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VFW Post 8495  Veterans Help Page

Directory - click on subject below or scroll down
Help for Veterans
Post Service Officer
Veterans Administration
Help Base Greater Rochester
Recently Discharged?
Veterans Outreach Center
Veterans Education Benefits
Vet Jobs
 
Veterans Information and links
Check your eligability to join us in the VFW
Veterans Housing and Mortgages and Veterans Adminitration Loan Information
Mesothelioma Watch -Asbestos Exposure Information
The National Registry for WWII Veterans and2010 Korean War Veterans revisit Information
Viet Nam Virtual Wall
Changes in Flag Saluting for veterans
When a Veteran Passes Away - A planning guide for the surviving family




                   Help for the veterans
New Feb 4, 2011
Hi, I thought you might be interested in this:Veterans Services | Monroe County, NY.
You can view it at 
http://www.monroecounty.gov/vet-index.php.
 This should be the first point of contact for any of our local veterans.
It will save a tremendous amount of time and frustration.

 

Rick  Gough
- Monroe County VFW Commander
   
VFW Post 8495 Post Service Officer

The Post Service Officer assists members of the Post, their widows and orphans
and other worthy causes broughtto their attention in obtaining rightful benefits from the
federal and state governments.And very important web site for information is the VFW
web site http://www.vfw.org
  William Hanifin Post Service Officer
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Veterans of all wars and now with returning veterans from the wars in the Mideast, have
sometimes needed or still need help
finding answers and resolutions to service related
 issues and post-service rights and benefits earned for their service. 
The Veterans of
Foreign Wars and their members are committed to aid veterans and keep the memory
of veterans alive in their
communities.  They also have gone through the initial and o
ngoing stage of seeking help and information. We are here to aid those
returning who
need help in  resolving  veterans issues.  E-mail us at webmaster@vfw8495.org with
any questions about the post's
help activities.

                           Veterans Administration

The Department of Veterans Affairs  has a web page "VA Benefits in Brief" that describes VA Benefits. 
 Click here -    http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0760-ARE.pdf

Veterans Benefits Site - A ,government sponsored and organized 500 federal and state
benefit programs
one one single site. Check it out at www.govbenefits.gov or click here,
 
Gov benefits
William Hanifin Post Service Officer




HELP BASE
GREATER ROCHESTER

Online Resources, News and Events for our

Veterans, Servicemembers and Families

                            Help Base Greater Rochester
                                    www.HelpBaseGreaterRochester.org
An online resource for veterans, service members, and their families in
Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates Counties.
To help find the resources that you are looking for, you select the most appropriate
caption on the left of the web site and follow the prompts.  
The mission of Help Base Greater Rochester is to enhance services by coordinating,
mobilizing and educating the community-at-large about the issues facing veterans,
service members, and their families and advocating for the necessary services to
ensure that these
community members can regain and maintain their physical,
emotional, and economic well-being.

"This website is a collaboration among several organizations in the area who wish
to help all veterans
and their families to find the help that they may need for a great
many services. The American Red Cross,
Veterans Outreach Center, Vet Center,
VA, County of Monroe, The Salvation Army and the Army Strong
Community Center.
are all involved in this project. I took a few minutes to visit the website 
and admit I'm
very impressed."

Rick Gough, Commander
Monroe County Council
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States



A very important contact located in Rochester is:
Mrs. Marianna W. Sernoffsky - marianne.sernoffsky@us.army.mil
Community Support Leader - Soldier Support Center
William Hanifin Post Service Officer  

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Recently Discharged?
4 steps to be on your way to receiving everything you have earned:
1. Secure your discharge certificate (DD Form 214)
2. Enroll in VA health care within your first 12 months from separation.  Steps include:
    Visiting the closest VA facility or Veteran Service Center
     Fill out the form (10 10EZ)
     Visit your nearest New York State Veterans Counsoler County Veteran Service
Agency. Before Visiting
      gather as much information as possible including but not limited to : DD214;
      Medical Records; Bank account  information; Dependent information.
3. If you need help obtaining your Form DD 214, or any other necessary documentation,
     call 1-888-838-7697(NYS Division of Veterans Affairs) visit www.veterans.ny.gov .
To locate a veterans counsoler, call 1-888-838-7697 (NYS Division of Veterans Affairs)

        visit www.veterans.ny.gov .

As a veteran living in New York State you may be eligible for a variety of economic,
medical and social benefits (including compensation, health care, vocational
rehabilitation/training, tuition assistance for higher education, and real property tax
exemptions)  These benefits are not automatic, however - you must apply for them

From NYS Department of Veterans Affairs brochure & VVOA 



Veterans Outreach Center, Inc.

The scars of war are deep, life-altering and slow to heal. Veterans Outreach Center
proactively seeks out veterans in need who continue to suffer in silence-battling personal
wars that can be won, with our help. VOC's collaborative approach to treatment cares for
the whole person. Veterans receive the breadth of services needed to regain their mental,
physical and economic health; reconnect with themselves and society; and resume
productive lives.
 
   At Veterans Outreach Center, we help veterans of all eras, including World War II, Korea,
Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, those
who served during peacetime, and Guard and Reserve military personnel. We stand ready
to assist current troops returning to the home front. We believe the healing process for all
 veterans involves the efforts of family, friends and community to actively participate in the
reintegration process.
 
