Central Florida veterans upcoming events

Central Florida upcoming events collected and sent by Cathy Haynes

“Home for Our Troops” working in St. Augustine
·“Home at Last” flag and dedication ceremonies
·New veterans/disabled vet owned business group mtg.
·Movies in Baldwin Park
·Bowling for Heroes
·Independence Expo
·Space Coast Honor Flight and other Honor Flights
·50+FYI Expo
·3-Day Film Festival and opening movie premier aids wounded
·V-J Day
·9/11 Tribute and Navy Top Gun Event
·Thank You Veterans Cruise and Raffle
·IamVeteran
·American Warrior Radio Show
·National Vietnam War Museum
·Museum of Military History
·Websites to check out

Fri. Aug 10, 11 - Homes for Our Troops changed the lives of 4 severely wounded warriors in FL by building and giving them specially adapted homes to better aide in their rehabilitation and better yet allowing them to move more freely in their homes. Another home for a very deserving warrior, Marine GySgt John Hayes in St. Augustine, begins with a volunteer Construction Blitz on Aug 10 and 11, 8:30am – 5pm, 218 Honey Branch Lane, St. Aug., 32092. Volunteers wanted now and with more days to come. Contact Autumn Oster, Community Outreach Coordinator, at aoster@homesforourtroops.org (508) 823-3300 ext. 209. www.homeforourtroops.org/hayes

Sat. Aug. 11 – Army SSgt Jeffery Kelly and his family will received their specially adapted home on Saturday. The Flag Raising ceremony will be at 9:30 am at 218 West Oakland Ave, Oakland, FL 34760 and the Dedication will be at 11 am at the nearby Oakland Presbyterian Church Christian Life Center at 218 EAST Oakland Ave. This is the 4th home from the West Orange Habitat for Humanity's Home at Last project in providing specially adapted homes to make life somewhat easier for wounded warriors. Jeffery grew up in the Orlando area and is an Eagle Scout. He served three tours in Iraq before being injured by an RPG blast in 2008. Guest speaker will be Lt. General Randy Mixon. A flag flown over the U.S. Capitol on July 4 will be presented by Congressman Dan Webster. Info: www.westorangehabitat.org/node/150

Wed. Aug 15 – New Non-profit group meeting – Florida Association of Veteran and Service Disabled Vet Owned Businesses meeting on Wed. Aug. 15 at 11:30 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, 9500 Armed Forces Reserve Dr., Orlando, 32827 (off of Tradeport Dr. near Orlando Int’l Airport). This non-profit group will be promoting fellow veteran businesses and furthering their involvement in government contracting. There are volunteer opportunities and networking. Contact Brian at 407-394-4754 bpwarner@cfl.rr.com

Fri. Aug 17 - Movies in Baldwin Park - Join us for a free community event in Baldwin Park on the green in front of Barnie's on New Broad Street. Activities begin at 6:30 PM – remote control car races, etc. The Disney-Pixar computer-animated comedy-adventure film cartoon movie “Cars” will play at dusk (Rated G). Please bring a school supply item to donate in return you will receive a Movie Event Grab Bag. Benefiting Audubon Park Elementary. Sponsored by Game Plan Media, big supporter of veterans and military. Info: laura@gameplanmedia.info 407-900-1915 Corporate sponsorships welcomed!

Wed. Aug 22 - Building Homes for Heroes – 2nd Annual Bowling for Heroes fundraising. 5pm – 10pm at Colonial Lanes, 400 N. Primrose Land, Orlando, 32803.
- Session One check-in begins at 5pm; bowling begins promptly at 6pm
- Session Two check-in begins at 7pm; bowling begins promptly at 8:15pm
$30 per person if registering online before event day; $40 at the door. 4 person teams and it is requested that teams pledge raising $500 per team to build a home for a hero.
More info: www.buildinghomesforheroes.org/events/bowling/ or call 407-758-5779.
Donations and sponsorships welcomed!

