December 2007

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

     Well, another Veterans Day has come and gone. There are always conflicts with times and days of events. But the members spread out and VVA500 was represented in most of the events before, on Veterans Day and after. Thanks to all who participated in one or more.
     Of course, right on the heels of Veterans Day come the holidays. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!
     In the past, it's been hard for some of you to get up to the Hall for the annual Christmas Party. So, the Board decided to do something different this year and make the location more centrally located at the Luau Gardens. It's a buffet and serves both American and Chinese food and we will have our own private room. We've also tried to make it affordable for all, the cost for members is discounted to $10. per person and the difference is VVA500's Christmas present to the members. Sure hope to see many VVA, AVVA members and your families there. We'll also have a special announcement to make.
     We've had a busy year, and the next will be the same, with our trip to Black Oak in January, "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day", March 30th, our annual "Reading of the Names on May 25th, our annual Get-A-Way in October, the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the CA Vietnam Memorial in December, 2008 and several others that come up during the year. Be proud to be a Veteran and join your brothers and sisters at the many of the events planned for you.                  Your President, Ted Adams

JOIN US FOR SOME FUN!

VVA500 is planning a day bus trip for forty to the Black Oak Casino, January 19. Members and the public are invited to attend. No protocol here. This will just be a day to relax, enjoy each other's company and have fun . See the details and how to reserve on page seven.

CURRENT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO GENERAL MEETING
cOME TO THE VVA500 cHRISTMAS pARTY

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 * 6-9:00 PM
HELD AT THE LUAU GARDENS
1890 ARDEN WAY - SACRAMENTO
(NEXT TO MERVYNS)

SEE THE DETAILS, MAP, AND RESERVATION FORM
ON PAGE SIX!!!

SEND SOME HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO OUR ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL! THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE!!!

     Xerox is sponsoring this effort. Go to the web site: www.LetsSayThanks.com. There you can pick out a thank you card. Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.
     A widely circulated e-mail telling you to send cards to the injured at Walter Reed is not valid. Walter Reed has indicated that unless the cards are sent to a specific individual, they will send them back. Too bad, it was a great idea.
     You can send one to: Sgt. Sam Nichols though in Palo Alto. The address is: Palo Alto Veterans Hospital - 3801 Miranda - Att: Samuel Nichols - Bldg. 7 Ward 7D - Palo Alto, CA 94304. Check on Sam's progress on Page 5.

CALIFORNIA & FEDERAL DEATH BENEFITS
FOR SURVIVORS OF VETERANS

It is inevitable...we all will die sometime. Preparing ahead of time for your survivors just makes good sense. We receive calls on a regular basis from widows asking for help and find that in many cases, no preparation was made for their well-being after the Veteran's death. In many cases even those service-connected Veterans did not even list their spouses as dependents while receiving compensation. Survivors may be eligible and are entitled to several benefits both on the Federal and California levels. Below are checklists of what will need to be done in order to receive these benefits. It would be wise to save this information and place it in your important papers file for when it is needed. One of the best gifts you can give your family is peace of mind by properly preparing for when you are no longer with them.
CA AND FEDERAL FOR SERVICE CONNECTED
A. CLAIM REQUIREMENTS
1. Verify disposition of veteran's VA check (if any).
2. If veteran was a military retiree, notify service department.
3. Complete and submit VA Form 21-534, (Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, or Accrued Benefits by a Spouse or Child, for surviving spouse and/or children. Also, VA Form 21-535, application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s), for dependent parent(s).
4. Complete and submit VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial Allowance.
5. Provide veteran's death certificate or other appropriate proof of death.
6. Provide medical evidence as needed to relate veteran's death to service or to Service Connected Disability.
7. Provide dependency documents, if not previously submitted (marriage certificate, birth certificates(s), death certificate(s), divorce decree(s), VA Forms) 21-674, as applicable. If an adult child is claimed as disabled (helpless), submit appropriate medical evidence in support.
8. Submit medical evidence to show need for aid and attendance (surviving spouse or dependent parent) or that surviving spouse is housebound, if applicable.
9. Verify whether or not the surviving spouse or either dependent parent is also a veteran.

B. BENEFITS
1. Social Security death payment.
2. Possible VA accrued benefits (if there was an unresolved claim or if there were un-negotiated checks at the time of the veteran's death).
3. Eligibility for Service Connected burial allowance, headstone or grave marker, U.S. flag; Presidential Memorial Certificate.
4. Life insurance payments (VA, other Government, or commercial). Continued in the next column.........

