"The Green Beret Foundation and Evolution Athletics will hold a memorial workout Saturday to benefit the families of two Fort Bragg special operations soldiers killed in action in November.... The Green Beret Foundation wants to help the Gold Star families whose service member was killed in action, such as a Gold Star wife who will reach out to the families to help guide them and tell them what resources are available through Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs and other organizations." 

Read the entire article here.

“Honor Park: A Tribute to Those Who Serve” is being developed in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia and will include a “Gold Star Wives” garden, where local Gold Star Wives will choose the flowers for the garden.  

The Honor Park will also include a Purple Heart tree and a tree to honor Women’s Army Corp members.  

You can read this article at North West Georgia News. 

Veterans Affairs Secretary Wilkie hosted an online community town hall on the state of VA, community resources, and department priorities. 

You can view this video at the following link.

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/55510/va-secretary-robert-wilkie-host-live-community-town-hall-online-january-17th/

In addition, the VA has an online welcome kit.  You may want to download it to make sure you are getting the benefits you deserve.  You can access the kit at https://www.va.gov/welcome-kit/

An article titled "Military widows, including those in Arkansas, still fighting to get annuity; with new Congress, work starts anew" was published on December 30, 2018 in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.  The article goes into great detail about the so-called "Widows Tax", helping us spread the word about this unfair situation. Read the entire article here: 

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/dec/30/military-widows-still-fighting-to-get-a/   

The Leaf Chronicle reported on the Eagles Chapter of Gold Star Wives participating in Wreaths Across America.  You can see the article and pictures at this link: https://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/life/2018/12/15/donated-wreaths-placed-local-veterans-graves/2315537002/

News Channel 9 covered the Gold Star Wives Magnolia Chapter holiday event where the chapter prepared boxes of food, clothes and toys for families of veterans.  Over 100 boxes were prepared with the help of donations from local businesses.  You can read about the activity here.  

Broadway World covered a New Jersey event honoring Veterans, and attended by Gold Star Wives member Ellen McCourt. Ellen is pictured at the event as well! Thanks to Ellen for representing Gold Star Wives and supporting New Jersey Veterans. 

Link to Broadway World article.

MassLive had a nice article, a guest viewpoint, from Massachusetts State Senator Eric P. Lesser, the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies who represents the First Hampden & Hampshire District in Western Massachusetts.

The article recognizes wives and family members of veterans and informs readers about the annuity program the state has for survivors.  GSW was instrumental in getting that legislation passed!

You can read the full article here.

The 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season runs November 12 through December 10, 2018. This is the first opportunity for eligible survivors to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

If you are a surviving spouse currently enrolled in the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP), your coverage under that program ends on December 31, 2018. You will not be automatically enrolled in a FEDVIP plan. You must enroll at BENEFEDS.com during open season if you would like FEDVIP dental or vision coverage effective January 1, 2019.

Again, if you are currently enrolled in a TRDP plan, you will not be automatically enrolled in a FEDVIP plan for 2019. You must enroll during open season. The only opportunity to enroll outside of an annual open season is if you experience a qualifying life event (QLE).

Children will keep their current DENTAL coverage, but are generally eligible for the FEDVIP vision coverage.

For any questions on eligibility, plan comparisons and enrollment, go to: https://tricare.benefeds.com/InfoPortal/containerPage….

Military.com reports Dependency and Indemnity (DIC) rates to get biggest bump since 2012

A Department of Veterans Affairs benefit for surviving family members of some deceased veterans will see a 2.8 percent bump for 2019 starting in January.  That increase for the tax-free Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) pay is the largest bump in seven years.

https://www.military.com/military-report/dependency-and-indemnity-dic-rates-get-biggest-bump-2012.html