CAPE COD VETERANS

DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION TO ASSIST VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES

" The Nation Which Forgets Its Defenders Will Be Itself Forgotten"

MEMBER OF 75TH RANGER REGIMENT BEING LAID TO REST

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE

THE COST OF OUR SACRIFICE AND OF YOUR FREEDOM, REMEMBER US, WE ARE AMERICAN VETERANS

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”
--John Stewart Mill

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HARWICH — By noontime yesterday, workers at the U.S. Post Office in Harwich had just about finished their marathon six-hour processing job. Sixteen-year-old Dylan DeSilva stood by with a grin as he watched the last of the nearly 600 packages his group, Cape Cod Cares for the Troops, had gathered this season to send to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Among the packages was the 4,500th the group has sent overseas since it began sending them four years ago. As they had the past four Christmases, the Brewster teen and his cadre of volunteers bundled the packages — with candy, snacks, toiletries, socks and a Christmas stocking full of goodies — and mailed them in time to arrive by the holiday.

Sixteen year old Dylan DeSilva is the founder of Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops.
Dylan has raised more than $250,000 this year in cash and goods.
He has sent thousands of care packages to the troops overseas.
We caught up with Dylan to talk about his Christmas Drive.
With Veterans Day around the corner this is a great organization to support.

THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED TO AMVETS POST 333 & CAPE COD VETERANS ORG. AT THEIR 3 EVENTS VETERANS DAY WEEKEND TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION DYLAN DESILVA AND MOM MICHELLE DESERVE MUCH CREDIT.

Amvets Post 333 & Cape Cod Veterans Deliver!! The New Vets Center in Hyannis didn't have funds to purchase coffee,tea,sugar,etc for the Vets waiting to be seen. Amvets Post 333 brought the needed items and wrote Coffee Cos. in the Northeast. Beanstock has sent bags of coffe and Vermont Green Mtn. wil do the same. Joe Fallon is now working on securing cable TV for the Vets Center. (See left it is done)

DAV VAN leaves VA Outpatient Clinic at 8AM SHARP,for Providence VA call 508-771-3190 for reservations-ANYONE WHISHING TO BE A DRIVER CALL AMERICAN LEGION POST 206

Vets Scoop, Amvets Post from Staten Island NY reminds all Vets Please do not donate to organizations that say they are assisting Veterans unless you know them. So many scams.

House Veterans Affairs Chairman hold roundtable discussion on VA document shredding.Filner to VA: Confidence in VA Completely Shattered by Recent Document Shredding http://veterans.house.gov/news/
Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released this statement following today’s roundtable discussion on the shredding of veterans’ documents by the VA:

“Today’s roundtable revealed a number of shortcomings within the VA that are hardly new and most definitely failing our nation’s veterans.

XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL!

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

VA Clinic in Hyannis, MA Relocates
Serving all veterans residing on Cape Cod, the Hyannis CBOC is nowlocated at 233 Stevens Street, in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Established approximately ten years ago, this spacious, newly remodeled facility provides comprehensive primary health care to veterans residing on Cape Cod and the Islands. Other services that are available include full-time mental health services that include a social worker, psychiatrist and psychologist that provide psychosocial evaluations, individual, group and family counseling, substance abuse counseling and HIV pre- and post- testing counseling. Nutritional counseling and teleretinal services are also available. Every patient has a Primary Care Provider who will coordinate all of their healthcare needs. He or she will make sure you receive appropriate care by providing easy access to any of the Providence VA Medical Center's 32 subspecialty clinics.

For more information on how to enroll in the Hyannis Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Primary Care Center, please contact the Patient Services Department at: 866-363-4486 extension 3300, or visit the Hyannis website at http://www.providence.va.gov/riopc_hyan.asp.
Retirees Get 5.8% COLA for 2009

Week of October 20, 2008

The 2009 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for military retired pay will be 5.8%. This increase, which goes into effect on December 1, 2008, also applies to SBP annuities, Social Security checks, and VA disability and survivor benefits. Retirees will see the increase in their January 2009 checks. Retirees who first became a member of the uniformed services on or after Sept. 8, 1980, and retired in 2008 under the High-36 retirement will receive a Partial COLA on a prorated basis. This COLA is the highest seen in over 15 years-

Thanks D. Hill 173rd Airborne Bde. Northeast chapter

VA adjusts benefits to injured veterans Traumatic brain injuries have been labeled by many the “signature wound” of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and are often the result of homemade bomb explosions. We won this battle, thank you CCVO & Amvets- Join the battle!!!!!!!!!

