2003 annual report

State of Georgia Department of Veterans Service
2003 Annual Report Pete Wheeler, Commissioner

To a Veteran, Who Has Given So Much To Our Country. Thank You For The SacrificesYou Have Made To Help America Remain

STRONG!

PROUD!

an A Grateful Nation Holds You In Its Heart.

PETER WHEELER COMMISSIONER (404) 656-2300 FAX (404) 656-7006

Bepartment nf Beterans Peruke
iFlngii UEtermta Memorial IButlliutg
Atlanta, (Sienrgta
30334
January 31, 2004

Governor Sonny Perdue Members of the General Assembly Members of the Veterans Service Board Citizens of the State of Georgia
Greetings:
Section 38-4-11 of the Code of Georgia reads:
"The Commissioner of Veterans Service shall furnish to the Governor, the members of the General Assembly, the Veterans Service Board, veterans ' organizations and the public generally an annual report with reference to claims presented on behalfof veterans ofthis state, concerning veterans aided underfederal, state, or local legislation, and to otherwise report activities and accomplishments of the Department of Veterans Service. "
In compliance with the above section, I have the honor to present herewith the Annual Report of the Department of Veterans Service for the year 2003.
Respectfully submitted,

PETE WHEELER Commissioner

Contents
Veterans Service Board ....................................................................................................... 5 Mission ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Department Functions........................................................................................................... 7 Education And Training Division ........................................................................................ 8 Information Division ........................................................................................................... 9 Statistical Report ................................................................................................................ 10 Monetary Benefits................................................................................................................ 12 Financial Report.................................................................................................................... 13 Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, Augusta ............................................................ 14 Georgia War Veterans Home, Milledgeville................................................................ 15-16 Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Milledgeville.....................................................17 Commissioner's Activities .............................................................................................. 18-21 Supermarket of Veterans Benefits................................................................................ 22-23 State Veterans Organizations...............................................................................................24 Veterans Leadership ............................................................................................................25 Directory................................................................................................................................... 50 Distribution of VA Expenditures.......................................................................................... 58 World War II Data.................................................................................................................. 61 World War II Registry Form.................................................................................................62
Organization
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICE
STATE VETERANS SERVICE BOARD

INFORMATION DIVISION

COMMISSIONER

EDUCATION TRAINING DIVISION

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FIELD OPERATIONS

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER CLAIMS

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ADMINISTRATION

Director Health, Contracting & Facilities

AREA I
SOUTHERN GEORGIA

AREA II
CENTRAL GEORGIA

AREA III
NORTHERN GEORGIA

GEORGIA VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

GEORGIA WAR
VETERANS HOME
AUGUSTA

GEORGIA
WAR VETERANS HOME
MILLEDGEVILE

4

Veterans Service Board
The Constitution of the State of Georgia specifies that the State Board of Veterans Service be composed of seven members. Each member must be a veteran of the armed forces of the United States and must have served honorably during wartime.
The Governor nominates members who are subject to approval by the State Senate. Board members terms are staggered and are for seven years. From its membership, the Board annually elects a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary. Every four years the Board elects a Commissioner, through whom it controls the overall policy of the Department of Veterans Service.
2003 Board Members

Barbara J. Aaron Horace Borders Richard Harris James Blaylock Ray Hendrix Calvin C. Dudley

Chairperson Vice Chairman Secretary Member Member Member

Warner Robins Rockmart Cochran Decatur Statesboro Royston

VSB members Mr. Borders (hidden), Mr Hendrix (thirdfrom left), Mr. Harris (secondfrom right), joined Commissioner Wheeler and State Representative Ken Birdsong, Chairman of the Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee for the plaque unveiling at the dedication of the Alzheimer's Wing ofthe Georgia WatVeteran s Home in Milledgeville in July.

Photo at right: Mr. Hendrix (left), Mr. Borders (right) and Ms. Aaron (back right) review the several thousands of cards and letters Commissioner Wheeler received during the summer from veterans regarding the C.A.R.E.S study.
5

Mr Blaylock above led the Pledge ofAllegiance at the AARP sponsored Pearl Harbor Remembrance day Program held on Dec. 7, at the State s WWII Memorial.

Mission...

to serve those who have served

he mission ofthe Department of
TVeterans Service is to serve the 768,675 veterans (VA's figures taken from Census 2000) residing in Georgia, their dependents and survivors in all matters pertaining to veterans benefits.
This responsibility falls into two basic tasks: informing the veterans and their families about veterans benefits; and directly assisting and advising veterans and their families in securing the benefits to which they are entitled.
To support these missions, the department maintains a claims staff, field offices, an information division, and a central office.
The claims staff is located at the Atlanta Regional Office ofthe U.S. Department of Veter ans Affairs at 1700 Clairmont Road in Decatur.
The claims staffmission is to process claims and appeals of Georgia veterans.
The field offices, located throughout the state, provide direct assistance to veterans at the local level. The Department representatives provide counsel and assist veterans in gathering the documents and information
required to document their claim. The information division's mission is to keep
Georgia veterans informed about issues and how they impact on them.
The central office is for the administration of these services.
The uninformed may be prone to use the phrase "duplication ofeffort" when referring to the functions ofthe Department ofVeterans Service and the U.S. Department ofVeterans Affairs; nothing could be further from the truth.

To a veteran seeking benefits from the VA, the role played by the Department ofVeterans Service might be compared to that of an attorney representing a client in court.
The necessity for personal assistance in filing and pursuing claims and in maintaining a continuing information program results from the legal principle that veterans benefits are not awarded automatically--all must be applied for.
The VA pays a veteran exactly what he or she asks for when they are entitled, and no more.
The aim ofthe Department ofVeterans Service is to obtain for a veteran or dependents the benefits to which they are entitled, to tell them when they are entitled, and to assist them in gathering and preparing evidence needed to justify a claim and prove their entitlement.
The advancing age of World War II and Korean War veterans, and the frequent changes that occur in veterans benefits legislation, will
necessitate the continuance ofa variety of veterans programs in the years ahead.
As Congress continues to seek ways to reduce the deficit, veterans benefits will continue to be in a state of flux.
This means veterans will continue to need assistance in interpreting the changes and determining how they impact on their personal situation.

6

Department Functions

Effectuate and carry out the laws of the state pertaining to veterans. Inform veterans, their dependents, and survivors as to their rights and benefits under federal and state legislation, or local ordinances. Assist veterans, their dependents, and their beneficiaries in the preparation, presentation, proof, and establishment of such claims, privileges, rights and other benefits accruing to them under federal, state, and local laws. Report any evidence of incompetence, dishonesty, or negligence on the part of any employee dealing with veterans' affairs to the proper authority. To do and perform all things for the promotion of and in the interest and for the protection of the veterans of Georgia as to their rights under all federal and state laws. Apply for and accept gifts, grants, and other contributions from the federal government or from any other governmental units. Accept and use gifts, grants, donations, and contributions of real estate, both vacant and improved facilities, monies, services or other property from individuals, arms, corporations, organizations, and associations and from county and municipal corporations and their subdivisions, in addition to any funds appropriated by the state. Construct and operate hospitals, nursing homes, and personal care homes for the benefit of eligible war veterans. Advise the Governor, the Board of Veterans Service, and the General Assembly as to needed veterans' legislation. Maintain files on all veterans who have filed claims for veterans' benefit through the department. Conduct educational programs by personal appearances before veterans' organizations, service clubs, fraternal groups and other such organizations so as to acquaint the public generally with the work of the department.

Make representatives of the department available in any regions, locations, and areas of the state to assist all veterans, their dependents, and survivors in preparing and filing claims for benefits and to acquaint them with all legal rights and privileges. Cooperate with all national, state, and local governmental and private agencies, securing or offering services or any benefits to veterans and their dependents. Assist and cooperate with all veterans' organizations in their work. As State Approving Authority, enter into contracts with the federal government for the qualifications, approval, certification, and supervision of educational institutions and training establishments applying for or participating in federal programs for educating and training veterans. Assist other states in securing evidence for claims. Promote enlargement and improvement of VA hospital facilities in the state. Sponsor observance of Veterans Day in the state. Certify eligibility for veterans' drivers licenses and honorary drivers' license. Certify eligibility for disabled veterans' discount at Department of Natural Resources facilities. Issue Certificates of Exemption from payment of business license tax to qualified veterans. Assist qualified veterans in obtaining honorary hunting and fishing licenses. Assist in obtaining special motor vehicle license plates for certain veterans: Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners-of-war, handicapped and disabled veterans. Furnish the Governor, members of the General Assembly, State Board of Veterans Service, veterans' organizations, and the general public and annual report on the activities and accomplishments of the department.

7

Education And Training Division... State Approving Agency

y law, the Georgia Department of
BVeterans Service is designated as the State Approving Agency, responsible for approving and supervising all institutions and

establishments in Georgia, which offer education and

training under the provisions of the Veterans

Educational Assistance Program.

The State Approving Agency has the function of

ensuring that institutions and establishments meet and

maintain acceptable standards so that eligible

persons who attend may receive educational

assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans

Affairs.

This includes all public and private schools and

all establishments offering apprenticeship and other

on-the-job training. The satisfactory performance of

these duties requires extensive knowledge in

education administration and understanding the laws

and regulations that govern and control the Veterans

Educational Assistance Program.

Georgia veterans enrolled in college degree and

professional programs, technical career programs,

vocational programs, to include flight training and

on-the-job training programs exceeded 14,000

during 2003.

Ms. Yuma Mallard, who is j utilizing her GI Bill benefits I under Chapter 30 in an OnJ The-Job Training (OJT)
program. Ms. Mallard joined ! the U.S. Navy for a period of L 3 years. During her
enlistment she was assigned to San Diego. California, as Disbursing Clerk. She was deployed at sea under the Navy's "Women at Sea" program on 3 different occasions. Ms. Mallard is currently working as a Cost Accountant for E.R. Mitchell Construction Company in the Atlanta area.

Increases in enrollments are expected to continue as more veterans participate in the Montgomery GI Bill education program. Initiated in 1985, the

Montgomery GI Bill program has proven to be a

great success. The veterans' response to this

program was such that it subsequently was made a

permanent benefit for the military and now enjoys a

huge participation, which continues to grow.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)

has expanded the veterans education benefits

program to include vocational, technical,

correspondence and apprenticeship training for

reservists and flight training for both reservists and

veterans. One of the most recent innovations was

Public Law 106-419 which would allow DVA to

pay for certain licensing and certification tests

required for entry or advancement into a vocation or

profession.

In 2003, the approval of educational institutions

and training establishments for the education of

Georgia veterans resulted in the processing of nearly

7,200 individual actions in the approval, reapproval,

withdrawal and compliance survey process. The

State Approving Agency also conducted regular

inspection visits to ensure that approval criteria and

schools' standards of progress are being followed

as prescribed by law.

During 2003, personnel assigned to the

Educational and Training Division conducted about

Mr. Reginald Burrell of 500 visits for the

Riverdale, Georgia served 15 years in the

puiposes of

Armed Forces and is now currently working

approval,

as an exterminator for reapproval,
Terminix Pest Control.
He will be receiving inspection and

Chapter 30 GI Bill benefits in the On-The-

compliance surveys.

Job (OJT) program for Currently, the
a period of 24 months,
while working in this department monitors

entry level capacity and hopes to become an

1,100 educational

area manager within the next 4 years.

institutions and

training establishments.

Laws recently enacted require stringent

regulatory compliance in order to maintain controls

on all approved types of educational establishments

The responsibilities of administrative approval,

annual inspections, and ensuring corrective action

where necessary, constitute a vital function of the

Georgia Department of Veterans Service.

8

Information

Division
rTT'Ihe information division collects, evaluates, I and disseminates information to veterans 1. regarding benefits, changes in laws, and
proper procedures to be followed in the filing of claims.
When appropriate, the division mails news releases concerning veterans affairs to more than 400 newspapers, radio and television stations throughout Georgia.
The releases are used to inform veterans about the latest changes regarding veterans affairs and to provide information on the status of proposed or pending legislation which may affect them.
Field personnel promote the Department and the services it provides by their frequent contacts with the news media in their respective areas.
The Department publishes the Veterans Bulletin which contains information about veterans programs, VA actions and decisions, new rules and regulations, and news from various sources.
A quarterly publication, the Veterans Bulletin is distributed throughout the state to veterans organizations, VAhospitals, public officials and other interested groups and individuals.
Public speaking forums are an important ingredient ofthe Department's overall information program. All Department personnel are encouraged

to accept speaking engagements at meetings of veterans organizations and civic clubs. These personal appearances provide excellent opportunities for telling the veterans benefits story. Department personnel also participate in local radio
| talk shows and make presentations at I local schools.
The I Infonnation Division | maintains a department web site that is part of www.georgia.gov.
The web site contains information about Commissioner Wheeler, state veterans benefits, the Georgia War Veterans Nursing
Home in Augusta, and the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville.
The site address is http://www.state.ga.us/dvs. The information division compiles, edits, and publishes a series ofpamphlets explaining in detail the various benefits available to veterans, their dependents, and survivors. These pamphlets are updated as changes occur in laws, regulations, or benefits. Through an aggressive internal communication program, the Division keeps the field offices informed about changes in the law and policy interpretations that impact veterans.
Photos show Commissioner Wheeler being interviewed by Albany TV crews during the 2003 Supermarket of Veterans Benefits held December 2003

Statistical Report
Listed below is a report of the number of cases and types of services rendered by the Georgia Department of Veterans Service during 2003.
Contacts.......................................................................... 593,263 New Case Files................................................................ 11,177 Letters Written.................................................................. 38,600 Compensation and Pension............................................. 66,244 Education............................................................................. 3,856 Medical............................................................................. 32,207 Insurance...............................................................................1,832 Loans.................................................................................... 4,314 Power of Attorney........................................................... 14,476
Change of Address.............................................................. 3,636 Notices ofDisagreement and Appeals Filed..................... 5,876 Vocational Rehabilitation................................................... 1,289 VA Claims Folders Reviewed.......................................... 51,698 Claims Forms Field office Reviewed................................... 534 Drivers Licenses.................................................................. 6,272 Business Licenses................................................................... 290 Nursing Flome Applications............................................... 1,181 License Plates...................................................................... 1,750
Natural Resources............................................................... 2,323 Tax Exemption.....................................................................1,609 Prefernce Points.....................................................................703 Welfare Assistance/SS....................................................... 7,335 Miscellaneous Personal Affairs........................................ 22,535 Other Forms and Evidence.............................................. 174,932 Miscellaneous..................................................................761,932
10

CONTACTS: Requests for service or infonnation (in person, by telephone or by letter).
NEW CASE FILES: Cases brought to the attention of the Veterans Service Department for assistance requiring representation.
LETTERS WRITTEN: Outgoing correspondence originated in the Department on behalf of claimants in developing their claims.
COMPENSATION AND PENSION: Claims for monetary benefits submitted by veterans, their dependents or survivors.
POWERS OF ATTORNEY: The appointment of a service organization as a claimant's representative.
NOTICES OF DISAGREEMENT AND APPEALS FILED: Written briefs and statements prepared in support of a claim where there is disagreement with the VA decision rendered.
VA CLAIMS FOLDERS REVIEWED: Claims obtained from the VA adjudication division and reviewed and rating boards conducted by claims staff personnel.
DRIVERS LICENSES: Certificates issued to veterans, their spouses, or to widows or widowers of veterans for obtaining a veteran's or honorary driver's license.
EDUCATION: Applications for educational assistance for the veterans and/or wives, widows and children of veterans.
MEDICAL: Applications for treatment of a medical or dental condition; for admission to health care facilities; and vocational rehabilitation.

Statistical Report
Definitions
INSURANCE: An application for insurance, conversion, reinstatement, waiver of premiums, total disability income and death proceeds.
HOME LOAN APPLICATION: Applications for direct home loans from the VA and guaranteed loans from private lenders.
BUSINESS LICENSES: Certificates issued to certain disabled veterans exempting them from the payment of business license taxes.
OTHER FORMS AND EVIDENCE: Documents completed and transmitted in support of applications filed for claims.
MISCELLANEOUS: Assisting in arrangements for military funerals, burial in national cemeteries, obtaining flags and grave markers, ambulance service guardianship for incompetent veterans and orphans; replacement of lost or destroyed discharges and military records; review and change of discharges and military records; employment, re-employment, civil service preference, social security, welfare and related benefits; claims from the field reviewed and released to the VA; actions pertaining to HV and DV auto tags, hunting and fishing licenses, tax exemptions, state park discount cards and change of addresses; vocational rehabilitation; and nursing home applications.

11

Monetary Benefits

Listed below is a report of the monetary benefits received by the veterans and the dependent survivors of deceased veterans in Georgia during fiscal year 2003 (October 1,2002-September 30, 2003). The figures were provided by the United States Department ofVeterans Affairs.

Compensation and Pension Insurance and Indemnities Education and Vocational Rehabilitation Construction General Operating Expenses

931,207,682 41,860,000 112,619,651
5,467,715 661,349,231

Total

1,752,504,279

Monetary Report Definitions

Compensation and Pension: Represents returns in dollars for veterans compensation for service-connected disability, compensation for service-connected deaths for veterans dependents, veterans dependency and indemnity compensation for service-connected deaths, pensions for nonservice connected disability for veterans, pensions to veterans surviving spouses and children, and burial expenses allowance for veterans.

Readjustment and Vocational Rehabilitation: Represents returns in dollars for automobiles and adaptive equipment for certain disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces, specially adapted housing for disabled veterans, dependents education assistance (Chapter 35), vocational rehabilitation for disabled veterans (Chapter 31), post-Vietnam Era veterans educational assistance (Chapter 32), and the Montgomery G.I. Bill for Selected Reserves (Chapter 106).

Insurance: Estimate of VA payment of death claims, mature endowments, dividends, cash surrender payments, total disability income provision payments, and total permanent disability benefits payments. The data is provided by the VA Regional Office and Insurance Center in Philadelphia. The estimate is based on statistical allocations using the veteran population to disperse amounts to geographical locations.

Construction: Represents returns in dollars concerning major and minor construction projects.
General Operating Costs: Amount spent by the VA to operate the regional office, hospitals, nursing and domiciliary facilities and clinics in Georgia.

12

Financial Report

For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30,2003

FUNDS AVAILABLE

BUDGET

REVENUES

State Appropriation Federal Revenues Governor's Emergency Funds

22,049,800 11,328,780

33,378,580

ACTUAL
21,721,682 11,284,011
4,750 33,104,443

EXPENDITURES

Personal Services Regular Operating Expenses Travel Equipment Computer Charges Real Estate Rentals Telecommunications Per Diem and Fees Operating Expenses/Payments to Medical College of Georgia Regular Operating Expenses for Projects and Insurance Contracts

6,038,004 425,187 154,602 105,822 6,361 219,148 90,660 24,500
8,459,196
187,444 17,672,406

Total Expenditures
13

5,799,125 424,300 84,389 105,635 1,463 177,075 81,862 13,980
8,459,195
187,079 17,686,340
33,010,443

Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, Augusta

|he Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home is
Ta 192-bed skilled nursing care facility located adjacent to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital and the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta.
It is operated under a contractual agreement with the Medical College of Georgia.
Primarily a facility to provide care to aged and infirm Georgia veterans, the GWVNH also serves as a teaching facility to acquaint medical and allied health students with medical conditions and diseases that confront the aged.
This provides the students with practical experience and helps them gain expertise in treating the elderly.
The facility also houses the Georgia Department

The average age of residents in the facility is 77 years of age. The GWVNH provided 3,951 physical therapy treatments and 5,770 occupational therapy procedures in 2003.
To help provide care and treatment, the federal government provided financial assistance totaling $3,535,724 during 2003. During the year, renovations began to provide an improved reception and business services area for patients and visitors. This area will be available for service in spring 2004. Throughout the year, veterans organizations, civic and fraternal associations, and religious groups demonstrated their concern for the well being of ailing veterans through numerous donations and the continuing sponsorship of frequent veteran-related activities.

of Veterans Service field office, which services Columbia and Richmond counties.
Dedicated in 1969, the facility was the first of its kind in the nation to be built with financial assistance from the federal government.
It is one of a select group of such institutions in the United States that has been accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
In 2003, the GWVNH provided 63,701 days of care to Georgia veterans. There were 269 admissions and 271 discharges, and the average length of stay was 241 days.
14

Georgia War Veterans Home Milledgeville

he Georgia War Veterans Home, situated

the entire home including the domiciliary and granted

Ton approximately 17 acres in Milledgeville, is a 550-bed facility licensed

full certification in June 2003. Veterans at the home received 116,580 days of

to provided skilled nursing and domiciliary care tsokilled nursing care and 42,659 days ofdomiciliary

aged and infirm Georgia war veterans. Priva-Trends, care in FY 2003. The home conducted 181

Inc., a subsidiary ofUHS-Pruitt Corporation of

admissions and 205 discharges during the fiscal year.

Toccoa, Georgia operates the home for the

The average length of stay for current veteran

Department ofVeterans Service under a contractual residents is 1,218 days. Federal assistance in

agreement.

The home operated three

,

skilled nursing care buildings in

FY 2003 which include the

RichardB. Russell Building

with 120 budgeted beds; the

Carl Vinson Building with 25

budgeted beds; the Joe T.

Wood Building with 150

budgeted beds; and the

Alzheimer's wing ofthe Pete

financing the cost of l providing care j to veterans in
! the home amounted to $7,706,119.
As in previous years, many veterans service

Wheeler Building with 20 budgeted beds. The

organizations like the American Legion, VFW, DAV

remainder ofthe Pete Wheeler Building houses 117 and others, along with civic and church groups

budgeted beds for veterans in need of domiciliary

continued their sponsorship ofnumerous activities

care. The Birdsong Recreation Center serves the

such as movies, games, dance parties, bingo,

entire campus. The home also maintains a website picnics, and other activities and programs for the

at: www.alltel.net/-

general well-being

gwvhadmit.

of the veterans at

The Georgia

the home. Over

Department of

600 groups/

Veterans field office

activities were

serving Baldwin,

performed and

Hancock, Putnam,

comprised ofthe

Washington, and

equivalent of 1,133

Wilkinson counties is

individual volun

housed on the first

teers providing in

floor of"D-Wing" of

excess of 3,479

the Wheeler Building. The Georgia
Department ofHuman Resources' Office of Regulatory Services conducted an unannounced licensure survey ofeach skilled nursing facility ofthe home in Febmary 2003 and found no deficiencies. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also conducted an annual survey of

hours ofvolunteer time. In addition to the volunteer hours, the value of in-kind donations provided to the home was $66,482. These groups and individuals also provided direct monetary donations ofnearly $35,104 during calendar year 2003.

15

New Alzheimer's Wing Open at GWVH, Milledgeville

eaders from Georgia's veteran service
Lorganizationsjoined local officials in July to dedicate the new 20-bed Alzheimer's wing ofthe Georgia War Veterans Home.
"The most serious unmet medical need among veterans and non-veterans alike is for the walking person who has Alzheimer's," Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler told the several hundred people who attended the dedication. "Ifthey are in a wheelchair or bedridden, you can take care of them in most nursing homes. But the person who is walking, the

i Pete Wheeler and the people who
if* served with him on the board and in the legislature."
Also speaking at the ceremony was Rep. Kenneth Birdsong ofGordon, Chairman ofHouse Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee. Chairman Birdsong attributed the funding to open the

nursing homes are afraid to take them.. .and we wanted to make sure that we had a place for these people that didn't look like a prison."
In addition to the 16 individual rooms, the wing has a common room for patients to eat, watch TV, play games or hold other activities. The furnishings ofthe wing are designed to provide a home atmosphere for the patients and their families and there is an outside garden where patients can walk in a controlled, yet comfortable environment. During the dedication ceremony, which took place outside ofa building named after Commissioner Wheeler, Milledgeville Mayor Floyd Griffin said the state should be grateful for the work done by Wheeler and the rest ofthe state Government on behalfofGeorgia's veterans.

Alzheimer's Wing to politicians crossing party lines for a good cause.
"I want to thank everyone that has had a part in it, from Governor Sonny Perdue, to Speaker Terry Coleman to Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor," Birdsong pointed out. "This was not a partisan issue, there is no room in veterans rights for partisan politics. I know ofno person under the gold dome at the State Capitol that did not support this endeavor." Sen. Faye Smith ofMilledgeville expressed her pride in working for Georgia's veterans and encouraged others to pause and remember their sacrifices.
"I want you to know how proud I am to have the honor and the opportunity to serve the veterans at this war home," Smith said. "It is j very important

"This is just a continuation ofthe kinds ofthings that your state legislature, your commissioner and the board are doing for this great facility and for the veterans ofthe state ofGeorgia," said Mayor Griffin, a veteran ofthe Vietnam War. "I think Georgia... is doing more for its veterans than any other state in this Union and I hope I'm right. We owe it all to Mr.

we continue to work together to make sure that we do not forget what our veterans here and in other parts of the state have done for you and I."
Following the ceremony, officials cut the ribbon on the entrance to the walking garden and visitors were able to tour the wing.

16

Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery Milledgeville

ie Georgia Veterans Memorial
TCemetery is located some 5 miles south of downtown Milledgeville along Georgia Highway 112. This cemetery, established on 142 acres the department received from the Georgia Forestry Commission, includes an administration/visitor center with a state of the art information booth, a committal chapel, a carillon, and 12 columbarium shelters for ashes. Cemetery grounds also include a six-acre lake and a threeacre, multi-tier walled ceremonial/ memorial area available for use by veteran organizations on remembrance days such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
The cemetery's initial construction phase was completed November 2001 and presently has a capacity for some 1,000 burial vaults. Presently occupying some 30 of the 142 acres, the cemetery
will eventually be a final resting place for more than 100,000 Georgia veterans separated under other than dishonorable conditions, their dependents and their spouses.
By the end of 2003, 265 veterans and spouses were
buried at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery. One hundred and seventy-four (174) were casketed burials; fifty-four cremations in the columbarium; 31 in-ground cremations and six memorial markers.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates the number of veteran deaths in the United States will increase from 550,000 in 1998 to a staggering 620,000 in 2008. The state of Georgia has the fastest growing number of veterans,

nearest site was out of state.
Thanks to the efforts of those officials who represent Georgia's interests and federal funding, the veterans of our state now have this final place of rest with the honor they deserve. Interment services
are held Monday
through Friday
excluding holidays
from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m.

17

presently close to 770,000.
The lack of available space within the national veteran cemetery system in Georgia, caused concern among many local, state and national officials.
Before this cemetery, if a veteran wished to be buried in a V. A cemetery, the
14

Commissioner's Activities

We want to express our appreciation to the men and women

n February 22, SDVS and the Georgia
OForestry Commission co-hosted the state's official 2003 Arbor Day Ceremony at the Georgia Veterans Memorial
Cemetery in Milledgeville honoring two of Georgia's
greatest assets - its veterans and its trees.

who are serving in our

While thanking Forestry Commission Director Fred

armed forces here and

Allen for once again holding the state's official Arbor

throughout the world for

Day program at GVMC, Georgia Commissioner of

the sacrifices they are

Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler's opening ceremony

making to allow us all our freedoms. Many of our men and women have left their peaceful occupations to protect the freedom that many

address honored the service, sacrifice, and dedication of all Georgia veterans and emphasized the need to support today's military men and women and national

take for granted. We

leaders.

need to support the

The event

President and our nation's

attracted area civic

leaders in seeing that they have everything they need leaders, elected state

to carry out this mission.We will survive and we will and local officials,

win!

and representatives

of state veteran organizations.

n February, Georgia Commissioner of Veterans

Among the ceremony's honored guests were State

IAffairs Pete Wheeler and Medical Center Director Thomas Cappello accompanied the

Representative Kenneth Birdsong, State Senator Faye Smith, Milledgeville Mayor Floyd Griffin,

Governor to the VAMC's Nursing Home Care Unit Baldwin County Commission Chairman Bernard

where they distributed Valentines sent by people from "Ace" Parker, Forestry Commission Board Chair

across Georgia through the "Annie's Mailbox" and man Jim L. Gillis, Jr., retired Navy Captain C. C.

"Valentines for Vets" programs.

Dudley of the State Veterans Service Board, VFW

After a brief ceremony in the hospital's Pete

State Commander Dick D. Dickens and AMVETS

Wheeler Auditorium local

State Ladies Auxiliary President Lori Williams.

veterans, military officials,

Also participating in the program was the Georgia

TV/Radio celebrities, and

National Guard Youth Challenge Academy Color

beauty pageant queens

Guard from the Fort Gordon campus in Augusta and

visited the inpatient and

Miss Georgia Forestry, Erin Smoak, who read

outpatient areas of the VA

Governor Sonny Perdue's 2003 Arbor Day

hospital.

Proclamation.

Among the many state veterans organizations that

The ceremony

participated in the weeklong recognition of America's concluded with the

hospitalized veterans were the American Legion,

planting of four trees,}

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American

two ginkou and two

Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, and Marine Corps red maples, on the

League. Members of the United States Army

north side of the

SSMT#

Reserve and the Fort McPherson's Non-

cemetery's in-ground ~JL

Commissioned Officer's Association also took part in casket burial area in

the program.

memory and honor of Georgia's veterans.

18

n March, a joint meeting of the
I American Battle Monuments Commission and the National World War II Memorial Advisory Board met to review on going construction progress and details of dedication ceremony events. Leading the two days of the briefings and discussions with Commissioner Wheeler (center), chairman of the Memorial

0*'
Advisory Board, were retired Marine General P.X. Kelley (left), ABMC chairman and former Marine Corps commandant, and the Honorable Alan Simpson, former United States Senator for the state of Wyoming and now a member of the ABMC.

une provided
JCommissioner Wheeler the opportunity to address

ommissioner
CWheeler marked Memorial Day 2003

the several thousands of

delivering the

Georgia veterans who

keynote address at

attended the state

't

services and

conventions of the

programs sponsored

American Legion,

by the Vietnam

AMVETS, DAV, and

Veterans ofAmerica

VFW. Commissioner

held in the State

Capitol Building and

Wheeler's remarks

/T

the Veterans Affairs Advisory Board of

included an update about Bj

DeKalb County held

the opening of the new

at Brook Run in Dunwoody.

Alzheimer's wing at the

Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville, progress of the new VA National

Cemetery near Atlanta, special recognition of the 50th anniversary of the end

to the Korean War, and the many activities to take place in conjunction with the

dedication of the National World War II Memorial scheduled in May 2004.

Commissioner Wheeler also paid special tribute to the D-Day anniversary in

remarks delivered at the monthly gathering of the Kiwanis Club of Northside

Atlanta.

19

ommissioner Wheeler (left) joined Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi (right) and Governor Sonny Perdue (center) to help launch Georgia's official participation in the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project at ceremonies held June 6 at the Atlanta History Center. The nearly 300 people attending listened to tributes from Secretary Principi and Governor Perdue and heard first-hand wartime stories from a panel that included former Tuskegee Airman Charles Dryden, retired Army General Harold Dye of the Atlanta WWII Round Table, and former Women's Army Corps member Helen Denton, who typed the battle plans for the Normandy invasion. The program, titled "In Their Own W
the 59"' anniversary of D-Day.

: Georgia Veterans Share Their Wartime Stories," marked

n August. Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs General Accounting Office report.

IPete Wheeler's 10-page testimony outlining his concerns about proposals that could affect the VA

"VA must not take action that will eliminate, reduce, or even move established health care programs in a state that

Medical Centers that treat Georgia veterans was officially sees its veteran population increase year-to-year,"

submitted into record during a hearing conducted at the cautioned Commissioner Wheeler.

Atlanta VA Hospital by a cabinet level commission.

USDVA figures show about 25 percent of veterans living

Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services,

in Georgia today receive medical care through VA hospitals.

CARES, is a nationwide

"Georgia veterans are concerned with

study being conducted by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs of its health

the possibility of longer wait times and unnecessary frustration to an already burgeoning system," Commissioner

care programs and facilities

Wheeler noted. "Bottom line, careful

focusing on where services are offered versus where the demand for them is the greatest.

consideration must be given to any VA proposal that is not supportive of the overall CARES goal of `more health care for more veterans, closer to where they

The study comes in response to the findings of a 1999 live'."

n October 20,2003,

OCommissioner Wheeler participated

37

in the eighth annual "Play it

Again, Pete!" Golf Tournament

hosted by the Atlanta VA

Medical Center and held at the

Golfer's Club on Fort

McPherson.

The tournament raised over

$31,000 to support the

Homeless Veteran Programs at

the Atlanta VAMC. The

proceeds from this event go

directly to educational and

occupational training to help veterans go from the streets

into productive society.

Commissioner Wheeler, for whom the tournament is

named, hit the first ball signaling the beginning of the

tournament.

Readily endorsing the event, the Commissioner says,

"In an area where success rates are not that high, VA has

had amazing success at bringing the homeless back into

the mainstream of society."

he Commissioner
Tpresided over the annual Governor's Veterans Day Proclamation Signing Ceremony which took place in late October in the Rotunda of the State Capital and attracted several hundred of the area's top military leaders of the state's veterans organizations and their auxilaries.Before heading to
Washington, D.C. to represent Georgia in Veterans Day ceremonies at the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, Commissioner Wheeler delivered the keynote address at Jonesboro's American Legion Post 25 8's Veterans Day program on November 7.

20

"The Most Defining Day in America's History,"

Commissioner Wheeler Tells a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Audience

uch of what our
Mcountry and our lives are like today was shaped by that most famous tragedy of December 7,1941," Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler told an audience gathered for a candlelight ceremony at the state's World War II Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol Building Complex, Sunday, December 7.
Commissioner Wheeler's remarks were part of his keynote address delivered at an AARP sponsored Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day program. His remarks chronicled the assault, the destruction, and the

imagine at that time in 20th Century America," Wheeler noted. "It changed not only the course of American history, but in a larger sense, changed the world."
Commissioner Wheeler emphasized how "America united like no time before or since - 16 million went into military uniform and of the 130 million supporting from home, very few challenged the rightness of our nation's cause to free the world from tyranny and oppression."
"This was a generation very different from those that came

before or after," Wheeler pointed out. "Hardened by the Depression, Americans understood the price of freedom and took to heart American values."
"Many today take for granted the freedoms which we enjoy in this great country," Commissioner commented. "They do so because most Americans have never been forced to live without freedom."
In acknowledging those presently in the United States Armed Forces stationed around the world. Commissioner Wheeler reminded the audience, "Today our country is again at war because of evil, and evil is much like bacteria, if left alone, it grows."
Wheeler pointed out, "To stop it, many young men and women have to sacrifice and leave their peaceful occupations."
In closing, the Commissioner told the audience, "We should never forget the sacrifices that have been and are now being made to preserve our freedom by those who are called to battle."

ultimate sacrifice of some 2,400 America lives that day. Seventeen Georgians lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
"The attack on Pearl Harbor left behind individual stories of loss greater than anyone could

21

"Supermarket" of Veterans Benefits

ith more than 3,400 veterans and their
Wfamilies taking part, Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler termed the 2003 "Supermarket of Veterans Benefits" held in Albany on

Thursday, December

11 th "the most successful

we have had in recent

years."

The one-day program

took place at the Civic

Center and provided a

one-stop shopping

service for veterans and

their families to gather

information regarding

federal and state benefits

to which they might be

entitled.

"We are extremely

happy that we were able

to assist so many

veterans and their

dependents," said

Commissioner Wheeler.

"This program is

extremely helpful for the

veterans because so

many ditferent

government agencies are

assembled at a single

location and claims are

filed on the spot."

"Many of these

claimants will be

receiving benefits for the

first time, and some of

them had no idea that

they were eligible for

anything," Wheeler

pointed out.

The event, the 39th

W

since its inception in

1966, is sponsored annually by the Georgia Department of Veterans Service in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and some 25 state, federal, and local agencies directly or indi rectly involved with veterans' affairs. It marked the fifth time that it has been held in Albany.
"This is an excellent example of team effort and cooperation when so many different government agencies can be assembled at the same time in one location to allow a veteran to file a claim right on the spot," commented Commissioner Wheeler. "Over the years more than 143,000 veterans have been helped through this event."
Since the Georgia Department of Veterans Service originated this program in Columbus, GA, in 1966, veteran benefits' "Supermarkets" have also been conducted in other cities (Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Brunswick, Dalton, Gainesville, Griffin, Macon, Rome, Savannah, Valdosta, and Waycross) across the state.

BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ALBANY

fo, Che United SCaCeo are returning home to Georgia at the rate of approximately 900 each month; and

It is very important for these returning veterans to know about the various benefits available to them, particularly in the areas of education, job training, employment, insurance, and hospitalization; and

WHEREAS:

These benefits due our nation's veterans of all wars, their dependents and survivors, often are administered by various agencies in widely separated locations, making determination of eligibility and the filing of claims sometimes difficult, inconvenient and time-consuming; and

WHEREAS:

Leaders of federal, state and local agencies, out of concern for the well-being of veterans and their families, will bring representatives of their various organizations Co the Albany James H. Gray, Sr. Civic Center, at 100 West Oglethorpe Boulevard, Albany, Georgia. from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., Thursday, December 11, 2003, to counsel and meet with veterans and their families about the various benefits which may be due them and in many instances, actually file claims; Now

THEREFORE:

I, Tommy Coleman, Mayor of the City of Albany, Georgia, do hereby proclaim Thursday, December 11, 2003. as "SUPERMARKET OF VETERANS BENEFITS DAY" in Albany, Georgia, and urge all citizens to recognize the efforts being made by officials of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and other agencies on behalf of our veterans and their families. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of Che City of Albany to be affixed this the 24ch day of November, two thousand and three.

State Veterans Organizations
n rendering service to the veterans ofGeorgia, the Department ofVeterans Service works closely with
Ithe state's veterans organizations and the U.S. Department ofVeterans Affairs. This Department incerely appreciates the Commanders ofthe veterans organizations in Georgia, who so generously give their time, energy and expertise in conducting the Department Commanders Conference. The group meets periodically and when called upon, advises and assists this Department in it's group activities. Appreciation is also expressed to the auxiliary presidents ofGeorgia veterans organizations for their cooperation and assistance in our programs and activities.
Veterans Service organizations across the state continued a long-standing tradition by hosting or participating in events observing Veterans Day 2003. Activities ranging from monument dedications, memorial services and wreath-laying ceremonies to parades, displays and dinner dances took place in nearly everyone ofGeorgia's 159 counties. The Governor's Veterans Day Proclamation Signing ceremony, officially proclaiming November 11 as "Veterans Day in Georgia'' was held October 23rd inside the Rotunda ofthe State Capitol. Commissioner Wheeler, who also serves as the Governor's chairman for Veterans Day observances statewide, was the master ofceremonies. The event, which has been held every year since 1954, attracted the area's top military leaders, key members ofthe Georgia legislature, and the leaders ofthe state's veterans' organizations and their auxiliaries.
24

Georgia's Veterans Leadership

American Ex-Prisoners of War William Price, Commander 3215 Custer Lake Drive Marietta, GA 30064
American Veterans (AMVETS) William Gilmer, Commander 1720 Union Church Road Watkinsville, GA 30277 Carolyn Brown, Auxiliary President 611 Mack Drive Valdosta, GA 31602
Blinded Veterans Association John W. Brown, President 4252 Colony East Drive Stone Mountain, GA30083
Disabled American Veterans Richard Williams, Commander 3725 Fairington Drive Hephzibah, GA 30815 Annie Krause, Auxiliary Commander 3714 Radium Springs Road Albany, GA 31705
Jewish War Veterans Myra Medintz, Commander 1897 Chrysler Drive NE Atlanta, Georgia 30345
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. Albert Lewis, President 403 Noman Lane Warner Robins, GA 31093
Military Order of the Purple Heart W.C. Stockell, Commander 5372 Gauley River Road Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Rose Cook, Auxiliary President 101 Cantyre Street Port Wentworth, GA 31407

Reserve Officers Association MAJ Joseph Moscoto, Jr., USAFR 3122 Hudson Pond Lane Marietta, GA 30062
The American Legion Charles Barrett, Commander 3770 Dora Drive Symrna, GA 31404 Juanita Todd, Auxiliary President 852 Lake Terrace Drive Augusta, GA 30904
Retired Officers Association A1 Mitchell, President 695 Riverhill Drive Athens, GA 30606
United Spanish War Veterans Marie Cruise, Auxiliary President 2122 Gumming Road, #B314 Augusta, GA 30904
Veterans of Foreign Wars of U.S. Edward Grealish, Commander P.O. Box 732 Winder, GA 30680 Beth Rice, Auxiliary President 1746 Bethany Road Canon, GA 30520
Veterans of World War I Dorothy Robinson, Auxiliary President 5261 Vivid Dr. Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Vietnam Veterans Alliance, Inc. Marvin Myers, President 5879 New Peachtree Road Doraville, GA 30340
25

THE AMERICAN LEGION
DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA
12 February 2004
Commissioner Pete Wheeler Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Suite E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Dear Commissioner Wheeler: On behalf of the 65,000 Legionnaires, Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion members, 1 would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for your untiring dedication and commitment to improving the quality of life of our Georgia Veterans and their dependents. We salute your accomplishments over the many years that you have provided the men and women who wore and are wearing the uniform of The United States Armed Forces with the very best in benefits and care. We realize just how fortunate our Veterans are to have such an outstanding professional as you with vision and foresight to oversee the daily matters of our Veterans' affairs. It is equally gratifying to see your genuine concern displayed in the daily work of your staff which care enough to "go the extra mile" to help any Veteran get the benefits and care he or she is entitled. Georgia's Veterans can rest assured their welfare and concerns have been and always will be your number one priority. We have the highest respect for you and your accomplishments. Our best wishes to you and your staff for continued success. For God and Country,
Charles W. Barrett Department Commander
26

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY Department of Georgia 3035 Mount Zion Rd
Stockbridge, Georgia 30281 (612)-289-8446
December 15,2003
Commissioner Pete Wheeler Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Suite E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Dear Commissioner Wheeler,
We, the world's largest non-profit patriotic women's service organization, thank you and your staff for the support and service for the needs of our Veterans.
As President for the year 2003-2004, it has been my honor to be with you and your staff at The Dedication of the Alzheimer's Wing of the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville, the Governor's Annual Veterans Day Proclamation Ceremony inside the State Capitol Building and our conventions.
We are fortunate in the state of Georgia to have you as Commissioner of Veterans Services. You not only lobby for Georgia veterans rights, you also keep them informed on services they are entitled by having the Veterans benefits "Supermarket". Thanks to you, we now have two Memorial Cemeteries in our state.
Our best wishes to you and your staff and may God bless you for the devotion given to our Veterans.
Juanita Todd, President American Legion Auxiliary
27

Edward P. Grealish, Jr. State Commander 2003-2004

llt'tmms of Jljoretci.n 3IlHars

nf tip llntti'c' States

JBepartttmtt nf CSeorgm
Phone: (478) 474-3737 Fax: (478) 474-6853
Email: gahq@gavfw.org

P.O. Box 732 Winder, Georgia 30680-0732
Phone: (770) 867-5983 Fax: (770) 586-5871
Email: gunnyg55@aol.com

December 2003

Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building - Suite E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4800

Dear Commissioner Wheeler:

On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Georgia and its Ladies Auxiliary, we want to thank you and your staff for the outstanding service provided to Georgia veterans and their families.

It is indeed a pleasure to work with your Field Offices throughout the state. They provide valuable and expert services geographically convenient for our veterans and their families and or survivors. We understand that this network of veterans service that you have established throughout the years and fought hard to maintain is second to none in the nation.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for continuing to provide our Department a fully qualified and capable VFW State Service Officer. Your sincere understanding and cooperation afforded us the opportunity this year to appoint the man with the "right stuff' for this very important and visible position.

Commissioner Wheeler, we enjoy our partemership with you and your staff to ensure that our heroes receive all federal and state benefits to which entitled. We look forward to another superb year of serving our veterans.

Please do not hesitate to call on us if we can assist the Georgia Department of Veterans Service in anyway.

Sincerely,

"PRIDE"

Edward P. Grealish, Jr. State Commander
28

(peparhtmti of dborgia
plates ^uxtltarg
To The
Jcfoimms of foreign JHars
of tt]8 ifniteb ^tafes
Founded 1914

December 2003

Instituted June 21, 1948

Honorable Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Suite E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Dear Commissioner Wheeler,
The Department of Georgia Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars is very proud to serve our Veterans and their families. On behalf of the nearly 8,000 members of this organization, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you and your Department for the exceptional service you provide to our Veterans and their families throughout Georgia.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary value the partnership that has existed between our organization and your Department. You and your staff provide us with key information on legislative issues and updated material in Veterans Services.
We appreciate your superb effort in consistently ensuring that all Veterans, their Widows and Orphans receive all Federal, State and Local government benefits to which they are entitled.
We look forward to continuing our association with you and the Department of Veteran Services. Please do not hesitate to call upon the Ladies Auxiliary if we can be of any service to you or your Department.
Yours in Service,
Beth Rice Department President of Georgia 2003-2004

29

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA 4462 HOUSTON AVENUE MACON, GEORGIA 31206
OFFICE: 478-781-7336 FAX: 478-788-2934
December 2003
Honorable Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Services Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Suite E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Dear Commissioner Wheeler, On behalf of the 26,500-Disabled American Veterans, Department of Georgia, it is my pleasure to express our appreciation to you and your staff for their efforts on our behalf. You are to be commended for all that you have done and are continuing to do for the veterans of Georgia. Your forethought, planning and expertise have resulted in many benefits, which Georgia Veterans now enjoy. It is my hope that you will continue for many years to work for the advancement of benefits for veterans in Georgia. The Disabled American Veterans Motto: "Building Better Lives for American's Disabled Veterans" is certainly what you and the Georgia Department of Veterans Services has and continues to accomplish. Thank You, God Bless America.
Sincerely,
Richard Williams Sr. Commander Disabled American Veterans Department of Georgia
30

r4
iejmrtnmtt of Okorgta
iifiabkb Ameriran leimms Auxtltani
December 29,2003 The Honorable Peter Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Services Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Suite E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Dear Pete,
As State Commander for the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Department of Georgia, Iv,want to thank you for giving so many years of service for Veterans and their families. The people of Georgia are very fortunate to have such a dedicated Commissioner as you.
I compliment you for your loyal service, it is recogmized by all Veteran Organizations throughout Georgia. We know you are one we can count on for Veterans Benefits.
It was a pleasure to serve with you and your Staff at the recent Warehouse of Benefits for Veterans in Albany and other events concerning veterans this year
I wish you a continued successful year. Sincerely,
Annie Krause, Commander State Department of Georgia
31

Mr. Bill Gilmer State Commander Phone: 229-241-9357

AMVETS
DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA
P.O. Box 1822 Valdosta, GA. 31603 scott62158@earthlink.net

Honorable Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Affairs Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Suite E-70 Atlanta Georgia 30334-4800
Dear Commissioner Wheeler,
It has been an honor to know that someone loves and care for the veterans of Georgia and the United States. Whenever I hear "for the betterment of veterans", I know you are there to represent and give it your blessing.
This past year, your accomplishments are outstanding. The opening of the Alzheimer's Ward in Milledgeville was very important to the members of AMVETS.
In spite of your hard work, I would like to thank you for always attending our State Convention. I hope at our convention that is a time of relaxation for you and your wife. I know the members long forward to hear some wonderful story that brings a smile back to some veterans.
Commissioner Wheeler, you have my eternal gratitude for who you are and what you have done for the veterans and this country. If there is anything the AMVETS or I can do for you, please let me know.

Respectfully Yours,

Bill Gilmer, State Commander

32

AMVETS LADIES AUXILIARY
DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA
Honorable Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Affairs Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Suite E-70 Atlanta Georgia 30334-4800 Dear Commissioner Wheeler: , In recognition of your many years of dedicated service to our veterans, I would like to take this time opportunity to extend my personal gratitude to you and your staff at the Veteran's Service. As a mother and sister of veterans, I see firsthand the rewards of your continuous efforts on behalf of the many men and women who have served their country with pride and dedication. Thank you for including auxiliaries in your communications relating to legislative issues. We appreciate the information concerning our veterans in Georgia as well as the things going on in Washington that could possibly affect the veterans I the future. The Ladies Auxiliary thank you for all that you do for the veterans and their families. Please feel free to call on us anytime you think that we may be of assistance to you or your staff.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Brown State President
33

Military Order of the Purple Heart

Honorable Pete Wheeler Commissioner, Department of Veterans Affairs Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Suite E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30034

February 11, 2004

Dear Commissioner Wheeler:
It is with pleasure that I express my sincere appreciation for the service that you and your staff provide the veterans, their widows and dependents in Georgia
Your leadership and experience is a comfort to those men and women who served in "Harms Way" to know that they can count on a State agency that truly cares for their needs.
On behalf of our members I would like to extend our grateful appreciation for a job well done. We are looking at a continue need for the benefits and services you provide and we look forward to working with you and your staff in the coming year.
Sincerely,

William J. Stockell Department Commander

34

MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART LADIES AUXILIARY
DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA
101 Cantyre Street Port Wentworth, Ga 31407 February 17, 2004
Commissioner Wheeler, It has been an honor to be a part of the Georgia community of Veteran's Services during the past few years. Under your leadership our veteran's have achieved a much higher status in government affairs than ever before. It is the desire of every veteran to be involved in all activities concerning themselves and the active military and the opportunities of the present and the future have improved immensely during your tenure. The ladies of our auxiliary and I thank you for your leadership and concern for our Purple Heart veterans. May God bless you and America,
Rose Cook, President, Department of Georgia Ladies Auxiliary Military Order of The Purple Heart
35

American Ex-Prisoners of War

/

DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA

December 26,2003
Honorable Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Suite E- 970 Atlanta, GA. 30334
Dear Commissioner Wheeler, The Department of Georgia, American Ex-Prisoners
of War would like to send our sincere appreciation to you and your great Staff for everything you have done for all veterans in our State.
For many years you have been ther for us and made life easier for the veterans and their spouses. You were also there for their widows.
Made the Good Lord bless you and your fine Staff and continue to serve us for many more years to come. Thank you again.
Sincerely,

William E. Price Commander, Department of Georgia American Ex- Prisoners of War 3215 Custer Lake Dr. N.W. Marietta, GA. 30064

36

JEWISH WAR VETERANS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ATLANTA POST 112 AND LADIES AUXILIARY

COMMANDER: MYRA F. MEDINTZ 1560 Anita Place, NE Atlanta, GA 30306 404-872-7601

January 13, 2004

The Honorable Pete Wheeler Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Suite E970 Atlanta, GA 30334
Dear Commissioner Wheeler:
On behalf of the Southeast Dept, of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., and the Ladies Auxiliary, we send to you our deepest appreciation of your tireless efforts to nurture and improve the status of all veterans in Georgia, and extending to the entire Nation.
My personal relationship with you goes back fifty years plus, over which time your dedication has not faltered. My late husband, Coleman, never spoke of you without a smile on his face and a warm affection for you.
We wish you many more years of good health and the ability to continue the good work to which you have devoted your many years. It has been our honor and privilege to have you as our advocate.
We stand ready and willing to assist you in whatever endeavors you may need our help. The world is a better place because of you.
God bless you.
rs in comr

IF. MEDINTZ, Comms 'Atlanta Post 112 For WILLIAM GOLDBERG Commander, S.E.Department

The Patriotic Voice

of American Jewry

GEORGIA

The Georgia Military Officers
Association of America, Inc
Affiliated With the Military Officers Association of America. Inc. Incorporated March 14. 1955
Post Office Box 21186 St Simons Island, GA 31522

December 21, 2003
Captain A. H. Mitchell USN (Ret.) 695 Riverhill Drive Athens, GA 30606
Honorable Pete Wheeler Commissioner Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Suite E-970 Atlanta, GA 30334
Dear Commissioner Wheeler:
The Georgia Military Officers Association of America, Inc. appreciates the efforts of the Department of Veterans Services in providing superb service to Georgia's veterans and their families. 1 personally was appreciative of the Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Service that was held in Atlanta in cooperation with the American Association of Retired Persons. Additionally, your department has been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Cemetery in Milledgeville; the Federal Cemetery in Cherokee County; and the expansion of VA Health Care.
The Georgia Military Officers Association of America, Inc. also appreciates the continued dedication, professionalism, and genuine concern exhibited by you and the Department of Veterans Service employees toward Georgia veterans. The Georgia Military Officers Association of America, Inc. appreciates your Department's concern and follow-through as concerns Georgia state legislation that affects Georgia veterans. A mark of a good leader is one that always has the interest of his men and women at heart. Under your guidance, The Georgia Department of Veterans Service has been a good steward and a good leader. We appreciate your efforts.
Sincerely,
. H.lMitchell, Captain USN (Ret.) President The Georgia Military Officers Association of America, Inc.

38

^ f In Service to America^^

Vietnam Veterans ofAmerica
Georgia State Council 504 Eisenhower Drive Hinesville, GA 31313 1-888-882-8387

Monday, December 29, 2003

Honorable Pete Wheeler Commissioner, Department of Veterans Services Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Suite E-907 Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Commissioner Wheeler,

On behalf of the Georgia State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., I would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thank to you and your staff for all you do for Veterans. The State of Georgia can be proud of the many accomplishments the Georgia Department of Veterans Services has achieved.

I have had the pleasure of serving my organization for the past four years and throughout that period I have been extremely proud to have the opportunity to work with you on many occasions. I will always cherish the dedication of the Veterans Cemetery in Milledgeville. The Governor's Veteran Day Proclamation Signing has become a special highlight in my yearly events. You are a class act and I have been fortunate to be associated with you.

As we watch the emergence of a new generation of Veterans, we need to stand ready to assist them as they take their place along side other Veterans. A new generation of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Handicapped Veterans and yes, Homeless Veterans.

Vietnam Veterans of America whose motto is "Never again will one generation of Veteran abandon another," is willing to help in any way we can to assist this new generation of Veterans.

Commissioner Wheeler and the Georgia Department of Veterans Services have been a driving force in helping returning Veterans from our latest Wars. The situation at Fort Stewart has not gone unnoticed by the Veterans communities. We applaud your rapid response to this problem. For all you do, we salute you. Respectfully,

Albert Q. Lewis President, Georgia State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc

39

Marvin Myers
President

"In Service To Veterans, Their Families, and Community"

February 21, 2004

Honorable Peter Wheeler Commissioner of Veterans Services State of Georgia Floyd Memorial Building Atlanta, GA 30334
Dear Pete,
During the last few weeks I have had numerous occasions to think of you and your department. I have the opportunity to talk to you about the needs of our community and the status of veterans. I have been able to pass along information about the Veteran's Cemetery in Milledgeville and the pending new Federal Cemetery in Cherokee county. I know you had a large hand in bringing that on line. I have told all of our members we are very fortunate to live in a state where the veteran is honored. Much of that credit goes to you and your department. Your news letters and the Bulletin keep us informed.
In addition I would also like to pass along supreme praise for your veteran's service officers. In every case where I have sent a veteran to them for help, they have responded in a positive and helpful manner. I have never had a complaint.
We have a war veteran's home for our retired veterans and special tags for our autos. For a veteran this is a great state. Thank you for your leadership over the years Pete and we thank your wonderful staff.
<o Sincerely,
/
Marvin Myers President

5879 New Peachtree Road, Doraville, GA 30340 (770) 458-1985 Fax (770) 936-0133
40

P.O. BOX 8596 Warner Robins, Georgia
31095-8596
January 5, 2004
Mr. Pete Wheeler Commissioner Georgia State Veterans Services Suite E-970 Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Atlanta GA 30334-4800 Dear Commissioner, As President of the Combat Veterans Group, Inc., I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you and your staff a "Thank You" for your support and leadership to the Georgia Veterans. Without your support and hard work of your staff many of the benefit's the Veterans have would not have been made possible. With Georgia being one of the states with the highest population of Veterans, 2003 was a very successful year under your leadership. We are looking forward to 2004 being even greater. It has been a privilege to be a part of your commitment to the veterans. Would like to take the opportunity once again to say thank you and your entire department.
Your Faithful Supporters, The Entire Membership of the Combat Veterans Group
Cary Stokes President
4f

GEORGIA VETERANS DAY PARADE ASSOCIATION OF ATLANTA, INC.

PRESIDENT Marvin Myers O: 770.458.7934 F: 770.936.0133 C: 678.361.7157
VICE PRESIDENT James Blaylock O: 678.924.5787 F: 678.924.5777
TREASURER Robert L. Hopkins H: 770.394.1329 O: 678.731.0007 x214 F: 678.731.0006
SECRETARY Maryann Wysor H: 770.925.0249 O: 404.651.4199 F: 404.651.1073
DIRECTORS
PARADE DAY/PROGRAM Rich Sale H: 770.786.7001 O: 770.696.2615 C: 404.805.1007
BANQUET Judy Humphries H: 770.993.8312 O: 770.528.2611 F: 770.528.2606
GA DEFENSE FORCE Andy Wysor H: 770.925.0249 O: 678.442.8111 x103
FUND RAISING Melissa K. Smith H: 770.977.3283 O: 404.715.5246
VETERAN GROUPS & AUXILIARIES Patrick J. Callahan 770.395.9865
Jack Moses 770.889.4683
Jan Myers 770.232.1317
Kevin Miller 770.335.5777
Cecilia Miller 678.427.0405
PARADE ARCHIVE Senator Joe Burton 404.636.3500

*
Honorable Pete Wheeler Commissioner of Veterans Services State of Georgia Floyd Memorial Building Atlanta, GA 30334
Dear Pete,
We again thank you for a great Veterans Day proclamation ceremony. As always it was first class and certainly well attended. You and your staff are to be commended for the splendid honoring of all of Georgia's veterans. Even more vital to our parade this year was your assistance in obtaining Governor Sonny Perdue to be our Grand Marshal. It would not have happened without your direct involvement. We all thank you so much. He did a great job.
I would also like to thank you for the fine coverage of Veterans Day in the Veterans Bulletin, both before the parade and the issue after the parade. It was splendid. Veterans Day is the one day set aside to honor veterans of all wars. It is because of your efforts that our community awareness is raised. As important is the publicity you made possible in the Bulletin, so that others will remember to stop and thank our veterans for the freedom we all enjoy. We as veterans feel it is the one day we receive recognition and that we can be proud of our service to America. Your efforts show all of us that our country does care and is grateful for the sacrifices of the men and women who have served our country.
This past two years have made all of us more aware that a strong military is the key to a peaceful nation. Out of this is coming a new crop of veterans and I know you and your fine staff will welcome them into the brotherhood of Georgia Veterans.
Thank you again, Pete.
Sincerely,

Marvin Myers President

"FREEDOM THROUGH SERVICE" 1875 Withmere Way, Dunwoody, GA 30338 WEB: gavetsdayparade.org

42

NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA AND THE AVENUE OF FLAGS, INC Founded 16 March 1946

Board 2002-2004
President Alvis Weatherly 710 Starlight Lane Atlanta. GA 30342-2838
404/255-6665
President-Elect Dr. Revis Butler. Jr. 5260 New London Trace, NW Atlanta, GA 30327
404/255-9578
Secretary Areasurer Dares E. Wirt
4625 Bells Ferry Road Acworth, GA 30102-3422
Chaplain CAP T Norvel Knight 3807 Spring Meadow Drive Acworth. GA 30101
770/975-4726
Parliamentarian Dr. T. Fisher Craft President Emeritus 116 Ridley Circle Decatur, GA 30030
404/378-9590
Members
Ellie Clay 5160 Lower Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30068
Evelyn Duncan 3321 Campbell Road. SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
BG John W. Gillette 1204 Wynfteld Trace Norcross. GA 30092
Elliott Goldberg President Emeritus 1365 Pasadena Ave. Atlanta. GA 30306
Catherine Powell 70 The Farm Road McDonough. GA 30252
770-957-3150
Eleanor Schwartz 994 Burton Drive. Nl
Atlanta. GA 30329

June 9, 2003 Brig Gen Pete Wheeler Georgia Department of Veterans Services Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, E-970 Atlanta GA 30334-4800 Dear General Wheeler, On behalf of the National Memorial Day Association and Avenue of Flags, Inc., I extend my gratitude for your participation in the Memorial Day Services held at the National Cemetery in Marietta May 26th. Your presence on the dais and your role in joining our tribute to America's fallen heros were greatly appreciated. An NMDA patch like those presented to the scouts who place a Flag at each grave in the cemetery is enclosed for you. Again, my thanks to you for your patriotism and your desire to render honors to those who served our country so well. Sincerely,
&
Alvis M. Weatherly, Jr. President
43

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Regional Office
1700 Clairmont Street Decatur, GA 30033

December 15, 2003

Commissioner Pete Wheeler State Department of Veterans Services Floyd Veterans Memorial Building., Suite E-970 Atlanta, GA 30334 ^

In Reply Refer To: 316/00

Dear Commissipoer Wheeler:

As the end of 2003 approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you our major accomplishments and events that have taken place throughout the fiscal year.

VETERAN SERVICE CENTER (VSC)

The average number of days to complete a rating action decreased by 52% over last year's time. Additionally, we reduced our rating pending inventory by 34%.

In support of the Presidents Management Agenda, we have expanded our Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) sites to go one additional step with DOD. Executives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense and QIC Medical Services, Inc., participated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony at Martin Army Community Hospital, Ft Benning GA. In a joint effort between VBA, DOD, and VHA, this initiative, which was the first of its kind in the country, is a One VA initiative that uses a private sector partner, eliminates duplicate exams for VBA and DOD and is transmitted electronically. VA will use the electronic exam to rate C&P examinations and DOD will use it as a separation medical record.

A second, basically identical, MOU was signed in July with Winn Army Community Hospital at Fort Stewart. Talks are still on-going with Eisenhower Army Community Army Hospital at Fort Gordon. This critical advancement in the level of service comes at a time when we are receiving claims from our returning Iraqi/Enduring Freedom veterans.

The Atlanta Regional Office is actively involved in Military Service Outreach with our BDD sites and itinerant services to another six military installations. During the last fiscal year we averaged monthly: 98 military briefings, 1243 attendance at military briefings and 1876 military interviews. Ongoing military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo during FY 03 were a central focus of our military outreach program. Mobilization/demobilization of Reserve/National Guard units at Forts Stewart and Benning are expected to continue during the next year.

During the past fiscal year we conducted an aggressive outreach program with Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Martin Army Community Hospital and Winn Army Community Hospital to insure Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) injured returnees were contacted and provided benefits information and claims assistance. From April - September, we contact 72 OIF/OEF returnees and provided benefits information and/or claims assistance. Additionally, periodic coordination contacts with military hospital officials were made to insure access to hospitalized OIF/OEF returnees.

We were involved in many activities for homeless veterans. We conducted periodic VA benefits briefings to the VAMC Dublin Homeless Program, hosted the Task Force for the "Homeless Shelter Providers'' meeting in May, supported three "Veterans' Service Days" for homeless veterans sponsored by the VAMC and supported the "Barbeque for Homeless Veterans" held at VAMC Decatur.

44

EDUCATION 2003
During the year, our Education program saw a significant improvement in timeliness when compared to fiscal year 2002. Original claims timeliness went from an average 40.6 days in FY 2002 to an average 25.4 days for FY 2003. Likewise, supplemental claims timeliness went from an average of 19.9 days in FY 2002 to an average of 13.5 days in FY 2003. Customer service improved as Education reduced the number of times a caller received a busy signal from a cumulative 33.5% in FY 2002 to a cumulative 18.1% for FY 2003.
An aggressive quality improvement program contributed to improvement in the payment accuracy rate each quarter in 2003 moving to a high of 96.6% in the third quarter.
The number of pending claims in which a veteran or dependent requested a waiver of an overpayment of education benefits was drastically reduced. In March 2003 the waiver backlog was well over 1,000 cases. A special project team was established and by June of 2003, the backlog had been cleared and waivers were current. We have continued to keep them at a manageable level and are currently far exceeding all established timeliness objectives.
Atlanta served as the beta test site for the new web-based certification system (e-CERT). The e-CERT program allows schools to continue to certify student enrollments to the VA electronically just as the VA CERT program did (eliminating mail delays), however, since e-CERT is web-based, it allows schools to go in through the internet to certify. With e-CERT, schools can go in to the system and see when a claim has been received and processed at the VA. In addition, information specific to each claimant such as delimiting dates, remaining entitlement, and payment information can be seen. Ten schools in Atlanta's jurisdiction certified students using the new application and provided valuable feedback to Education Service regarding its functionality.
LOAN GUARANTY
The most favorable interest rate climate since the Eisenhower Administration created a tremendous surge in Gl home loan demand both nationally and in our four state (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) jurisdiction. The Atlanta Regional Loan Center (RLC) guaranteed over 64,000 Gl home loans totaling 7.8 billion dollars in FY 2003, which was a 53% increase from the previous year. While dealing with this major influx, we continue our emphasis on keeping veterans in their homes and preventing foreclosures since the Gl home loan benefit begins, not ends, at the closing table. Other noteworthy accomplishments included the assimilation of the Loan Guaranty Appraisal and Valuation function from the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee which places full responsibility for all loan origination and servicing issues with the Atlanta RLC. With the final decision of the Property Management A-76 Study, the VA acquired property sales and maintenance contract was awarded to Ocwen Federal Bank in Orlando, Florida. We anticipate the transition period to Ocwen Federal Bank to be completed in January 2004.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT
This business line has seen another growth of 13% over last fiscal year's workload. This time last year we were serving 3,876 veterans as compared to 4,426 veterans today. In spite of the large workload averaging 300 veterans per counselor, our rehabs increased from 189 in FY 2002 to 274 in FY 2003.
The staff is actively working with three Iraqi Freedom veterans with a fourth veteran pending transfer from another Regional Office. Several of our veterans with whom we were working have been recalled to active duty in Iraq, resulting in their vocational rehabilitation programs being discontinued.
It has been rewarding to work with you and your staff in serving Georgia veterans and their dependents. As we move into the New Year, I look forward to continuing our spirit of cooperation and service.
Our best wishes to you, your families and friends for a happy holiday season.

^ J CL \

c

P K COURTNEY Director

c. v___

45

DEPARTMENT QF VETERANS AFFAIRS Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Integrated Service Network #7 3700 Crestwood Parkway, NW Suite 500 Duluth, GA 30096-5583

The Honorable Pete Wheeler Commissioner Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Atlanta, GA 30334

In Reply Refer To: 10N7/00

Dear Commissioner Wheeler:

Since coming to VISN 7 as Network Director, I have been very impressed with what I have learned about the relationships and programs in place under the umbrella of our joint efforts to improve services to veterans. As we strive to improve health care for our veterans, we want you, one of our key stakeholders, to be full partners in helping us meet this goal.

Today, VA health care leads the private sector and other government health care systems in many measures. Examples are: medical education, research, patient safety, computerized medical records and spinal cord injury care. We are very proud of these achievements, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in our pursuit of ongoing quality improvements. To this end, we have adopted the proven Baldrige framework to organize how we operate in VISN 7. The rationale for this is that the Baldrige principles incorporate all the critical elements required of a high performing organization.

This new governance structure will be comprised of a VISN 7 Leadership Board, supported by six major councils. The six major councils include a Strategic Planning Council, Human Resources Council, Finance and Business Operations Council, Health Systems Council, Information and Data Management Council, and Communications and Customer Service Council. This governance structure has proven to be very successful in health care and non-health care settings, and we are confident that it will also work well for us.

I look forward to your help and support in this important initiative as we transition as an organization to become the "Best of the Best." I will keep you informed of our progress as we move along. I extend a heartfelt appreciation for your continued support of our veterans and hope you have a prosperous new year.

Sincerely,

Linda F. Watson Network Director VISN 7
46

Department of Veterans Affairs Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals
Washington DC 20420

April 18, 2003

01 In Reply Refer To:

Mr. Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Services Floyd Veterans Memorial Building 205 Butler Street, Suite E-970 Atlanta, GA 30334

Mr. Wheeler:

The enclosed copy of the Report of the Chairman for Fiscal Year 2002 was included in the information that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs submitted to the Congress in conjunction with the President's budget submission for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004. The report provides an overview of the Board's activities during 2002, its projected activities for FY 2003 and statistical information required by law.

During FY 2002, the Board issued 17,231 decisions and held just over 4,500 hearings. Although, not a part of this report, last year I began restructuring the Board to handle a new responsibility of developing cases to expedite appeals processing. I am certain that these changes will further improve product quality and service to this Nation's veterans and their families.

Thank you for your invaluable work helping veterans with their appeals and for

your support for the Board's efforts to improve its service to veterans. 1 look forward to

your continued support in the challenging upcoming years!

f

`

*

Sincerely yours,

Enclosure

E. D. Clark
47

Georgia Forestry Commission
RO. Box 819 Macon, Georgia 31202-0819 (478) 751-3500 FAX (478) 751-3465
March 5, 2003

Sonny Perdue Governor
J. Frederick Allen Director

Commissioner Pete Wheeler State of Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Suite E-970 Atlanta, GA 30334-4800
Dear Commissioner Wheeler:
I wanted to let you know again how much I appreciate your leadership and participation in making our second Georgia Arbor Day Ceremony a success. Although the severe weather kept many people that planned to attend at home, I was very pleased with the whole event.
I want to commend Ernie Simons and his staff for their outstanding dedication in preparing for the ceremony and coordinating the event. The hospitality and refreshments that Ernie and Russell provided in the Information Center certainly added an extra element of enjoyment to the day. We also appreciate the conscientious support of Brian Zeringue. His support in getting the word out to the veterans organizations was invaluable.
As all of the community leaders referenced in their remarks, the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery is a source of pride for the community and the state. Congratulations again on your excellent facility and we look forward to working with you next year.
Sincerely,

Fred Allen Director

Jim L. Gillis, Jr. Chairman, Soperton

J.G. Fendig Savannah

Larry S. Walker Oglethorpe

RW. Bryan, Jr. Thomasville

H. G. Thomas New Louisville

Johnnie B. Hall Dudley

An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider

William M. Oettmeier, Jr. Fargo

48

TOMMY COLEMAN MAYOR
OFFICE: (229) 431-3244 FAX: (229) 878-3198
January 6, 2004

of
POST OFFICE BOX 447
^Albrnt^, Georgia
31702-0447

The Honorable Pete Wheeler, Commissioner Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Suite E-970 Atlanta, GA 30334-4800

Dear Commissioner Wheeler:

On behalf of the City of Albany, this is to voice my

appreciation for all of your efforts in putting on the

"Supermarket of Veterans Benefits" program which was held on

December 11, 2003 at the Albany James H. Gray, Sr. Civic

Center in Albany. This event gave veterans from our area an

opportunity to apply for benefits or receive beneficial

information.

This "one stop shop" approach provided

convenience for these individuals to talk to persons in the

know regarding veterans' needs.

This workshop was well attended, and I feel that the continuation of these services would be very helpful to our veterans. We cannot express enough our appreciation to the veterans and their families for the sacrifices they have made in serving this great country.

1

'

1 ^ le call on me if I can be of

TC/sh
49

Field Offices

OFFICE

ADDRESS - PHONE- FAX

ALBANY - AMERICUS - CORDELE DIVISION

Mike Martin, Manager Melissa Ingle, VBC Brenda Rachel, VBC
Vickie King, VBC
Carol Phagan, VBC

102 N. Washington Street, Suite 402 Albany 31701-4814 Phone: 229-430-1797, 1798 FAX: 229-430-1796
500 W. Lamar Street, Room 28 Americus 31709 Phone: 229-931-2546 FAX: 229-931-5151
Courthouse, Room 107 Cordele 31015-4216 Phone: 229-276-2366 FAX: 229-276-2734

AMERICUS
See Albany-Americus-Cordele Division

COUNTIES SERVED

Dooly Dougherty
Lee Macon
Sumter

Marion Schley Terrell Webster

Crisp

ATHENS - ELBERTON DIVISION

Gary W. Locke, Jr., Manager Dale Bell, VBC
VBC

Jefferson Professional Park, Suite 19 855 Sunset Drive Athens 30606-2285 Phone: 706-369-5630,5631 FAX: 706-369-5998

Timothy Coleman, VBC

203 Elbert Street Elberton 30635 Phone: 706-213-2040 FAX: 706-213-2094

ATLANTA - FIELD SERVICE AND CLAIMS DIVISIONS

Max Cotter, Asst. Commissioner Field Service
Rick Roby, Sr. Claims Counselor Lenora Evans, VBC

Floyd Veterans Memorial Bldg., E-367 Atlanta 30334-4800 Phone: 404-656-5940 FAX: 404-657-1288

Jim Frederick, Asst. Commissioner Claims

1700 Clairmont Road Decatur 30033 Phone: 404-929-5345 FAX: 404-929-5347

Barrow Clarke Jackson

Madison Oconee Oglethorpe

Elbert

[For a complete listing of Claims Staff Personnel, see Special Services Units following this directory.]
Note: VBC is abbreviation for Veterans Benefits Counselor

OFFICE

ADDRESS - PHONE- FAX

COUNTIES SERVED

AUGUSTA - WAYNESBORO DIVISION

Lamar Faircloth, Manager Beverly Lloyd, VBC Angela Old, VBC
Gerald Clayton, VBC

1101 Fifteenth Street Augusta 30901-3196 Phone: 706-721-4301,4302 FAX: 706-721-6015
Burke County Office Park, Room 107 715 West 6th Street, PO Box 93 Waynesboro 30830-0093 Phone: 706-554-3874 FAX: 706-554-4496

BAINBRIDGE

I

Columbia Burke

Richmond

Craig Couturier, Manager Terri Hurst, VBC
BLAIRSVILLE
Roy E. Hamby, Manager Robert Spaulding, VBC

307 E. Broughton Street Bainbridge 39817-4003 Phone: 229-248-2599, 2663 FAX: 229-243-5362
Courthouse Annex, 301 School Circle PO Box 782 Blairsville 30514-0782 Phone/FAX: 706-745-6341

Baker Calhoun
Clay Decatur
Early

Miller Mitchell Quitman Randolph Seminole

Fannin Rabun

Towns Union

BRUNSWICK
Ed Chancey, Manager Tina Herring, VBC

Office Park Bldg., Suite 109 1803 Gloucester Street Brunswick 31520-6904 Phone: 912-262-2345, 912-264-7360 FAX: 912-261-3937

Camden Glynn

McIntosh

CANTON

Jay Johnson, Manager Rita Barnhart, VBC

400 E. Main Street, Suite B Canton 30114-2802 Phone: 770-720-3538 FAX: 770-704-2317

CARROLLTON

See Newnan - Thomaston - Carrollton Divison

Cherokee Cobb

Gilmer Pickens

51

OFFICE
CARTERSVILLE
Jack Goodwin, Manager Jim Van Vacter, VBC
CEDARTOWN
See Rome - Cedartown Division

ADDRESS - PHONE- FAX

COUNTIES

SERVED

320 W. Cherokee Ave., Rm. 105 Cartersville 30120 Phone: 770-387-3746 FAX: 770-387-4077

Bartow

CLARKESVILLE - TOCCOA - HARTWELL DIVISION

B.C. Fowler, Manager William Tucker, VBC
(Tuesdays & Thursdays only)
Michael Partlow, VBC
COLUMBUS
A1 Rivera, Manager Lionel Haynes, Sr., VBC Cynthia Hymon, VBC
CONYERS

120 E. Louise Street PO Box 1135 Clarkesville 30523 Phone: 706-754-4316 FAX: 706-754-9185
Courthouse Annex, Room 104 102 West Tugalo Street Toccoa 30577 Phone: 706-282-4525 FAX: 706-282-4800

185 W. Franklin Street Courthouse Annex Hartwell 30643-1594 Phone: 706-376-4461 FAX: 706-856-2737
H1

1520 Third Ave Suite 5 Columbus 31901 Phone: 706-649-1264 FAX: 706-649-1726

mm

Banks Habersham
Franklin
Hart
Chattahoochee Muscogee

Tommy Clack, Manager Mylene Brett, VBC

1329 Portman Drive, Suite A Conyers 30094-6619 Phone: 770-388-5075 FAX: 770-785-6868

Rockdale Newton

CORDELE

See Albany-Americus-Cordele Division

White Stephens
Stewart Walton

DALTON - LAFAYETTE DIVISION

Bob Turner, Supervisor, Area 3 Judy Johnson, VBC

205 Point North Place, Suite 6 POBox 1104 Dalton 30722-1104 Phone: 706-272-2355 FAX: 706-272-2335
52

Catoosa Murray

Whitfield

OFFICE

ADDRESS - PHONE- FAX

DALTON - LAFAYETTE DIVISION (cont'd)

Anita Boxall, VBC

Judiciary Annex, 108-E Villanow Street LaFayette 30728-2519 Phone: 706-638-5544 FAX: 706-639-2046

COUNTIES SERVED

Chattooga Dade

Walker

DUBLIN - EASTMAN DIVISION

Ben Hitson, Manager Ben Harrell, VBC
Clay Harrell, VBC
ELBERTON

Carl Vinson VAMC, Room 124-6, Ward 6A 1826 Veterans Blvd. Dublin 31021-3699 Phone: 478-272-4266 FAX: 478-274-7802
636 Oak Street, SE Eastman 31023 Phone: 478-374-6977 FAX: 478-374-6551

See Athens-Elberton Division

GAINESVILLE

Harry Evans, Manager Cynthia Hayes, VBC
GLENN VILLE
Clarence R. Adams, Manager Tonya Malpass, VBC
GREENSBORO
See Washington-Greensboro Division
GRIFFIN

311 Green Street, NW, Room 307 Gainesville 30501-3764 Phone: 770-531-6060 FAX: 770-531-6061
Glennville Multi Office Complex 705 N. Caswell Street, PO Box 444 Glennville 30427-0444 Phone: 912-654-5159 FAX: 912-654-5179

Mike Roby, Supervisor, Area 2 Artis Robinson, VBC

235-A E. Slaton Avenue Griffin 30223 Phone: 770-412-4023 FAX: 770-467-6099

HARTWELL

See Clarkesville - Toccoa - Hartwell Division

LAFAYETTE
See Dalton - LaFayette Division

Bleckley Johnson Laurens Dodge
Dawson Forsyth Gwinnett
Bryan Liberty Long
Butts Fayette Henry

Pulaski Treutlen
Hall Lumpkin Tattnall Wayne
Pike Spalding Talbot

53

OFFICE LAGRANGE

ADDRESS - PHONE- FAX

Silas Vance, Manager Toni Fox, VBC
LYONS - MCRAE DIVISION
Jay Howell, Manager
Loran Bryant, VBC
MACON
George Canavaggio, Manager Joshua Dixon, VBC Vincent Pritchett, VBC
MCRAE
See Lyons-McRae Division

189 S. Davis Road LaGrange 30241-2819 Phone: 706-845-4095 FAX: 706-845-4485
126 West Grady Avenue, PO Box 833 Lyons 30436 Phone: 912-526-8860 FAX: 912-526-4285
411 W. Oak Street McRae 31055 Phone: 229-868-6391 FAX: 229-868-4972
653 Second Street, Room 203 Macon 31201-2817 Phone: 478-751-3186,3187 FAX: 478-751-6594

MILLEDGEVILLE
Ernie Simons, Manager Vivian Howard, VBC Melanie Kay, VBC
MOULTRIE
See Thomasville-Moultrie Division

Georgia State War Veterans Home Wheeler Bldg., PO Box 741 Milledgeville 31059-0741 Phone: 478-445-4751,478-445-6900 FAX: 478-445-3139

NEWNAN - THOMASTON - CARROLLTON DIVISION

Kenneth Mills, Manager
(Wednesdays only) Hope R. Mincer-Ferguson, Manager

22 E. Broad Street Newnan 30264 Phone: 770-254-7260 FAX: 770-254-7339
250 E. Lee Street Government Administrative Complex Thomaston 30286-0461 Phone: 706-646-6035
408 N. White Street, Room 601 Carrollton 30117 Phone: 770-836-6760 FAX: 770-836-6844

COUNTIES

SERVED

Harris Heard

Meriwether Troup

Appling Coffee Jeff Davis
Telfair

Montgomery Toombs Wheeler

Bibb Crawford
Jasper Jones

Lamar Monroe Twiggs

Baldwin Hancock Washington

Putnam Wilkinson

Coweta

Taylor

Upson

Carroll

54

OFFICE

ADDRESS - PHONE- FAX

ROME - CEDARTOWN DIVISION

COUNTIES SERVED

Raymond Rollins, Manager Denise Frix, VBC
Robert Turner, Manager

201 Calhoun Ave. Rome 30162 Phone: 706-295-6026, 6280 FAX: 706-802-5520
142 West Ave. Cedartown 30125 Phone: 770-749-2209 FAX: 770-749-2266

