LA COUNTY VETERAN NEWS Dec. 2017

This is the first edition of the department’s monthly newsletter to communicate who

we are and what we do for our veteran community within Los Angeles County. Our

goals for this communication tool is to build awareness of benefits and services, pro-

mote and support community events, and spotlight programs and activities.

We serve veterans and families at our headquarters in Bob Hope Patriotic Hall as

well as 20 field offices and sites across the County. Each month we will highlight one of

our field offices or sites to acquaint you with the staff and specialized services offered.

This edition features the Veteran’s Driver’s License Program resulting in more than

7,000 verifications since November 2015 and more than 2,000 V.A. claims filed. We

are also proud to host the new Veteran’s America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) in

partnership with the Board of Supervisors 1st District and the Department of Workforce

Development, Aging and Community Services. Celebrating Veteran’s Day weekend

the department partnered with the West Los Angeles Veteran’s Medical Center and the

Los Angeles National Cemetery Administration honoring the sacrifices of our military

and veterans. The department also participated with the Chinese American Military

Support organization memorializing the contributions of the Chinese American Armed

Forces. A two day exhibit showcasing World War II and Global War on Terrorism Chi-

nese American veterans was held at the San Marino Community Center. Finally, the

National President of the National Association of Black Women Veterans met with

members at Patriotic Hall.

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, Second District Supervisor, Chairman of the Board, with

the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs recognized our department at the

first annual Department Recognition to thank us for supporting the County’s small busi-

ness utilizations goals and contributing to the growth of the local economy. We re-

ceived the Notable Achievement Award – Local Small Business Enterprise Utilization

for a small to mid-sized department for surpassing the goal of 25 percent. Special

thanks to Hovhannes Vardanyan, Jose Garcia, and Michelle Jiang for their dedication

to excellence.

We look forward to bringing you more information next month.

Ruth A. Wong, Director

Brig. Gen, USAF (ret)

A Message from Director Ruth Wong

Opening of the VAJCC

at Bob Hope Patriotic

Hall

Veterans Driver’s

License Program

Veterans Day Celebra-

tion at West LA

LA County Veteran of

the Year, WWII Veter-

an George W. Ciampa

Upcoming Events

In This Issue

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Please contact the Depart-

ment of

Military and Veteran Affairs

at 213-765-9680 to speak

with a Veteran Service

Officer

You may also visit our

website at

www.mva.lacounty.gov to

access the list of our offic-

es located throughout LA

County

Director Ruth Wong, Cynthia Banks, Director of WDACS, and 1st Dis-trict Supervisor Hilda Solis cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the VAJCC on November 7, 2017 at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall.

—A Los Angeles County Veterans America’s Job Center of California (Veterans AJCC) opened on November 7 at the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall. The Veterans AJCC, will be located on the 4th floor and will provide employment and training programs to veterans and their families.

The center aims to not only aid veterans in their job search, but also to help them ease into the transition to civilian life.

“The Veterans AJCC at Patriotic Hall is a critical part of the County’s growing emphasis on workforce development, which embraces our commitment to targeting services for priority populations, including Veterans, while ensuring that we prepare workers for employment in growing sectors of our regional economy” said Hilda Solis, LA County Supervisor for the First District.

Interested in learning more? Contact the Veterans AJCC of Bob Hope

Patriotic Hall at (213) 742-9560

Interested in learning

about

Veterans AJCC Opens at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall

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Veteran Driver’s License Program Effective November 12, 2015, eligible veterans have the opportunity to add the word “VETERAN” to the front

of their driver’s license or ID card to indicate that they have served in the U.S. military. It can also play a

critical role in enabling access to certain privileges, benefits, or compensation associated with being a

veteran without having to carry and produce a certificate of release or discharge from active duty.

Veterans and reservists are eligible who:

Have active duty service for purposes other than training—no minimum number of days is re-

quired. NOTE: A person is considered a veteran if they were only activated for training but is

service connected or was separated during training (not for National Guard or Reservists).

Eligibility criteria for National Guard or Reserve: Mobilized for federal Active duty (other than initial active

duty for training/boot camp). Should have a DD214 for the period of active duty. A National Guard

member or Reservist who was release during training is not eligible.

Have an honorable, general, or in some cases uncharacterized discharge or a VA service connected ID

card.

How to obtain the Veteran designation:

Take a photo ID and your DD-214 or VA service connected ID to a Veteran Service Office near you.

