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Veteran's |
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Veteran's |
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| Home Page | About us | Post Activities | Calendar | Join VFW | Honor Guard | Ladies Auxiliary |
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Veterans Information Center
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Trinity County Veterans
Service Officer |
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| Groveton Courthouse | Monday and Tuesday | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 936-642-2309 |
| Trinity Sub-Courthouse | Wed - Thurs - Friday | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 936-594-8067 |
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* New Medallion Benefit as of Jun 29, 2010 * |
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VA Medical Addresses and Phone Numbers |
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South Texas
Veterans
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Michael E. DeBakey Veterans
Affairs
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VA
Outpatient Clinic 1301 West Frank Lufkin, TX 75901 936/ 637-1342 1-800-209-3120 |
PALESTINE (ANDERSON CO) VA CBOC 2000 South Loop 256, Suite 124 Palestine, Texas 75801 903/ 723-9006 Mon. – Fri., 7:30 - 4:30
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VA Regional
Office 6900 Almeda Road Houston, Texas 77030-4200 713/ 383-1999 1-800-827-1000 |
VA Regional
Office
One Veterans Plaza 701 Clay Waco, Texas 76799 254/ 299-9010 1-800-827-1000 |
VA Medical
Center 4800 Memorial Drive Waco, TX 76711 254/ 752-6581 1-800-423-2111 |
Central
Texas Veterans Health Care System Olin Teague Veterans' Ctr. 1901 South 1st Street Temple, TX 76504 254/ 778-4811 1-800-423-2111 |
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VA Burials and Memorials |
Nationwide Grave Locator |
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Burial in a National Cemetery Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of our 124 national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.
Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the veteran’s headstone, at no cost to the family. Go to www.cem.va.gov for further details, forms and other benefits
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Locate a Friend or Loved One Search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker. To search all you have to do it type in their name - you can search a particular cemetery or all cemeteries. For example: Type in William Anderson and click on search - Several William Andersons will appear. Go to
http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/servlet/NGL_v1
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TEXAS STATE VETERANS HOME PROGRAM |
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This Program offers Texas Veterans:
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To be eligible for admission to a Texas State Veterans Home, an applicant must require long-term nursing care as determined by a physician and meet the following criteria as a Texas veteran:
Additional eligibility for admission is extended to:
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Location
and Contact Information - Frequently Asked Questions |
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Contact Information Temple Big
Spring
Floresville Bonham McAllen El Paso Amarillo
To download and print out Application form,
please click:
For
more information call: Website: www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb/vethomes
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I get a copy of my Discharge Papers DD-214?
The following information is provided for veterans and families of veterans who need copies of their discharge papers known as DD-214. This information was taken from the government archives web site: http://vetrecs.archives.gov .
Military personnel records can be used for proving military service, or as a valuable tool in genealogical research. Most veterans and their next-of-kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) and other military and medical records.
Required Information:
You can mail or fax your signed and dated
request to the National Archives's National Personnel Record Center (NPRC).
Most, but not all records, are stored at the NPRC. Be sure to use the
address specified by eVetRecs or the instructions on the SF-180. The
locations of military service records for active and retired personnel are
listed at
Location of Military Service Records.
Military personnel and health record information is usually free for veterans, next-of-kin, and authorized representatives. If your request involves a service fee, you will be notified as soon as possible.
For more information go to : http://vetrecs.archives.gov .
Disabled veterans who meet certain requirements, their surviving spouses and the
spouses and minor children of a person who dies on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Forces are eligible for property tax exemptions on the appraised value of their
property. The exemption is mandatory and applies to taxes levied by all taxing
authorities in the State. A veteran, whose service-connected disabilities are
rated less than 10% by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or a branch of the
Armed Forces, is not entitled to a property tax exemption. For those rated 10%
or more, the tax exemptions below apply:
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Disability Rating |
Tax Exemption |
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10% through 30% |
First $ 5,000 of appraised value |
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31% through 50% |
First $ 7,500 of appraised value |
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51% through 70% |
First $ 10,000 of appraised value |
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71% or more |
First $ 12,000 of appraised value |
A
veteran whose disability is 10% or more, and who is 65 years or older, is
entitled to exemption of the first $12,000 of appraised value of property. A
veteran whose disability consists of the loss of use of one or more limbs, total
blindness in one or both eyes, or suffers paraplegia, is exempt on the first
$12,000 of the appraised value of his property. A veteran who qualifies under
more than one of the exemptions may not combine the exemptions, but may take the
one providing the largest exclusion. The surviving spouse of a person who dies
on active duty is entitled to exemption of the first $5,000 of the appraised
value of the spouse's property. A surviving child of a person who dies on active
duty is exempt on the first $5,000 of appraised value of the child's property,
as long as the child is unmarried and under 21 years of age. The surviving
spouse of a deceased veteran who, at the time of the veteran's death had a
compensable disability and was entitled to an exemption, is also entitled to
that exemption if the surviving spouse is unmarried. This law is administered at
the local level by the various taxing authorities. For answers to questions
about property values, exemptions, agricultural appraisal, and protests to the
appraisal review board, or to apply for exemptions, obtain an application from
your appraisal district.
