A couple of unrelated items this month. For starters, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced the expansion of the Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) program to include injuries servicemembes and veterans received outside of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Under the original TSGLI law, it was made retroactive [...]
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced the expansion of the Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) program to include injuries servicemembers and veterans received outside of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Under the original TSGLI law, it was made retroactive by Congress to October 7, 2001, for those qualifying [...]
Continuing on my pledge from the most recent edition of the Digest to highlight some of the great work from our many Veterans Affairs State Chairman, I will take this month’s report to highlight a document brought to my attention by Danny Boy Crawford, the Florida Veterans Affairs Chairman. As Danny Boy points out, this [...]
The month of March highlighted several areas and events when my responsibilities in the areas of Veterans Affairs and Irish-American Heritage Month overlapped. None more dramatically than the activities which took place at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, March 26th. Led by Former National Director Pat Troy, I was part of a group that had [...]
With our country, and especially our Armed Forces, so actively engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan for so many years, it is sometimes difficult to realize that our previous major military commitment, the Vietnam War, is fifty years old. But it’s true! On January 14th of this year, the Department of Defense announced its program to [...]
The Internet is a wonderful thing. So much great information can be passed around so quickly. Unfortunately, a lot of it is false. I can’t count the number of emails which have told the sad tale of how “Taps” was written by a Confederate soldier, died on the battlefield, and his brother, a private in [...]
From time to time, we see comments to the effect that in our references to our veterans or our members of the armed forces that we neglect the Coast Guard. That certainly is not the case, at least in my intentions, in this column and in any other activity involving veteran’s affairs. I recently came [...]
I am honored and pleased to be able to report that President Boyle has reappointed me for another term as Veterans Affairs Chairman. I hope that the next two years can be productive for our Order and for those veterans and active duty service members and families of service members among us. I was very [...]
In the past I have reported on some truly fantastic organizations that are helping our veterans, active duty military and wounded warriors from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am proud and happy to make you all aware of yet another. This one is particularly special because it is under the leadership of Brother Knight [...]
On April 24th, I was pleased and honored to have been able to be a part of a presentation by Virginia Delegate Ed Scott to VA State Board President Rich Aleksy and Veterans Affairs Chairman Bill Halpin. The Commonwealth of Virginia has designated March 30th of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to [...]