CHECK LISTS FOR SURVIVORS OF VETERANS, CONT.

5. Possible eligibility for additional allowance for surviving spouse or dependent parent on account of being so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person (includes nursing home patients), or for surviving spouse on account of being housebound.
6. Certificate of Eligibility for home loan guaranty.
7. Eligibility for CAL-VET Home Loan.
8. Eligibility for CAL-VET Home Mortgage Insurance.
9. Eligibility for property tax exemption on principle residence.
10. Eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance for surviving spouse and/or children under 38 U.S.C., Chapter 35.
11. Eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance for surviving spouse and children (Plan A). Requires wartime service. May not be authorized concurrently with VA education assistance under Chapter 35.
12. Eligibility for CAL-VET College Tuition and Fee Waiver for children (Plan B). May be authorized concurrently with education assistance under Chapter 35.
13. Eligibility for son(s) and/or daughter(s) to compete for admission to military academies.
14. Eligibility for 10-point preference for Federal Civil Service employment (surviving spouse and/or natural mother).
15. Eligibility for 10-point preference for State of California employment (surviving spouse).
16. If veteran was a military retiree, possible payments under SBP/RSFPP.
17. Eligibility for a military identification card if the veteran was a military retiree or was rated Service Connected, 100% at the time of death.
18. Eligibility for health care coverage under CHAMPVA unless there is also eligibility under TRICARE (if the veteran was a military retiree). Source:   CDVA and RAO Bulletin.
         CA AND FEDERAL FOR NON-SERVICE CONNECTED
A. CLAIM REQUIREMENTS
1. Verify disposition of veteran's VA check (if any).
2. If veteran was a military retiree, notify service department.
3. If veteran was Service Connected and rated totally disabled (100% or IU) at the time of death, review for possible DIC. (Generally, requires veteran to have been rated totally disabled for 10 continuous years immediately preceding death. If out of service less than 10 years at time of death, rated totally disabled for at least 5 continuous years, from date of discharge from service to date of death. If a former POW, rated totally disabled for one year immediately preceding death.)
4. Submit VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, or Accrued Benefits by a spouse or Child, for surviving spouse and/or children.
5. Submit VA Form 21-235, Application for Burial Allowance.
                  Continued on Page 7.....................

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________
Rebels With A Cause
Where your journey of a lifetime begins.....
Kathleen Renee' DeSpain-Moore
Executive Director/Founder
3801 Duckhorn Drive #914
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-628-3180 prpersonfromhell@juno.com
www.rebelswithacause.us - www.holidaymiracles.org
Proud producers of the Capital To Capital
Ride Across America!

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

"A Continuing Tradition"

Rebecca Lee 916-501-8788
Call Rebecca for the Special Discounts available for Veterans
Many East Lawn locations in the Sacramento area
Pre-Arrangement Plans are also available.

43rd & Folsom Blvd., P.O. Box 19334, Sacramento, CA 95819
East Lawn Insurance Services, Inc. License #0747585
www.eastlawn.com

HELP YOUR BUSINESS AND SUPPORT THE VVA
Advertise in the Capitol Veteran. Reasonable Rates!!!
One issue, business card size is $5.00. Get one month free by advertising for 6 months at $25.00. Call the office for more information or submit your copy with a check to VVA by mail.

"HUNTED LIKE ANIMALS"