PLEASE
NOTE:
APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND APRIL 30
For more information on Texas Veterans Benefits click on http://www.tvc.state.tx.us/morebens.htm
History of the Cross of
Malta
History shows that the Cross of Malta, the emblem of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is 1,000 years old. Nearly ten centuries ago the Maltese Cross was made the symbol of fighting men who were united by a solemn pledge of comradeship to fight for freedom and to aid the sick and the needy. Those ancient obligations are still symbolized by the Cross of Malta today, for the more than two million former servicemen who are the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Cross of Malta is the symbol of their battles in time of war and of their campaign to defend the God given rights of human beings in time of peace. The Cross of Malta symbolizes the compassion, or sympathy, of those men and women for the needy. It is the sign of services which our contemporary veterans render to help make living a little better for everyone.
To appreciate fully the original meaning of the Cross of Malta we must look
back a thousand years, to the Crusaders serving in the Middle East. There we
find the Knights of St. John, the worlds first great brotherhood of warriors
pledged to chivalry. The Knights of St. John represented all walks of life. They
were noblemen and priests, artisans and laborers. Regardless of those
differences, however, they were united by a solemn pledge of unwavering courage
and compassion. Together they fought against oppression. They carried their
crusades far from home across deserts and seas, into the Holy Land, Cyprus,
Rhodes and Malta. At the same time they administered to the sick, the needy and
to the poor. The Crusaders adopted the Cross of Malta as their insignia because
its eight points represented the eight Beatitudes prescribed in the Sermon on
the Mount.
Those, in effect, declare
(1) blessed are the poor in
spirit
(2) the meek
(3) the pure
(4) the merciful
(5) the peacemakers
(6) blessed are they that
mourn
(7) seek righteousness
(8) blessed are they who are
persecuted for righteousness sake.
The Cross of Malta had a religious origin but the Knights of St. John also made
it their battle standard for the liberation of all men, women and children who
suffered oppression. The ideals for which the original Crusaders fought parallel
the principles of democracy today, freedom and justice.
Centuries passed to the year 1899. Again fighting men banded together. Again they pledged themselves to campaign for the rights of mankind and to administer to the sick, the needy and to the poor. That was the birth of a new organization, known today as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Why did the Veterans of Foreign Wars select the Cross of Malta emblem? What has been added to the Cross and what does the symbol mean? Let us look at the VFW ensign closely. We see the eight-pointed Maltese Cross. Upon the Cross is superimposed the Great Seal of the United States, encircled by the name, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Within the circle is the American eagle, the emblem of a proud nation whose warriors of many generations have fought and sacrificed to preserve the free mans way of living. Between the four arms of the Cross, the Veterans of Foreign Wars has added the suns rays to emphasize the vigor and warmth with which the present day brotherhood defends our ideals. Every detail in the VFW emblem has definite meaning. The Cross, the rays and the seal together symbolize the vows, purpose and character of men and women who have traveled far from home to defend humanity. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is the worlds oldest and largest overseas war veterans organization. It is chartered by the Congress of the United States. That charter states specifically that The purpose of this corporation shall be: Fraternal, Patriotic, Historical and Educational To preserve and Strengthen Comradeship among its members, To assist worthy comrades, to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to assist their widows and orphans. To maintain true allegiance to the government of the United States of America and fidelity to its constitution and laws, to foster true patriotism, to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies whomsoever.
Upon joining the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a person vows in the presence of Almighty God and the members of this order to maintain loyalty to the government, to the VFW, and to his fellow comrades. When the Cross of Malta is bestowed upon a new VFW member, he or she is pledged to advance the principles of the organization. Like the original Crusaders 1,000 years ago, the 2.1 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars today fulfill their vows through a wide variety of vigorously executed services. The VFW is also joined by 750,000 members of our Ladies Auxiliary in our efforts. They foster true patriotism, and strengthen the institutions of freedom by word and deed. They improve their cities, towns and neighborhoods through community service. They give aid to worthy comrades and to the widows and orphans. They extend helping hands to the needy and the sick. Like the original Knights of St. John, those who wear the VFW Maltese Cross express their comradeship in terms of service.
These are the reasons why the Veterans of Foreign Wars chose the Cross of Malta as its emblem. The Cross of Malta symbolizes truly the character and objectives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. People qualified through military service to wear the VFW Cross of Malta do so with pride because that emblem represents the highest of ideals. Every member has earned the Cross of Malta proudly - and he or she wears it proudly.
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Combat For Dummies |
| Advice and instructions taken from
actual military sources. Some of these guys must have had a sense of humor
"Aim towards the enemy." "When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our
friend." "Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate.
The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground." "If the enemy is in range, so are you." "A slipping gear could let your m203 grenade
launcher fire when you least expect it. "It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over
the area you just bombed." "Try to look unimportant; the enemy may be low on
ammo." "Tracers work both ways." "Five-second fuses only last three seconds." "Bravery is being the only one who knows you're
afraid." "If your attack is going too well, you're walking
into an ambush." "No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection."
"Any ship can be a minesweeper....once." "Never tell the platoon sergeant you have nothing
to do." "Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around
you." "If you see a bomb technician running, try to keep
up with him."
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Site designed and maintained by S. G. McLeod
Contact us at info@vfwpost6899.org