Per CalVet regulation, we cannot accept mailed in applications, the veteran must apply in person.

A list of Veteran Service Offices for LA County can be found on http://mva.lacounty.gov/contact-us/

Photo Courtesy of US Army

Veterans in the state of California can obtain ‘veteran’

designation on their driver’s license or state ID

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The Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Los Angeles National Cemetery and the Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles held a Veterans Day celebration at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center on Saturday, November 11, 2017. The celebration began with a moving cer-emony at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, honoring those who have served. After the ceremony, a walking procession continued the celebration to the VA West Los Angeles for a car show, a resource fair, and a barbeque. Luis Guzman, actor, producer, and son of a Korean War Veteran, spoke at the event and met with veterans and their families.

Highlights from the West LA VA Veteran’s Day Celebration

Joel Castellanos, Veteran Intern for LA County DMVA, poses for a photo with actor Luis

Guzman at the West LA VA Veteran’s Day Celebration.

Director Ruth Wong stands with Joel Castellanos and Chad Mackey, Veteran

Interns for LA County DMVA, at the West LA VA Veteran’s Day Celebration.

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Congratulations to LA County Veteran of the Year

George W. Ciampa

George W. Ciampa was drafted into the Army during World War II at the age of 18. He deployed to England in March

of 1944 and landed on the Utah Beach in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, amidst heavy enemy resistance

as a member of the 607th Grave Registration Company. Over the next 11 months his company was assigned to col-

lect the remains of approximately 75,000 American and enemy soldiers killed in action and arrange for their burial in

17 temporary cemeteries.

After the war, George attended El Camino College and the University of Southern California. He worked for 40 years,

including 18 years as Special Features Manager with the LA Times.

Since 2006, George has produced five documentaries, chronicling the history of World War II. These documentaries

have aired on PBS stations all over the country, His films emphasize the high cost of freedom and through his non-

profit, Let Freedom Ring, he has taken young high school teachers and combat veterans to France and Belgium to

educate them on what it was like for local citizens to live under Nazi occupation. George’s goal is to distribute these

documentaries to over 2,1000 high schools in California, so that a whole new generation will be educated in the hero-

ism of our WWII veterans.

George W. Ciampa has worked tirelessly to not only serve his country, but to ensure that the price of freedom, and

the sacrifices of his fellow veterans are never forgotten.

Photo Courtesy of Department of Defense

Director Ruth Wong and Supervisor Janice Hahn present LA County Veteran of the Year,

George W. Ciampa and his wife Ruth Ciampa with his award on Nov 7, 2017.

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Upcoming Events

Dec 8: Women Veterans Program #Metoo —Now What? Event at Bob Hope Patriotic

Hall

Dec 15 Jewish Vocational Services First/AJCC Veterans: Spirit of the Holidays

Jan 17 American Legion Static Display in lobby: 100th Anniversary of the GI Bill

Director Ruth Wong, director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Veterans Advisory Commissioner Patricia

Jackson-Kelley meet, with the National Association of Black Women Veterans at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, November, 2017.

Janice Hahn, LA County Fourth District

Supervisor, presents Army Veteran Alvin

Woodward , with his certificate of appre-

ciation for representing fourth district as

Pledge Vet. Interested in becoming a

Pledge Vet and representing your dis-

trict? Contact your closest LA County

Veteran Service Office for more infor-

mation or call 213-765-9680

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Meet the staff at Long Beach VA Medical Center

Long Beach VA Medical Center

5901 E. 7th Street, Bldg 8, Room 104

Long Beach, CA 90822

Main: 562-826-8000 Ext: 24657

Fax: 562-826-5284

Hours: M-F 8 am—4 pm

Need help with your claim? Interested in obtain-

ing the Veteran designation on your license?

Help with federal and state veteran benefits can

be found at the Long Beach VA Medical Center.

Visit LA County Veteran Service Officers Tiffany

Apodaca and Ernest Hughes

Tiffany Apodaca, Veteran Claims

Assistant (pictured center)

Tiffany Apodaca has been working for the

Department of Military and Veteran Affairs

and making a difference in the lives of LA

County Veterans since 2007.

In 2016 while working full time for DMVA, she

graduated from California State University,

Los Angeles with her Bachelor’s degree in

Biochemistry.

A four year Navy veteran, she came to our

department as a VA work study and Veteran

intern before she became a Veterans Claim

Representative in 2014.

With over 10 years of experience Tiffany is

as knowledgeable as she is passionate about

helping her fellow veterans.

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