7 Burst results for "Department Of Veterans Affairs"
Borne the Battle
"department veterans affairs" Discussed on Borne the Battle
"Gov hope you're having a good week. Outset a podcast land you know. Maybe it's because. I missed concert season but i want to go to a concert. And and some recent music's recent stuff won't do like. I want to see some new metal or and i can't believe i'm saying it some but rock. Gimme gimme old man limp biscuit some corn papa roach breaking benjamin by the way. How crazy is that. That's now old school. I don't know Getting out and going to a concert has been a mind lately Maybe because. I'm a people person i want to be among the masses and guess this podcast helps in that a little bit. So i appreciate you as well but Yeah don't ask me bro. Twelve mindy right now medicine old school and biscuit because i mean think about it. Those were some great times. How fun was that music back to. Fun i digress. One new rating in one new review came into apple. Podcast this one is from tony. Research says five stars four vets by vets the borne the battle podcast as an excellent way to not only be informed but stay connected. Listen to a variety of veteran military related topics and learn about the different services the b. to offer along with engages stories from our nation's veterans Tony research appreciate you. I feel like i feel like now we're connected. So pre sheet the review appreciate anybody else know what you're learning for more on the battle and thank you for the review as you already know. I'm looking for that next review. If you haven't yet please consider writing for borne the battle on apple podcasts. Doing so does hope climb a higher in the algorithms giving more veterans a better opportunity to discover borne the battle and listened to the interviews benefits breakdown episodes and hear what's in the news releases. It's also the best way for me to communicate with you. Give you give you a little bit. If you give me some feedback. I give you some feedback. It's all good here. We go news releases. We have four relevant news releases this week. So here we go. I one says a four meat release launch and launched this september. The veterans sponsor partnership network enables regional non-monetary partnerships with community organizations to help transitioning service members and their families access via services and community resources such as employment opportunities education benefits and housing assistance. The vsbn initiative supports and evidence based and collaborative approach. Of course everything's evidence based wirewood. We even do something that isn't with community partners that helps. Va me strategic priorities and deliver the support and services. Our veterans deserve initiatives like of espn along with va partnerships with organizations such as the nonprofit expiration term of service sponsorship program. Say that three times fast. Help transitioning servicemembers integrate into the post motor community of their choice. This links with local sponsors who are trained to help servicemembers find access local resources build relationships and resiliency and help them through the transition process now. The news release goes on with some reports and research backing up. These programs effectiveness If you want to read the documentation on how these programs have helped link to this news release at the bottom of this episode's blog on blogs va dot gov for more information on the veterans sponsor partnership network and. How you as a veteran or soon to be veteran can take advantage of it go to. Www dot v. a. dot gov four slash health partnerships ford slash of. Espn dot s. p. The next one says for immediate release. The department of veterans affairs has started administering pfizer cove in nineteen vaccine boosters under emergency use authorization. This decision follows the fda's authorization and the cdc's recommendation for a booster dose. Two people sixty five and older resins and long-term care settings people aged fifty to sixty four years old with underlying medical conditions. People age eighteen to forty nine with underlying medical conditions and people age eighteen to sixty four. Who are at an increased risk cova nineteen exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional settings. There vaccines will be offered to veterans and va employs vaccine. Boosters will be offered veterans receiving care at via medical centers and employees who work in those facilities as well as the supply and capacity permits. Va will offer booster doses to all other veterans spouses caregivers and chan via recipients based on national authorisation. Veterans receive karen. Va do booster. Shots will be contacted of recommend booster shots which may be offered by appointment or on a walk in basis veterans who received a pfizer vaccine outside of va and persons who received a pfizer vaccine. Envy for him. We don't have records of their hires condition will need to contact their local. Va facility for more information on how. They received their booster shot. Cdc advises that people can get both the cup of nineteen vaccine an flu vaccine at the same time. Veterans receiving care at v. Who wished to get a booster shot can get both shots together during the same visit. Currently only the pfizer vaccine has been authorized as a booster shot. Fda ncdc continued to review data to determine whether and when a booster might be recommended for recipients of the moderna and johnson johnson cove in nineteen vaccines. They will plan to offer boozers of these vaccines if authorized and recommended as also continue to reach veterans. who have not yet been vaccinated according to a recent. Cdc monitor report that monitor patients from april to july seventeenth even without a booster cove in nineteen vaccines offer excellent protection and make it ten times less likely to be hospitalized or die from cove nineteen veterans. Who would like additional information can be as cova. Nineteen vaccines webpage. Visit the local facilities website or contact their care team Viagra of also has a questions web page for questions and answers regarding covent nineteen vaccine. You can put the words in nineteen questions in the search bar hit enter and we'll be right there as one of the first links k next one says for immediate release. The department veterans affairs as modifying benefit eligibility regulations for discharges considered dishonorable and seeks information assists in crafting with the new framework bottom line. This change will make more veterans eligible to receive benefits. The first public virtual listening session will be on october fifth. So as of this podcast. Drop tomorrow to seek feedback. The second session will be held