Healing Wall Tour

VVA-885 announces a new fund raising initiative to aid combat brothers in their efforts to reduce the pain and suffering associated with their Vietnam experience.

The chapter asks for your help as we organize a "Healing Wall Tour" to connect  brothers with one another and with those they lost in Vietnam. If the initiative is successful, combat brothers will travel to the Vietnam Memorial on the National Mall to participate in a prayer remeberance ceremony, when they will honor the dead and simultaneously celebrate the service of themselves who have survived. Unlike other cohorts of veterans who were honored with Welcome Home parades to thank them for their service, these veterans must organize their own honor tour.

Please consider opening your wallet to help with this initiative and thus show Vietnam Veterans that the public appreciates their sacrifice.

For yor convenience, you can donate to our cause by using the pay-Pal window on the right. Or, you can send a check or money order to VVA-885, 801 Princess Street, PO Box 4582, Wilmington, NC 28403.

For more information please contact our chapter office at (910) 762-4288.

Six veterans plead guilty to Agent Orange benefits fraud

Scheme allegedly run by former high-ranking state benefits claim officer

By Kevin Rector, The Baltimore Sun

8:28 a.m. EDT, May 2, 2013

Six military veterans from Maryland pleaded guilty to fraud charges this week in a scheme to obtain federal military benefits and state tax breaks with faked documentation claiming they were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. Read more...

Chapter Election Results for 2013-2014

(April 22, 2013) Elections for the 2013-2014 term for officers of VVA-885 were held during the business portion of the April meeting.

Sleep Apnea and Diabetes Mellitus Type II

Submitted by Tony Mosolino

Under docket number 10 – 43 940A dated March 01 2013, the Board of Veterans Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs decided on an Appeal from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Winston-Salem North Carolina the issue being “Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to It service connection obstructive sleep apnea.” The Board issued the following order based on a decision made by S. B. Mays Acting Veteran Law Judge, Board of Veterans Appeals – Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, secondary to sleep apnea is granted.

Poaching Veterans’ Pensions

Veterans and their families are a target for some dishonest advisers who are claiming to offer free help with paperwork for pension claims.

The scheme involves attorneys, financial planners, and insurance agents trying to get veterans to make decisions about their pensions, without giving them the whole truth.  These unscrupulous brokers try to convince veterans to transfer their assets to a trust or to invest in insurance products.  What they don’t reveal is that these transactions could mean the loss of eligibility for Medicaid services or loss of access to their money for a long time. 

Adding insult to injury, the advisers are charging fees that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars for their services.

Learn more:  http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0349-poaching-veterans-pensions

Coastal Carolina Air Show - Update

EDITORIAL: Working at the airshow was a huge fundraiser, not only for VVA-885 who used the donations to support the local veteran community, but for many local charities and organizations in the area. It's contribution to  our area will be missed more than we will know.

For the past several years, members of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 885, in Wilmington has served on the service side of the Coastal Carolina Air Show as the chairpersons of three event committees for the enjoyment of the public and to support a little piece of our aviation history in Southeastern North Carolina.

Unfortunately, it's the end of an era. Something else about which you can tell stories to your children and grandchildren.

I wonder what Orville and Wilbur would think?

Please see the story and comments from WWAY-TV3

Veteran Connection Meeting

Beginning on March 6, 2013, a completely confidential and self run meeting for Veterans andActice Duty personnel to discuss and attempt to resolve reintegration into civilian life and military service connected issues.

For those of any era, any branch of service, any type of discharge.

Meeting Time: Thursdays 1300 (1 PM Air Force time) – 1400 (2 PM)

Meeting Place: Vietnam Veterans of America, 801 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC (corner of 8^th & Princess)

For more information contact: Desert Storm Combat Veteran - Mary Skov 910-264-6936 (cell)

[available for individual peer support also]