Fri and Sat. Aug 24,25 - Independence Expo - Products, services, workshops for people with disabilities at the Marriott Orlando World Center. Free admission, free parking, Complimentary Accessible Van Service. Fri. Aug 24th, 10am to 4pm and Sat. Aug 25, 11am to 4pm. Disabled Veterans: This may have discussions, products and resources that may be of particular interest to you! Workshop topics include: Sports and Recreation, Employment, Health, Research and Technology, and LOTS more. Local veterans speaker Annie Artis, Disabled Veteran’s Outreach Program Representative (DVOP); Workforce Central Florida, will speak at a workshop on Friday, 2:30-3:30 : “Veterans and Employment.” Expo info: www.independenceexpo.org/

Sat. Aug 25 – Space Coast Honor Flight takes about 25 World War 2 and terminally ill veterans to see the WWII Memorial in person. In addition, the group may see Arlington Cemetery, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial Wall and others. The group leaves early in the morning and returns that same evening. There is always a special “Welcome Home” event at the airport in the evening. If you wish to participate in thanking these veterans, contact Cathy at chaynes11629@yahoo.com or 407-239-8468
Additional Honor Flights using Orlando Int’l Airport this year: Villages Honor Flight: Sun. Sept 23 and Sun. Oct 28; Space Coast Honor Flight: Sat. Sept 29, Sun. Oct 20, and Sat. Oct 27 ; Honor Flight Central Florida: Sun. Oct 7.
Ocala Honor Flight flies out of Ocala’s airport on Thurs. Oct 25.

Wed. Aug 29 - 50+ FYI Expo - The quarterly expo is back! The summer EXPO is at St. Pauls Presbyterian Church, 1450 Citrus Oaks Avenue, Gotha, 34734 in West Orange from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm. It's FREE and provides the public with opportunities to learn about local resources, including veterans info. Presented by Orange County Commission on Aging, 50+ Resource Network, Seminole County Triad, and the Senior Resource Alliance. Take advantage of free health screenings and meet area service providers, agencies, housing specialists, health care representatives, and other professionals who provide products and services to the community.More info: www.50plusfyi.org/EXPO_page.htm

Fri. Aug 31 – Sun. Sep 2 - 3-Day Film Festival in Ocoee - 7th Annual Central Florida Film Festival (CENFLO) on Labor Day weekend. Festival attendees can see 80 feature films, shorts and documentaries over 3 days; Tickets are $10 per movie or $25* per day special Moviewatcher Pass includes a soda and popcorn. “War Flowers”, a Civil War love story starring Christina Ricci and Tom Berenger, is the opening movie premiere on Friday, Aug. 31. Theater doors open at 6:15 p.m., and anyone who shows up in Civil War attire will be admitted free. Proceeds from this showing only will go to the Ocoee Chapter of Building Homes for Heroes. After the film, director Serge Rodnunsky will host a question-and-answer session. At the newly remodeled West Orange 5 Cinemas, 1575 Maguire Road, Ocoee. (*But $20 per day advance sale tickets are offered online NOW for a short time.) More info: CENFLO’s Bob Cook at 407-370-3703. To view list of movies, screening times and to purchase tickets online, visit www.CentralFloridaFilmFestival.com or www.wotimes.com/articles/2012/08/01/news/top_stories/news07.txt

Sun. Sept 2 - V-J Day The surrender of Japan in World War 2 following the atomic bombings in August. Although Japan announced its surrender intentions on August 14, the surrender ceremony took place on September 2, 1945 aboard the US Navy battleship USS Missouri. Thank a WWII vet for his/her service, especially those who served in the Pacific theater on V-J Day!

Sat. Sep. 15 - 9/11 Tribute and Navy Top Gun Event in Baldwin Park - Take part in the largest first annual 9/11 Tribute honoring our fallen soldiers and civilians and the heroes in the US Navy on Sat. Sept. 15. 5-11pm. This unique event takes place on the former grounds of the closed Orlando Navy Recruit Training Base now known as Baldwin Park. Funds raised will help obtain the Lone Sailor Monument to commemorate the former training base site where hundreds of thousands of recruits started their military lives. Features: Military and museum displays, SPECWAR vehicle, PT Drills, US Navy and Navy SEALs meet and greet, NJROTC and Sea Cadets, Volleyball-Cornhole-BeerPong tournaments, trivia and costume contests and much more! 9pm Special showing of “Top Gun” movie. $10 advance tickets, $12 at door. For more info: laura@gameplanmedia.info 407-900-1915 Corporate sponsorships welcomed. http://topgunusnavy911.eventbrite.com