on october. Sixth each meaning will start at eight fifty. Am eastern time and conclude honor before four fifteen p m eastern time The virtual check and will begin at eighty m issues interested. Parties are encouraged to sign up and may submit written comments including data and research if unable to attend the virtual listening sessions will be held as webex events will be open to the public to listen on a first-come-first-served basis contact c o d registration dot v. Be a ceo at v. a. dot gov for more information about the meeting and registering or to speak or listen. Virtual attendants will be limited to the maximum allowed by webex ring comments on this request for information received honor before october. Twelfth as the requests for information was published in the federal register on september ninth. Now define the request for information in the federal register you can go to regulations dot gov a search for the character of and just search for character of discharge under dockets. And it'll be at the top you can read through the documents propose and make comments. I think you have to sign up to make comments but there have been eighty-three comments so far. Finally the last one says for meat. Release the department of veterans affairs has partnered with the cybercrime support network to protect veterans. Who are targeted for identity. Theft and other online scams launching in the fall of twenty twenty one the partnership will provide educational resources strengthen online security for servicemembers veterans and their families and focus on recognizing reporting recovering from cybercrime. Education awareness campaign includes public service announcements via comcast broadcast services and an online portal fight..
The Editors
"department veterans affairs" Discussed on The Editors
"Twenty twenty campaign was that they wanted somebody still associated with the obama obamas and kinda the hope that he had aged into the elder statesman role and biting got older. He got the first part right. He did not turn into the statesman part and he still has the same impulses. The one that robert gates it said was wrong. And every major foreign policy issue over the last thirty years or maybe it was forty years And the other. John's observation was that the washington establishment had put their put their eggs into the joe biden basket kind of hoping that he had grown into the role he was ready to do. The ended embarrassing them now. And that's why you're seeing them. Turn awesome you a universal piece this week. Rich on kind of a preemptive preemptive And respect about how the finest hour of the media in quite some time you know. Every the national news media for all of their flaws has been twenty years covering afghanistan they see a foreign policy and debacle and humanitarian crisis and geo political nightmare scenario for the united states. When they see one and they're not gonna soft pedal it just because all of twenty twenty inasmuch as year. Joe biden was a good guy. You don't get off the hook for for stuff like that particularly. What is your decision in particular when you went for the country and assured them specifically that this wasn't going to happen And i i think they wire bonds numbers down. I think a big chunk is getting really tough coverage that he's never gotten before. I think if you see a sense of flailing if you're seeing ron plane the white house chief of staff. Retweeting joy. Reid what i think. It's an indicator that biden and his team were shaped by the experience of the obama. Years and i could just say insert standard served of gripes that liberal media bias here but basically obama could talk his way out of almost any circumstance. Yeah he has a really rough stretches with Slow job growth and benghazi and Obama healthcare dot gov and veteran department veterans affairs. You know veterans dining like there. There were real problems during it but obama generally could talk his way out of it and over time they would go away. I don't know that watching taliban running around in us Equipment beating women beating children and returning to their abusive ways. I don't know if that's the sort of thing american. Just shrug at and wonder what kim kardashian is up to i. I don't know if you can tune out that well to this. We'll see overdone. But it seems like. That's what biden is. He's trying to run. The obama playbook without having obama skill set and unsurprisingly. It's not working well for obama. I mean he picked up the most important time in his presidency. Right around november twenty to twelve but otherwise he sat in a what forty seven forty eight forty nine percent almost the entire time. Choi cook exit question to you. Percentage odds that joe biden will be the democratic nominee and twenty twenty. Four from zero percent is not going to happen to a hundred percent sleepy. Joe be back on the ballot without a doubt. I still think it's fairly high. It's difficult to unseat a sitting president and every political party now is when you try you lose so i would say sixty five percent and i don't make it high up partly because of the possibility that this will continue to go south and he will really lose his political mo jo partly as a result of the possibility that he might declined to ron and partly as a result of the possibility that you might die even lower than that though for similar reasons i'd say maybe thirty percent i. I don't think that he's doing well at all. I think there's a very high probability that he won't run at all or will do poorly enough that the party won't really have much choice but to go for someone else already. Eighteen percent fifteen world champion explaining well. First of all is actually Tables questions we'll still be around. And then you know how much it was. Mind will still boots still be around. Yeah he always had one terms stamped all over. You know call crazy. I just don't think it's very likely he's gonna be around. He's running again. I think this generated good results. There was a chance. But he's what's so it'll be eighty one eighty two eighty two. He's not so lot depends. We were talking earlier. What happens in kabul the next week or so but assuming a total debacle i would say it's about fifty percent and almost all of that fifty percent. He's not gonna run is is on him. I think he'll if he doesn't run again. It will almost certainly be his his choice as b because he he's no longer up to it so that let's hear from our second sponsor. This episode masterworks biden's reckless infrastructure spending coupled with pelosi stimulus plan means. The fed is printing more money quicker than ever in fact forty percent of all. Us dollars ever printed recreated in the last twelve months and we're already.
