 7 local office. “Ask them where the money is going,” he said. “Is it all staying right here in this county? If they say, “No,” then tell them, ‘Thank you but no thank you.’ The money that we raise as a veterans council stays right here in Indian River County for Indian River County.” Better still, give time to an organization before donating money. Zickert and Irons said local veterans organizations often need help with projects. They said spending time volunteering helps potential benefactors get a feel for an organization. Zickert said if things feel squirrely, they probably are. Move on to giving volunteer hours to another organization with an eye toward financial giving, too. Murray said that if people don’t have time to volunteer at veterans organizations, a quick litmus test for authenticity is congressional charters. A list of congressionally-chartered veterans organizations is at the National Resource Directory, nrd.gov. There’s also a list at the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, va.gov/vso. The state started a n ot-for-profit organization that helps veterans, too, the Florida Veterans Foundation. That’s at floridaveteransfoundation.org.

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VA from page 9 support and payments to disabled veterans fast enough. Weidman emphasized that he’d rather see veterans overpaid rather than not paid in a timely fashion. “People don’t have the resources to pay it back,” he said. “They have to either take it out of the monies which will be much less than 100 percent … and it leaves people with a credit history that is destroyed, in some cases from which they never can recover.” Weidman’s organization has worked with VA by reviewing three Inspector General reports on the temporary ratings and overpayments. Like other major veterans service organizations, such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VVA works with veterans in helping them file

claims. He told the House Veterans Affairs Committee panel that VVA and other organizations have been pushing for joint training with the VBA “for some time” on the claims process. “But it has yet to happen at any level, to our knowledge,” he said. The IG investigations that have continued to turn up evidence of human error in the system strengthens the argument for more automation in the process, he said. Weidman said that with some tweaking the VA could set its “eBenefits” portal to automatically send out a statement each month to veterans telling them exactly what benefits they’re receiving and how much. It would also is-

See VA page 11

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HEART from page 4

sue reminders to those on temporary 100 percent disability to keep or schedule a follow-up exam. Not only would that help VBA meet its obligation to run a smoother system, but it would be a reminder to the veteran that he has a responsibility to the process, Weidman said.

The modern Purple Heart was re-established on May 28, 1932, and awarded to 138 World War I veterans at Temple Hill in New Windsor, N.Y., the site of the Continental Army’s first encampment and home today to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. Purple Hearts have been conferred on more than 320,000 World War I veterans, more than 1,000,000 World War II veterans, 118,650 from the Korean conflict, 351,794 from Vietnam and the Middle East conflicts now number more than 44,000 recipients.

VESSEL from page 6

that your boat has all the safety equipment that’s needed.” Meridian Marina held its first safety check last year and Mullen intends to make it an annual affair. “This is personal for me,” Mullen said. “Having grown up around the water, I have basically no fear of it, but not everybody feels that way. What we want to promote is the security and safety of the boat and all of its equipment.” And that in turn gives boaters greater peace of mind when they set out to drive down that big blue highway known as the Atlantic Ocean. For a list of upcoming Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 59 vessel safety checks, visit cgaux59.org.

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to call mayday. There’s a whole list.” It’s a service that Flotilla 59 performs regularly around the Treasure Coast. Those who passed this weekend’s examination were given a free flare kit (a $59 retail value) from Meridian, plus a Coast Guard certification sticker. That sticker comes in handy when the Coast Guard is conducting at-sea inspections, Cushard said. “They may stop you for something else, but they won’t pull you over for a safety violation if you have that sticker on your boat,” he said. “And then of course, you have the awareness

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VA from page 10

12 • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

anD our obJeCtIVe

Veteran Voice is a weekly publication designed to provide information to and about veterans to veterans and to the broader community. Veterans are an integral part of their Florida communities, which currently have individual organizations of their own, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America and many other groups with a narrow focus, but no convenient way to connect to a wider population of veterans and to the community in general within a limited geographic area, their community. The mission of Veteran Voice is to publish a weekly source of information that will provide, in one place, a listing of resources available to veterans, articles about changes in policies or organizations affecting veterans and events of interest to veterans as well as articles about veterans of interest to the general public. Veteran Voice LLC is organized as a partnership of experienced newspaper executives with an interest in veterans and in the communities of Florida veterans and friends. VV is a start-up intended to address a perceived lack of information readily available to veterans on programs and policies affecting them and objective reporting of veteran affairs to the public. To our knowledge, and based on comments from leaders of local veterans organizations, there was no media or website currently meeting this need until the launch of VeteranVoice. We hope you agree, and will support this publication with your subscription. Without subscriptions there will be a limited number of people we can help, without which this mission will not be realized. As part of our commitment to supporting local veteran communities, we will donate 10 percent of our profits each quarter to qualified veteran charities recommended by you, our readers and subscribers. Please let us know what you think by emailing editor@veteranvoiceweekly.com or mailing your comments to us at 1919 S.W. South Macedo Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34984.

Important numbers ... County Veterans Service Officers St. Lucie County, Donna Carlsen Phone: (772) 337-5670 Fax: (772) 337-5678 veterans@stlucieco.org Dorothy J. Conrad Building (formerly the Walton Road Annex Bldg.) 1664 S.E. Walton Road, Suite 205 Port St. Lucie, FL 34952 By appointment Mon., Tues, Thurs, Fri * 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wed * 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. St. Lucie County Community Services Bldg. (Corner of Avenue D and 7th Street) 437 N. Seventh St., Fort Pierce, FL 34950 Walk-ins Mon. and Fri. * 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Brevard Veteran’s Services Office 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Bldg. B, Suite 102 Viera, FL 32940 Office: (321) 633-2012 Fax: (321) 637-5432 Mon., Tues. and Thurs., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed. and Fri, 8 a.m.-noon Manager: Glenn McGuffie

Martin County Tony Reese, Veterans Service Office Supervisor Nick Ciotti, Veterans Service Officer (772) 288-5448 Veterans Services Office Martin County Community Services 435 S.E. Flagler Ave., Stuart, FL 34994 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. VA Life Insurance Ctr., Phil., PA 1-800-669-8477 VA Regional Office - 1-800-827-1000 VA Medical Ctr, W. Palm Beach 1-800-972-8262 Pharmacy, VA Medical Center 1-800-317-8387 Military Retired Pay Activities, Cleveland, OH - (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force ONLY) 1-800-321-1080 Military Retired Pay Activities, Topeka, KS - (Coast Guard ONLY) 1-800-772-8724 Survivor Benefits (SBP), Denver, CO - 1-800-435-3396 Stuart VA Clinic - (772) 288-0304 Okeechobee County Veterans Services office (863) 763-6441, Ext 5. Fax: (863) 7630118.

Indian River County Joel Herman Vero Beach 2525 St. Lucie Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32960 Ph: (772) 226-1499 Fax: (772) 770-5038

Orlando VA Medical Cente 5201 Raymond St., Orlando, FL 32803 (407) 629-1599 or (800) 922-7521

Sebastian Square 11602 U.S. 1, Sebastian, FL 32958 Ph: (772) 589-6597 Fax: (772) 581-4988

Viera patients 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon. - Fri. (877) 741-3400 Weekends, holidays, evenings and nights

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