July 2008

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Dear Chapter Members!
Well another month is quickly passing us by, but it seems like there is always something interesting to do or that needs attention. We missed some of you at the Roseville parade, but those of us who were able to go had a great time! Our Chapter Secretary Ted Adams did a great job turning his pick-up truck into a mobile Color Guard vehicle. It looked great and we had a pleasant morning to go along with it all! I enjoyed seeing everyone at our last General Meeting and with our next one coming up soon, I hope to see even more of you then! Check out upcoming events on page two and don't forget to plan on taking advantage of the free day at the CA State Fair.
Your President, Karen Winnett

THANK YOU TO VETERANS
The "Reading" is probably the largest event held during the Memorial Day weekend in Sacramento that honors all those who have lost their lives in the Vietnam War, it is also held to honor all Veterans for their service. Many dignitaries are invited to attend, including the City Council of Sacramento. Not one of the Council members attended the event. However, Mayoral Candidate Kevin Johnson did attend and read some of the names of our fallen. This is what he had to say to Veterans in his 4th of July blog: "We are so lucky to be living in America with the freedoms that we have. It reminds me, though, of all of the men and women who sacrificed or put their lives on the line for us over the last 232 years to ensure that we could maintain our independence and ideals as a country. I want to recognize in particular the veterans that are living in our city today. On Memorial Day, as I was leaving the "Reading of the Names" event at the Capital, a veteran ran up to me, grabbed my arm and said," I'm going to vote for you Kevin, but please promise me that you won't forget about the veterans, that you'll remember us and give us the respect we deserve." Certainly today, I want to take a moment to thank our vets and remind myself to make good on my promise to him."

CURRENT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

GENERAL MEETING
JULY 15, 2008 - 7:00pm
TRACE CROW
Pre-Paid Legal Services

If you've ever been in a situation where you needed an attorney, but couldn't afford one, or didn't know who to call, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. gives you peace of mind in every area of law. If it's an IRS audit or traffic citations; will preparation or a letter written on your behalf from a attorney. Now a days everyone has auto coverage, medical coverage, even life insurance, but almost no on has a legal service to protect them and their family when there is a need. Pre-Paid Legal Services have proven to make life easier for members and their families in simple and very complex legal situations. The presentation is only about 20 minutes long, come and see if this program will work for you.

"READING OF THE NAMES"
Hopefully we didn't miss anyone else, but last month we did forget to thank Robert Greene who sang "God Bless the USA" for us and Carrie Britton who interpreted for the deaf. Thanks to you both.

SPECIAL THANKS

We wanted to thank Alan Fisher and East Lawn Memorial Park for hosting the wonderful ceremony honoring B.T. Collins on June 11 and the book signing for Maureen Baker Collins, sister of B.T. The book, "Outrageous Hero", detailing the life of B.T., is available at Borders Book store.

NEWSLETTER BREVITY
This month's newsletter will be a shortened version. Lots of catch up to do on other things and the need to begin new things. We'll go back to the normal format next month. Just a note though, always mark your calendars for the upcoming meetings and events. Then you won't miss anything if the newsletter comes out a little later in the month.

VETERAN BENEFITS

The VA has added Al amyloidosis to the list of presumptive illnesses attributed to herbicide exposure. Per the VA, Al amyloidosis is a group of disorders caused by abnormal folding of proteins leading to fibril formation in one or more body organs, systems or soft tissues. These clumps of protein are called amyloid deposits and the accumulation of amyloid deposits causes the progressive malfunction and eventual failure of the affected organ. Normally, proteins are broken down at about the same rate as they are produced, but these unusually stable amyloid deposits are deposited more rapidly than they can be broken down. The accumulation may be localized in one organ or may be systemic (AL) such that several organs are affected. Since this is a "presumptive" disease, any Veteran exposed to Agent Orange filing a claim for this disease should automatically be considered for compensation.
At the same time, the VA has decided that hypertension will not be considered presumptive and says that science does not prove that hypertension is a result of exposure to herbicides.
►►Chapter note: However, this does not mean that hypertension due to another presumptive disease, such as diabetes would not be service related and could be included in a claim or as an upgrade to an existing claim.