Sun. Sep 16 - Thank You Veterans Cruise Raffle - $20 chance to join the Cruise for FREE!
Win a Free Stateroom aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Sea to the Bahamas. Departs from Port Canaveral on Fri. Dec. 7 and returns on Mon. Dec. 10. Includes stateroom for 2, port charges and gratuities, plus $50 on-board credit. Drawing to be held at the Museum on Sun. night Sept. 16. (Need not be present to win.) The same night is the fundraiser band – JeNDeR playing. Reservations are still being taken to join Thank You Veterans Cruise at a special price. Donations accepted to provide Cruise for a wounded warriors and guest. Info: 407-679-6674 www.thankyouveteranscruise.org/
Sponsored by the Cpl. Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum (aka “the Bunker”), 3400 N. Tanner Rd., Orlando, 32826 New website: www . BunkerFlorida . org

IamVeteran.com is now offering Job Coaching services to Veterans who need help in positioning themselves in their job search. Lots of new information has been added to the website: Non-service connected Disability, and the new VRAP program that pays the veteran to go back to school, as well as job postings. This is a part of WorkForce Central Florida. Contact: Annie Artis at AArtis@wcfla.com A veteran helping other veterans. Employers – please hire a Vet!

American Warrior Radio Show - Catch Garren and Kim Cone, founders of AVET Project, weekly on the American Warrior Radio Show from 11am-noon EDT on Saturdays, radio station WMEL - AM 1300 Nationwide broadcast: www.1300wmel.com Topics of interest to current and past military and their families. Facebook: AVET Project, Inc. www.avetproject.org

Cpl. Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum (aka “The Bunker”) - at 3400 North Tanner Road Orlando, FL 32826. New website: www . BunkerFlorida . org Come see the new items on display. The museum is open to the public on Saturdays from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Sundays from 10:00pm to 4:00pm. Private and educational tours can be scheduled with prior agreement and confirmation with the museums staff. Hours of operation are subject to change due to restoration in progress.

Museum of Military History –5210 West Irlo Bronson Highway - located west of SR 535 on SR 192 Kissimmee, FL – near the Poinciana Blvd. intersection on the south side of the road. http://www.museumofmilitaryhistory.com/ ; "Educating the world about the cost of freedom."
Hours of 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesdays thru Sunday (Closed Mondays.) For more information call 407 507-3894
"The Museum of Military History is a 10,000 sq. ft. institution that will provide educational exhibits starting with the Civil War, incorporating World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and leading the visitor up to the most current pages of our military history in Afghanistan and Iraq."
*Note: If you or your friends have military items that may not mean much to your other family members, please consider donating them or placing them "on permanent loan" with a Museum for safekeeping. Others may appreciate their historical significance, and it will keep them out of potential landfills. If possible please include the story of the item.

Some additional websites of interest for veterans, military, and patriotic folks:

Wounded Times Blogspot – www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com

Wounded Warriors Outdoors - www.woundedwarrioroutdoors.com

American Legion, Florida - www.floridalegion.org Including a cyber-post.

Military Order of the Purple Heart - http://www.purpleheart.org (Aug. 6 was Purple Heart Day)

Lone Sailor Monument for Orlando - http://www.lonesailorfl.com

***I am now accepting information about organizations planning public events. Please include date, location, time, and a point of contact (name, email, phone). Other people cannot attend if they don’t know about the event!

Caring and sharing,
Cathy Haynes

More help coming for veterans with Combat PTSD in Florida

Viera VA clinic to nearly double mental health staff
More help coming for war-weary
Written by
R. Norman Moody
FLORIDA TODAY
Jun 19, 2012

Since 2007, VA nationally has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of veterans receiving mental health services and as a result, increased its mental health staff by 41 percent. In the past three years, it increased its mental health care budget by 39 percent and last year, provided mental health services to 1.3 million veterans.

Just as the number of troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan swelled with the end of one war and the draw-down from the other, so did the number of veterans seeking mental health care.

More than one million troops served in those conflicts during the past decade.

A plan announced last week by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to address the growing need for better mental health care for U.S. veterans will mean the Viera VA Outpatient Clinic will almost double its mental health staff.

The national recruitment effort that already has added some mental health professionals at the Viera clinic — a facility that had 23,000 mental health visits last year — will culminate in about six months with 14 positions added to the previous 16.
read more here

Suicide: For some South Florida veterans, it's the biggest threat

Suicide: For some South Florida veterans, it's the biggest threat
By Mike Clary, Sun Sentinel
July 7, 2011
WEST PALM BEACH— During 27 years in the Army, Ben Mericle survived tours in Bosnia, the Gulf War and Iraq. But it was only after coming home to West Palm Beach in 2006 that he came close to dying — by his own hand.