Natch Beaut
"department veterans affairs" Discussed on Natch Beaut
"Blessed somebody gave you those teeth and their fabulous. Thank you i. I read an around this time though you did hit a depression and that is something that you still struggle with. I know there's obviously there's medical help things. What are some things that you could do for yourself. That help you. Keep your depression at bay. Keep you present. Well the one thing. I want to say i also had to change myself. Talk that about that instead of saying a struggle with the question. Depression is something that i live with and so for me. What helps me through. Some of them are down. Days is again positive. Self talk i practice. Meditation are private practice. Mindfulness in of course. I have a ritual spirituality. That i do each state no matter. It's were minted. Five minutes i think for people. They think when you have to do things for yourself they have to be sore enormous or elaborate. Just looking mirren saying every morning. Good morning beautiful. Yeah it does. It does wonders be. I had different practices. That i do each day. That are for myself before. I go to work while i'm at work when i'm home when i'm with my family when i'm just sitting around i'm always doing something for me even just thinking to myself in a positive light i want you. If you wouldn't mind major. I would love if you could say. Good morning. jackie. You are beautiful. And then i can play it back for me and your voice is good morning. Jackie you are beautiful powerful. Everyone's jealous now. Everything's going to be jealous. That i got that and if your name is jackie feel free to use it cecchi. Tm that's right okay. Where do we go from here so you go through treatment you come out the other side in remission which is already umbrella a blessing and a miracle but then you realize oh wow. I don't have a home now. Kirk caterina took my damn house. Yeah i think that point. I had to humble myself and ask for help as a soldier at that asking help. Asking for help was not something that was promoted. We ask for help. Because you're feeling yourself or it's because you miss an opportunity I didn't 'cause hurricane katrina and night in cause cancer. But i had to humble myself and say you know what i need. Help me and my son need help in. I'm not gonna let him be on the street. Because i'm gonna let pride prevent me from doing that. So i called my understanding standing Can i come messina couch. She had two kids wrong and she said absolutely. I will let you be on the street in. She helped me a lot of people she could have said. No because jerry had our hands full amount to tickets but she helped me and so. That's what i was able to get on my feet. I decided to pay that for it. Help other women in my situation. Yes perfect segue. There are so many issues that veterans face and something that is not disgust very widely. Is the homeless issue and specifically women veterans. The statistic was i was reading and looking over all of your material that was in disbelief. How to find this out and you sprung into action. Can you get into a little bit of that with me just explain. How does this happen to these women. How does this happen to our veterans. I will tell you that women veterans when it comes to the department veterans affairs medical system in this assist as a support mechanism. Always seen women as an afterthought now of course again. It's getting better. But i don't always like to skip to yet getting better because it was bad for a long time and there are a lot of women who couldn't get the help who needed who not only deserved it. But they earned it military service. We were not drafted. We've always been volunteers silva somebody in you talk about beauty. I don't think there's anything more beautiful than warming will raise her hand in service country. Die for forward in even though however country She doesn't care because she has his calling. And we all know when you have a colony. You wanna do something. It means something totally different to you because now you have purpose and for me. I just felt bad. I felt you know. Why are these women being looked over why they being neglected and so i realized that always the strongest powerful. You have any arsenal regardless of what your socioeconomic status is your voice. I decided to put my voice to work on behalf of homeless women in in veterans in their children. In only that. I put my my my work and my passion behind my voice and built organization which you mentioned earlier that was called final salute. We've raised over four million dollars. Assisted over seven thousand veterans Over thirty states territory in. We've done this all without one single federal dollar. The first grant gatt i believe was twenty five thousand dollars and obviously people might say that's not a lot to me. It was. it was everything as down. I had a starting point. And i went in. I put down six months worth of deposit on a house in half from my board left because they didn't know where the rest of the money was coming from. I didn't know what the rest of the money was coming from. But i knew it was coming because i didn't believe i was on a fairly mission. I believe in myself. And i tell people it's great for other people to believe in you but if you don't believe in yourself the never accomplish your goals. I used to talk about dreams. I talk about dreams anymore. Because people look dreams as fictional characters to happen to your mind so when i talk about things that i wanted to achieve i say goals so it was my goal to open. Transitional housing veterans and. We did just that. But not only that. I wanted to aid and prevention. Because i know there's a lot of money and