Sonny Perdue Governor Georgia Department of Veterans Service Veterans Bulletin Pete Wheeler Commissioner Arbor Day at GVMC-Milledgeville Cemetery and Forestry Commission partner to plant trees, honor veterans Georgia Veterans ... guardians of liberty March-April 2009 IN this issue: Find out what the new gi bill could mean for you Georgia Department of Veterans Service Veterans Bulletin March-April 2009 About The Cover The Georgia Department of Veterans Service, in partnership with the Georgia Forestry Commission, annually observes Arbor Day at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Milledgeville by planting trees in honor of veterans. This year's event, held April 24, featured speakers GFC Director Robert Farris, SDVS Assistant Commissioner Len Glass, and former Atlanta Brave Ryan Klesko; and music by the Georgia Military College Band. Participating in the ceremonial tree planting were (from left): Glass, Klesko, Maj. James Clements (HQs Co. 48th INF BDE GAARNG, Macon), Veterans Service Board Vice Chairman Ken Birdsong, Maj. David Casey (HQs Co. 48th INF BDE GAARNG, Macon), State Rep. James "Bubber" Epps (District 140), and Farris. Read local news coverage of the event here: http://www.unionrecorder.com/archivesearch/local_story_114221203.html Veterans Service Board Elects New Leadership Page 3 Post 9/11 GI Bill Goes Into Effect May 1 Page 4 SDVS News Page 5 Veterans News Headlines Page 6 Vietnam Veterans Honored Page 7 Commissioner's Activities Page 8 Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4800 (404) 656-2300 gavetsvc@vs.state.ga.us www.sdvs.georgia.gov Georgia Veterans Bulletin The Georgia Veterans Bulletin is published quarterly by the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, Public Information Division, Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Room E-970, Atlanta, GA 30334-4800. Ray Hendrix Chairman, Veterans Service Board Pete Wheeler Commissioner Tom Cook Assistant Commissioner, Claims and Field Operations Dan Holtz Assistant Commissioner, Administrative Service Heldon (Bill) Jung Director, Education & Training Brian Zeringue Public Information Manager Jon Suggs Editor, Veterans Bulletin Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty A Note To Our Readers: Welcome to the digital edition of the Georgia Veterans Bulletin. If you are already familiar with our publication, you will find the same valuable information that has always been in these pages, accompanied by a few additions and enhancements. By bringing the Bulletin to you online, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service is saving valuable budget dollars, a necessary choice given our state's current fiscal status. But this is more than a mere cost-saving change. There are many advantages to digital publication, and we aim to make use of much this medium has to offer. Most notably, this marks a move from a quarterly to monthly publication schedule. We intend to bring you more news, more often. Remember, every hypertext link in this document is clickable. Wherever you see a website address, such as www.va.gov, you can click on the link and be taken to that site. We would like to encourage you to subscribe to our news feed via RSS. You may do so here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/rss/sdvs_ press_releases.xml. Whenever a new Bulletin is published, whenever the Department issues any news release, you will be among the first to know. As always, thank you for your service to our country and do not hesitate to call upon us. Veterans Service Board Elects New Leadership SDVS News Release active duty in 1949 and 1950 with the 340th April 28, 2009 Engineer Construction Battalion. He was discharged from reserve status in 1953. Georgia's seven-member State Birdsong is an active member of Veterans Service Board recently elected both the Gordon and Gray communities, new officers for 2009-10. involved in both the local VFW and Ray Hendrix, a retired Army Sergeant American Legion posts, Exchange Club of Major and resident of Statesboro, was Macon and is a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite voted board chairman. Mason. He has served on the Veterans Rod Casey, retired Air Force Colonel Service Board since September 2001; and former Chairman of the Lowndes reappointed by Governor Perdue in 2007. County Board of Commissioners, was Hendrix, the board chairman during selected to serve as board secretary. 