VFW VA Post 9808 - Mechanicsville

Join the VFW VA on Face Book

Posted at 05:46 PM on Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Mike Boehme

Please help us spread the word by joining our new Fan Page and telling all your FB friends.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Veterans-of-Foreign-Wars-VFW-Virginia/144810682200654

You can use the following trick that helps you invite all your friends at one time without you having to click on them one at a time if you wish

It can be applied to any fan page.

To invite everyone you will want to copy the following code:

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javascript:elms=document.getElementById('friends').getElementsByTagName('li');for(var fid in elms){if(typeof elms[fid] === 'object'){fs.click(elms[fid]);}}

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Then go to VFW VA fan page....click on "Suggest to Friends" ...it will open your friends box....then paste that code in top address bar and hit enter...give it a sec and it should highlight everyone...then hit send invitations

The top top address bar where you type in web addresses
it will seem strange but it works.

Thanks for all you do.

Retroactive Stop Loss Pay Deadline Approaching

Posted at 01:53 PM on Monday, July 26, 2010 by Mike Boehme

Those eligible must submit a claim by Oct. 21, 2010.

The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act established Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP), providing $500 for each month/partial month served in stop loss status. Service members, veterans, and beneficiaries of servicemembers whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009 are eligible for RSLSP.

To receive this benefit, those who served under stop loss must submit a claim for the special pay. Throughout the year, the services have been reaching out to servicemembers, veterans and their families through direct mail, veteran service organizations, and the media. But there is still money left to be claimed, and the deadline is approaching. The average benefit is $3,700.

Get more information

“Victory for Vets” Golf Tournament

Posted at 04:58 PM on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Mike Boehme

Golf Tournament

Saturday, August 7, 2010, 9 a.m.

Lakeview Golf Club

4101 Shen Lake Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22801

(540) 434-8937

FAX: (540) 442-7421

Email: lakeviewgolf@gmail.com

Tournament will be a Foursome Captain’s Choice

Tournament will be a Foursome Captain’s Choice with Regular, Senior, and Junior Flights

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3^rd places in each flight, plus…

• Closest to pin contests
• Closest drive to fairway centerlines
• Longest putts made on select holes
• Other fun awards and many door prizes
• A fully catered luncheon for all sponsors, guests, and players

Individual entry fee $100
Foursome team fee $400
Junior entry fee $25
Junior foursome team $100

Sponsor a junior team – we’ll find the players!

Individuals who enter can be placed with a competitive team according to your estimated current handicap.

[Flyer]

VFW Applauds New PTSD Claims Decision

Posted at 12:51 PM on Monday, July 12, 2010 by Mike Boehme

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2010 - The national commander of America's largest combat veterans organization is applauding the Department of Veterans Affairs for eliminating a requirement for veterans to explicitly prove that a traumatic event directly caused their post-traumatic stress.

"From this point forward," wrote VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki in a statement released today, "VA will not require corroboration of a PTSD stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, if a VA doctor confirms a diagnosis of PTSD and the stressful experience recalled by the veteran adequately supports that diagnosis."

Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., the national commander of the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries, called the VA secretary's decision to ease PTSD claims requirements a sea-change in the mindset of the VA. It follows numerous other decisions that increased the list of presumptions for diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure; increased services and programs for women veterans, veterans who reside in rural areas as well as the homeless; and reduced the size of the claims form from 23 to 10 pages. Tradewell said even the VA's outreach to patients possibly exposed to improperly sterilized equipment at a small number of its hospitals reflects the department's proactive, veterans' first attitude.

Continue reading

Operation Uplink's 4th of July Free Call Day!

Posted at 08:06 PM on Saturday, July 3, 2010 by Mike Boehme

This July 4th, troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait can call the U.S for free for a full 24 hours in honor of Independence Day, courtesy of Sport Clips, beginning at 12:01AM July 4, 2010 and ending at 11:59PM July 4, 2010 (Eastern Standard Time).

Free Call Days are available at more than 800 MWR internet cafes using SPAWAR located on military installations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Dialing Instructions for Soldiers Overseas:
To place a call, use regular dialing procedures using your SPAWAR prepaid PIN, if you do not have a PIN number, you can obtain one from the cafe manager. You will hear the sponsor announcement informing you that your call is FREE.

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged from participants!
uplink@vfw.org
www.operationuplink.org

Vote YES! for tax relief for 100% disabled veterans

Posted at 02:56 PM on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 by Mike Boehme

The following question will appear on the November 2, 2010 ballot:

Shall the Constitution be amended to require the General Assembly to provide a real property tax exemption for the principal residence of a veteran, or his or her surviving spouse, if the veteran has a 100 percent service‐connected, permanent, and total disability?

What does this mean?

The proposed amendment would require the General Assembly to pass a law exempting from local taxation the principal residence owned and occupied by any veteran with a 100% service‐connected, permanent, and total disability. The veteran’s surviving spouse could continue to claim the exemption so long as he or she does not remarry and continues to occupy the home as his or her principal residence.

When would this constitutional amendment take effect?

If passed by the voters in November, the exemption will take effect July 1, 2011.

Real Estate Tax Relief for 100% Disabled Veterans - FAQ

Posted at 02:48 PM on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 by Mike Boehme

Real Estate Tax Relief for 100% Disabled Veterans

FAQs

On November 2, 2010, voters will be asked to vote on a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution to provide real estate tax relief for 100% service‐connected disabled veterans. If approved, local governments
would grant real estate tax exemptions without means testing to veterans with a 100% service‐connected disability rating. This is the final step in a three‐step process to amend the state constitution. The amendment
passed unanimously in both houses during the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions. This year’s bills were sponsored by Senators Puller and Reynolds (SJ13), Delegate O’Bannon (HJ33), Senator Puller (SB31) and Delegate O’Bannon (HB149).

Why does this proposal require a constitutional amendment?

It requires a constitutional amendment since this exemption creates a special class of exemptions.

What does the constitutional amendment process require?

A State constitutional amendment requires that the General Assembly pass the proposed amendment two consecutive years as well as passage by voters. The proposed constitutional amendment will be placed on the ballot this November.

Don’t some localities already grant tax exemptions for disabled veterans and the elderly?

Yes, many localities already grant real estate tax exemptions to disabled veterans and the elderly.

Does this exempt 100% service‐connected disabled veterans from paying real estate taxes on vacation homes
or rental property?

No. This exempts the qualifying veteran from paying real estate taxes only on owner‐occupied property used as the sole dwelling of the veteran.

How many 100% service connected disabled veterans live in Virginia?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that 7,358 Virginia veterans had a 100% service‐connected disability rating as of May 2009. Most of these veterans are concentrated in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the Richmond area.

Does this proposal have the support of the Veterans Service Organizations?

Yes! This is the top priority in 2010 for the 23 veterans service organizations represented on the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations (JLC). Combined, these organizations have more than 250,000 members.

What can I do to help?

Vote “yes” in November for the real estate tax exemption for 100% service‐connected disabled veterans and encourage your family and friends to vote “yes” as well. Veterans rated as 100% disabled continue to suffer from disabilities incurred during active military service to our Nation and the Commonwealth.

When would this constitutional amendment take effect?

If passed by the voters in November, the exemption will take effect July 1, 2011.

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