A Gold Star Memorial Monument was dedicated Saturday morning on Harmar Hill in Gold Star Park, formerly known as Lookout Park, in Marietta, Ohio.  The monument's goal is to honor the families of those that paid the ultimate price for our country. View the beautiful monument here.  

Star and Stripes has published an article covering the Survivor Benefit Plan, recent changes that affect the program, and the goals of several military, veterans, and survivors organizations.  Gold Star Wives member Edith Smith is quoted in the article.  Here is a link to the full article.

Excerpt taken from the VA web site: 

If you are a family member caring for a service-disabled Veteran, you may be eligible for counseling to determine your career goals and training to increase your skills.

Veterans’ dependents who are eligible for the VA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program may also receive the following assistance from the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program:

• Career choice – Understand the best career options based on your interests and capabilities.
• Benefits coaching – Make effective use of your VA benefits and/or other resources to achieve education and career goals.
• Personalized support – Receive academic or adjustment counseling and personalized support to remove barriers to your success.

For more information please visit https://explore.va.gov/employment-services/spouses-dependents-survivors

Several new GSW Resources have been posted from the VA DoD Survivors Forum.  These pertain to CHAMPVA eligibility and benefits, Forever GI Bill, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, NCA Legacy Campaign, and Helping Bereaved Men.

These can be found at the top of the large table at GSW resources, or you can click this link. 

The tour following this year's Gold Star Wives National Convention has been announced and registration is available. 

Click here for the Post Convention Tour information and registration.

Click here for National Convention information and registration.

The after convention trip will be a 2 hour cruise on the Mississippi River with Brunch and Dessert served during the cruise.  There will be an open bar for those who wish.  The cruise is on the Magnolia Blossom on the scenic Mississippi River.  There will be a variety of things to see and the boat can accommodate groups up to 100 people.

The brunch will include eggs, sausage, ham, baked chicken, apple rolled pancakes, potatoes, fresh fruit, pasta salad, muffins, and Danish rolls.  There also will be an assortment of desserts.

After the 2 hour cruise the bus will pick us up and go to the U/M Landscape Arboretum which is rated the best botanical garden in the USA.  There are 120 acres of trees, flowers, prairie and plants.  They are arranged in different gardens and there are numerous trails for those who are adventurous.  For those that do not get around very well there are many gardens close to the main building.  The main building usually has some type of exhibit going on and there are elevators to the second floor which has a small café for those in need of refreshments.

The total cost of the trip is $95.00 and includes the bus, 2 hr cruise, brunch, and the landscape arboretum. 

The trip starts at 11 am when the bus will pick  us up at the Crowne Plaza Aire and we anticipate returning around 5 pm to the hotel.

Mail this form with payment to: CAROL DEVORE, 56 – 33^RD AVE S, #313; ST CLOUD, MN 56301-3722 Postmarked by June 30, 2018.  Registration is not complete until payment is received.  We cannot accept registrations after June 30, 2018 because the bus company must have a full itinerary by July 2.

Please call Convention Chair, Crystal Wenum at 715-386-8615 with any questions or email her at: crystalw @pressenter.com.

The Union County 4th of July Veterans Parade committee (Pennsylvania) is looking for Gold Star family members, including spouses, to honor and recognize during their upcoming 4th of July parade. For more information see the link below.

http://www.standard-journal.com/news/local/article_56cf5fc0-2843-11e8-9f3a-3f478614d629.html

BY RUTH KINGSLAND - Northwest Guardian

Published: 01:43PM January 4th, 2018

...

For those who have recently lost a military loved one or haven’t been a surviving spouse long enough to know all the ins and outs of rules and red tape, here’s an opportunity to get questions answered and learn what to do at specific milestones — Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Survivor Outreach Services is offering a milestone benefits conference call Jan. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.

The free dial-in number is 605-475-4120, access code 8475028.

This is the first time the event has been offered, and it’s expected to save valuable time for clients who have a variety of questions for different agencies and don’t want to spend all their time calling one organization after another.