     On October 30, Secretary McNeill, E.D. McNeill, Charlie and Jan Brown at the invitation of Assemblyman Dave Jones attended a film produced by filmmaker Rebecca Sommer called "Hunted Like Animals" described by Assemblyman Jones as "An eye-opening documentary about the ongoing human rights violations of the Hmong people in the jungles of Laos. Over thirty years and two generations later, these Hmong families still live under disastrous circumstances in the country's jungles, facing frequent military attacks, starvation, and disease. In this documentary, the refugees speak for the thousands of voiceless people still trapped in the jungle. Many Hmong also fled to Thailand where they live in refugee camps and now face forced deportation back to Laos, fearful of further persecution."
     Because the Hmongs helped the Americans during the Vietnam War, the Laotians and North Vietnamese have vowed to rid the country of these people down to the root. The Hmongs and even their children have endured and are enduring repeated human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, detainments, abuse, torture, rape summary executions and killings.
     Most of the people that helped the Americans during the Vietnam War are now dead. So this genocide is being performed on the generations, including the children that follow.
     The USA Patriot Act enacted in 2005 made it almost impossible for Hmongs to emigrate to the U.S. However, several bills have been passed in the House to enable the Hmongs to emigrate to this country and for those who are here already to become citizens. Representative Matsui has co-sponsored and/or supported these bills. The Senate must finish the job. Despite all of the despicable acts performed in regard to the Hmongs, the UN has not been supportive in stopping these actions.
     Assemblyman Jones introduced Assembly Joint Resolution No. 36 "The Hmong Human Rights Resolution, August 20, 2007. This measure would call upon the President and the Congress to take specified measures to defend and protect the human rights of the Hmong population in Laos and Thailand.
     VVA500 will be writing letters in support of AJR36 and also to the bills in Congress in support of the legislation that is needed "to ensure that these historic allies are not kept out of the very country they once fought beside during the Vietnam War."   Letters will also be written to the appropriate Human Rights Committees in the UN requesting action to stop the violations of human rights.   We have also received permission to show the film and will be arranging a venue and date for this. The showing will be open to the public for maximum exposure. Mr. Vaming Xiong will also be asked to speak regarding the Hmong Amnesty Plan Initiative.
     As the Hmong people actually have no country of their own, this is in no way a political issue, but is about securing a future for a people and a culture who are being exterminated from the face of the earth.
      If you would like to learn more about the subject, go to the filmmaker's website at www.rebeccasommer.org.   There are also several YouTube links available, too numerous to list here, but if you send an e-mail to vva500@sbcglobal.net we will send them to you.

AFTER ACTION REPORT

11/3 - The Young Marines held their regular Training Day.
11/3 - Several Members manned the outreach table at the first Annual Sunrise Mall Armed Forces Appreciation Day.
11/6 - VVA500 held the regular Board Meeting.
11/10 - Members attended the showing of "The Shadow of the Blade". VVA500 and the Vet Center had outreach tables there.
11/10 - Members attended the Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall in Roseville.
11/11 - VVA500 participated in the Elk Grove Veterans Day Parade.
11/11 - Members attended the MCL #940 Annual Marine Corps Ball. Secretary McNeill was the Master of Ceremonies.
11/12 - Members attended the City of Roseville's Veterans Day Ceremony. Public Affairs Chair Chip Fong spoke there.
11/12 - Members attended the Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Veterans Plaza at VA Mather Hospital.
11/13 - E.D. McNeill attended the regular Veterans Task Force Meeting of the Interagency Council to end Homelessness.
11/17 - The Young Marines held their regular Training Day.
11/20 - VVA500 held their regular General Meeting with Life Coach Roger Tyson informing the members how to make attitude adjustments to improve their lives.

                           UPDATE ON SGT. SAM NICHOLS
Left: Sam and Julie Neria at the "Reading of the Names" 2005.
Right: Sam and his wife Erin.

     Sam is making progress in his recovery.     Although this recovery seems very slow to those who love him, it is remarkable considering the seriousness of his injuries and original diagnosis. He can still only sounds and cannot speak, but is attempting to do so. He is learning more sign language and is able to communicate that way. Indications are that he is beginning to be able to read. The wound in his backside is improving and may soon be able to sit up in a wheelchair.
     While it has been only a little over four months since Sam was injured in Iraq. But to Sam's family it must seems like years. While we are always aware of the suffering of the injured, the families are suffering also. Their lives are totally disrupted with worry, constant traveling to be with their loved ones, being away from home, disrupting their work life, financial difficulties, etc. The effects of one soldier being seriously injured can ripple through whole communities in one way or another. The effects of going to war will be seen for many years after it is over.
     Since Sam's injury, his father-in-law Toni has spent many hours researching not only TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) which many of our Iraqi/Afghanistan Veterans have returned with but also Veteran issues, organizations, etc. The blog he developed which gives updates on Sam's progress is a wealth of information. Visit Toni's blog at: www.tneria01.wordpress.com.

PLEASE CALL 916-481-6020 TO RESERVE AND MAIL YOUR CHECK OR M.O. FOR THE NUMBER ATTENDING MADE OUT TO:

VVA500 - P.O. BOX 255484 - SACRAMENTO, CA 95865 - NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 14.

EVERYONE WILL RECEIVE A TICKET FOR THE DRAWING FOR GIFTS. SO, REMEMBER TO BRING A GIFT FOR EACH MEMBER IN YOUR PARTY, (VALUE OF NO MORE THAN $1.00), SO EVERYONE CAN RECEIVE A GIFT AT THE PARTY.

