Vet's Corner:Things to remember

By Ron Verini
Friday, October 10, 2008 11:25 AM PDT

October 1983 marked the beginning of today’s Islamist (extremist) war of terrorism. The Hezbollah terrorist attack on the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, occurred this month back in 1983. That was 18 years before 9/11. Iranians financed and unobtrusively organized the Hezbollah attack, and the United States has very little press about it, and our government also is very quiet! Just a little food for thought.

The VA announced it is now accepting electronic applications from claimants. The online applications will be accepted from veterans, survivors and others filing for disability compensation, pension, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits. To apply online, access www.va.gov/onlineapps.htm. For more information on VA benefits, access www.va.gov or call toll free (800) 827-1000, or if you wish to apply in person, call Malheur County Service Officer Bill Thomson, (541) 889-6649, Monday through Thursday.

The barbecue was a great success for American Legion Nyssa Post No. 79 headed up by Commander H. Reid Holcomb. The event drew 50-plus veterans and their families from this area. What was nice about this barbecue was all veterans and families were invited, not just the members of the local post, so indeed it was a community event. This event also honored many of the long-time veterans who celebrated 25 through 47 years of service with the American Legion: Gene Stunz, 47 years, Victor Haburchak, 43 years, Bruce Campbell, 28 years, Arleigh L. Adams and Royce Roberts, 26 years, and Delbert Malloy, 25 years. The community of veterans all got a chance to tell each other stories about their past and share what they are doing now. By the time this barbecue was over there was not a stranger in sight.

Yes folks, there are many great things happening in our community of veterans and active duty military personnel, including one event next month. The United States Army Field Band, which is the musical jazz ambassador of the Army from Washington, D.C., will perform Nov. 8 at the Four Rivers Cultural Center.

This free concert will be a main event for Ontario considering The ambassadors have toured in Europe, India and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, as well as the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island. This group will be sponsored by the Argus Observer and the Four Rivers Cultural Center.

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As the time gets near, I will let you know how you will be able to obtain tickets as these will be a special commodity indeed. Our own Snake River Corrections Color Guard will give honor to this very important event for our city as well as the Treasure Valley. 

The Talking Books and Braille Services distributed the new digital card and digital players to 47 veterans in Idaho who were the first on the list to get this new system, which will be taking the place of the old cassette. This new system should be easier to use and, over time, should be available in our local library system and other agencies as well as online. The Talking Books and Braille Services is a federally-funded program that provides a free service to enhance the quality of life through reading to print-disabled Americans.

We should all thank U.S. Rep. Greg Walden for his voting record supporting veterans rights and strong national defense. This was brought to my attention by the Political Action Committee of the National VFW.

Attention all lawyers, the Oregon State Bar Military Assistance Panel program is designed to address legal concerns of Oregon soldiers and their families. The panel provides opportunities for Oregon attorneys to receive specialized training and offer pro bono services to active duty service members deployed overseas.

For more information about how you might join more than 120 volunteer attorneys in Oregon to help these service members please contact the Oregon State Bar about this very important program. This is sponsored by the ABA and you will be eligible for three general MCLE credits.

“The only thing of consequence is what we do,” John Ruskin.

Ronald Verini is a local veterans advocate who writes a weekly column for the Argus Observer. He can be contacted at (541) 881-8881, or pencilsforpeace@q.com, or P.O. Box 933, Ontario OR, 97914