Some of you may recall, AMVETS was instrumental in helping change the donation protocol to allow all Americans the opportunity to donate blood to our brave warriors and their families stationed around the world. There are not as many locations as the Red Cross provides but if you happen to be near an ASBP collection center, PLEASE consider the opportunity to become a part of their Life Force; your mission, save lives.

CONGRADULATIONS TO AARON TOKARZ FOR ACHEIVING THE RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT, DENNIS TROOP 80. A CERTIFICATE WILL BE ISSUED FROM AMVETS NATIONAL HQ. Plauqe From Amvets Post 333 given. GOOD WORK MIKE MAHONEY AMVETS VICE COMMANDER &

I would like to report that one of my Scouts, Aaron Tokarz, has obtained the rank of Eagle Scout, effective 9/16/2008. Aaron worked with Carl on behalf of the cemetary commission, to help clean and provide restoration work at the South Dennis Cemetary behind the Dennis Town Hall. Aaron is our first Eagle Scout as a Troop since I organized this troop in Dennis during July, 2005.

Michael Mahoney

Amvets 333

Troop 80 Dennis

AMVETS POST 333 LIFE MEMBER HONORED

VINCENT BEING PRESENTED COLORS FROM GENERAL PATTONS FARM FROM JOANNE
HOLBROOK PATTON. MG GENERAL GEORGE PATTON JR WIFE.

CAPE COD VETERANS HATS, PENS, MAGNETS AND SHIRTS AVAILABLE

AMVETS POST 333 & CCVO ASSISTED IN THE MIGHTY MEEHAN 5K RUN/WALK, WE MARCHED AT END OF EVENT IN POURING RAIN WITH 30MPH WINDS. OUR HONOR GUARD WITH FLAGS FLYING WERE CHEERED WILDLY AS WE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE IT WAS A GREAT SIGHT TO SEE. WE RECIEVED THANKS FROM THE ORGANIZERS WHO SAID THAT THE SIGHT OF VETERANS ENTERING THE PARKING LOT WAS AWSOME.

NORTHEAST CHAPTER OF THE 173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE CONTACTED CCVO AND WILL MAKE A DONATION OF ITEM TO THE CHRISTMAS PACKAGING FOR THE TROOPS

CCVO & AMVETS ASSISTED 14 VETERANS IN OCT & NOV IN OBTAINING THEIR BENEFITS, ANY QUESTING ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS EMAIL OR CALL 508-240-SERV (7378)

Amvets Post 333 requested from Jim Julian the owner of the prorerty where a 50ft flag poll stands on Route 6A Dennis that he allow Amvets Post 333 to purchase a 6X9 ft. US flag to fly on this site. We will maintain the flag and care for the area. Flag is now flying. Thank you Sam Franco (Amvets Offical Santa Claus for Nursing Home & Pub visits) for working on this

The Veterans' Day Weekend there will be a mumber of fundraiser collections for our troops overseas for Christmas see events page

Breaking News on the New GI Bill

Get more information on the "Post 9/11 GI Bill"
The new "Post 9/11 GI Bill" will soon be heading for the President’s desk. This new benefit will give servicemembers and veterans who have served on active-duty since Sept. 11, 2001, a new education benefits package worth up to roughly $3,000 a month. The same legislation includes a change to the current Montgomery GI Bill that will increase the monthly payment to $1,321 a month -- a total benefit of more than $47,000. The new law also enables servicemembers to transfer their GI Bill benefit to their dependents. Military.com
Rep. Cleon Turner collecting items for our D-Y Marines. Energy Bars, Powdered Drinks, Can Tuna. Drop off is Yarmouth P.D.

call Amvets Post 333 for list at 1-508-394-4022

THANKS AGAIN TO CVS OF SOUTH YARMOUTH (ROUTE 28) FOR THEIR HUGE DONATION

Military Denied Benefits to Surviving Son

Be advised the TV Commitment to the Vet Center has been taken care of. Great job done by your Post Joe Fallon, American Legion Post 206. - Rich
WEST ROXBURY - Military families who travel to the West Roxbury VA for long-term medical care will soon have the option of staying on the hospital’s campus.The West Roxbury facility was recently chosen to be the site of a Fisher House; according to Diane Keefe of the Veterans Administration, a Fisher House is similar to a Ronald McDonald House, but for military families

VA Announces SGLI and VGLI Premium Reductions - WASHINGTON – Veterans and military personnel with life insurance policies managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will see a reduction in their premiums, thanks to improved investment earnings and a reduction in non-combat claims. (4/7/08)
For veterans filing their Commonwealth of Massachusetts state taxes, please note:

Enrollment with the VA is deemed qualified “insurance” in terms of the mandated health care coverage provision

Veterans should simply check-off Box 3D on their Schedule HC, which should be submitted with their Form 1 (Main tax form)

A letter from the VA is not needed as proof of coverage in terms of filing state taxes, unless subsequently requested to a specific veteran by the MA Dept. of Revenue

Tip of the beret to Joe Fallon & American Legion Post 206, for donating money for the cable TV in the new vets center on West Main St. Again this Veterans Post is doing what Veterans Posts all should be doing.