CHECK LISTS FOR SURVIVORS OF VETERANS, CONT.

6. There is no minimum length of service requirement for DIC. For death pension, veteran must have had a minimum of 90 consecutive days of active service or was discharged because of Service Connected Disability. If veteran entered service after 1980, the service requirement is 24 continuous months or the full period for which called to active duty, whichever is less, unless discharged sooner because of hardship, reduction-in-force, or Service Connected Disability. In any event, at least one day of service must have been during a wartime period. Note-if veteran died while on active duty under circumstances precluding payment of DIC (i.e., willful misconduct), veteran must have served honorably for at least two years, at least one day of which was during a wartime period.
7. Submit veteran's death certificate or other appropriate proof of death.
8. Provide dependency documents, if not previously submitted (marriage certificate, birth certificate(s), death certificate(s), divorce decree(s), VA Forms(s) 21-674m as applicable). If an adult child is claimed as disabled (helpless), submit appropriate medical evidence in support.
9. Report projected family income-include income from all sources, including farm and/or business. Also list deductions/exclusions-veteran's final expenses, unreimbursed medical expenses, children's wages, etc.
10. Report net worth.
11. Provide medical evidence to show that surviving spouse is housebound, or in need of regular aid and attendance, if applicable.
12. Verify is surviving spouse is also a veteran.
BENEFITS:
1. Social Security death payment.
2. Possible VA accrued benefits (if there was an unresolved claim or if there were un-negotiated checks at the time of the veteran's death).
3. Possible eligibility for burial and/or interment allowance; headstone or grave marker, U.S. flag; Presidential Memorial Certificate.
4. Life insurance payments (VA, other Government, or commercial).
5. Possible additional pension or DIC for surviving spouse on account of being so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person (includes nursing home patients) or being housebound.
6. Eligibility for CAL-VET Home (Loan) and Mortgage Insurance.
7. Eligibility for property tax exemption on principle residence (if veteran was entitled to such exemption prior to death).
8. If veteran was a military retiree, possible payments under SBP/RSFPP.
9. Eligibility for a military identification card if the veteran was a military retiree or was rated SC, 100% at time of Non Service Connected death.
10. Eligibility for Survivor's and Dependents' Education Assistance benefits under 38 U.S.C., Chapter 35, for surviving spouse and/or children (if veteran was rated service connected, permanently totally disabled at time of NSC death).

CHECK LISTS FOR SURVIVORS OF VETERANS, CONT.

11. Eligibility for CAL-VET College Tuition and Fee Waiver for children (Plan B) if veteran had a (rated) SC disability at the time of death.
12. Eligibility for health care coverage under CHAMPVA unless there is also eligibility under TRICARE (if the veteran was a military retiree) (if veteran was rated SC, permanently totally disabled at time of NSC death).
13. Eligibility for 10-point preference for State of CA employment (surviving spouse). Source CDVA and RAO Bulletin.
Chapter Note: It can be very confusing for survivors when a Veteran passes away that is 100% Service Connected, yet the survivors are not eligible for some of the benefits due. An example would be: A Veteran is 100% disabled for loss of limbs or diabetes. He/she dies in an automobile crash. The death certificate indicates that as cause of death. The Veteran did not die from his/her Service Connected Disability. If a Veteran is being treated for any Service Connected Disability, make the attempt to have any of the doctors seen indicate in your medical records that treatment is for a Service Connected Disability. This is difficult in most cases, because the doctors do not like to commit if there is any doubt. For instance if a Veteran has diabetes and is Service Connected for that, and also has a heart condition which possibly could be related to the diabetic condition, but the heart condition is not listed as a result of having diabetes in the medical records and the Veteran dies from a heart attack and cause of death of the death certificate is only a heart attack, the survivors may not be eligible for some of the benefits.

BUS TRIP TO BLACK OAK CASINO
TUOLUMNE, CA

DATE: Saturday, January 19, 2008
TIME: Meet for Pick-Up by Bus at 8:30AM
             (Pick up point to be announced)
              Bus will leave Black Oak at 4:00PM
COST: $25. per person
COST INCLUDES: Round trip transportation, 5 hour gaming, Fun Book, $10. Cash Coupon, $5. food coupon, $5. match play, $5. bounce back coupon & more.
DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS: January 12, 2008
     Send the name, address. phone number, birthdate/s (must be 21 for the casino) of who will be attending along with a check or money order made out to VVA500 for the total amount to:
     VVA500
     P.O. Box 255484
     Sacramento, CA 95865
     Any questions, please call 916-481-6020 or e-mail:
                                                    vva500@sbcglobal.net
     You can send in your reservations as above. We will have forms ready at the Christmas Party and will be e-mailing them later. Pass on the information to your friends. All are welcome to attend. It's a good day to just get away for the day, sit back and relax and leave the driving and gas money for someone else to take care of.