goodman's remade in prolonging the problem. And so i've been on the hill and i've talked to veterans councils and congressmen and senators in air. We're going to help you and this is a great thing you're doing. He never hear from them again. I don't go to them thinking they're going to change the world. But i go to them because i know that my voice will resume the fail. Remember even if they don't do anything with their remember we're standing you hope that want something deep within with saying her voice matters which she does matter so. I'm just not out there giving lip service. I am actually providing a solution again which is prevention and led organization. We also we actually celebrated ten years last year. I met a lot of resistance. When i first started. People would say things like nobody knows you. You don't have a whole lot of money and you don't have is a huge backing in. I simply said you don't need a cake to be someone zero. You do not just tell jackie. She's beautiful brought us not to her face a swiss not about the money. It's about the past money. At one of those things that will come economic and be loss but you can never lose how you make someone feel that is so beautiful and You're hitting on sell many core beliefs of mine and attribute especially when you said what's more beautiful than serving your country. I completely agree. And it is so i bet you have brought joy and smiles to so many women's faces when you give them the keys to the door of a home and say you can have somewhere to rest tonight. You and your children are going to be safe and warm tonight. Yes definitely what. I feel from miss gratitude. And it's not the feeling of actor just putting them in a home in helping them in their children are trusting me yes with them and their children and for me. That is the.
WCBM 680 AM
"department veterans affairs" Discussed on WCBM 680 AM
"You can download a copy of that If you'd like to go, Um Is a veteran's Health benefits Handbook. Two So I talked about the resource guy talked about the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Resource Guide. We spoke about the Health Care Benefits Overview magazine. There's another one that comes out of the V. A. Department Veterans affair. This is called the Veterans Health Benefits Handbook. Very good book to have Sometimes these things are given to me. Sometimes I've sent away for these. I'm so old, I don't even remember. But this one I believe was given to me Veterans Health Benefits Handbook and anyone can get this handbook at the same phone number. 1877222 vets 1877222. That's Again. You can just go to v a dot gov Put forward slash in front of it and say health benefits publications that will probably bring up a whole host of publications that are available to the veteran or anyone else. Again. I would like to stress to, uh, you'll see ads. Whenever you go to the site, you'll see ads and I would, uh, I would only suggest that people don't open up the ads because yards Are going to Try to convince you that the Via isn't going to give you something you're entitled to and yards. You can try to sell you something that you don't have to pay for. So, uh, don't you? If you look at those ads, it's just fishing their scams. I don't mind saying that I would just go to the websites that are verified when the menu comes up and you're scrolling down the menu. At the bottom and a little bit of smaller of of founder size letters. It'll It'll give you the source of the information that you want to click onto. And so I myself stay away from the ads. Um There's an important number I like to give out. I'd like to take a serious moment. This is a very important number. I like to give out because Each and every day we lose 22. Of our own veterans each and every day 22 veterans take their lives. It's a terrible, bad thing. It's very sad, but there's help out there. It's called the Veterans Crisis line. Any veteran can call. 1 802 738255. Be instantly connected to another veteran who will address whatever concern it is that the veteran has on their mind. I've used this number myself, and it works. After calling 802 738255, you'll be prompted to press one. So there's time to change your mind if you don't want. If this is not a 911 type of a thing, it's a counseling its advice. And, uh, it's a good connection to have. It's it's an instant connection to have just to talk things out. And if again as I said, last time if a caller is not satisfied with the response That they're getting If they don't feel like that. Their issue is being addressed in the way that they'd like it to simply say goodbye and call again and someone else will pick up the line because There are hundreds, if not thousands of operators crisis counselors that answer those phones on a 24 hour. 24 7 basis 365 days a year. They're always there, and they're there for anyone to call, especially people that have issues. And, uh, So Please utilize that line. Anyone that's listening that has any type of thoughts. Please call that line or call me. And I'm going to give out my number again of the show. Um Also, as I was reviewing emails, I want to say that those veterans who have contact me personally, I've not forgotten about you. As a set up of been dealing with my own health issues recently, and I will be getting back to those veterans, uh, that have all those who have called me. At at my at my personal phone number. I keep individual records on all of them confidential, of course. And I'll get back to them and what I want to do. What I'm going to do is I'm going to, uh I'm going. I'm in the process of establishing a new email address to I'm going to have a second email address to my device because right now the original email