Chapter 103 News

V V A Chapter 103; V V A, NYSC and V V A National news and press releases are posted on this web page.





DoD to Open Online Exchange Shopping to Veterans

The Army, Air Force and Navy Exchange Services will allow Veterans to shop online beginning Veterans Day, November 11, 2017.

Click here to view the secure home page of the AAFES shopping web site.

To qualify for the Veterans online shopping benefit, one must be an honorably discharged Veteran of the United States Armed Forces.

Those Armed Forces include the United States Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard as well as the Air Force Reserve, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve and National Guard.

Veterans must pre-register to utilize the AAFES online service. Eligibility will be determined by VetVerify, a shared verification service of the four military exchanges: AAFES, NEXCOM, MCX and CGX for the sole purpose of supporting the AAFES Veteran benefit.

Veterans may call 1-844-868-8672 to pre-register.

Veterans may also pre-register securely online at https://www.vetverify.org/index.xhtml.

Note that this benefit is online only and does not provide on-base PX/BX access.


NYS Veterans—Official New York State Veteran App

The New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs offers comprehensive guidance as regards New York State Veterans benefits and services. The recent release of the "NYS Veterans—Official New York State Veteran App(lication)" supplements those services.

The app, produced by the New York State Office of Information Technology Services, is available free for the downloading in Android and Apple specific versions. Click on the appropriate image below to view the Google Play Store or the Itunes description-download-installation web page appropriate to your digital device.






Take Action Now — Support Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans

Vietnam Veterans of America

Legislative Alert H.R. — 299/S.422 the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017

May 1, 2017

For over a decade, Vietnam Veterans of America has sought legislation to restore presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to members of the Armed Forces, who served in the territorial waters of Vietnam, Representative David Valadao, (CA-R-21) has introduced H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017 and Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) has introduced companion bill S.422, in the Senate. When enacted into law this legislation would reverse the Department of Veterans Affairs decision preventing "Blue Water Navy" veterans from claiming presumptive status for the diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure.

Presumption of service connection exists for Vietnam veterans who served in country, on land and inland waterways. Enactment of H.R. 299 and S.422 will bring a modicum of justice to several thousand Navy personnel who have been denied service connection by the VA since 2002. They no longer will have to prove direct exposure to Agent Orange, and they will receive expedited consideration for VA benefits if they are afflicted with any of the health conditions associated with exposure to this defoliant.

VVA fully endorses the sentiments expressed by Congressman Tim Walz (MN-1): "When Congress allowed the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to expire, the need for this legislation became absolutely critical. Our nation must exhaust every effort to identify, prevent, and heal the injuries, illnesses, and wounds our military service personnel received during their service," and Congressman Dennis Ross (FL-15), that "there is absolutely no reason those veterans who served in the waters off the coast of Vietnam and currently suffer from diseases related to Agent Orange exposure should not qualify for current VA care," stated National President John Rowan in VVA National Press release on January 11, 2017.

VVA strongly supports H.R. 299 and S.422 and will work with Congress to ensure passage of thisbipartisann legislation to restore equity to all Vietnam Veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange.

VVA urges you to take action now! Go to our Legislative Action site at http://capwiz.com/vva/home/ enter your Zip Code, and send the prepared letters requesting your Member of Congress co-sponsor H.R. 299 and S.422, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, also send the thank you letter to your members who have signed onto the bills.


VVA, New York State Council Spring 2017 Issue of "Interchange Online"

Click on the image below to view the current issue of the NYSC newsletter.




Vietnam Veterans of Central New York Foundation Funded Pavilion Dedicated at Clear Path

Click on the image below to view a VVCNY Foundation web page article.




CNY Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshals

VVA, Chapter 103 President, Gordie Lane; Ronald Fairbank, Chapter 103 Past President; David Leeson, Chapter 103 member; and Marion Ervin, American Legion, Dunbar Post 1642 were recently selected to serve as CNY Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshals.

New York Assemblymember, William B. Magnarelli presented the Veterans with certificates. The Veterans then led the Veterans Day Parade riding in vintage military Jeeps.



From left: Vietnam Veterans, David Leeson, USN; Marion Ervin, USA; Ronald Fairbank, USAF; Gordie Lane, USMC; and NY Assemblymember, William B. Magnarelli.




Military Health System and Defense Health System "Warrior Care"

The Office of Warrior Care Policy oversees the Military Adaptive Sports Program (MASP). The MASP provides recreational activities and competitive athletic opportunities to all wounded, ill, and injured Service members to improve their physical and mental quality of life throughout the continuum of recovery and transition.

Readers of these VVA 103 web pages are likely familiar with wheelchair basketball, but other traditional sports have been adapted to the needs of the wounded warrior. For in-depth information as regards those adapted sports and MASP implementation, click on the link below.

Health.Mil: The official website of the Military Health System and the Defense Health Agency

Click on the image below to access the MASP and other Warrior Care topic videos posted to the official "YouTube" Warrior Care web page.




VVA, New York State Council, Commends Chapter 103

The certificate of achievement shown below, signed by VVA, New York State Council, President, Ned Foote, was presented to Chapter 103, President, Gordy Lane, in recognition of the Chapter effort to have one or more delegates present at all NYSC meetings during 2015.




Department of Veterans Affairs "YouTube" Web Pages

The VA produces a large number of "YouTube" hosted videos of interest to Veterans. The videos are of particular interest because of their accessibility by portable digital media players: such as, smartphones and tablets.

Video subjects range from an overview of Veteran benefits to in-depth discussion of a specific medical issue. Of particular interest is the "Playlists" link (within red ellipse on the image below) which presents video titles organized by topic. Other videos of interest (within blue ellipse on the image below) will be found under the Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration links.

Click on the image below to view the "YouTube" page of the Department of Veterans Affairs.




Department of Veterans Affairs Aging Veterans Services

The map shown below, issued by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Actuary, indicates that New York State numbers among the top five states in "65 and older" Veteran populations.

The VA offers numerous services designed to meet the needs of the "elderly" Veteran: a geriatrics program, long term care, home based and community services to name a few.

Click on the map image below to view a VA web site providing information and guidance as regards elderly Veterans services.