“If you’ve been through trying to call Social Security or other agencies for hours, you can appreciate an opportunity to talk to everyone you need to in one call,” said Tina Mann, SOS financial counselor.

“We’re doing (the call-in) because many survivors aren’t aware of certain milestones,” she said. “Sometimes survivors come in (to the SOS office on Lewis Main) and say their benefits have stopped, and they want to know why. This is something you need to mentally prepare yourself for, so you don’t miss the milestones.”

A few of the milestones Mann refers to involve medical care. The surviving spouse receives TRICARE for three years before their care switches to retiree status, Mann said.

“The child gets TRICARE until they age out,” she said.

The event will be on a timed schedule, so it’s important to call in at the time a representative will be available for your specific need.

CALL SCHEDULE

1 to 1:30 p.m. Veterans Affairs representative — dependency and indemnity; the Marine Gunnery Sgt. John David Fry Scholarship — which provides GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100 percent level; and remarrying.

1:30 to 2 p.m. Social Security Administration representative — benefits for children when they turn 18 and are still in school; also widows benefits start at age 60.

2 to 2:20 p.m. TRICARE — New changes for TRICARE and if benefits end if surviving spouse remarries.

2:20 to 2:50 p.m. Retirement Services Officer — Survivor benefits for spouse and child. Benefits change when child turns 18; benefits for spouses who remarry.

2:50 to 3:15 p.m. Exceptional Family Member Program — benefits continue for child and spouse when sponsor dies.

3:15 to 3:45 p.m. Employment Readiness Program — Benefits for surviving spouse interested in getting into the Federal Government and services offered.

3:45 to 4 p.m. General questions and answers.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

During National Veterans and Military Families Month, we honor the significant contributions made by American service members, their families, and their loved ones. We set aside this month surrounding Veterans Day to hold observances around the country to honor and thank those whose service and sacrifice represent the very best of America. We renew our Nation's commitment to support veterans and military families. They deserve it.

Our veterans are our heroes. Our Armed Forces have preserved the security and freedom that allow us to flourish as a Nation. They have braved bitter winters, treacherous jungles, barren deserts, and stormy waters to defend our Nation. They have left their families to face danger and uncertainty, and they have endured the wounds of war, all to protect our Nation's interests and ideals established during the Founding.

Our military families endure many hardships along with those who defend our Nation. They are separated from their loved ones for months on end and frequently relocated across the country and around the world. They often live far from their extended families, and they know what it is like to celebrate holidays and milestones with an empty seat at the table. Many military spouses face the task of making ends meet while their loved ones are away and of securing new employment with each change in duty station. Children of service members often grow up living a nomadic life -- periodically calling a new place "home" and adjusting to different schools, trying out for new sports teams, and making new friends. In these lives of frequent change and transition, however, our incredible military families not only survive, they thrive.

It is our patriotic duty to honor veterans and military families. As part of our efforts to answer President Lincoln's charge to care for those who have "borne the battle," I have asked the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to lead the Nation in a month of observances across the country to honor our veterans.

As veterans and military families attend these events, they will see the reforms and improvements that we have made at the VA. Over the last 9 months, we have made important changes that enable better service for our veterans. We have increased accountability and enhanced protections for whistleblowers. We have improved transparency, customer service, and continuity of care. We are working every day to ensure a future of high quality care and timely access to the benefits veterans have earned through their devoted service to a grateful Nation.

This month, in which Americans traditionally pause to give thanks for our blessings, it is fitting that we come together to honor with gratitude our extraordinary veterans and military families and their service to our country. May God continue to bless our Armed Forces and those families that love and support them.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2017 as National Veterans and Military Families Month. I encourage all communities, all sectors of society, and all Americans to acknowledge and honor the service, sacrifices, and contributions of veterans and military families for what they have done and for what they do every day to support our great Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.

DONALD J. TRUMP

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article174594291.html