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If you are interested in taking part in our Memorial Day flag replacement program at local cemeteries please send an e-mail to the Adjutant and he will pass on the info to Danny Jones, our Memorial Chairman. The tentative schedule is as follows:

Flag placements at the veterans grave sites at Dumfries Cemetery - Saturday May 24, 2008 at 10 A.M.

Flag placements at the veterans grave sites at Woodbine Baptist Church - Saturday May 24, 2008 at 2 P.M.

Memorial Day service at Woodbine Baptist Church - Sunday May 25, 2008 at 12:45 P.M.

The Memorial Day service will be held outside unless the weather conditions are unfavorable.

Scholarships for Veterans Week of April 21, 2008

The Fund for Veterans' Education (FVE) provides needs-based scholarship money to close the gap between GI Bill benefits and higher education costs to veterans who served in Afghanistan or Iraq since Sept. 11, 2001. The veteran must be currently enrolled, or plan to enroll, in a public or private college or university or a vocational-technical school. The FVE is accepting applications for funding for the fall 2008 and spring 2009 terms. The deadline to submit an application is June 15, 2008. For more information, visit The Fund for Veterans' Education website. Find more scholarships on Military.com.

Veterans Have a Voice Week of April 21, 2008

Congress is currently making decisions about veteran and military benefits. Without your input, some congressmen rely on their own lack of military experience to determine which benefits can be cut. In today's political climate it is more important than ever for service members and veterans to be actively involved. The Military.com Legislative Center makes it easier than ever to reach your elected officials and learn about current and pending legislation that affects veteran and military benefits for generations to come. Get involved - visit the Military.com Legislative Center today.

Women Veterans Health Improvement Act Week of April 21, 2008

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced legislation to improve care for women veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation, the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2008 seeks to prepare the VA for the unprecedented influx of female veterans who will access care there in the coming years. The legislation will address many of the unique needs of female veterans by authorizing programs to improve care for Military Sexual Trauma (MST), increase research on the current barriers to care, and expand women veterans staff positions at the VA. Read the full article at Military.com.

Let you elected officials know what you think about this legislation.

All of us have "senior moments" at one time or another. Perhaps you forgot where you placed your car keys, or you returned from the grocery store only to realize you forgot to purchase milk. These small "brain glitches" are normal at any age and become more frequent with age. But how can you tell if your loved one is crossing the line from normal forgetfulness to true dementia? The key to recognizing early warning signs of dementia is to be aware of the pattern, consistency, and type of forgetfulness displayed by those you re concerned about. If these senior moments are increasing in frequency and affecting their ability to carry out day-to-day functions, you have cause to be concerned. Ask a health care provider to evaluate your parent if you spot any of the following telltale signs:
. Repeating the same conversation each time you talk
. Forgetting to take medications or taking extra pills because of forgetfulness
. Paying bills late or missing payments
. Getting lost while driving familiar routes
. Difficulty balancing thee checkbook
. Unexplained purchases (including large quantities or unusual items)
. Unexplained weight loss (perhaps because of forgetting to eat)
. Change in appearance (wearing the same outfit everyday, an unkempt appearance)

An evaluation will rule out any physical cause for behavioral and mental changes. Physical causes can include infection, low vitamin B or iron levels, depression, strokes, and seizures. A doctor also can give a presumptive diagnosis of dementia based on a physical exam, laboratory tests, a CT scan or MRI of the brain, and a mini mental exam (a set of questions and simple tests for cognitive function). A definitive diagnosis is more difficult, because brain structures affected by dementia are not always indicated on a scan. In addition, there are many forms of dementia:

. Alzheimer's disease. This is the most widely recognized form of dementia and is characterized by the formation of plaques and tangling of nerve fibers in the brain. The decline that occurs as the condition progresses follows a distinct pattern, referred to as stages. Each stage marks a specific decline in memory and brain function.
. Vascular or multi-infarct. This form is caused by "mini-strokes," which disrupt the blood flow to specific parts of the brain, rendering them useless. This condition might present itself more subtly than Alzheimer's and doesn't always follow prescribed stages.
. Lewy-body. Signs of dementia and Parkinson's disease characterize this disease. In addition to the cognitive and memory problems, Lewy-body patients often have trouble maintaining balance and experience a shuffling gait, tremors, and stiffness of the arms and legs.
. Mixed dementia. This is a combination of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
. Alcohol or drug-induced dementia. This form of brain damage often is seen in younger people, generally as a direct result of alcoholism or drug use.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia. Treatment focuses on slowing the progressive nature of this disease. Your health care provider can tell you if one of the currently available drugs (such as Aricept, Exelon, Namenda, and Razadyne) is right for your loved one. Medications to treat dementia-associated depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues (agitation, paranoia, and delusions) also might be prescribed if appropriate. Dementia is not a diagnosis to wish on anyone, but erroneously attributing its warning signs to normal aging or senility can rob loved ones of years of improved function and quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential. For additional info on the subject refer to the Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org and/or the Alzheimer's Education and Referral Center www.alzheimers.org websites. [Source: MOAA News Exchange Nanette Lavoie-Vaughan article 21 Mar 08 ++]

