Veteran 8 23 2013 by Veteran Voice, LLC

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VOL. 1/ISSUE 42

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

Local veterans rally to support former service officer in St. Lucie For Veteran voice

patrick.mccallister@yahoo.com

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Military veterans were trained to fight for what they believe in. Richard “Nitro” Vassar is doing just that. Vassar, and he said many other St. Lucie veterans, believe in Donna Carlsen. She was, until Aug. 7, St. Lucie County’s veteran services coordinator. Vassar said her recent termination is an insult to an injury on local veterans. “The veterans have taken a big hit because of the way (county staff) treated this,” he said. Carlsen started as a county veterans services officer in 2001. In a telephone interview, she said the county alleged insubordination and terminated her. Erik Gill, St. Lucie’s public information officer, confirmed that she was involuntarily terminated. Carlsen said county staff asked her to sign an agreement accepting a pay cut. She consulted Jeffrey Bumb, area vice president of the County Veterans Service Officers Association of Florida. Carlsen

said he recommended not signing it, so she didn’t. Bumb, in a telephone interview, politely declined to comment about the incident. Vassar is secretary of the Veterans Council of St. Lucie County. The council is made up of representatives from about 20 of St. Lucie’s veterans service organizations, such as AMVETS. It’s organized through the county’s veterans services. The Vietnam-era Army veteran is a member of the Special Forces Association, Chapter 85 — Treasure Coast Chapter, Stuart. That’s just the start. “I’m all the Vs,” he said. “(Veterans of Foreign Wars), (Disabled American Veterans), you name it. If it’s got a V in it, I’m in it.” Vassar said many of St. Lucie’s veterans are still sore over the county’s 2010 decision to consolidate veterans services into the community services department. “What it amounts to: for years the office, the veterans services office, was its own entity with the county,” he said. “A couple years back, it fell into community services. In effect, it was civilians

Photo courtesy of Domenick Scarlato Domenick Scarlato poses for a photo with St. Lucie County former veterans services coordinator Donna Carlsen and the custom-made scale model of the U.S.S. Everett F. Larson. According to NavSource Naval History, the ship was named for PFC Everett Larson: ‘Everett Frederick Larson was born on 3 September 1920 in Stamford, Connecticut. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on 13 January 1942. Serving on Guadalcanal, Private First Class Larson was killed in action on 8 October 1942, while attempting to swim the Matankiau River under heavy enemy fire to rescue a wounded comrade. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for this selfless courage, and shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded his division for its actions on Guadalcanal.’ running a military organization.” Tod Mowry, St. Lucie Commission chairman, said that the county was

facing a financial crisis at the time and had to downsize. It consolidated departments from 18 to nine. Property values

had drastically dropped, he said, and the county commission was seeking

See RALLY page 6

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2 • AUGUST 23, 2013 • VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

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Governor honors veterans with service award Patrick McCallister For Veteran voice

patrick.mccallister@yahoo.com

The Great Seal of the State of Florida is on the front. The seals of the five branches of the military — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard — on the back. Below those seals are the words, “Honoring Those Who Served.” Gov. Rick Scott hopes to get the Governor’s Veterans Service Award to all in the state who served in uniform. At the Florida Veterans Council inaugural meeting for the 20132014 legislative year — Thursday, Aug. 15 — Alfred “Al” Carter, deputy executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, FDVA, said that Gov. Rick Scott was at the Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans Nursing Home, St. Augustine, awarding 154 veterans the state medal. Carter told the council that Scott hopes to get them to every veteran in the state. “The governor needs our help doing this,” Carter told the council. “Obviously he won’t be able to pin all 1.6 million veterans, but he want them all to receive pins. He wants all 1.6 million veterans awarded for their service.”

