Bedfordtimesregister.com - Veteran's Beat: Twinsburg Post picks leaders

by Ron Seman

At a recent meeting of Twinsburg VFW Post 4929, members re-elected Joe Jasany as their commander for the 2009-10 term. He is a U.S. Marine veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Currently, he works as the DARE officer for the Twinsburg Police Department.

Also elected to serve with Jasany were Jim Susnick, senior vice commander; Steve Onyski, junior vice commander; Ken Roddie, chaplain; and Kevin Sterling, quartermaster.

The officers will be installed at the May 12 meeting, 7 p.m., at the post home, 9825 Ravenna Road.

In other post happenings, members are in the process of collecting worn, soiled or unserviceable American flags, which will be retired in a dignified disposal program on Saturday, April 25. The site for the ceremony is Glen Chamberlin Park, at noon. Invited to witness and to take part in the program are post and auxiliary members, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and residents of Twinsburg.

Drop-off boxes for flags to be retired are located at Twinsburg City Hall, Richner Hardware and the Twinsburg Public Library.

PAC Chairman Beverly Kress conducted a "Soup, Sandwich and Dessert Supper" for the benefit of the auxiliary's monetary donation. The "cheesy-broccoli" soup was a grand success. The profits will be sent to the VFW's PAC Fund.

The post and auxiliary's monthly bingo treats for patients at the Brecksville VA Hospital will be Thursday, April 23, in Building 7 at 6:30 p.m. Homemade cookies and banana bread will be served. Bakers include Marge Yanok, Louise Jackson and Nina Landals. Assisting in the program are Yanok, Jackson, Eleanore Csontos, Cmdr. Jasany and post hospital chairman Ken Roddie.

Csontos tells us that May 1 is Loyalty Day. Veterans and area residents are reminded to fly the American Flag. She says the VFW fought for a long time to get the federal government to recognize May 1 as Loyalty Day, an effort that was started at the national convention in 1949. Finally, in 1958, the U.S. Congress proclaimed in a bill that the date of May 1 every year would henceforth be known as Loyalty Day in America.

A further note, when the Pledge of Allegiance is recited, remember that there is no pause between "One Nation Under God."

Questions? Call Csontos at 330-963-0338.

OHIO VETS BONUS: The Ohio Legislature recently approved a cash bonus for Ohio veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Veterans will receive $100 for every month served up to a maximum of $1,000.

VA SPENDING: The Department of Veterans Affairs will spend more than $1.4 billion as part of President Obama's economic recovery plan to improve services to America's veterans, according to an April 4 news release.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enables the VA to improve medical facilities and national cemeteries, provide grants to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities, and to modify of alter existing facilities to care for veterans.

VA will dedicate the stimulus funds to hire and train 1,500 temporary claims processors to speed benefits delivery to veterans and pursue needed information technology initiatives for improved benefits and services. Funds will also be used to oversee and audit programs, grants and projects funded under the stimulus bill.

As part of the president's recovery plan, VA will also make one-time payments of $250 to eligible veterans and survivors to mitigate the effects of the current economy. These payments will be issued as early as June 2009. VA estimates $700 million in payments will be made to eligible beneficiaries as part of this measure.

To be eligible for the $250 payment, VA beneficiaries must have received compensation, pension, dependency and indemnity compensation or spina bifida benefits at any time between November 2008 and January 2009. Also, beneficiaries must reside within the U.S. or Puerto Pico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

No application is necessary. VA will use its existing payment records to determine eligibility for the $250 payment.

Beneficiaries will receive their payments the same way they receive their monthly VA benefits (either by direct deposit or mail). VA will inform beneficiaries and the public when releasing the payments. The law allows one $250 payment per individual. The payment is tax-free. VA beneficiaries who also receive benefits from the Social Security Administration or Railroad Retirement Board will be paid through those agencies, and will therefore not receive the payment from VA.

More details, including VA stimulus project timelines, will be available May 1.

REMEMBER our men and women serving America in Iraq, Afghanistan and at other posts around the world. Keep them in your daily prayers. Write a letter, send a package of goodies and tell them that you support their unselfish service.

News items for this column can be mailed to Ron Seman, 5811 Renwood Drive, Parma, OH 44129, or e-mail SemanRJ@aol.com. Thanks!