Veterans and military personnel with life insurance policies managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will see a reduction in their premiums as a result improved investment earnings and a reduction in non-combat claims. The premium cuts affect military personnel covered by Service members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and veterans covered by the Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI). On 1 JUL 08 the premiums for basic SGLI will be 6.5 cents per month for $1,000 of coverage, down from 7 cents per month for $1,000. This translates into a 7% savings. Service members with the maximum $400,000 of coverage will see their monthly premium reduced from $28 to $26. Service members are also covered against severe traumatic injury for an additional dollar each month. The reduction in SGLI premiums is made possible by lower, non-combat-related claims and increases in investment earnings. VA officials believe this premium reduction will help maintain the nearly universal participation in the program.

VGLI provides renewable term policies for people after their discharges from the military. Veterans pay premiums according to their age for this coverage. On 1 JUL 08 VGLI premium rates will be reduced for veterans aged 30 to 64, who make up 85% of those insured under the program. Premium rates for those under age 30 are already competitive. Premium reductions, ranging from 4% to 12%, are a result of fewer claims being received. The reductions will ensure that VGLI remains highly competitive with similar insurance offered by commercial insurers. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake said the premium reductions should result in increased program participation and retention. With increased enrollment, the department may be able to reduce rates in the future. More than 2.4 million people currently participate in the VA-managed SGLI program, with another 433,000 in VGLI. To obtain more information about the SGLI and VGLI premium reductions or to view a table with the new VGLI rates, visit the VA insurance Web site at www.insurance.va.gov, or call the Office of Service members' Group Life Insurance at 1(800) 419-1473. [VA News Release 6 Apr 08 ++]

The Economic Stimulus Package signed by the President last month also increased loan limits for federal home loan programs, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA. VA Home Loans, however, were not included. Congress has introduced legislation to fix the problem. H.R. 5561 and S. 2768 would extend the home loan guarantee to 125% of metropolitan medium home prices (about $730,000 in the highest cost areas) through 31 DEC 11. The fix would enable veterans to utilize their VA benefit to purchase homes of higher value while the housing market remains unpredictable. For more information on the legislation, type the bill number in the search box at: http://thomas.loc.gov/. [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 4 APR 08 ++]

Recognizing the valor, service and sacrifice of America's 1.7 million women veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created a comprehensive array of benefits and programs. Women veterans are entitled to the same benefits and medical care as their male counterparts, including health care, disability compensation, education assistance, work-study allowance, vocational rehabilitation, employment and counseling services, insurance, home loan benefits, nursing home care, survivor benefits, and various burial benefits. VA also has a multitude of services and programs to respond to the unique needs of women veterans. VA offers comprehensive them , high-quality primary health care services including Pap smears, mammography, and general reproductive health care. Along with these services, VA's mental health care for women includes substance abuse counseling, evaluation and treatment of military sexual trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). VA has several specific initiatives for 2008 including:
. Enhancing skills of primary care providers who treat women veterans;
. Examining other women's health issues, including cardiac care, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer in women;
. Focusing on family issues and avoiding birth defects through enhanced pharmacy practices for women veterans of child bearing age.

Women veterans are the fastest growing segment of the veteran population second only to elderly veterans. Approximately 1.7 million women veterans comprise 7% of the total veteran population. Approximately 255,000 women use VA health care services. Today, over 200,000 are serving in the Armed Forces. With the increasing number of women, VA estimates by 2020 women veterans will comprise 10% of the veteran population. There is a women veterans program manager at every VA medical center, a women's liaison at every community based outpatient clinic and a women veterans coordinator at every VA regional office. VA is reaching out to women veterans who are experiencing problems related to sexual trauma or harassment while in the military. All veterans, men and women, may receive free counseling, disability compensation, and related services for sexual trauma incurred in the military. In addition, there are programs for women veterans who are homeless or are victims of domestic violence. There is a Military Sexual Trauma (MST) point of contact for psychotherapy at every VA medical center. Extensive enhancements of the MST program have taken place over the past two years, including training of providers in the most current effective treatments for PTSD and sexual trauma. In addition, VA has sites for combat PTSD in women and is examining how best to address complex combat and MST issues.

In addition to the services provided at each VA medical center, the Department also operates fifty Women's Health Centers, within medical centers, that serve as specific locations for women veterans to receive care. These centers develop new and enhanced programs for women; some also conduct research on medical and psychosocial issues. Through its Center for Women Veterans and the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, VA is continually looking into new and innovative ways to provide improved benefits and services to women veterans. The Fourth National Summit on Women Veterans Issues will be held from 20-22 JUN in Washington D.C. The Summit will offer attendees an opportunity to enhance future progress on women veterans issues, with sessions specifically for the Reserve and National Guard, information on military sexual trauma and readjustment issues, after the military veteran resources and many more programs and exhibits. Legislation to improve care, services and outreach to women veterans was introduced at a press conference 2 APR held by Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The bill will address the unique needs of female veterans by authorizing programs to improve care for Military Sexual Trauma, expand women veteran coordinator positions at VA, and increase research on barriers to care. Women currently make up 14% of the total force, and it is estimated that the number of female veterans entering the VA system will double in the next five years.