"I just wanted to disappear," said Mericle, 50, recalling the many times he considered mixing a fatal cocktail from his prescribed medications and the prodigious amounts of alcohol he was drinking.


"I had so much anger. I wasn't sleeping, had nightmares when I did, flashbacks. It was survivor's guilt."

Some do not survive, leading Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to identify the "emergency issue" facing the American military: a rise in the number of suicides.

On Wednesday, President Obama announced he will reverse a longstanding policy and begin sending condolence letters to the families of service members who commit suicide while deployed to a combat zone.

"This decision was made after a difficult and exhaustive review of the former policy, and I did not make it lightly," Obama said in a statement. "This issue is emotional, painful, and complicated, but these Americans served our nation bravely. They didn't die because they were weak. And the fact that they didn't get the help they needed must change."

Last year, 301 active-duty Army, Reserve and National Guard soldiers committed suicide, compared with 242 in 2009, according to Army figures.

read more here
For some South Florida veterans the biggest threat
 

Florida Veterans Face Budget Cuts and Agency Changes

Florida Veterans Face Budget Cuts and Agency Changes

Posted Wed, Feb 09, 2011 at 06:02 am

Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Bob Milligan.
By Bobbie O'Brien
TAMPA
At first glance, it appears there is a 44 percent slash in the governor's proposed budget for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott's budget cuts and agency reductions are now available online. Floridians can compare his recommendations to the agency’s requests and to current budgets.

If you compare the current state veterans affairs budget of $81 million to the governor’s proposed budget of $45.5 million, it appears as if Scott is cutting the agency 44 percent.

But that’s not the case. Veterans Affairs spokesman Steve Murray said the governor’s proposal reflects the transfer of the department’s six nursing homes and one assisted living facility, the largest portion of the budget, to a public corporation.

“This public corporation could report directly to the governor and cabinet," Murray said. "It would operate in the sunshine. Our agency the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs would work hand in hand with the corporation on veterans issues. We would be able to retain VA funding."
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Florida Veterans Face Budget Cuts and Agency Changes

Florida has 18,000 homeless veterans

"Where they live many times is in the woods or on the street. In the state of Florida, there are 18,000 homeless veterans, 4,500 in Central Florida and about 1,000 Brevard County alone." George Taylor

Homeless veterans get some much needed help
By Margaret Kavanagh, Reporter
Last Updated: Saturday, September 18, 2010 10:25 PM
TITUSVILLE
They put their lives on the line, served our country and now don't have a place to live.

The problem of homeless veterans plagues our state. News 13 attended an event run by the National Veterans Homeless Support Group in Titusville called Stand Down. The group is working to teach other veteran groups around the state how to organize similar events.

Veteran Philip Campbell received a brand new motorized bike. It will help him get to classes at Brevard County Community. The veteran is homeless and living in a tent in the woods.

"Such a shock, the honor that they gave me, the bike, it's a, I'm amazed, I'm amazed," Campbell said.

He was one of 350 veterans that attended the Stand Down event run by the group National Veterans Homeless Support. They received clothes, food, toiletries, medical and legal advice.

The founder of the organization, George Taylor, once lived in the woods himself. He understands what it's like to be a homeless veteran, but said now-a-days it's tougher for the soldiers coming home.
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Homeless veterans get some much needed help

Homes for Our Troops taking care of Florida's wounded warriors

Home Building / Adaptation Projects in Florida


Luis Puertas

Branch: Army Rank: Specialist

Home: Orlando, FL
Army SPC Luis Puertas was left a double amputee after an EFP explosion in Baghdad, Iraq, on September 20, 2006. SPC Puertas was the driver of the lead HUMVEE on a daily patrol near Sadar City when an unseen EFP, planted at the base of a light pole launched into the vehicle, amputating both of his legs on impact. Leaving him trapped beneath the 400 pound up-armored door of the HUMVEE. Miraculously, his team was able to extricate him from the wreckage, and prepare him for medevac from the scene.
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Juan Roldan

