Disabled American Veterans

Blind Veterans National Chapter #1

WEB SITE: http://www.davbvnc.com/

May-June, 2012 Newsletter

Editor: Dennis O’Connell

Bvnc1@verizon.net

 

"IF I CANNOT SPEAK GOOD OF MY COMRADE,

I WILL NOT SPEAK ILL OF HIM OR HER."

 

OFFICERS OF THE BLIND CHAPTER

Commander Richard Bugbee
Phone 480 986-0304

Email: dadbug37@gmail.com

Senior Vice Commander Joe Wallace
1st Junior Vice Commander Stephen Moffitt

2nd Junior Vice Commander William Burgess
3rd Vice Commander James Hogan

4th Junior Vice Commander Junior Farley

Judge Advocate Dennis O’Connell
Chaplain Rev. Tony Martino
Phone 847 736 2111
email:
Deaconmart@wi.rr.com

Adjutant/Treasurer Paul Kaminsky (also webmaster)

Phone 904 291-0576
email: pkjax@kaminsky.com

Immediate Past Commander Dennis O’Connell

 

If you know of any member who is sick or deceased please inform one of the officers whose contact information is listed above.

 

 

DELEGATE ELECTION RESULTS FROM PAUL KAMINSKY

Below is the final tally of the Delegate vote count. Bill Burgess may not be able to attend for wife's medical reason. Gerry Boucher had to back out and I have a letter from him that will be read at the convention. If Bill is unable to attend I move up to fill his alternate spot. Richard Bugbee and I will not receive the stipend as Alternate Delegates since both of us are already stipend as Commander and Adjutant.

Delegates: Denis O'Connell, James Hogan, Gary Traynor, Steve Moffitt

Alternate Delegates: Tony Martino, Joe Wallace, Richard Bugbee, Bill Burgess

 Standby Alternate Delegate: Paul Kaminsky


WEBMASTER PAUL KAMINSKY also SAID

    I received a CD with photos of the 2011 DAV BVNC 1 Installation of Officers Breakfast and just finished posting them to the website.  Pass it on if people would like to see them.

 

 

ARMED FORCES DAY

On 31 AUG 49, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense. Each of the military leagues and orders was asked to drop sponsorship of its specific service day in order to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day. The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day. The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but also supports Armed Forces Day. In a speech announcing the formation of the day, President Truman "praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas" and said, "it is vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace." In an

excerpt from the Presidential Proclamation of 27 FEB 50, Mr. Truman stated: Armed Forces Day marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense.

The theme of the first Armed Forces Day was "Teamed for Defense." It was chosen as a means of expressing the unification of all the military forces under a single department of the government. Although this was the theme for the day, there were several other purposes for holding Armed Forces Day. It was a type of "educational program for civilians," one in which there would be an increased awareness of the Armed Forces. It was designed to expand public understanding of what type of job is performed and the role of the military in civilian life. It was a day for the military to show "state-of-the-art" equipment to the civilian population they were protecting. And it was a day to honor and acknowledge the people of the Armed Forces of the United States. According to a New York Times article published on 17 MAY 52: "This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces. to all the individuals who are in the service of their country all over the world. Armed Forces Day won't be a matter of parades and receptions for a good many of them. They will all be in line of duty and some of them may give their lives in that duty."

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows. In Washington D.C., 10,000 troops of all branches of the military, cadets, and veterans marched pass the President and his party. In Berlin, 1,000 U.S. troops paraded for the German citizens at Templehof Airfield. In New York City, an estimated 33,000 participants initiated Armed Forces Day "under an air cover of 250 military planes of all types." In the harbors across the country were the famed mothballed "battlewagons" of World War II, the Missouri, the New Jersey, the North Carolina, and the Iowa, all open for public inspection. Precision flying teams dominated the skies as tracking radar was exhibited on the ground. All across the country, the American people joined together to honor the Armed Forces. Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May which this year will be the 19th. Armed Forces Week begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May, the day after Armed Forces Day. Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May.

 

 

ARTICLE ABOUT GARY TRAYNOR APPEARS IN RICE LAKE PUBLICATION

The Chronotype, a Rice Lake publication, includes an extensive feature story about Gary Traynor.  Click on the link below to access it:

http://www.ricelakeonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=25&SubSectionID=209&ArticleID=23450

 

 

NEW VA FORM AVAILABLE FOR ORDERING VETERANS Grave MARKER MEDALLION

The Department of Veterans Affairs has streamlined the process for families of deceased Veterans to receive a medallion which can be affixed to grave markers at private cemeteries and indicates the Veteran status of the deceased.

“This new form streamlines the ordering process, making it easier for families to order the medallion,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “The families want everyone to know that their loved one was a Veteran.  We should help them do that in any way we can.”

Previously, families ordered the medallion using the form to order a government headstone or marker.  VA has introduced a new form – VA Form 40-1330M – for use solely to order a medallion.  The older form, VA Form 40-1330, remains in place to order a traditional government headstone or marker.

The medallion is a device furnished in lieu of a traditional Government headstone or grave marker for Veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.  Under federal law, eligible Veterans buried in a private cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished grave marker or the medallion, but not both.

The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inches and 1 ˝ inches in width.  Each bronze medallion features the image of a folded burial flag adorned with laurels and is inscribed with the word “Veteran” at the top and the Veteran’s branch of service at the bottom.

Next of kin receive the medallion, along with a kit that allows the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the medallion to a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or columbarium niche cover.

The medallion is available only to Veterans buried in private cemeteries without a government headstone or marker.  Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment.

More information about the medallion or headstones and markers can be found at www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmorder.asp. To download the VA Form 40-1330M, Claim for Government Medallion, go to www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330M.pdf.

VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites.  Nearly four million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict — from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan — are buried in VA’s national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres.

Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery.  Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone, grave marker or medallion.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA Web site on the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.

 

 

VIDEO DESCRIPTION FOR TV

On August 25, 2011, the Commission released a Report and Order to adopt rules requiring video description for certain television programming.  Video description is narrated descriptions of a television program’s key visual elements inserted into natural pauses in the program’s dialogue.  Video descriptions improve access to television programs for millions of Americans who are blind or visually impaired.

The Commission adopted rules requiring video description in 2000, but those rules were struck down by a federal court in 2002. In 2010, Congress enacted the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), which required reinstatement of those video description rules, with certain modifications.

These video description rules require ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates in the top 25 market areas and cable and satellite television providers with more than 50,000 subscribers to provide video description. ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, USA, the Disney Channel, TNT, Nickelodeon, and TBS are each required to provide 50 hours of video-described prime time or children’s programming per calendar quarter. Full compliance with the rules is required on July 1, 2012.

Report and Order:

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0825/FCC-11-126A1.doc

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0825/FCC-11-126A1.pdf

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0825/FCC-11-126A1.txt

While the most recent release was about hearing impaired, we have along with AFB, ACB, and other organizations for the blind ensured that the Federal Communications rules include video description and other improvements for the blind.

It is taking longer than anyone wanted, but the slow train is being moved along as these policy’s are issued to television stations and cable networks.