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Veterans service officers can provide valuable help

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August 18, 2010

by Ron Seman

In the 25 years that I have written this column, I have received hundreds of questions from veterans and their families about benefits and entitlements that the government provides to men and women who served in America's armed forces.

As I have on a regular basis, I remind veterans that they need not be bashful about accepting the benefits and entitlements they earned as part of their service to this nation.

Veterans need not feel as though they are receiving "handouts."

That said, I want to share with you a list of the veterans' service offices, and their Veterans Service Officers who work at the job of assisting veterans everyday of the year. They are paid by their respective veterans organizations, and are located in the A.J. Celebrezze Federal Building in downtown Cleveland at East 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue.

* American Legion: 216-522-3504.

* AMVETS: 216-522-3500.

* Disabled American Veterans: 216-522-3507.

* Jewish War Veterans: 216-522-2446.

* Military Order of the Purple Heart: 216-522-7237.

* Vietnam Veterans of America: 216-522-3119.

* Veterans of Foreign Wars: 216-522-3510.

There is no charge for enlisting the assistance of the service officer. And you need not be a member of the veterans organization that provides the help.

So, if you have a question about any veterans program, feel free to call one of these dedicated individuals, who by the way, are all veterans. The VSO can help you fill out VA forms, tell you about VA benefits, and also provide a wide range of help for veterans and their dependents.

For other questions, call the VA at its toll-free number 800-827-1000.

Many state, county and local governments also have trained personnel in their veterans departments who can help. You can check the government pages of your telephone directory for state, county and local agencies in your area.

* * *

VFW 6768 Fundraiser: The Northfield Ladies Auxiliary 6768 will host a fundraiser Aug. 28 at their pavilion located at 8584 Olde Eight Road in Northfield Center.

It will be a steak dinner with a reverse raffle. Prize to the winner is $1,000. All proceeds will be awarded to Military Services, an organization that promotes involvement with the local military community. It provides grants for posts, districts and departments to give farewell and welcome home parties, Adopt-A-Unit and Family Readiness Activities. It also goes toward Operation Uplink, which provides phone cards for troops and hospitalized veterans and finally toward Unmet Needs, which provides grants of up to $2,500 to eligible service members and their families facing a hardship due to military service.

Dinner tickets are $20 and will include an 8 oz. strip steak, baked potato, salad, rolls/butter, and dessert. A cash bar will be available. The raffle winner need not be present to win. For tickets, call Auxiliary President Renell Noack at 330-468-3086.

* * *

Legion newsletter is superb: Members of the American Legion's Mantua Post 193 and Auxiliary can take pride in The American Legion Leader, which is written and edited by Virginia Gharky, president of Unit 193.

The September issue is chock full of information about the post, auxiliary, and 14th District activities. The post's first soup supper of the year is Aug. 27 at the post home, 4808 East High Street, Mantua, at 6 p.m. The Auxiliary's first meeting is Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. at the post home.

Because of the Labor Day holiday and the soup supper dates, the post's September meeting will be held at the Mantua Masonic Center on John Edwards Street at 7:30 p.m. And a reminder that dues are being accepted by both the men and women's groups.

* * *

V-J Day: A few days ago, Aug. 14, marked the 65th anniversary of V-J Day, Victory over Japan in 1945. I would like to join with our readers in saluting the veterans who served in World War II for their unselfish supreme sacrifices.

Remember the song:

God bless them all, the long and the short and the tall, bless all the blondies and all the brunettes, and bless all the ... And we're saying goodbye to them all, for it's back to the barrack room floors, no ice cream or cookies for flat-footed rookies, so cheer up my life -- bless them all!




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