Branch: Army Rank: Staff Sergeant

Home: Tampa, FL
Army SSG Juan Roldan was left a double amputee above the knees after an EFP explosion in Sadar City, Iraq on December 29, 2006. During the days prior to the execution of Saddam Hussein, Baghdad, Iraq and the surrounding area was described as "Hell on Earth" by military members who were patrolling the streets; "things were out of control." SSG Roldan was a vehicle commander, on a patrol through Sadar City when an Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) struck the vehicle, immediately killing the driver and gunner and throwing SSG Roldan from the vehicle.
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Steven Holloway

Branch: Army Rank: Sergeant First Class

Home: Wellington, FL
Army SFC Steven Holloway was a patrol leader on a mission to train Iraqi Police when his team was rerouted to assist at the scene of a deadly IED attack in Mosul, Iraq. After radioing for a Medivac, SFC Holloway went to the aid of a severely injured soldier and was immediately hit by a sniper's bullet. The Medivac he had called transported the injured soldier and SFC Holloway as well.
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Paul "Russ" Marek

Branch: Army Rank: Staff Sergeant

Home: Melbourne, FL
SSG Paul Russell Marek was serving with the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq when his tank was destroyed by an IED. Three of his crew members perished in the explosion and Russ lost his right leg and right arm, his right ear and left thumb and suffered brain injury and severe burns over 20 percent of his body. That happend on September 16, 2005 as he rode in a tank near Baghdad.
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Florida veterans look for help

Notice how Democrats and Republicans can step up to try to make sure our veterans are taken care of? So how is it that the rest of us cannot put aside political differences and do the same? Florida had almost 2 million veterans! Brevard County, where they have been a lot more active doing things for veterans than Seminole and Orange County, had 77,169 veterans. We don't know how many veterans we have right now since the census was from 2008. It would be great to finally really take care of our veterans and step up.

Florida veterans look for help
Advocacy groups meet with congressional committee Wednesday
By Bart Jansen • Tallahassee Washington Bureau • January 19, 2010

WASHINGTON — Florida veterans are urging Congress to shorten the backlog for disability claims and to eliminate an overlap in survivors' benefits.

Veterans are also wary of cuts in Medicare for the elderly and disabled that could ripple through the military health-care system called TRICARE for troops, their dependents and retirees.

These are among the top concerns that advocacy groups will raise Wednesday at a roundtable with the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. Florida is second only to California as a home for veterans, with 1.9 million, according to the U.S. Census. Brevard County has 77,169 veterans, Lee County 66,081, Escambia 38,510 and Leon 20,561, according to 2008 Census figures.

Rep. Jeff Miller, a Chumuckla Republican and committee member, recently met with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki about the backlog that is surging with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

"The disability-claims backlog has become a deteriorating issue for the Department of Veterans Affairs and is in need of much improvement," Miller said.

The department's spending bill that Congress approved in December included $1.7 billion to hire 1,200 new claims processors, in an effort to reduce a backlog with nearly 397,000 claims pending, according to the group Disabled American Veterans.

Reps. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, and Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, helped secure funding last year for a new VA Medical Center in Orlando. But lawmakers noted the need to do more to speed processing of disability claims and improve survivor benefits.

"I will continue working to protect and improve the benefits for our veterans who have so bravely sacrificed in service to their country," Kosmas said.

read more here

Florida veterans look for help

President Obama taking care of Florida's veterans and all veterans

President Obama’s 2010 Spending Plan Initiates Transformation for VA Services

May 7, 2009
Record Budget Enhances VA’s Ability to Become a 21st Century Organization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced President Obama’s 2010 budget for VA. The budget emphasizes a Veteran-centric commitment to expanded services with a 15.5 percent increase over 2009, the largest percentage increase for VA requested by a president in more than 30 years.

“Our 2010 budget represents the President’s vision for how VA will transform into a 21st Century organization that is Veteran-centric, results-driven, and forward-looking,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “This transformation is demanded by new times, new technologies, new demographic realities, and new commitments to today’s Veterans. It requires a comprehensive review of the fundamentals in every line of operation the Department performs. We must be sure that valuable taxpayer dollars are invested in programs that work for our Veterans.”

The centerpiece of the $112.8 billion VA budget proposal is a dramatic increase in Veteran health care funding, with an 11 percent increase over the current year's funding (excluding one-time Recovery Act funds).

“Organizational transformation requires changes in culture, systems, and training,” Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs W. Scott Gould said. “This will require resources, but it will also demand commitment and teamwork. The entire Department is dedicated to serving the needs of Veterans, and every VA employee has a stake in transformation to meet those needs.”