address And that was suggested to me. It doesn't say anything about that. The dot spider 1 21 at gmail dot com and that doesn't really talk to that's so what I'm gonna do is I'm going to create an email address. That addresses veterans concerns. In that way. I won't have to filter them out from my other email address, and that's what I'm in the process of doing right now. I have over 60,000 emails at my other email address. The one I just previously gave out Sometimes it crashes, some people said they tried to send me an email and it doesn't go through and I can understand why. I think my device crashed once because there's so many emails, so I thought to myself what I'm going to do is on Gump but hopefully before next week, I'm going to have a new ME email In effect the new email address in effect And it will be specifically for veterans concerns. Um you all right? Let's see what Please call in the numbers 41092 to 66 80. It's also an 800 number at 1 800. 92 to 66 80. Please call while I'm here and I'll help you out with any of your needs, Um Anyone that wants to catch up on American Legion activities. I'm American Legion Legionnaire. And actually, anyone who is in the process to be a discharge for anyone who is close to being discharged. What they call a short time We used to say in the Navy, I'm short, which meant we're getting out soon if they decided to get out. And all per all military personnel that are close to being discharged from the military will automatically be eligible for American Legionnaire membership automatically and, um, they will be Legionnaires, and it's the largest organization. In the country, along with other organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American veterans, all fine organizations, But American Legion a legion is a very special thing to me. I've been a member of the Legion for 23 consecutive years, and they're there for the veterans. That is, for sure they take care of the veterans. And to contact an American lesion an entity or to find out anything about it. Just go to legion dot org, go to legion dot org ago. American legion dot org. And you can find out all about the American Legion..
KOMO
"department veterans affairs" Discussed on KOMO
"Each site plans to administer 500 doses a day, six days a week. All appointments have been filled for the first week of vaccinations at the Auburn site the first two weeks at the Kent site. Amazon, A Virginia Mason held a second vaccination clinic yesterday offered to healthcare workers high risk first responders, People 65 older and those over 50 who live in multigenerational households. This woman says she was a little nervous about getting vaccinated. Gotta move past that and realize that Sciences is on our side, Maura than 4000 people were vaccinated between those two events. Nearly 3000 doses of the covert vaccine administered over the weekend at the Michael Shoot Health and Wellness Center. That story from comas Greg Herschel, Native Americans are more likely to contract the virus and the rest of the population and they're more likely to want the vaccine that was evident as hundreds of cars wrapped around the reservations Health clinic yesterday, A recent survey of Native Americans across 46 states found that 75% of them want to receive the vaccine. Abigail Echo Hawk who has the Urban Indian Health Institute in Seattle, says typical outreach campaigns about precautions and vaccinations don't seem to resonate with her people. So the Michael shoots have been using digital newsletters, a video made by high school students and posted on Facebook and zoom meetings to inform the community, she says This should be an example to the rest of the nation. Greg Hirsch Old Co. Moh news over 19 takes the life of another resident of the Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard, the State Department veterans affairs as it was January 26th, bringing the total to two veterans home residents who passed from covert 19 in January. A second resident, died January. 6th one staff member at the Veterans Home also tested positive for covert 19 last Monday. The Olympian reports that brings the total case count at that facility to 18 staff members. 15 residents starting Wednesday, Many grocery workers in Seattle will get an extra $4 per hour in hazard pay. Mayor Jenny Durkin side in ordinance impacting grocery chains with more than 500 employees and includes some local independent stores to pay will continue during the pandemic. And as of today, February 1st, the state of Oregon no longer criminalizes possession of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. As long as the person is only a small amount of the drug will be issued a ticket not arrested or charged. More from comes calling Johnson Last November, Oregon voters approved the drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act shifted the focus from criminal punishment for low level possession. To expanding access to treatment and recovery. Janey Gullikson is a recovered addict and the executive director of the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon, Nick, the way criminal punishments for a health condition and what it does is address it the way it should be in a public health approach to tell Kgw throwing people in jail for the reduction will never work. Ontario, Oregon police chief Steve Romero is not convinced This is a good idea. No open the door for even miners. Who could be in possession of drugs to have the same legal option for those caught with larger amounts of hard drugs. It's no longer a felony, but a misdemeanor for up to 3 G of heroin or 8 G of meth or cocaine. Carleen Johnson. Come on news come on, Whose time 10 40 tried to check in with Thomas Eric kinds of beacon plumbing sports chess. The Huskies saw the two game win streak snapped at the hands of the Cougars last night 77 to 62. What a green lead the dogs with 20 points that also snapped a six game losing streak for the coup's. The Washington women also lost to number six. Stanford 74 48 Queen Miller led Washington with 14 points. Over the weekend, The Rams traded quarterback Jared Goff to the Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions also get to future first round draft picks and a third round pick. ESPN is Adam Schefter says there was mutual interest expressed between the Rams and Stafford Chamakh Day is getting a quarterback that he's identified and studied at length already over the last couple of weeks. He believes will be a star in L. A. The deal can't be official until March. 