Florida is one of only four states with more than a million veterans. The FDVA estimates there are 1.6 million veterans in the state. The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs is separate from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, VA. Among its duties are running the state’s veterans homes and advocating for veterans interests at the Florida Legislature and Cabinet. Steve Murray, communications director, said in a telephone interview that the governor will meet with more veterans at the homes to give them the state’s service award. “There are plans to get the other five remaining state nursing homes,” he said. “That’ll be done over the next 30, 45 days.” How others will be distributed to veterans is still being determined. In a press release, Scott explained the importance of the medal. “The freedoms and opportunities that are afforded by the American Dream were paid for by the service and sacrifice of our brave veterans,” he said. “Our heroes have made countless sacrifices for Florida families and it is important that we take the time

See AWARD page 8

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4 • AUGUST 23, 2013 • VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

At long last On Friday, Aug. 16, Indialantic veteran Frank Trent finally received the Purple Heart. He was wounded on March 24, 1951, while serving in the U.S. Army in Korea. Congressman Bill Posey, FL-8, presented Trent with the medal.

Photo courtesy of Congressman Bill Posey’s office

veteran voice The Voice of Experience

Theodore Wilson Publisher Steve Erlanger Partner

Veteran Voice is a newspaper for veterans, active military, their families and their friends.

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Florida National Guard members unlikely to be caught in legal conflict over spousal benefits Patrick McCallister For Veteran voice

patrick.mccallister@yahoo.com

The legal definition of marriage is in a flux, and that’s affecting service members. On Wednesday, Aug. 14, the Department of Defense announced plans to extend spousal benefits to same-gender couples who were married in the states and other political jurisdictions that permit it. Five Native American tribes, along with Washington, D.C. and 13 states permit same-gender marriages. Florida has a consti-

tutional ban against recognizing those marriages. It also has a National Guard with Gov. Rick Scott as the commander in chief. A.J. Artley, public information specialist at the Florida National Guard, says it’s quite simple, really — state constitution or no. If any members of the Florida National Guard qualify for and request spousal benefits, they’ll get them. “It’s a federal law,” he said. “Basically, the Department of Defense. We fall in line with the Department of Defense regula-

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on ScheduLed SundAyS 10 A.m. To 3 p.m. Five Native American tribes, along with Washington, D.C. and 13 states permit same-gender marriages. Florida has a constitutional ban against recognizing those marriages. It also has a National Guard with Gov. Rick Scott as the commander in chief. A.J. Artley, public information specialist at the Florida National Guard, says it’s quite simple, really — state constitution or no. If any members of the Florida National Guard qualify for and request spousal benefits, they’ll get them. and under the supremacy of the United States under the Constitution,” she said. However, Wilson said some states offer benefits to guard members over federal ones.

Those, she said, could become flash points in legal wrangling. “We haven’t had to deal with anything this strange since the

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tions.” But, would it rub against the Florida Constitution? The DoD’s decision comes behind a June Supreme Court decision that invalidated major components of the1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act. Florida is among the 29 states with constitutional prohibitions against performing or recognizing same-gender marriages. The governor, the commander if chief of the Florida National Guard, is bound by the state constitution. “Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized,” the Florida Constitution reads. So, the question is open — can the state use any federal money funneled through it to pay spousal benefits to same-gender couples? The constitutional provision was proposed by an initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State in 2005. About 62 percent of Florida’s voters approved the constitutional amendment when it was on the 2008 ballot. Bridgette Wilson, advisory committee member of the Service Members, Partners, and Allies for Respect and Tolerance for All, SPARTA, said states with constitutional bans on recognizing same-gender marriages will likely quietly do whatever paperwork, or eye-shutting, needed to comply with the Department of Defense rules. That’s largely because while governors are considered the commanders in chief of the states’ National Guard it’s a largely ceremonial position. Wilson said state National Guard units were centralized under the authority of the DoD around the early 20th century. “In reality, the National Guard is under the control of the feds

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ways to make as painless of cuts as possible. “They went through a lot of consolidation,” he said. “Millions and millions of savings needed to be looked at.” From 2009 to more recently, many counties have eyed veterans services as a place to make reductions, said Mike White, president of the County Veterans Service Officers Association. Veterans hotly oppose most any changes to county’s veterans services in almost every case, he also said. White said moving veterans services into other departments, usually community and social services, has become increasingly popular with counties. Some have looked at contracting with outside organizations to provide veterans services. “It’s my opinion (veterans services) needs to be a stand-alone department,” White said. County veterans service offices were created by the Florida Legislature as World War II was winding down. Their primary function is helping veterans apply for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA. However, White said, the counties’ veterans services become a fulcrum for area veterans and veterans organizations to coordinate efforts to help other veterans their communities. State statute forbids non-veterans from being county veterans service officers. Beth Ryder, director of St. Lucie’s community services, said that nothing significant has changed for St. Lucie’s veterans services since the 2010 consolidation. “It is an independent division (within the community services department),” Ryder said. “I feel very good about the service we provide. We don’t get any really negative feedback. There was never a time the veterans were not being served. I’m very proud of that.” Carlsen said veterans services has suffered in the consolidation, but it’s difficult for non-veterans to understand how. She said