2005-06, retired from the Army in 1992 Casey, a Marietta native and now after serving over 42 years in uniform. Ray Hendrix Valdosta resident, was appointed to the His Army experience included serving in Chairman Veterans Service Board by Governor artillery, maintenance, intelligence, and Perdue in 2007. recruiting units. Casey, who served 21 years on active Hendrix, a retired Bulloch County duty, accounted for over 3,000 hours flying Magistrate Court Constable, is an active four different tactical fighter aircraft. He member in The American Legion at culminated his Air Force flying career as state, local, and national levels. He a combat-ready aircraft commander in the currently serves as a National Executive F-16 Falcon. Committeeman and as a member of The Casey ended his military career with American Legion's National Legislative assignments at Moody Air Force Base and International Affairs Commissions. in Valdosta. There he served as Deputy Over the years, he also served on The Commander for Logistics before taking Legion's National Veterans Affairs and command of the 450-person Component Rehabilitation, Military Affairs, and Repair Squadron responsible for over $450 Americanism Commissions. million in assets. Casey retired in 1994. Hendrix, past state commander of The American Legion - Department of Georgia, is a member of the local American Kenneth W. Birdsong Vice Chairman Having served on the Valdosta City Council, Casey ran for and was elected Chairman of the Lowndes County Board Legion Post 90, Scottish Rite Temple and of Commissioners in November 2000. Statesboro Shrine Club and attends Eastern During his eight years as Chairman, Heights Baptist Church. Lowndes County received numerous state Kenneth W. Birdsong, U.S. Army and national awards in virtually every veteran and former state legislator, was countywide service. named board vice chairman. Currently serving as members of the Birdsong, whom Governor Perdue State Veterans Service Board with Hendrix, recently reappointed for another seven year Birdsong and Casey are Barbara Jean Aaron term, has served on the Veterans Service of Warner Robins, James Blaylock of Board since January 2005. That followed Decatur, Fred T. Fincher, Sr. of LaGrange, his retirement from government after 28 and Pat Phillips of Blairsville. years of continuous service in the State The seven-member, Governor- House of Representatives. appointed, constitutional Board of Veterans Birdsong, who represented Georgians Service recommends policy, procedure, from Bibb, Jones, Twiggs, and Wilkinson Rod Casey and work projects and through the counties, also served as chairman of the Secretary Commissioner of the Georgia Department House Defense and Veterans Affairs of Veterans Service controls overall veteran Committee. policy for the state. Birdsong, a veteran of World War II and Korea, More information about the Veterans Service Board, served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947. Upon and its members (to include full bios), is available at www. discharge, he enlisted in the Army Reserves serving on sdvs.georgia.gov, under About SDVS. Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty New Post 9/11 GI Bill goes into effect May 1 VA News Release May 1, 2009 VA starts accepting applications for the Post 9/11 GI Bill on May 1, 2009. Individuals with active duty service since September 11, 2001, may be eligible for this benefit and can apply online at www.gibill.va.gov. The program provides tuition assistance, a housing allowance, a books and supplies stipend, and the option to transfer these benefits to family members under certain circumstances. By law, the new benefit is effective August 1, 2009. For more information, visit the GI Bill website or call 1888GIBILL1 (1888 4424551). Veterans may also contact the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, Education Division, at 404-656-2306. Veterans who qualify under previous GI Bill provisions are especially encouraged to find out how the new options could affect them. Factors to consider when deciding if you should apply for Chapter 33 benefits. 1. Which benefit pays you more? d What Chapter 33 tier are you eligible for? d Are you receiving other aid? Does that pay tuition and fees? (HOPE, Scholarship etc) d Does your type & level of training qualify you to get Housing allowance. d What is your planned level of enrollment for the term. 2. What type of training are you enrolling in? d Online? To receive Housing Allowance at least one class must be at a class room and you must be enrolled at over half time. d Covered under Chapter 33? NCD, Flight, Correspondence, and OJT/Apprenticeship are not covered 3. How many months of MGIB-AD Chapter 30 do you have remaining? If you have entitlement remaining under MGIB-AD, the number of months of the Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement you will be eligible for will be equal to the number of months remaining under MGIB-AD. However, if you exhaust all of your MGIB-AD entitlement, then you may be entitled to an additional 12 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 4. Comparison available at www.gibill. va.gov. Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Student Experience Timeline May 1: VA begins processing applications for Certificates of Eligibility (CofE) Eligibility data provided from DoD via existing feed VA mails C of E to student showing: d Months of entitlement d Tier of eligibility d Delimiting date May to July: Veteran enrolls in school and provides C of to school July 6: VA begins accepting enrollment information from schools School reports enrollment and charges to VA via existing mechanism (VA Once) July 6: VA begins processing claims August 3: VA pays first tuition and fees payments to schools VA pays first books and supplies stipend to student VA provides notice to student of: d Tuition and fee payment amount d Book stipend payment amount d Monthly housing payment amount d Need to notify VA of changes in enrollment d Obligation to repay any O/P resulting from changes in training September 1: VA pays partial housing allowance for August attendance October 1: VA pays first full monthly housing allowance Highlights of ... SDVS At Work For Georgia Veterans The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Milledgeville will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 25, 2009. The participants will include the FR Robert F. Kennedy Council 9458 of the Knights of Columbus and the John Milledge Chapter of the Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution. Both of these organizations will also help with placing flags on all of the gravesites in the cemetery on Friday, May 22, in recognition of our deceased veterans. The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Glennville will host a Memorial Day Ceremony on at 10 a.m. May 25, 2009. State Sen. Jack Hill will be the keynote speaker. Mr. Raymond , (Manager, SDVS Rome) participated in briefings for D Company, 148th Support Battalion, Georgia National Guard, Cedartown, Georgia and C Company, 108th RSTA, Georgia National Guard, Dalton, Georgia on February 28, 2009; for HHC, 108th RSTA, Georgia National Guard, Calhoun, Georgia and A Company, 108th RSTA, Georgia National Guard, Rome, GA on March 1, 2009; and for B Company, 108th RSTA, Georgia National Guard, Rome, Georgia on March 2, 2009. Mr. Herbert Ward, (SDVS Claims) represented SDVS at the 48th Brigade, Georgia National Guard, Family Deployment Survival Training, Saturday, March 14, 2009, Atlanta Metropolitan College, 1630 Metropolitan Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia. This was a pre-mobilization event for the 48th Brigade. Mr. Perry Morgan (Manager, SDVS Washington) participated in briefings at American Legion Post 194, Lincolnton, Georgia on March 21, 2009. Mr. Harry Evans (Manager, SDVS Gainesville) represented SDVS at a Georgia Department of Labor Job Fair held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at American Legion Post 233, 4635 Atlanta Highway, Loganville, Georgia. Ms. Liz Hunnicutt (VBC, SDVS Glennville) participated in Family Deployment Survival Training briefings, Saturday, March 28, 2009 for the 118th Field Artillery Battalion (GA NG) at the National Guard Armory, Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Joel Willis (SDVS Claims) represented SDVS at the 48th Brigade (GA NG) Family Deployment Survival Training, Saturday, March 28, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia. This was a pre-mobilization event for around 1,200 soldiers and family members of the 48th Brigade. Ms. Tonya Malpass (Manager, SDVS Glennville) and Ms. Jewell Middleton (Manager, SDVS Savannah) participated in the 848th Engineer Battalion (GA NG), Service Member and Family Reintegration Training, March 27-28, 2009, Combat Readiness Training Center, Travis Field, SavannahHilton Head Airport, Garden City, Georgia. The 848th recently returned from combat deployment in Iraq. They completed 84 drivers' license applications, 73 hunting and fishing license applications, 16 initial VA compensation claims, and 6 claims for an increase or reinstatement of VA benefits. Mr. Mike Hudson (VBC, SDVS LaGrange) and Mr. Stephen Horton (VBC, SDVS Columbus) participated in Pre-Deployment briefings for 2-121st Infantry Battalion (GA NG) at the Mountain Creek Inn, Callaway Gardens, on April 3, 2009. There were approximately 1,000 soldiers and family members present for the event. Ms. Beverly Lloyd (Manager, SDVS Augusta) participated in Post Deployment Health Re-Assessment (PDHRA) briefings for the 278th MP Company (GA NG), Fort Gordon, Georgia on April 4, 2009. The 278th MP Company recently returned from combat deployment in Iraq. Mr. Terry Smith (Manager, SDVS Brunswick) participated in a parade and luncheon on Friday, April 10, 2009 in Brunswick, Georgia in honor of G Company, 148th Support Battalion (GA NG) in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan. Mr. Loran Bryant (Manager, SDVS McRae) and Mr. Ed Chancey (Manager, SDVS Waycross) participated in a "Veterans Forum" hosted by Congressman Jack Kingston on Thursday, April 16, 2009 in the Engram Union Ballroom, South Georgia College, 100 W. Georgia College Park Drive, Douglas, Georgia. Mr. Jeff Yarber (VBC, SDVS Macon) participated in PreDeployment briefings for HHC, 48th Brigade and 148th Base Support Battalion (GA NG), at the Macon Centroplex on April 22, 2009. Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty Headlines Of Interest To GA Veterans An Open Letter to Veterans From Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki March 13, 2009 - Following is an open letter to Veterans from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1658 VA Welcoming Vets Home with New Web Site, Blog The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched its new "Returning Veterans" website -- www.oefoif.va.gov -- to welcome home Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, Veteran-centric Web site focusing on their needs and questions. (4/20/09) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1666 Legal Notice About Veterans Data Theft Settlement The Notice Administrator for U.S. District Court recently issued the following statement to the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, notifying veterans of their rights in a proposed lawsuit settlement: "The attached notice describes a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit involving the theft of computer equipment which was reported to contain personal information of veterans, spouses of veterans, and military personnel. The accompanying claim form explains how class members can ask for benefits from the settlement." (4/16/2009) http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,26646926_111604615_138571199,00.html VA Designs Medallion for Private Graves The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the preliminary stages of designing a medallion (IAW Public Law 110-57, December 2007) to be affixed to an existing privately-purchased headstone or marker to signify the deceased's status as a veteran. VA estimates the new medallion will be available in summer 2009. (4/10/2009) http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,26646926_111604615_138173887,00.html Gould Sworn in as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs W. Scott Gould, a retired naval reservist and senior executive with experience in the Federal government and the private sector, has taken the oath of office as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (4/9/09) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1665 Medical Journal Praises VA Electronic Health Record A recent study in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine singles out the VA for its successful implementation of a comprehensive system of electronic health records. (4/6/09) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1662 Dobbins Clears Major Hurdle for Military Commissary U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., recently announced that Dobbins Air Reserve Base has cleared a major hurdle in its quest to build a military commissary on the base. Isakson and Gingrey have been working for more than a year to try to ensure a seamless transition between the closure of existing commissaries serving metro Atlanta and construction of the new commissary. (4/6/2009) http://sdvs.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,26646926_111604615_137284966,00.html Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty ABOVE: Commissioner Wheeler spoke at the dedication of a Blue Star Memorial Highway marker honoring veterans in Buford, Georgia. ABOVE LEFT: Commissioner Wheeler, in his capacity as an ex-officio member of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, attended Governor Perdue's signing of a proclamation recognizing the Days of Remembrance. (Also pictured, from left: Viki Staley, Claire D'Agostino, Shelly Rose, Sylvia Wygoda, Michael Altman, Kitty Jacobs; back row: Bill Nigut, Michael Morris, Renee Werbin, Kim Brown. (See proclamation on page 9.) LEFT: Commissioner Wheeler joined Governor Perdue, Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham, and members of the Georgia General Assembly to honor members of the Georgia Department of Defense during National Guard Day at the State Capitol. (See proclamation on page 10.) BELOW: Kerry L. Gehring, National Guard Bureau Warrior Support Manager, recently visited the Commissioner to brief him on her activities overseeing the NGB's Transition Assistance Advisor Program. (Also pictured, from left: SDVS Assistant Commissioner Tom Cook and TAAP staffers Casby Gay and Allen Carr.) Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty JOIN CO-HOSTS GARY SINISE AND JOE MANTEGNA FOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT On Sunday, May 24, 2009, join us for an American tradition. The multi awardwinning National Memorial Day Concert honors the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. The 2009 event commemorates 20 years on air as the nation's memorial service, offering viewers a time to remember, to heal and bring our country together. This year, the live PBS event airing from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, will pay special tribute to Abraham Lincoln's legacy on the 200th anniversary of his birth; honor the thousands of family members caring for our severely wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan; and commemorate 20 years on air with a look back at some of the most powerful moments from the past two decades. Featuring Co-Hosts GARY SINISE and JOE MANTEGNA with GENERAL COLIN POWELL, KATIE HOLMES, LAURENCE FISHBURNE, DIANNE WIEST, KATHARINE MCPHEE, TRACE ADKINS, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL, COLM WILKINSON, DENYCE GRAVES, LANG LANG, ROBERT MCDUFFIE and ERICH KUNZEL conducting the NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. JOIN US SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2009 on PBS 8:00 9:30 pm ET (check local listings) A TIME TO REMEMBER, TO HEAL AND BRING OUR NATION TOGETHER For More Information About This Special Event Please visit our web site www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert