A Day to Honor

Thanks to the Dept of Veterans Affairs for the poster.

Today is Veterans Day.
Today we will have such an honor.
Today we remember.



In our lil town here in Texas we have a yearly ceremony to honor the veterans. It is not fancy but it is moving. At our local high school there is an assembly. Where the students pay tribute to the veterans. We sit quietly and watch them file in. Many old and stooped over. Often with canes, wheel chairs and aids. But there is also the mid age coming in too. Standing tall with a hat or a pin or a vest on, reminders of their time served. And now we have young men and women attending. Dressed in full uniform. Home for a visit, just beginning their tour or having returned from doing their duty.

You see students wipe tears. Others quietly move down the bleachers to hug one they honor. Many place their hands over their hearts. Most hold their breath. It is a quiet time to see so many file in.

Then there is introductions, speeches and much much music. Tributes are paid and a flurry of kids who rush the men and women to say they love them. I am telling you it is quite moving.

Today, I get to help. My Dear Hubby is the commander of our local AmVets organization. And it is arranged to help transport the 20+ veterans from the local nursing home. Half are in wheel chairs. Thankfully the school district is helping provide a handicap bus for them to be transported in. Afterwards we will travel to the local DAV building. There members are putting together a lunch for these folks. Then we will help them return to the home they now have. I hope I can do a service today. I hope I can convey how proud I am to be able to help in a small way. I hope I can let them know how much I honor their service.

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Checks for Vets

My husband is a Navy Vet. My in-laws are both Navy Vets too. My dad was a vet and so are two of my brothers. My grandfather was as was my daughters grandfather. As a matter of fact most of the men and some of the women in my family are all veterans.

And one of the hardest things that a Veteran runs into is obtaining the benefits promised to them from the very beginning of their signing up to serve our country. It is hard to know all the things you need to do, the forms to fill out and all the documentation you need to keep it all straight. But I have found help for them and the veterans you may know.

Joseph McCarthy’s job isn’t unique, or widely known, but it’s still perhaps one of the most important jobs one can find. He helps wartime veterans get their VA pensions. Joseph Scott McCarthy is a veteran advocate with more than eight years’ experience working with Aid and Attendance and Housebound pensions. With the help of veteran service officers at the American Legion, county veteran service officers, and VA personnel, he has educated and guided thousands of veterans and their surviving spouses through the VA pension process.

For many, especially for those who are injured or disabled this is no easy thing to accomplish. Over 1.5 million wartime service veterans and their surviving spouses are eligible for billions of dollars a year in the form of VA pensions to help pay for assisted living and home care. Many leave their share of the money unclaimed due to their lack of knowledge regarding how to get what’s coming to them.

Over the years Joe has helped thousands of servicemen and women and their surviving spouses achieve success and jump through all the hoops and hurdles necessary to receive their VA pension benefits.

His new book Checks for Vets captures what he knows and puts it all together in a standalone guidebook to help take the mystery out of the bureaucratic process and help people get the maximum benefits that they are eligible for.

McCarthy says that to successfully receive pension benefits requires that you submit several forms of proof to the government.

If you are a wartime service veteran or the surviving spouse of one, you must meet eligibility criteria to receive one of these pensions, such as having met active military service requirements and had an honorable or general discharge. You also have to show a limited income (such as from social security and a small pension), and that you are disabled and have care needs because of your disabilities.

McCarthy has several crucial recommendations to those who are ready to go through the filing process:

Obtain the veteran’s discharge record. Locate and get a copy of your discharge record because you must have it to file a pension application.

Locate other important documents, such as marriage and death certificates. You will need these documents to support your claim.

Locate and select a veteran service officer in your local area. A veteran service officer is a great resource for filing pension claims. There is no fee for their services and you do not need to be a member of their organization.

Identify suitable assisted living facilities or homecare agencies. Plan ahead; don’t wait until you have an immediate need for care. These facilities offer tours and an explanation of services to help you decide if the care provider may be right for you. Care providers will provide you with information you will need to support your claim.

Don’t use outdated pension claim forms. Use only the most current forms so that you only have to fill in the forms once.

Don’t make errors when completing claim forms. Do it right the first time. Errors will cause delays in the processing of your claim.

Don’t pay for prescription medications. Veterans can apply for free health benefits which can save hundreds of dollars per year.

McCarthy says that if you take the right steps and prepare the applications properly, you’ll get the best response in the shortest period of time.

I am going to be sharing my copy of Checks for Vets with our local county veteran service officer aid in town.

To Honor Those Who Have Served

Thank you to the men and women who have served this country.

Your dedication to protect all of us is amazing.

I appreciate your love and honor.

I respect you for the time you have given.
I wish to thank you for your beliefs that are so strong.

You humble me and many others.