PTSD and EARLY DEATH FROM HEART DISEASE

From Science Daily.......In a study published in the July issue o Psychosomatic Medicine, Geisinger Senior Investigator Joseph Boscarino, PhD, MPH examined the prevalence of heart disease, PTSD and other problems in more than 4,000 Vietnam Veterans. The more severe the PTSD diagnosis, the greater the likelihood of death from heart disease, the study showed. PTSD causes the body to release stress hormones, which leads to the inflammation and damage to the arteries and cardiovascular system damage. Stress hormones also tend to reduce the amount of inflammation-reducing cortisol in the body - though researchers aren't sure why. Dr. Boscarino previously found that people with PTSD had dramatically higher rates of chronic health problems such as psoriasis, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. "The science is conclusively showing that if you suffer psychological trauma, it's going to take a toll on your physical health," Dr. Boscarino said, "Getting counseling today is critical to avoiding a related problem tomorrow."

DO YOU HAVE A VA HOME LOAN?
ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE PAYMENTS?

Senator Barbara Boxer informs us that the VA has financial counselors in nine regions that can help negotiate with lenders and help you save your home. Call the VA at 1-877-827-3702.

LEGISLATIVE ISSUES FOR VETERANS AND MORE

Finally for our younger Veterans, The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008, the "HEART Act", was signed into law by President Bush. Actively pushed by Governor Schwarzenegger, the CA Department of Veterans Affairs and several CA legislators, this legislation makes veterans who entered active military duty after December 31, 1976 eligible to apply for Qualified Veterans Mortgage Bonds (QVMB) under the state's longstanding CalVet Home Loan Program. For information on how to apply for a CalVet Loan go to the CDVA website at: www.cdva.ca.gov/CalVetloans/Default.aspx.

CA LEGISLATION PASSED SO FAR
AND ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THE GOVERNOR

►SB1274 - Patriotic exercise and instruction. - Wyland - Would require that, when pupils are instructed with regard to the words of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America as part of these patriotic exercises, the instruction ensure that pupils understand the concepts of "pledge", "allegiance," "republic," and "indivisible."
►SB1680 - Student Financial Aid: Military and veterans office. Wyland - Authorizes the CA Community colleges and CA State University, and requests the University of CA, to establish on each of its campuses a Military and Veterans Benefits Office and appoint a full-time Military and Veterans Benefit Advisor for each office.

NEW VET CENTER FOR SACRAMENTO COUNTY
Congresswoman Matsui announced on July 10 that funding has been allocated for a new Vet Center to open in Sacramento County by the fall of 2009.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

►July 15, Tuesday - 7:00PM - Gen. Meeting - Roseville Hall
►July 24, Thursday - 9:00AM - Mem. Anniversary Meeting
►August 5, Tuesday - 7:00PM - VVA500 Board Meeting
►August 8, 9, 10 - CSC Meeting - Fresno
►August 8, Friday - First Annual Women Veterans Conf.
held at the Lion's Gate - McClellan - Call 916-653-2192
►August 10, Sunday - Fallen Warrior Freedom Mem. Run
Begins at Folsom Harley Davidson - Call 916-933-6854
►AUGUST 19, TUESDAY - NO GENERAL MEETING - 1st
RESPONDERS DAY AT THE CA STATE FAIR, CALL TO VOLUNTEER AT THE VVA500 TABLE FOR A FEW HOURS. THIS IS A FREE DAY FOR VETERANS. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE FOR PARKING PASSES FOR VOLUNTEERS.
►September 6, Saturday- VVA500 Family Picnic at Camp Pollock
►September 14, 15, 16 - Sac. Stand Down at Camp Pollock -
Call 916-646-6004 to volunteer
Always check your e-mail for for updates and new items. New e-mail address?? E-mail vva500@sbcglobal.net with address.

                                    CHAPTER INFORMATION
OFFICERS: President: Karen Anne Winnett
Vice President: Gregory McNeill
Secretary: Ted Adams
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. Meeting room is downstairs. When you leave, the street is one way, so you will go to the right. You will 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!
JULY BIRTHDAYS
♫♫♫Doc Kauffman-Navy♫♫♫Jim Norman - Marines♫♫♫Mary Lou McNeill - AVVA♫♫♫Remon Shields - AVVA♫♫♫Paul D. Copsey - Navy♫♫♫Raymond Lavorico - Air Force♫♫♫♫Stephen Keller - Navy♫♫♫♫

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

WELCOME HOME NEW MEMBERS!
Chuck Jamison - Army

SICK CALL
Board Member and Color Guard Captain and VA Patient Advocate Hank Davis spent a week in the ICU unit at VA Mather Hospital with Bacterial Pneumonia. He is home now but recovery will take awhile. Give him a cheer up call at 916-961-1016.

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