veteran service officers are most effective when instead of waiting for veterans to go to them they go to the veterans most likely to need, but not know about, various VA benefits. She said due to cutbacks to the veterans services when it was consolidated into community services, that became a thing of the past in St. Lucie. “There is no doubt in my mind that outreach has declined,” Carlsen said. White wouldn’t comment on the termination of Carlsen, or St. Lucie’s decision to consolidate veterans services into community services. However, he said it behooves counties to consider the opinions of veterans. “It’s important to develop a rapport with the veterans service organizations, and it’s important for the county to listen to them,” he said Vassar said the council will discuss asking the county commission to overturn Carlsen’s termination and renewing efforts to bifurcate veterans services from community services. That meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, in the conference room located near the county’s veterans service office, 1664 S.E. Walton Road, Port St. Lucie. That’s at the Dorothy J. Conrad Building. “I’m thinking the majority, they feel it’s their place to at least make it known (to the county commission) how we feel about it,” Vassar said. Mowry said the county commission is legally constrained from inserting itself into personnel decisions. Only two county workers serve at the will of the commission — the county administrator, Faye Outlaw, and county attorney, Daniel McIntyre. Additionally, Mowry said the commission is unlikely to bifurcate veterans services from community services. “Really, nothing has been demonstrated that it needs to be a stand-alone office,” he said. Mowry is not a veteran. Wayne Teegardin, who is now St. Lucie County veterans services manager, also politely declined to comment, offering that Veteran Voice can make a public records request for personnel files.

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Palm City vet, well-known businessman dies Staff report

Julio “Toots” Armellini died on Thursday, Aug. 15. He founded Armellini Express Lines, a Palm City horticultural transportation company. Born on Jan. 5, 1923, Armellini moved to the area from Vineland, N.J., in 1978. He was 89. The Navy veteran served in the Caribbean and South Pacific during World War II. He was a Seabee. After his Navy stint, Armellini returned home, married Sarah Dauito, and worked with his family’s flower business. He founded Armellini Express Lines in the ‘40s. It expanded to Florida soon afterward. Armellini took the company to a nationJulio Armellini al reach, and is widely respected in the horticulture industry. Among his honors are: Man of the Year, Customs Brokers and Forwarders; Floral Marketer of the Year; Hall of Fame Award, Society of American Florist; Man of the Year, Florida Import and Export Organization; Business Man of the Year, Stuart Chamber of Commerce; and the Governor’s Business Leadership Award recipient. An avid outdoorsman, Armellini enjoyed golfing and hunting. Armellini is survived by his wife, Sarah; five children, Richard, William, Stephen and David Amellini, and Judith Dusharm; thirteen grandchildren; six great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his dog, Murphy. The family asks well wishers to make contributions to Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 S.E. Indian St., Stuart. He is buried at Forest Hills Memorial Park, Palm City.

FACTS from page 7 • Florida is also home to 25 Medal of Honor recipients. • The Florida Department of Environmental Protection gives veterans, service members and reservists a 25 percent discount on annual passes to Florida’s 161 state parks. To find out about it, visit FloridaStateParks.org. Source: Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.

