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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
QUESTIONS: 414-328-8910
Date: Feb 2, 2008
Wisconsin Dept of Veterans Affairs Update-Feb 08
With 2008 underway, I am pleased to be back at the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA). After serving in Iraq and learning firsthand what our service men and women are experiencing, I am aware of how important it is that we continue to ensure Wisconsin veterans receive all the benefits they have earned. Our “I Owe You” program is as important today as it was when it was initiated in 2000. It is the vision for the department that our newest veterans of the 21st Century continue receiving the finest veterans’ benefits and services Wisconsin can provide. That vision is achieved through the support of our stakeholders, the Governor and the state legislature. These programs and services help meet the critical needs of veterans and their families as we carry on strengthening the services and programs for future veterans.
The following is an update from the Department.
2008 Stakeholders Conference and Wisconsin Veterans Salute to the Legislature. A Stakeholders Conference and the 16th Annual Wisconsin Veterans Salute to the Legislature will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison. The Stakeholders Conference is a forum for Wisconsin veterans to hear about and shape state veterans programs and services. The Salute is an annual opportunity to meet with members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, including to recognize them for their work on behalf of the state’s veterans. The program will be followed by a reception from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WDVA Annual Veterans Awards. The 2007 WDVA awards will be presented as part of the WDVA Stakeholders Conference. Nominees will be awarded in seven categories: Veterans Advocate of the Year; Mission: Welcome Home Supporter of the Year; Veterans Legislative Staff of the Year; Iron Mike Government Officials Service to Veterans Award for Action, Courage, Compassion, Dedication and Reverence on behalf of Wisconsin Veterans; CVSO of the Year; Veterans Service Officer of the Year and Veterans’ Volunteer of the Year.
Gulf War Illnesses Recognition Day. The third annual State of Wisconsin Gulf War Illnesses Recognition Day observance included a conference hosted by WDVA in Madison on January 17, 2008. Sec. Scocos presented a proclamation signed by Governor Jim Doyle declaring January 17th as Gulf War Illnesses Recognition Day in Wisconsin. Steve Smithson, National Deputy Director for Claims Services of the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division of the American Legion in Washington, D.C., was the main speaker. WDVA Executive Assistant Anthony Hardie delivered a presentation regarding the chronology and current knowledge regarding Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. The conference provided information about Gulf War Illnesses and a forum to discuss current developments in research, diagnosis, and claims developments. For more information, see: www.wisvets.com/gulfwar.
Sec. Scocos elected President of NASDVA. In November, WDVA Sec. John A. Scocos was elected President of the National Association of State Departments of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA). “NASDVA brings together the best of the states and allows us to serve as a national resource for each state, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congress,” said Scocos. “I am honored to have been elected president, and look forward to pursuing an aggressive agenda on behalf of Wisconsin veterans and all veterans nationwide.”
Wisconsin Veterans Homes at King and Union Grove. The Checkpoint Café has now opened at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, providing a variety of deli-style soups, sandwiches, and more. The Café is being operated under the state’s Blind Enterprise Program. Both the King and Union Grove Homes are undergoing infrastructural changes. At King, a water pipe replacement project for Olson Hall is underway, a steam condensate line project has been completed, and a water supply well project is underway, with completion expected in July 2008. A resident ceiling lifts project is also coming soon. At Union Grove, remodeling of Fairchild and Shemanske Halls is taking place to convert 12 double rooms into 18 single rooms, and the addition of two signs to the campus, signifying Boland Hall and Mauer Hall, has been completed. For additional information about the Wisconsin Veterans Homes visit the WDVA website at www.wisvets.com/homes or call the Wisconsin Veterans Homes, at King at 715-258-5586, at Union Grove at 866-669-8387, or call your County Veterans Service Officer.
WDVA Veterans Home Loans. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) offers three different loan programs to eligible Wisconsin Veterans -- Home Loans, Home Improvement Loans, and Personal Loans. Current primary mortgage loan interest rates are 6.0%, fixed for 30 years, with only a 5% down payment required. Veterans may have multiple loans with the WDVA. Certain restrictions may apply. See individual programs for details. For additional information visit www.wisvetloans.com.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum Exhibit. There will be an exhibition opening and gallery talk on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 7 p.m. at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, featuring “An Instinct for Light: The Photography of Robert J. Ellison.” On March 6, 1968, 23-year old photojournalist Robert Ellison was killed at Khe Sanh when NVA small arms fire shot down the C-123 transport he was aboard. In his short life, Ellison became one of the premier photojournalists in the United States, taking striking photographs of the Selma March, the 1965 uprising in the Dominican Republic, and the war in Vietnam. The exhibition will remain on display through June 2008. See www.museum.dva.state.wi.us.
Hot Topics. Please visit the WDVA Hot Topics page to the WDVA website www.wisvets.com/hottopics. Included is information and resources on VA Outpatient Clinics, PTSD and Mental Health, Traumatic Brain Injury, Veterans Trust Fund Tax Form Donation and Taxes and Members of the Military, to name a few.
To learn more about Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs programs go to www.wisvets.com or call toll-free at 1-800-WIS-VETS (1-800-947-8387).
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Wisconsin Paralyzed Veterans of America
2311 South 108th Street
West Allis, WI 53227-1901
414-328-8910
<http://www.wisconsinPVA.org/>
info@wisconsinPVA.org
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