That transformation is already underway. For instance, the enhanced use of automated tools, coupled with more efficient processes, recent staffing increases, and improved training is expected to reduce the compensation and pension claims processing time to 150 days in 2010, or 16 percent faster compared to 2008, while reducing the pending inventory and improving accuracy. VA anticipates an 8 percent increase in education claims in 2010 compared to this year due largely to the improved education benefits of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act. Nonetheless, VA's goal is to complete all education claims without any increase in average processing days.

“We are making the smart choices today to improve the services that our Veterans receive tomorrow,” Secretary Shinseki said.

VA’s budget request contains four major categories of activities. These activities include: creating a reliable management infrastructure, delivering ongoing services, making progress on Departmental priorities, and instituting new initiatives critical to meeting the needs of Veterans now and in the future.

Nearly two-thirds of the increase ($9.6 billion) would go to mandatory programs (up 20 percent); the remaining third ($5.6 billion) would be discretionary funding (up 11 percent). The total budget would be almost evenly split between mandatory funding ($56.9 billion) and discretionary funding ($55.9 billion).

VA's new budget request provides for an estimated 122,000 more patients to be treated over the current year. Many of these patients will have multiple visits in the course of the year. VA expects to end fiscal year 2010 with nearly 6.1 million individual patients having received care, including 419,000 Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones who separated from service.

“VA has too often in the past been seen as difficult and bureaucratic as it relates to its charge of providing for our Nation’s Veterans,” Secretary Shinseki said. “Changing that perception will require a significant transformation. We will not nibble at the edges of this change. We must be bold and demand that we begin immediately showing measurable returns on investment in a responsible, accountable and transparent manner.”

The budget supports the administration's goal to gradually expand health care eligibility to more than 500,000 new enrollees by 2013, while maintaining excellent care quality and timeliness. In 2010, the transformation of VA health care will support scheduling of 98 percent of primary care appointments within a month of the desired date.

The new budget proposal places a high priority on initiatives aimed at making servicemembers' transition to civilian life and VA benefits seamless. This includes the President's initiative for VA and the Department of Defense to collaboratively develop and implement a joint “Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record."

The new system supports the administration's initiative for a uniform registration of all servicemembers with VA, will improve delivery of benefits by assuring availability of medical and administrative data useful both in future medical care as well as in the determination of service-connection in disability ratings.

“The Department’s number one priority is providing for our Veterans,” Deputy Secretary Gould said. “We have an obligation to make sure that every dollar goes to delivering timely, high-quality benefits and services to our clients—the Veterans. A strong corporate model will enable decentralized provision of services at VA by professionals in the field while providing integrated policy and coordination through a central office.”

The fiscal year 2010 VA budget fosters strong support for Veteran-focused information technology, providing more than $3.3 billion to ensure reliable, accessible and secure computer systems. In addition to improvements in VA's electronic health records, this investment will support the President's goal of making claims decisions timely, fair, and consistent with the extension of a new paperless processing initiative expected to lead to an electronically based benefits system by 2012.

VA-managed national cemeteries will be preserved as shrines while maintaining the current high level of service. The National Cemetery Administration would receive $242 million in operations and maintenance funding in the fiscal year 2010 request. The budget provides for activation of three new national cemeteries, Bakersfield National Cemetery in California, Alabama National Cemetery near Birmingham, and Washington Crossing National Cemetery in southeastern Pennsylvania. VA expects to perform 111,500 interments in 2010, a four-percent increase from the estimate for the current year.

The President's budget for construction projects and other capital programs in VA is more than $1.9 billion. This continues work on five major medical projects already in progress, begins seven new ones, and provides resources to support the cemetery system's expansion needs, including resources for improvements at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois, and Houston National Cemetery.

It also contains $600 million for minor construction projects, $85 million in grants for construction of state extended care facilities, and $42 million in grants for state Veterans cemeteries.

The seven new medical facility projects move VA towards new construction or renovations at VA medical facilities in Brockton, Massachusetts; Canandaigua, New York; Livermore, California; Long Beach, California; Perry Point, Maryland; San Diego, California; and St. Louis, Missouri.

Capital funds also will support ongoing improvements at medical centers in Bay Pines, Florida; Denver, Colorado; Orlando, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Louis, Missouri.


People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and updated fact sheets can subscribe to the VA Office of Public Affairs Distribution List.