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AWARD from page 3 to frequently honor and thank them for their courage and their service. Although we can never thank our veterans enough, this medal will serve as a testament of our thanks from Floridians everywhere.” Scott was in the Navy from 1971 to 1974. He served as a radar operator aboard the USS Glover. In other business, the council heard from John Haynes, executive director of the Florida Veterans Foundation. The foundation is a notfor-profit organization created by the Florida Legislature in 2008 to assist the FDVA. Among other things, it produces and distributes the annual “Florida Veterans Benefit Guide.” Haynes told the council that during the state’s 2012-2013 fiscal year, the foundation gave $81,000 of direct emergency help to requesting veterans. He said veterans needing financial help often could have federal VA benefits. However, many don’t know that. “Many times when we talk to a veteran about an emergency situation, we try to find out what caused the problem,” Haynes said. “We offer counsel and advice, so they don’t get in that situation again.” The foundation, Haynes told the council, has $5,000 grants to assist organizations with stand downs, one- or multi-day events to assist struggling veterans with a variety of services. Stand downs are frequently organized by numerous social-service and veterans organizations. The foundation is at floridaveteransfoundation.org. “The more money we have, the more veterans and veterans’ families we can assist,” Haynes said. To listen to council meetings, and make comments, visit facebook. com/floridaveteranscouncil. The council usually meets at the American Legion Department of Florida state office, 1912 Lee Road, Orlando. The meetings are on the third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m.

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10 • AUGUST 23, 2013 • VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

days of Jim Crow,” Wilson said. Wilson is a former guard member, but she didn’t serve in Florida. Artley said the Florida National Guard doesn’t offer any state spousal benefits he could find. Additionally, Artley said he was unaware of any Florida National Guard members who are married to, or have announced plans to marry, same-gender individuals. Michael Farmer, statewide field director for Equality Florida — an advocacy organization for gay, bisexual and transgender individuals — was also unaware of any openly gay members in the National Guard, let alone any who were married, or have announced plans to marry same-gender individuals. Wilson said there are political factions that might be inclined to raise issues about the same-gender spousal benefits in order to revisit lingering disagreements about whether National Guard units are rightly considered state militias under governors’ control. “I anticipate their might be some posturing by some state legislators,” she said. Wilson added, “Because (National Guard units) have state functions, there are some fuzzy edges on all this.” She said it’s also possible that proponents for same-gender marriage might look to the DoD’s decision to find leverage for bringing legal cases to challenge state bans on recognizing same-gender marriage, too. “You could run into the awkwardness of dueling paperwork,” Wilson said. “In one set of paperwork they’re married; in another set they’re not.” The Florida National Guard has about 12,000 members. About 2,000 are military technicians, essentially full-time workers. Artley said it’s important that the National Guard remain above any political posturing, so its soldiers and airmen can focus on doing their state and federal duties.

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County Veterans Service Officers St. Lucie County, Wayne Teegardin 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 am-4:30 pm 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 Indian River County Joel Herman Vero Beach 2525 St. Lucie Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32960 Ph: (772) 226-1499 Fax: (772) 770-5038 Sebastian Square 11602 U.S. 1, Sebastian, FL 32958 Ph: (772) 589-6597 Fax: (772) 581-4988

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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) 763-0118. Orlando VA Medical Cente 5201 Raymond St., Orlando, FL 32803 (407) 629-1599 or (800) 922-7521 Telephone Care (407) 599-1404 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon. - Fri. (800) 645-6895 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon - Fri (321) 637-3625

West Palm Beach Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33410 (561) 422-8262 or (800) 972-8262 Telephone Care (561) 422-6838 (866) 383-9036 Open 24 hours - 7 days Viera VA Outpatient Clinic 2900 Veterans Way, Viera, FL 32940 Phone: (321) 637-3788 1 (877) 878-8387 Mon. - Fri. - 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. St Lucie County PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) Outpatient Program 126 S.W. Chamber Court, Port St Lucie, FL 34986 Phone: (772) 878-7876 Fort Pierce Community Based Outpatient Clinic 727 North U.S. 1, Fort Pierce, FL 34950 Phone: (772) 595-5150 Fax: (772) 595-6560 St Lucie Community Based Outpatient Clinic 128 S.W. Chamber Court, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986 Phone: (772) 344-9288 Stuart Community Based Outpatient Clinic 3501 S E Willoughby Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34997 Phone: (772) 288-0304 Fax: (772) 288-1371 Vero Beach Community Based Outpatient Clinic 372 17th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960 Phone: (772) 299-4623 Fax: (772) 299-4632

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