For more information on the Fourth National Summit on Women Veterans Issues refer to www.va.gov/womenvet. For more information about VA benefits and services, veterans may contact their local VA regional office, medical center, or vet center. For questions concerning VA benefits call 1(800) 827-1000, for questions concerning VA health care call 1-877-222-8387 or go to our website at http://www.va. gov. [Source: VA News Release 27 Mar 08 ++]

Safe, comfortable and affordable housing for families of veterans being treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Chicago is moving closer to reality as VA refines its plans for a new Fisher House. The new Fisher House will be built on the grounds of Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in suburban Chicago . The Fisher House is 100 % handicapped accessible and will have 21 bedrooms or suites and several common use areas. Fisher Houses are built through public donations and contributions from the Fisher House Foundation. VA assumes responsibility for operating costs of the finished homes. In addition to the Chicago facility, VA and the Fisher Foundation also announced new Fisher Houses at VA medical centers in St. Louis MO, Minneapolis MN, and Washington . Currently, VA has Fisher Houses in Albany NY; Bay Pines FL, Cincinnati OH; Denver CO; Houston TX; Minneapolis MN; Palo Alto CA; West Palm Beach and Tampa FL. Fisher Houses are under construction at VA facilities in Los Angeles CA, Seattle WA, Dallas TX, and Richmond VA. Another Fisher House is planned for VA in Boston MA. For more information, visit the Fisher House Foundation Website www.fisherhouse.org [Source: VA News Release 31 Mar 08 ++]

Perhaps the most troublesome headaches are migraines. About one in 10 people (more women than men) has had a migraine headache. Most people have their first migraine between 15 and 45 years of age, and most migraine sufferers have a close relative who also has them. Migraine headaches are caused by changes in blood vessels in the brain. The vessels can dilate and put pressure on nerves, which causes pounding pain. Although very debilitating when they occur, migraine headaches generally do not signify a more serious medical problem. Perhaps one-fifth of migraine sufferers have "classic" migraines with a warning sign, or aura, that precedes the headache. Auras might be caused by a temporary constriction of a blood vessel in the brain. Common auras include seeing stars or zigzag lines, tunnel vision, or a blind spot, and can typically last 20 minutes to an hour or until the headache begins. About 75% of migraines are "common" migraines, which don't have an aura and usually are characterized by a pounding, severe, one-sided headache. Nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light can occur with a migraine. There might be numbness or tingling in the face, neck, or upper extremities. The headache can last a few hours to a day or two. The day after the headache ends a migraine sufferer still can feel fatigued, tired, and mentally exhausted. There also can be residual neck pain.

Migraines occur less frequently if you can identify and avoid triggers. Common triggers include bright lights; loud noise; physical or emotional stress; lack of sleep; skipping meals; caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine; and hormonal changes. Some foods are triggers, including fermented foods such as soy sauce, aged cheese, and red wine; nitrate-containing foods such as bacon, corned beef, hot dogs, and salami; foods containing MSG; and other foods, including chocolate and nuts. Going to a quiet, dimly lit room during a migraine can help. Drinking fluids is important to keep from being dehydrated. Biofeedback is often a useful tool in treating migraines, and some patients find self-hypnosis valuable.

If you have migraines as often as once a week, preventive medication, taken daily, may be prescribed. If your migraine headaches are less frequent, medication can be taken at the first sign of a headache (or aura). The medication can be injected (by the patient) or taken in the form of a nasal spray, rectal suppository, or fast-acting oral preparation. The goal is to provide treatment as soon as possible and to ward off a more serious headache. Migraine medications have various side effects, especially for patients with heart disease or other health problems. Some medications affect the vascular system, while others are strong painkillers (which can become habit-forming if taken too frequently). Always work closely with the physician prescribing your medication. For more information, visit www.headaches.org [Source: MOAA Magazine Ask the Doctor Nov 05]

For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community that have been introduced in the 110th Congress refer to the Bulletin's House & Senate attachments. By clicking on the bill number indicated you can access the actual legislative language of the bill and see if your representative has signed on as a cosponsor. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. A cosponsor is a member of Congress who has joined one or more other members in his/her chamber (i.e. House or Senate) to sponsor a bill or amendment. The member who introduces the bill is considered the sponsor. Members subsequently signing on are called cosponsors. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can also review a copy of each bill's content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110/sponlst.html. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting our representatives know of veteran's feelings on issues. At the end of some listed bills is a web link that can be used to do that. Otherwise, you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for future times that you can access your representatives on their home turf. [Source: RAO Bulletin Attachment 14 Mar 08 ++]