1st Major League Baseball is proposing a one month delay in starting spring training because of the pandemic. Two people familiar with the plan tell The Associated Press that opening day would be pushed back to April. 28. Also the regular season will be cut from 162 games to 154 and the playoffs will be expanded from 10 teams to 14. Storm and Seubert have reportedly reached agreement for her to return to the team for what would be here 18th year in the WN BA sports a 10 and 40 minutes past the hour Americans come a new coming up. It could be the start of a bipartisan effort to bring in another round of covert relief will tell you about the president and a meeting with 10 Republican senators he has.
KTLK 1130 AM
"department veterans affairs" Discussed on KTLK 1130 AM
"Larry Erkki of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, and he's charged with assisting Minnesota's 327,000 veterans and their families. Big job. He also represents the Minnesota Department veterans affairs at hearings before the Minnesota State Legislature and the United States Congress and maintains a close working relationship with the veteran service organizations via The commander's task force and commissioner, a little off topic here. But all those commanders and the grounders task force they serve was kind of Ah psuedo board of directors for you, don't they? They do are a great source of one of ideas, but also their great source for help and support so They are very direct. And I never have to ask too much, and they're always willing to help help us out when we need help at the Department of Veterans Affairs. And we're gonna have them on in a couple of months when we talk about Veterans Day on the hill as we do every year, and we hope that we can do that in person this year Commissioner I saw in 2019. We saw the dedication of the State Veterans Cemetery in Duluth. Are there plans to expand your cemetery operations but focus at the federal level to have either federal or state cemetery within about 75 miles of each veterans home, and we've been working for the last 10 years. On a cemetery in southwest Minnesota and specifically been working with Fred would County and in October this year were actually notified by the National Cemetery Administration, which is part of the federal DEA. That they plan on awarding a grant to us in this fiscal year, 2021 To establish a state better in cemetery in Redwood County. So that's great news. It's about 5.99 million quite six million, and this is an opportunity for us to Take those first steps. The land there has been acquired by the county and I think we meet most the requirements except for the design of the actual cemetery itself. So We'll be working on our final requirements and And hopefully we'll get the money in fiscal year 2022. It's just great that we were able to get this after working so long. Uh, on hard for this particular cemetery in southwest Minnesota. And commissioner. That'll be cemetery number four because we already have three beautiful cemeteries, one just outside the gate it Camp Ripley want impressed in Minnesota and one in Duluth and boy there They are well done, and well taken care of, and looking forward to seeing the land and Redwood County, Sir. Yes. And Preston was award winner this year at the federal level. We re actually we received high praise amongst one of the four but, uh, should state cemetery cemetery that actually received the honor of this. Recognition, so I'm very proud of all of our cemeteries. Sir. A couple of years ago, the state of Minnesota allocated some funding for some three new veterans homes, and they think you're waiting on some additional funding for those. Can you give us an update on On one. We're going to get some more beds for a veteran, sir. Well, we're looking at some outcomes on this time in the January through March time frame of this year. We had funding provided by the state Legislature for new homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston. And those three homes. There were still waiting for the federal match for that. The amount that the Legislature provided us was 32 million. And that was back in 2000 and 18 on again. We've updated all of our Over our items as it relates to the grant for these homes, and we're we're waiting patiently for the results of the list to come out here. Again in the January through March. Timeframe. We'll see if one or more of those homes got picked up for funding. One questioner. I know you spent many years in the most international guard, taking care facilities and doing construction projects. I'll bet you're excited at the at the prospect of building three new veterans homes on your watches commissioners in Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs That was one of the five things time I told the governor that would do Ah, right off the bat coming in as commissioner. I said, I told I was uniquely