                                    CHAPTER INFORMATION
OFFICERS: President: Ted Adams
Vice President: Karen Anne Winnett
Secretary: Gregory McNeill
Treasurer: Jerry Quint
BOARD MEMBERS: Hank Davis, Don Harper, Monty Montoya
ADDRESS: Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., Chapter 500
                                            P.O. Box 255484
                                           Sacramento, CA 95865
TELEPHONE:                 916-481-6020
E-MAIL:                          vva500@sbcglobal.net
CHAPTER WEBSITE: www.norcaltrav.com/vva500.htm
FOR INFORMATION: Call or e-mail, Executive Director,
                                           Mary Lou McNeill
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS: Mail to Chapter address or e-mail information. Please send pictures in jpeg form.
VVA Chapter 500 is a non-profit organization, #68-0208305, CT#75945, United Way #12583. All donations to support our projects such as our Scholarship Fund, Helping Hands Fund, Events for Veterans, and Honor Guard will be gratefully appreciated. You may earmark your donation to the project you wish to support.
DIRECTIONS to the Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall. From I-80. Take the Douglas West exit. Go to the third light which is Folsom Rd. Turn right, go to the second stop sign, which is Sutter, turn left, follow the curve, you will see a sign on the right and left that says "Royer Park", turn left there. You will immediately see the hall to the right and the parking lot. That's it. In the hall, from the main door, follow the VVA sign to the meeting room. When you leave, the street is one way, so you will go to the right. You will then come up to Douglas Blvd., again and a left will go back to the freeway and whichever direction you need to go from there..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS!
♫♫♫Steven Fleck - Army♫♫♫Steve Burman - Army♫♫♫Grace Calles - AVVA♫♫♫Ron Waterbury - Army♫♫♫
Phillip Varner - Navy♫♫♫Aaron Fulzham - AVVA♫♫♫Charlie Brown - Air Force♫♫♫Benjamin Salter - Navy, AVVA,♫♫♫ Jenny Jones - Army♫♫♫William Holt - Army♫♫♫

HELP SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
BY CALLING FOR PICK UP OF YOUR USED HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: 1-866-241-8387 (TOLL FREE)

SOME INTERESTING FACTS

1. 23.7 million living U.S. Military Veterans in 2006
2. 33% is the proportion of all living Veterans who served during Vietnam.
3. 430,000 living Veterans served in Vietnam and the Gulf War.
4. California is one of six states that have a million or more Veterans.
5. $34,437 is the Veteran's annual median income.
6. 33% is the proportion of Veterans who voted in the 2004 presidential election, compared with 63% of non-Veterans.
.........From the Sacramento Bee on Veterans Day

Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
Sacramento Valley's Chapter 500
P.O. Box 255484
Sacramento, CA 95865
916-481-6020 - vva500@sbcglobal.net

         ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

SUN	MON	TUES	WED	THURS	FRI	SAT
2	3 RVMH Board Meeting	4 VVA500 Board Meeting Hanukkah Begins	5	6	7	8
9	10 2008 Memorial Anniversary Meeting	11 Homeless Task Force Social	12	13	14	15 Young Marines Training Day
16	17 Marine Corps League Meeting	18 VVA500 Christmas Party	19	20 VAC Meeting at Mather	21	22
23	24 USAF Began Strikes on Laos 1964	25-Christmas	26	27	28	29
30	31 New Years Eve	May you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and may the coming year be your BEST ever !!!

SUN	MON	TUES	WED	THURS	FRI	SAT
		1	2	3	4	5 Young Marines Training Day
6	7	8 Homeless Task Force Meeting Operation Cedar Falls Began 1967	9	10	11	12
13	14	15 VVA General Meeting	16	17 Operation Desert Storm Began 1991	18	VVA500 Black Oak Casino Trip See Page 7
20 Battle of Khe Sanh Began 1968	21	22	23	24	25	26
27 Signing of Vietnam Peace Accord 1973	28	29	30 Tet Offensive Began 1968	31 Battle of Hue Began 1968