VFW Post 6660 Newsletter

Randle Tolliver, Quartermaster / Adjutant

post6660@movfw.org  / www.facebook.com/VFW Post-6660

For veterans in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line’s number – 988 then press “1” or 1-800-273-8255 and press “1”.

For homebound veterans requiring assistance, please contact Jay Parks at (573) 689-1477, Randy Tolliver at (573) 924-2382, or Scott Rosen at (573) 466-9188.

VFW Auxiliary will meet at 1 PM on 19 November at the Donald L. Cook / Billy J. Swyres Memorial Veterans Center in Centerville.

The next post meeting will be 2 PM on 20 November at the same location.

On Friday 11 November at 4 PM, VFW Post 6660 and VFW Auxiliary 6660 will hold a Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial located at the Reynolds County Courthouse in Centerville. Parking is available and everyone is invited.

Our annual educational awards programs, Teacher of the Year, Patriot’s Pen, and Voice of Democracy run until 31 October.  Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and this year’s theme is “My Pledge to Our Veterans”. The Voice of Democracy audio-essay is open to students in grades 9-12 and this year’s theme is “Why is the Veteran Important?”  Home schooled students are welcome to participate. Our Teacher of the Year program recognizes teachers who promote civic responsibility, patriotism and help students develop a better understanding of American values and beliefs.  For more information, please contact Dr. Charles Laramore at (573) 637-2112, Jay Parks or Randy Tolliver.   

We are roughly three weeks from Election Day and the VFW strongly encourages each citizen to VOTE!  Why vote?  Not voting is giving up your voice. Elections have consequences and every vote matters.  It is your money, keep a say in how it is spent.  Voting is an opportunity for change. If you do not like what is happening, make your voice heard. Whatever your political position, voting is your right and your duty as a citizen

VFW strongly supports voters to approve Missouri Ballot Amendment 5, which will remove the Missouri National Guard from the Department of Public Safety and create a stand-alone Missouri National Guard Department.  Why do we, the VFW support this? It provides a simplified chain of command with no change to the Guard’s mission. As its own department, the Guard would have a direct line of communication between the commander of the Guard and the Governor without working through the administrative bureaucracy of the Department of Public Safety. In national or state crises, such as natural disasters, direct communication between the Governor and the Guard is more efficient, reduces confusion and saves time.

Will it cost more? State governmental entities estimate no additional costs or savings. For more information please see  https://www.mongaonline.com/page/2022Amendment5 .

Everyone, please help in urging Congress to strengthen the special protections for service members provided by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and the Service members Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Specifically, to address the legal traps buried in the fine print of contracts and click-through agreements: forced arbitration.  Forced arbitration has become commonplace in employee and financial contracts. Forced arbitration requires nondisclosure of the details of the proceedings and is held at a location selected by the corporation with an arbitrator hired and paid for by the corporation whose decision is binding and unable to be appealed to any impartial judge or jury. This lopsided “legal proceeding” circumvents Congress’ intent for passing special protections for service members. USERRA provides protection to service members from employment discrimination due to their military service. SCRA provides financial and legal protections for active duty personnel and their families, as well as Guard and reservists while on active duty orders.  For more information, please see https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/userra and https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/#/home respectively.

We still urge Congress to include the “Major Richard Star Act” in the FY23 Nation Defense Authorization Act.  This would allow combat-disabled retirees to receive veterans disability pay without reduction without deduction of their retired pay or combat-related special compensation. We also urge approval of the “The Afghan Adjustment Act (H.R. 8685/S.4787)” to help Afghans who, at great personal risk to them and their families, served as interpreters, and are now living in the US. 

Please call and/or write: Senator Josh Hawley, 115 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington D.C. 20510/(202) 224-6154, Senator Roy Blunt, 260 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510/(202) 224-5721, or Congressman Jason Smith, P.O. Box 4707 Poplar Bluff, MO 63902 / (573) 609-2996.

Concerning the Camp LeJeune water issue. The PACT ACT authorizes lawsuits, however the VFW Veterans Service office recommends veterans not to join a lawsuit until the VA clarifies how the settlements will affect service-connected benefits and care.  For more information, please contact the VFW VSO, Jim Juergens at the Poplar Bluff VAMC at James.Juergens@va.gov, or (573) 778-4614.

Now for a few reminders:

Veterans in the VA health care system can receive free flu vaccinations through the Community Care Network in-network retail pharmacies and urgent care partners. Just present a valid, government-issued ID.  To confirm your eligibility call the VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, at (573) 686-4151 or call 844-MyVA311 (844-698-2311), select 1 and then select 1 again.  For locations, see https://www.va.gov/communitycare/flushot.asp .

For more for information concerning local VA health care call the Poplar Bluff VAMC at (573) 686-4151 or https://www.poplarbluff.va.gov/services/index.asp

The VA one-stop telephone number is 1-800-698-2411 and press “0” to reach a live agent for immediate assistance. The VA one stop website is VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs .

The Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) one-stop Benefits and Resource Portal is www.veteranbenefits.mo.gov or call (573) 522-4061.

To order military service documents such as a DD 214/Separation Document or Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), contact the National Archives, National Personnel Records Center at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records, or call (866) 272-6272.

For more information, contact Jay Parks, Randy Tolliver, or Heather King at (573) 330-1020, or email post6660@movfw.org , or go to https://movfw.org.

“Here to Serve”