    Veterans Outreach Center is the oldest community-based veteran outreach effort in the
nation. Opened in 1973 to support Vietnam veterans coping with their wartime experiences
and to facilitate government benefits claims, VOC has evolved to the meet the contemporary
and ever-changing need of all veterans.

.click here for more info



459 South Avenue | Rochester, NY 14620 | 585.546.1081 | Cell: 585.474.2068 | Direct Line 585.295.7854


Veterans Education Benefits

Ms. Laura Stradley, Military Coordinator for Bryant & Stratton College, spoke
at the Post prior to the February 2010 meeting, regarding veterans benefits for
education.  There are many programs and grants to veterans that can be used to
advance the veterans education.  Ms. Stradley explained the sources and the help
she provides for the veteran to determine what is available for the individual.  If a
veteran
is interested in educational benefits, Colleges and Universities have staff to 
review the applicant and guide the veteran through the variety of financial help available. 
She left a number of folders at the post. 
It was a very informative presentation.
 



VetjobThis is a link to a VFW website that any unemployed
comrades in our post may use.

Also useful for any returning vet
www.vetjobs.com
Denise Edelman
Member Insurance
VFW National Headquarters
406 W. 34th Street
Kansas City, Missouri  64111


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Veterans Information Links


We are Veterans helping Veterans in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and we need eligible
veterans in our Perinton VFW Post 8495. Check your eligibility to join - click here
 
eligibility


Its official, DD-214's are NOW Online.
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following
website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214's online:
http://vetrecs.archives.gov/


Guide for veterans housing and mortgages and what VA loans are
A comprehensive consumer guide on housing and mortgages for veterans and active military.
It's located at
link below and covers what VA loans are, its benefits,
how to apply for one, special protections against foreclosure, etc.

Go to:  http://www.mortgageloan.com/veterans/

Mesothelioma Watch -Asbestos Exposure Information
Servicemen and women who were in the ranks during the period from World War II
into the seventies might well have been exposed to asbestos and asbestos products.
The most serious impact of asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, a lethal form of cancer
that usually develops in the lungs. Mesotheliomawatch. home page:  
 
http://www.mesotheliomawatch.org/
Mesotheliomawatch and the military: 
http://www.mesotheliomawatch.org/category/asbestos-and-the-military/

VA Health Site - Here is a new VA health site  It has a calendar schedule, various health
 information. 
It's worth checking out by clicking here, Veterans Health

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The National Registry for WWII Veterans Available on the internet.
Our nations World War 2 veterans can now use the internet to add their names to the WWII
Memorial
Registry that honors those who participated in our nations largest and most devastating
war. Any American
who served in the armed forces or contributed to the war effort on the home
front in factories and shipyards
or farms and neighborhoods is eligible to be added to the registry.
The web address is   www.WWIImemorial.com or click here WWII Registry

2010 Korean War Veterans revisit Information


Viet Nam Virtual Wall
(received from Frank Balik)
The link below is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Viet Nam war with the names, bio's
and other information on our lost comrades. It is a very interesting link, and those  who served
in that time frame and lost friends or family can look them up on this site. 

First click on a state......then when it opens .........a name.......then  it should show you a picture
of the person or  at least his bio and medals......
 

 http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm


Changes in Flag Saluting for veterans

In the Sep-Nov 2008 issue of Army Echoes there is an article which states that
Retired Military as well as veterans may render the hand salute regardless
whether they are in uniform or not.


The article is as follows:

"Retired Soldiers are Still Proud! Still Serving! Congress has put Still Saluting into l
aw for Retired Soldiers and other veterans. The 2008 National Defense Authorization
Act (Public Law 110-181) changed Sect. 9, Title 4, U.S. Code, which covers "Conduct
during hoisting, lowering or passing the flag." Following is that section of the U.S.
Code, as reworded by the law change. Please share this information with veterans
 and other retired military who don't get ECHOES.


"During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a
parade or in review, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute.
 Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may
render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at
attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress
with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.
Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward
the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes."


I think this is worthy of the widest dissemination.
Frank Balik
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From our Chaplain -  When a Veteran Passes Away
A planning guide for the Surviving Family. This is an important pamphlet that every veteran should read and keep available in their important records. One of the more difficult tasks a survivor may face after the death of a beloved veteran is identifying, securing and completing the numerous claims forms to obtain VA survivors' benefits. The anxiety and fear of the unknown — who to call, what to do, or where to go for help — can be a daunting experience.
  
To avoid such a situation, and to ensure that those who have proudly served our nation take advantage of all the benefits to which they are entitled, veterans and their families are encouraged to organize their personal and military records as part of regular estate planning. While your funeral director can assist you with the necessary paperwork, gathering and storing these important documents now will help ease the burden and be helpful to your family at the time of need.

Veterans of the United States armed forces may be eligible for a broad range of programs and services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Reservists and National Guard members, as well as their spouses and dependent children, may also be eligible for VA burial and memorial benefits if they were entitled to retirement pay at the time of death, or would have been if they had been over age 60.  
The pamphlet is produced by: Vietnam Veterans of America - New York State Council and The New York State Tribute Foundation, Inc., an affiliate of the New York State Funeral Directors Association. For a copy of this pamphlet in pdf format, go to:
http://nyvietnamvets.org/mainfiles/pdf/w-a-v-p-a.pdf

Frank Pittinaro   Post Chaplain


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