qualified to help in this area, and we've been through the whole design process. And then we went through the value engineering process in order to bring them in within budget, and I feel I feel strong that the designs we have are very strong designs, and they'll do well for all three of those communities. Sir. I hope you get funding on those soon. It's gonna be fun to see how how they go up and what they look like, and it will be a relief. I imagine for to be able to house many more veterans and take care of them when when they need us. Most. We're speaking with the rest of the week. We're speaking with Commissioner Larry Herkie on Minnesota Military radio, Sir. I'm sorry. I interrupted you again that you have another comment on the, um I just saying it'll be great to be able to have more veterans taking care about our homes. We have waiting lists at all their homes right now. And some some of them quite long, So it be great to have additional opportunities for veterans in Minnesota. Can't wait, sir. That'll be that'll be great news Commissioner. I can't believe that in 2021 were here. The United States will mark 20 years since the attacks of 9 11 2001 Eye's Minnesota going to be doing something to honor those we lost on that tragic day. Tom, we are We're took some steps towards this just recently. By convening a task force for the called the name 9. 11. Global War on terrorism, Remember its task force. We're so focus of this task force Donner. Remember those Minnesotans who served Their lives. Their family's lives were changed that day. Back in September. 11th 2001, and the focus going forward is to make sure we educate the populace is the whole We want to remember. The 45,000 Minnesota veterans has served during that time frame. And we also to just celebrate what they've done for both our country and in the case of some of the countries who served and we have actually helped produce a better life for the Citizens of those countries also, so this task force has one member from both the House and the Senate. Within Minnesota. We have a couple MGB a staff members. We have a member of the Minnesota military Museum in a public members. Of which we have a great variety include a gold star mother who was serving on there. The task first members will serve for two years and again we're going one of the big things is AH commemorates. Ceremony, which will happen here on September 11th of next year. So we'll we'll be him or on this. I guess as we go forward with promoting promoting this and probably get on that your show just just to talk more about it. I did want to reduce it and make sure that people knew that it was coming. And that way haven't ability to learn more if you want to, by going to our website.
KTLK 1130 AM
"department veterans affairs" Discussed on KTLK 1130 AM
"We're looking back at 2020 and 4 to 2021. Then this segment, we're gonna join retired Colonel Larry Herkie, who was appointed as the 18th, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. In January. 2019 in the question of herky is charged with assisting Minnesota's 327,000 veterans and their families. He also represents the Minnesota Department Veterans Affairs at hearings before the Minnesota state legislature in the United States Congress. And maintains close working relationships with the various veteran service organizations through the commander's task force in question a Herkie welcome back to Minnesota Military radio, sir. It's great to be with you again here on Minnesota military radio. Commissioner. We just finished What I call a lost over 2020 last year. Everything has been affected by a pandemic. The code pandemic. Fortunately, we've got a vaccine that we're trying to get out to everybody now, but I'm sure that's presented some issues that you probably nobody ever thought would would come up last year. How is the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs responded to that. It's been quite a year for started out in March timeframe. We really at that point had no idea of the duration or the amount of effect that this is going to have within the organization. We were able to adjust, and I think for the most part, we're able to remain open for business, which is sort of the moniker Ivan trained to keep forward as we look at our different requirements within the agency. And we made a quick and swift transition. Torto. Theo this distance working for people working at home, teleworking for majority majority or people in the non health care. Areas and then within the health carriers. We took some immediate efforts that really, I think, helped us overall be able to weather the issues as it related the covert 19. Um, I'm really proud of the staff. The staff is in the homes to stay can, uh, taking this very personally, and it's been tough on us. We've had Over 1000 staff that have been effective either family members or or someone that they know that had a covert issue that they had to be out for at least a period of time. S so that's a That's a great amount of our staff that had some impact on this, Uh We're able to. Actually before even the CBC came out in Department of Health were able to start working on the peopie issues or personal protective equipment. We had a pretty good stockpile to begin with. We also started a special isolation units. Those residents that tough tested positive which I think was thing, something that really minimized are spread within our organizations. And we made arrangements for residents to stay in touch with their families. In fact, that's one thing. I'm very proud of its ability. Use ipads for I've had visits. We've had window visits and now essential caregiver visits said Really Really helped us. Keep families in touch