SAVANNAH

George Foley, Manager Carl Wilson, Assistant Manager Jewel Middleton-James, VBC

440 Mall Blvd., Suite E Savannah 31406-4823 Phone: 912-356-2537 FAX: 912-356-2539

STATESBORO - SWAINSBORO DIVISION

Richard Dunlop, Manager Elizabeth Hunnicutt, VBC
Jo Ann M. Collins, VBC

3A West Altman Street Statesboro 30458 Phone: 912-871-1104, 1270 FAX: 912-871-1270
Emanuel County Office Bldg. 101 N. Main Street, Room 3 Swainsboro 30401 Phone: 478-289-2617 FAX: 478-289-2704

SWAINSBORO
See Statesboro - Swainsboro Division

THOMASTON
See Newnan - Thomaston - Carrollton Division

THOMASVILLE - MOULTRIE DIVISION

Larry Price, VBC Jerry Poole, Manager

101 S. Broad Street Thomasville 31792 Phone: 229-225-4050 FAX: 229-225-3998
101 E. Central Ave., Room 127 PO Box 386 Moultrie 31776-0386 Phone: 229-891-7135 FAX 229-891-7098

Douglas Floyd Polk
Chatham
Bulloch Candler Effingham Emanuel
Grady Colquitt

Gordon Haralson
Evans Jenkins Screven
Thomas

55

OFFICE

ADDRESS - PHONE- FAX

TIFTON
Ed Irby, Manager Sandra Wood, VBC

Tift County Admin. Bldg. 225 Tift Avenue, PO Box 534 Tifton 31793-0534 Phone: 229-386-3856 FAX: 229-386-7386

TOCCOA

See Clarkesville-Toccoa-Hartwell Division

VALDOSTA
Ed Kent, Manager Joyce Boyd, VBC
Phil Youngblood, Area 1 Supervisor

2841 N. Patterson Street Valdosta 31602-1900 Phone: 229-333-2178, 2179 FAX: 229-259-5583
2841 N. Patterson Street Valdosta 31602 Phone: 229-293-0152 FAX: 229-259-5583

WARNER ROBINS

Mike Bates, Manager

City Hall, Room 206 700 Watson Blvd. Warner Robins 31093-3414 Phone: 478-929-1126 FAX: 478-929-1124

WASHINGTON - GREENSBORO DIVISION

Perry Morgan, Manager Jan Callaway, VBC
(Tuesdays and Fridays only) WAYCROSS
Roger Freeman, Manager Glenda Lee, VBC
WAYNESBORO
See Augusta - Waynesboro Division

Edward B. Pope Community Center 48 Lexington Ave. Washington 30673-0891 Phone/FAX: 706-678-3144
Green Co. Admin. Services Bldg. 201 N. Main Street Greensboro 30642 Phone/FAX: 706-453-7455
II
378 State Street Waycross 31502 Phone: 912-285-6340 FAX: 912-285-6341

COUNTIES

SERVED

Ben Hill Irwin Tift

Turner Wilcox Worth

Berrien Brooks Cook

Echols Lanier Lowndes

Houston

Peach

Glascock Jefferson Lincoln McDuffie
Greene

Morgan Taliaferro
Warren Wilkes

Atkinson Bacon Brantley
Charlton

Clinch Pierce Ware

56

NAME / TITLE
Jim Frederick, Assistant Commissioner Lance Williams, Sr. Claims Counselor Bruce Chillion, Sr., Claims Counselor Tom Cook, Sr. Claims Counselor Buddy Craven, Sr. Claims Counselor Dan Cravey, Sr. Claims Counselor Charla Jones, Sr. Claims Counselor George Langford, Sr. Claims Counselor Mike Noles, Sr., Claims Counselor Herb Ward, Sr. Claims Counselor Linda Worthy, Secretary III Debra Coleman, Secretary II Sharon Stephens, Secretary II Linda Williams, Secretary II
Marilyn Ferguson, Manager Joel Willis, VBC
Barbara Johnson, Manager
Ben Hitson, Manager Ben Harrell, VBC
Ernie Simons, Director Russell Feagin, Assistant Director

ADDRESS / PHONE
Claims Division 1700 Clairmont Road Decatur, Georgia 300033
VSO: 404-929-5345 FAX: 404-939-5347
VA Hospital - Atlanta 1670 Clairmont Road Room1C208 Decatur, Georgia 30033
VSO: 404-728-7611 FAX: 404-327-4995 VA Hospital: 404-321-6111
Ext. 6357,6358,6359
VA Medical Center - Augusta 950 15th Street Room 2D-149 Augusta, Georgia 30914
VSO: 706-823-2218,706-823-3916 FAX: 706-823-1768
Carl Vinson VA Medical Center Room 124-6, Ward 6A 1826 Veterans Blvd. Dublin, Georgia 31021
VSO: 478-272-4266 FAX: 478-274-7802 VA Hospital: 478-272-1210
Ext. 2562
Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery 2617 Vinson Highway Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
Phone: 478-445-3363 FAX: 478-445-3360

57

Geographic Distribution of VA Expenditures for FY 2003

Notes:

Veteran population figures are estimates from Census 2000 Data, U. S. Bureau of the Census.

The count of unique patients is based on the home residence of the patient.

The expenditure data shown in the column "Medical Expenditures" is the actual cost to the VA for the medical care

provided to the unique patients.

Congressional Districts (CD) are for the 108th Congress.

CNSTR = Construction

*

GOE = General Operating Expenses

COUNTY
APPLING ATKINSON BACON BAKER BALDWIN BANKS BARROW BARTOW BEN HILL BERRIEN BIBB BLECKLEY BRANTLEY BROOKS BRYAN BULLOCH BURKE BUTTS CALHOUN CAMDEN CANDLER CARROLL CATOOSA CHARLTON CHATHAM CHATTAHOOCHEE CHATTOOGA CHEROKEE CLARKE CLAY CLAYTON CLINCH COBB COFFEE COLQUITT COLUMBIA COOK

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF VA EXPENDITURES FOR FY 2003 GEORGIA

Veteran Population
1,364 508 874 344
4,595 1,156 4,085 7,359 1,458 1,624 15,134 1,165 1,514 1,508 2,521 4,484 1,957 2,021
489 5,236
907 7,483 5,218 1,008 27,167
843 2,399 12,824 6,473
318 24,062
597 56,014
2,771 3,529 11,341 1,452

Total Expenditures

Compensation & Pension

3,963,314 1,247,817 2,513,186
634,049 14,074,311 2,483,299
5,326,697 13,676,065 5,471,087 5,851,224 32,354,064
3,142,728 3,994,498 4,778,456 5,849,751 9,610,214 8,321,251 4,859,544
808,918 10,474,650
2,173,223 13,760,392
8,099,242 2,322,320 61,488,169 2,586,737 4,052,348 20,122,783 10,528,276
974,769 50,221,787
1,734,277 56,809,959
7,903,509 11,703,180 39,809,916 4,383,346

1,816,764 775,757
1,341,198 488,945
7,586,820 1,256,310 2,951,463 8,892,012 2,843,360 3,791,752 16,281,055 1,571,598 2,589,423 2,480,045 3,159,236 4,067,293 4,026,296 2,939,794
451,258 6,536,121
865,812 7,108,015 5,054,051 1,422,982 28,499,042 1,677,121 3,103,391 12,710,448 6,154,128
485,121 31,170,227
888,056 29,978,466
4,078,605 6,724,782 21,743,607 2,583,232

Education & Voc Rehab
43,389 97,606 35,795 42,428 448,755 69,631 210,927 775,942 180,980 207,198 2,132,354 87,074 81,637 163,422 656,177 1,111,310 297,713 156,048 59,985 1,130,000 46,206 983,730 179,218 97,125 16,397,220 397,101 106,311 1,286,852 1,072,066 18,213 4,207,004 29,304 4,170,796 184,745 494,573 2,125,052 190,253

Insurance &
Indemnities
74,280 27,664 47,596 18,733 250,232 62,953 222,458 400,752 79,399 88,439 824,157 63,443 82,448 82,122 137,287 244,187 106,573 110,058 26,630 285,139 49,393 407,504 284,158 54,893 1,479,443 45,908 130,643 698,361 352,502 17,317 1,310,353 32,511 3,050,374 150,901 192,180 617,601 79,072

CNSTR 1,502,852

58

VA MEDICAL CARE - FY 2003

Total Unique

Medical

GOE

Patients

Expenditures

135,350 193,800

322 110 220
43 864 159 430 723 430 407 3,399 244 243 432 333 729 488 271 107 775 184 894 745 199 3,890 141 253 945 607
65 2,824
126 4,279
708 933 2,130 382

2,028,881 346,789
1,088,597 83,943
5,788,505 1,094,406 1,941,849 3,607,359 2,367,348 1,763,835 13,116,497 1,420,614 1,240,990 2,052,867 1,897,051 4,187,424 3,890,669 1,653,644
271,045 2,523,391 1,211,812 5,261,143 2,581,814
747,320 15,112,464
466,607 712,003 3,788,919 2,949,579 454,118 13,534,203 784,406 19,416,522 3,489,258 4,291,645 15,323,657 1,530,789

COUNTY
COWETA CRAWFORD CRISP DADE DAWSON DECATUR DE KALB DODGE DOOLY DOUGHERTY DOUGLAS EARLY ECHOLS EFFINGHAM ELBERT EMANUEL EVANS FANNIN FAYETTE FLOYD FORSYTH FRANKLIN FULTON GILMER GLASCOCK GLYNN GORDON GRADY GREENE GWINNETT HABERSHAM HALL HANCOCK HARALSON HARRIS HART HEARD HENRY HOUSTON IRWIN JACKSON JASPER JEFF DAVIS JEFFERSON JENKINS JOHNSON JONES LAMAR LANIER LAURENS LEE LIBERTY LINCOLN LONG LOWNDES LUMPKIN MCDUFFIE MCINTOSH MACON MADISON MARION MERIWETHER MILLER MITCHELL MONROE MONTGOMERY MORGAN MURRAY MUSCOGEE NEWTON OCONEE OGLETHORPE PAULDING PEACH

Veteran Population
9,127 1,137 1,776 1,505 1,597 2,331 52,982 1,726
985 9,503 9,620
916 255 4,334 1,836 1,505 842 2,189 11,490 8,637 8,619 2,009 61,642 2,682 175 8,293 3,850 1,979 1,470 45,980 3,588 11,571 759 2,301 3,205 2,290 807 12,474 16,450 774 3,487 1,099 919 1,283 778 589 2,143 1,773 832 4,321 2,498 7,622 919 1,175 11,883 1,833 2,024 1,270 1,254 2,496 852 1,923 524 1,814 2,016 637 1,229 2,740 24,984 5,646 2,316 1,133 7,279 2,340

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF VA EXPENDITURES FOR FY 2003 GEORGIA

Total Expenditures

Compensation & Pension

Education & Voc Rehab

Insurance &
Indemnities

CNSTR

VA MEDICAL CARE - FY 2003

Total Unique

Medical

GOE

Patients

Expenditures

12,491,690 4,274,648 4,461,704 1,987,287 2,376,611 4,890,570 196,002,500 5,932,999 2,456,488 24,489,098 13,180,414 2,228,246 1,084,724 7,185,215 4,098,513 6,569,997 2,315,976 6,509,456 18,201,456 11,070,180 4,449,213 4,197,653 113,471,930 5,006,613
659,992 14,907,299 6,086,517 4,528,952 3,065,955 42,766,607 6,850,647 19,008,717 12,124,715 4,804,392 8,105,140 4,856,187
1,890,947 21,294,922 26,872,061
2,404,709 6,562,415 2,236,847 3,183,396 5,024,437 2,224,378 3,579,927 6,298,463 3,864,349 2,687,809 26,581,019 3,734,561 23,676,238 2,748,175 2,162,161 28,318,337 3,831,246 6,866,954 2,902,014 2,359,760 5,076,401 1,978,250 4,969,084 1,287,322 3,322,419 3,129,238 2,162,419 2,451,143 4,889,476 104,648,700 6,060,796 2,628,813 2,118,167 8,010,205 5,964,336

7,959,070 1,741,601 2,087,782 1,098,455 1,294,107 2,620,296 82,165,194 2,410,326 1,071,219 15,964,076 7,228,953 1,290,498
628,716 4,302,557 2,190,499 2,863,939 1,245,874 4,337,404 13,113,938 7,007,054 1,488,894 2,307,841 51,802,208 3,224,910
274,068 9,397,849 4,099,192 2,434,687 1,579,660 18,509,885 3,854,004 10,769,492 9,387,228 3,369,829 5,473,044 2,741,598 1,009,988 12,209,248 16,937,780 1,588,873 4,101,496 1,212,798 1,529,665 2,229,975
967,047 1,551,441 4,245,206 2,167,708 1,346,396 6,391,715 2,362,154 14,890,759 1,401,744 1,367,017 16,709,665 2,155,439 3,084,167 1,692,289 1,024,737 3,169,391 1,247,063 3,502,138
554,920 2,096,580 1,778,422 1,071,019 1,299,972 2,912,132 71,669,340 1,645,104 1,898,115 1,245,547 4,225,836 3,219,973