Alert! VA Puts Forth Refinance Plan to Help Veterans in Mortgage Crisis.

IRRRL stands for Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan. You may see it referred to as a "Streamline" or a "VA to VA." Except when refinancing an existing VA guaranteed adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed rate, it must result in a lower interest rate. When refinancing from an existing VA ARM loan to a fixed rate, the interest rate may increase.

Green Mountain Coffee of Vermont has sent 100 packs of coffee, auto drip machine, 1,000 cups, stirers, and table to Hyannis Vet Center. Beancounters Coffee of Wellfleet has sent coffee and extras to Vet Center at request of Amvets Post 333. Well done Amvets Post 333 and Cape Cod Veterans Org.

Amvets Post 333 Paratrooper, Wounded in Iraq takes on the military, and wins. read More!!

FLU SHOTS AT THE HYANNIS VETS CENTER STARTING NOV.1ST 2-3:30 ON THURSDAYS

DAV NSO, Supervisor Richard "Rich" Vaccari will be at Hyannis VA Clinic Dec. from 9AM-1PM, Rich will assist veterans with filing for benefits (Comp/Pen. etc). Call 508-771-3190 for date.

** NEW DIVISION OF MASS. DEPT. OF VETERANS SERVICES HAS BEEN FORMED TO ASSIST VETERANS AT RISK, WEB SITE TO FOLLOW-CONTACT JOE BYKOSKI -617-210-5761

Remember you can call the new Hyannis VA Vets Center at 474 West Main St. 508-778-0124 to set your paperwork in motion. Ask for Bonnie.

WRITE OR EMAIL REP. BILL DELAHUNT A TRUE VETERANS FRIEND, CONTACT YOU STATE REP. AT http://www.mass.gov

SUPPORT VETERANS WHO ARE ACTIVE IN THERE COMMUNITY, DEMAND TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO ASSIST OTHER VETERANS, SELLING FLOWERS, DRESSING UP AT A FUNCTION AND PARADES ARE NICE BUT VISITING VETERANS IN NURSING HOMES, BRINGING FOOD TO SOUP KITCHENS,BUYING NEEDY VETERANS AUTOS, ASSISTING VETERANS IN NEED WITH CASH, CARING FOR OUR SOLDIERS IN WAR IS A MORE SOLEMN ENDEAVOR. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM NON-VETERANS IF WE DO NOT CARE FOR OUR OWN.

THANKS TO REP. CLEON TURNER (D) FOR ASSISTING AMVETS POST 333 AND CAPE COD VETERANS ORG. IN RESTORING STATE BENEFITS TO A DENNIS PORT WIDOW

Visit Solon Economou at at Cape Cod Today for Vets Day info

http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/Slon

2008 Compensation, Pension, DIC, Special Combat Related Stress, etc rates Military.com This site has it all for active and Veterans

Anyone wanting free business card, inviations, stationery,etc go to this link

Local TV programs will be produced starting Jan 8th at 5:05PM Tues. on CH. 17 to focus on Veterans and their needs, benefits, etc. Future programing will include Veterans and Community groups. Two new prograns taped on 4/16.

Recent Legsilation

H.R. 3882-GI Bill upgrade for Reserves-under Consideration H.R.'s 3997,& 513-Credit help for Troops -To Senate

S. 1784 passed by Senate-Mil. Reservists and Veterans Small Business Reauthorziation and Opportunity Act. $50K in no-collateral sall buniness loans, ans more.

Wounded soldiers to keep bonuses, H.R. 3793

EMAILS- capecodveterans@fastmail.fm ,

Cape Cod Veterans PO Box 81, Dennis Port Ma. 02639
Amvets Post 333 508-394-4022

ALL INFORMATION MUST BE CONFIRMED BY SECOND SOURCE, WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR

ERRORS OR MISPRINTED INFORMATION

Copyright © 2006 Richard T. Riehle. All Rights Reserved.

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