Read the latest news and activities for veterans in San Benito County.
Active-duty banner program
This Memorial Day there will be a dedication ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Building to honor 25 active-duty military people from San Benito County with banners along downtown streets. There ceremony will begin at noon, followed by the mounting of banners. If you wish to donate money to help defray the cost of the banners, email VFW Post Commander Bernie Ramirez at pg********@gm***.com.
VFW golf tournament
The second VFW Post 9242 Golf Tournament will take place June 19 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. Check in time is 9:30 a.m. and shotgun starts at 11 a.m. The price is $125 per person or $500 per team. There will also be a dinner for golfers and non-golfers for $35, with no-host cocktails. Proceeds will go toward scholarships, aid to veterans and the banner program to honor active-duty military.
For information, call Bernie Ramirez (831) 902-7811 or Tom Peavey at (831) 801-5385.
Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen scholarship competitions
VFW Post 9242 is conducting the 2015-16 VFW Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen scholarship competitions. The competitions are dedicated to encourage a better understanding and appreciation for our great country and fostering patriotism among the nation’s youth. Students can submit an essay in response to a question or statement on a subject that prompts them to consider how American history and democratic ideals and principles apply to their lives.
This year’s Voice of Democracy theme asks students to contemplate, “My Vision for America.” The Voice of Democracy scholarship competition is an audio-essay competition open to students in grades 9-12. The national winner will receive the $30,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship Award. The Patriot’s Pen competition is open to students in grades 6-8. This year, students are asked to reflect on the statement, “What Freedom Means to Me.” The national winner will receive a $5,000 award. For information: http://www.vfw.org/Youth/.
Veterans Choice program change
In order to expand eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will now determine eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program based on the distance between a veteran’s place of residence and the nearest V.A. medical facility using driving distance rather than straight-line distance. This will allow more veterans to access care when and where they want it.
Effective immediately, V.A. is also changing the mileage calculation for beneficiary travel. The change will ensure consistency in V.A.’s mileage calculations across the two programs. The beneficiary travel calculation will now be made using the fastest route instead of the shortest route. For more information, call (866) 606-8198.
The VFW and American Legion Posts in Hollister encourage all veterans, particularly Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, to visit either organization to see what they can offer in comradeship and benefits information.
VFW Post 9242 meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. American Legion Post 69 meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito St., in Hollister.
– Compiled by John Chadwell