with their veterans and family members during the these several months that we've been undercovered 18. I like to say today that in the health care here we've had less than one. We have less than 1% positive among stars 645 residents and are 1400 staff there in health care so I'm pretty proud of that on Duhalde we've done in that area to try to protect Veterans, which are heroes, I say heroes taking care of heroes with them those veterans homes Also, like the cemeteries. We really had a chance to their. They're also to, uh, to help make it a better situation. We have mostly outdoor committal spaces, which which are good, but we didn't in little falls variable toe. Work. They're taking to move people outdoors and then limit group sizes. Originally the tent and now up to 50, and we work with those funeral directors to make sure everyone's mask And everyone socially distanced when they come to the cemeteries and likely when I talked about this time, many times We're speaking with Commissioner Larry Erkki from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on Minnesota. Military radio, Sir. I'm sorry I interrupted you, but I think you were going to talk about some financial support that the Legislature Made available to you. Yes, Tom. We've talked about several times. And I know your listeners are Important part of this is that The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs was able Tonto obtain within about 32 days. 6.2 million in state funding that was made available and originally two different grants. And now three Grants. One was a disaster relief grant for $1000. The second one special needs grant. Up to $3000. And those are things that if you have something like a car payment, or maybe a mortgage issue or something like that, in the third one is new one. It's a distance learning. Support Grant, which again is up to $3000. For those families. They're having Ah additional expenses student hybrid learning or do that distance learning? And I guess at this point we've had over 6600 veterans apply, and we have about 1.2 million still left so encouraged veterans. Are, you know, veteran that's been financially impacted by covert 19 to apply for one of our grants, and that could be done through the county veteran service officer. Very good, sir. Uh, I was wonder I was going to ask you if there's any of that Those funds left because we were pushing it hard on the show here, toe, try to help our veterans. But, as you said, just go to the county veteran service officers and ask him about the disaster relief grant Special needs grant or the distance learning Grant. Commissioner. I know that one of the things that you've been working on hard along with the governor is his veteran suicide. Can you give us an update on how that's going during this pandemic here? Yes. Each year. Minnesota loses between 100 about 125 veterans. We know of Dutilleux. Ah suicide and spend an area that Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is not. Worked with previously and the governor asked us to take a focus on that within the agency. We've done that we actually put up our hands to the federal DEA. Enjoying what's called the governor's challenges with which is they facilitated program. By the federal B. A. And what that his Donna's allowed us to identify potential method. To be able to assist veterans going forward that maybe a little bit different than some of the state programs and so forth. So we've we've We're asking for a little help and support from the Legislature this year to support that, but It's a program that I'm very proud of him. Just getting off the ground for M D B. A And commissioner. That's a program where you're working with a number of other agencies like Mac V and some others to make sure that he's got his good coverage is we can have here in Minnesota. Out. The Minnesota Department of Health actually has the lead in this area, but we've we've joined the group and we're part of not only the governmental agencies that are working on this, but as you said Exactly and some of the other non governmental agencies. We're working with them. Also, as it relates to Suicide awareness and prevention. This'd is critically important to our specimens within state, Minnesota, and it's something that we are definitely embracing here at M D. B. A And so you're working with some of those same groups to try to end veterans, homelessness and imagine that's been set back a little bit by the pandemic as well. We've had a challenging year, her time. This spend a lot of veterans, especially those of and doubled up in situations, where there with another veteran that for whatever reason, they've decided that it's best. Live apart. And so a lot of those veterans have been on the registry previously have come back to us. And besides, that we've had a whole new group of veterans said there recently. Unemployed and now homeless, So we're working on those issues way were down to about 220 veterans back in May. I think this last week we're at about 312. But we put we've put several hundreds of veterans. Into safe, secure housing throughout the year, and I think through so far this year, it's actually been about 422 veterans. So where a little bit behind pace of last year, but we're doing well in that area and We were able to celebrate a milestone here and better and stay where we had the suburban Metro area counties actually go to functional zero for veterans homelessness, which is great because that puts us at six of the 10 continuum that actually have met this milestone. Very good, sir. We have take a short break. When we come back, We'll speak more with Commissioner Larry Erkki from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on Minnesota..