697,854 1,173,473
117,295 44,681 107,589 219,036 10,399,239 203,360 86,794 1,251,926 759,626 92,073 25,867 601,718 55,173 547,903 106,960 161,946 1,539,866 585,318 17,413 81,485 7,060,803 70,775 24,332 334,495 123,520 126,269 36,985 2,301,475 249,173 695,618 1,485,403 88,168 418,602 39,699 98.707 1,640,351 1,938,887 90,178 249,256 58,278 43,101 182,148 41,434 78,857 418,284 116,714 80,737 301,841 221,838 3,937,564 32,472 325,636 2,506,731 274,691 171,799 98,780 86,707 129,000 75,971 201,605 16,944 140,920 123,467 17,863 41,605 521,897 8,843,264 16,342 102,905 56,128 483,992 245.825

497,032 61,918 96,716 81,958 86,968 126,940
2,885,259 93,993 53,640
517,508 523,880
49,883 13,887 236,018 99,984 81,958 45,853 119,207 625,715 470,348 469,368 109,405 3,356,860 146,055 9,530 451,615 209,661 107,771 80,052 2,503,949 195,393 630,126 41,333 125,306 174,536 124,707 43,947 679,301 895,823 42,150 189,893 59,849 50,046 69,869 42,368 32,075 116,702 96,553 45,309 235,310 136,034 415,074 50,046 63,987 647,117 99,820 110,222 69,161 68,290 135,926 46,398 104,721 28,536 98,786 109,786 34,689 66,928 149,213 1,360,562 307,466 126,123 61,700 396,395 127,430

235,333 43,128,413 753,829

810 189 454 210 160 539 10,355 471 199 2,025 991 218 93 475 384 464 193 469 672 732 589 302 8,141 366 55 1,122 443 579 215 4,044 546 1,570 166 288 446 374 140 1,341 2,338 154 511 224 265 331 152 208 443 239 253 2,356 377 1,184 201 124 2,558 238 453 219 203 262 138 307 125 369 377 159 174 343 4,556 718 146 147 634 482

3,337,734 1,297,656 2,159,911
762,193 887,946 1,924,297 57,189,063 3,225,320 1,244,834 6,755,588 4,667,955 795,792 416,254 2,044,921 1,752,857 3,076,196 917,289 1,890,899 2,921,937 3,007,459 2,473,538 1,698,921 51,252,059 1,564,873 352,062 4,723,341 1,654,144 1,860,225 1,369,257 19,451,299 2,552,077 6,913,481 1,210,751 1,221,088 2,038,958 1,950,183 738,305 6,766,022 7,099,570 683,507 2,021,770 905,922 1,560,584 2,542,446 1,173,529 1,917,553 1,518,271 1,483,375 1,215,368 18,898,324 1,014,534 4,432,841 1,263,912 405,521 8,454,825 1,301,296 3,500,767 1,041,784 1,180,026 1,642,084 608,818 1,160,619 686,922 986,133 1,117,563 1,038,848 1,042,638 1,306,233 22,775,533 4,091,884 501,670 754,792 2,903,983 2,371,108

59

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF VA EXPENDITURES FOR FY 2003 GEORGIA

COUNTY

Veteran Population

PICKENS PIERCE PIKE POLK PULASKI PUTNAM QUITMAN RABUN RANDOLPH RICHMOND ROCKDALE SCHLEY SCREVEN SEMINOLE SPALDING STEPHENS STEWART SUMTER TALBOT TALIAFERRO TATTNALL TAYLOR TELFAIR TERRELL THOMAS TIFT TOOMBS TOWNS TREUTLEN TROUP TURNER TWIGGS UNION UPSON WALKER WALTON WARE WARREN WASHINGTON WAYNE WEBSTER WHEELER WHITE WHITFIELD WILCOX WILKES WILKINSON WORTH

Totals

2,436 1,346 1,381 3,286
903 2,493
289 1,780
555 24,745
8,086 333
1,344 914
5,337 2,404
372 2,542
605 142 2,208 691 975 922 4,095 3,127 2,060 1,360 518 5,453 752 744 2,549 2,738 6,011 5,139 4,074
440 1,602 2,916
199 547 2,380 6,381 859 1,069 822 2,107 768,675

GEORGIA Congressional Districts

TOTAL CONG. DIST (01) TOTAL CONG. DIST (02) TOTAL CONG. DIST (03) TOTAL CONG. DIST (04) TOTAL CONG. DIST (05) TOTAL CONG. DIST (06) TOTAL CONG. DIST (07) TOTAL CONG. DIST (08) TOTAL CONG. DIST (09) TOTAL CONG. DIST (10) TOTAL CONG. DIST (11) TOTAL CONG. DIST (12) TOTAL CONG. DIST (13)
GEORGIA (Totals)

72,051 57,850 61,003 50,578 46,862 55,060 53,974 70,419 65,099 56,624 59,684 63,486 55,985
768,675

Total Expenditures

Compensation & Pension

4,586,944 4,741,817 2,179,862 18,183,632 2,654,916 4,322,147
837,065 3,592,954 2,357,471 145,330,788 7,830,862
953,809 3,478,029 2,009,881 11,576,842 5,161,410 1,039,569 5,930,024 1,674,547
528,424 5,422,639 2,665,329 3,882,253 1,107,373 9,371,358 7,378,036 8,092,650 3,755,258 2,027,639 15,101,962 2,158,554 2,572,631 5,305,553 6,892,421 12,613,698 6,787,404 12,117,329 1,493,923 5,520,782 6,448,532
384,411 1,457,912 4,721,218 9,284,767 1,990,584 3,597,768 2,592,411 3,979,340 1,752,504,278

3,334,623 2,844,402 1,235,453 15,004,663 1,323,971 2,055,332
424,052 2,042,495 1,449,401 62,415,626 2,379,595
350,639 1,389,985 1,235,402 6,782,738 3,080,706
610,601 3,123,094 1,237,350
259,725 3,069,656 1,898,226 1,730,210
582,777 5,279,157 4,132,131 3,127,859 2,340,763
889,984 8,422,497 1,269,801 1,099,169 3,344,329 3,962,996 6,976,329 3,342,557 6,818,173
742,957 2,684,994 3,603,972
285,808 880,052 2,879,421 5,824,912 1,089,028 1,628,990 1,231,853 2,346,830 931,207,682

176,552,448 161,272,330 182,590,393 184,518,825 95,047,238 62,340,934 57,052,376 138,620,371 156,782,666
88,628,785 125,336,600 226,548,332 97,212,979
1,752,504,278

103,704,888 95,622,829 87,810,032 76,466,642 40,447,251 36,813,756 30,347,293 89,504,523 87,078,125 52,316,850 80,687,774 98,985,259 51,422,458
931,207,682

Education & Voc Rehab
237,844 76,025 47,806
1,738,438 87,840 53,728 16,573 49,844
219,206 6,225,381
734,687 37,151
108,373 34,975 479,309 91,324 38,852 301,430 87,337
590 187,472 111,341 76,964 56,633 390,379 285,740 155,027 123,809 28,903 535,634 62,246 55,470 131,247 201,211 2,144,723 138,278 322.042 36,730 177,002 184,196 10,152 37,112 75,013 225,113 29,655 74,371 42,187 135,513 112,619,651
14,976,839 9,303,652 9,141,919 9,676,463 5,473,253 4,926,945 3,289,236 9,354,614 5,677,677 4,787,413 8,255,982 21,016,226 6,739,433
112,619,651

Insurance &
Indemnities
132,658 73,300 75,206 178,947 49,175 135,762 15,738 96,934 30,224 1,347,547 440,342 18,134 73,191 49,774 290,639 130,915 20,258 138,431 32,947
7,733 120,242 37,630 53,096 50,210 223,003 170,288 112,182 74,062 28,209 296,956 40,952 40,516 138,812 149,104 327,343 279,856 221,859 23,961 87,241 158,798 10,837 29,788 129,608 347,492 46,779 58,215 44,764 114,742 41,860,000
3,923,706 3,150,357 3,322,061 2,754,344 2,551,980 2,998,421 2,939,281 3,834,832 3,545,119 3,083,593 3,250,232 3,495,889 3,010,184
41,860,000

CNSTR

GOE

VA MEDICAL CARE - FY 2003

Total Unique Patients

Medical Expenditures

2,975,701 5,467,715 43,457,564

226 468 161 323 181 432
64 322 100 8,894 804
43 273 168 751 414
62 454
64 29 381 106 239 167 1,104 802 678 289 155 1,016 175 220 515 526 866 591 1,052 115 420 579 24 45 429 841 113 254 232 439 119,438

881,819 1,748,091
821,397 1,261,584 1,193,929 2,077,325
380,702 1,403,680
658,640 72,366,533
4,276,238 547,884
1,906,481 689,730
4,024,156 1,858,464
369,858 2,367,070
316,913 260,375 2,045,269 618,131 2,021,983 417,753 3,478,819 2,789,877 4,697,582 1,216,624 1,080,542 5,846,876 785,554 1,377,476 1,691,166 2,579,111 3,165,304 3,026,712 4,755,255 690,275 2,571,546 2,501,566
77,614 510,960 1,637,176 2,887,249 825,122 1,836,193 1,273,607 1,382,255 617,891,667

0 753,829 235,333
0 1,502,852

0 0 43,128,413 0 135,350

0 2,975,701

193,800 0

5,467,715 43,457,564

12,981 13,242 14,056 9,540 7,373 3,456 4,407 7,835 10,901 7,126 7,328 14,366 6,827
119,438

53,947,015 53,195,492 81,562,551 52,257,631 46,574,754 15,963,610 20,476,566 35,926,403 60,481,744 28,440,929 32,948,811 100,075,256 36,040,905
617,891,667

60

The Class of 1945
Deserves More Recognition
From historical documents prepared by our Nation's 50th Anniversary of World War II Committee (1995), we can sss, through numbers, what Americans did for the world, from 1939-1945.
(On May 0,1945 Germany surrondared and on September 2,1945 Japan surrendered).

From historical documents prepared by our nation's 50th Anniversary of World War II Committee, we can see, through numbers, what Americans did for the world from 1939-1945. (On May 8, 1945 Germany surrendered and on September 2, 1945 Japan surrendered.)

38.8% of U.S. servicemen and women were volunteers. Average duration of service was 33 months. 73% served overseas. For every 1,000, 8.6 were killed in action, 3 died of other causes and 17.7 were wounded in action and lived.

U.S. Active Military Personnel: 1939 1945

Armv 189,389 8,267,958

Navv 125,202 3,380,817

Marines 19,432 474,680

Total 334,473 12,123,455
(324,373 Georgians)

America's Home Front:
6.5 million women went to work in defense plants while 265,000 joined the Armed Forces 7.5 million men and women volunteered through the American Red Cross, which also
collected 13.4 million units of blood Industrial employees worked 90 hours a week
The existing automobile industry was the heart of America's production capabilities

America's World War II production totals were:

Battleships

10

Railroad Locomotives

7,500

All other vehicles

2,400,000

Guns & Howitzers

41,000

Rifles & Carbines

12,500,000

Steel Production (tons) 434,000

Tanks & Armored Vehicles 100,000

Escort Carriers

110

Yards of Cotton Textiles 36 Billion

2 'A Ton Trucks

806,000

Ships of all types Aircraft Landing Crafts Submarines Rounds of Ammo

124,000 310,000 82,000
211 41 Billion

Killed 234,874 36,950
19,733 574
292,131
(6,781 Georgians)

Wounded 565,861 37,778 67,207 432 671,278
(11,650 Georgians)

American Prisoners of War: 121,406 (652 Georgians) Americans still unaccounted for: 78,773 (364 Georgians)
SOURCE: DOD and National Archives
61

-k -k it it Have You Entered a Name In -k -k -k -k The World War II Memorial Registry of Remembrances?

If you have not yet registered a name in the World War II Registry of Remembrances, here is your chance!
Anyone who helped win the war, either as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or as a U.S. citizen on home front, is eligible for entry into the Registry. You may enter your own name, or the name of someone you wish to honor for their service to our country during the war. Ifyou wish to register more than one name, please make one copy of this form for each name.
The Registry of Remembrances will be available for viewing on site at the National World War II Memorial to ensure that the names of these patriotic Americans are recorded in history for all time.
Mail completed form to: World War II Memorial Campaign Processing Center P.O. Box 186 Calverton, NY 11933-0186

Please Print Honoree's Title or Rank:

* Fields with asterick must be completed

Honoree's First Name: *
111 iii 1111
Hometown:*

MI Last Name:*
ii 11 m 11 M 11
State:*

Suffix:
rr

Honoree is:* World War II Veteran

Killed in World War II

Civilian on the Home Front

Service Branch, if applicable: Army Air Forces Army Navy Marine Corps Coast Guard Merchant Marine

Brief description of wartime activity:__________________________________________________________

Your realationship to the above honoree:*
Please enter your name and address below. We will send you information on how to include a photograph ofyour honoree in the Registry of Remembrances after we have received this form. Thank you.

Your Name*

Your Address*

City*

State*

Zip*

During WWII, Georgia had 324,373 ofits citizens serw in the military, with 6,781 Killed in Action; 11,650 Wounded inAction; 652 held as Prisoners of War and 364 still Missing in Action/Unaccountedfor. As of1102104, only 21,515 Georgians had registered with this "WW II Memorial," and that includes the 6,781 K1A.

To obtain additional "Registration Forms", call 1-800-639-4992. To "Reeister" throueh the internet so to www.wwiimemorial.com
6 --------------------------------

Revised as of 1/15/04

62

Tribute to a Generation
World War II Memorial Washington D.C
Dedication May 29, 2004

Here in the Presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and the other the nineteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice. - Announcement Stone

Freedom Wall - Field of Gold Stars "HERE WE MARK THE PRICE OF FREEDOM"

The names...are a cross-section of democracy. They fought together as

brothers-in-arms. They died together and now they sleep side by side. To

them we have a solemn obligation.

Admiral Chester A. Nimitz

Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building Suite E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4800