The Desert Oracle A Member Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America

January-February 2013

Vol.8

2

Paralyzed Veterans of America Arizona Chapter

E-mail - azpva@azpva.org Web - www.azpva.org

The views expressed in the articles of the Desert Oracle are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the AZPVA. Any article not attributed to an individual / group was compiled with available information by APVA staff/members. The Desert Oracle does encourage our readers to submit their articles, interests and/or rebuttals.

Officers John Tuzzolino, President Gordon Moye, Vice President Leonard Smith, Secretary Dianne Brunswick, Treasurer

Board of Directors Roger Lainson Larry Lattomus John Lawrence Frank Rigo Sue Wudy Joe Chitty National Director Leonard Smith

Hospital/ Services Coordinator Peter Quinn Executive Director Peter R. Quinn Administrative Assistant Anthony O’Clair PVA National Service Office Andy Leyda , Service Officer Jacqueline Berkshire, Senior Secretary PVA National Service Office 3333 N. Central Ave., Ste. 1055 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-627-3311 Fax- 602-627-3315 800-795-3582

5015 N 7th Ave. Suite 2 Phoenix, AZ 85013 Office: (602)-244-9168 Fax: (602) 244-0416 1-800-621-9217 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am – 4:00pm

Contents

Board of Directors…….………..….……..…..pg. 2

Notes from the Executive Director.....…..….pg. 3

Bill Expanding Child Health Care…….….…..pg.4

Classifieds….………...…..……………..……..pg.5

State of Union to Veterans……....….….…...pg. 6

Coins Left on Tombstones….………….…….pg.7

Operation PAVE………..……..……....……...pg. 8

Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW)..…….pg. 9

Calendar of Events…..…..………..…...……pg.10

Membership Report..……...……………..…pg. 10

Birthdays…………..…..……………………...pg.11

* The Desert Oracle is Published 6 x per Year

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It is already February and the changes keep pouring in. During last year’s convention it was voted that all the Chapters would follow the same model By-Laws. The first article reads Paralyzed Veterans of America Arizona Chapter. You can see the new logo we will be using to replace the familiar symbols of our past. However it is part of a National “branding“ campaign to assist us in getting the name recognition we need so badly. It is rather ironic that an organization that gets named 49th on Forbes top 100 non-profits is indistinguishable from other Veteran organizations. We need to change. Our losses; both in the Chapter and National PVA family and friends, has never been felt more. The sad part is that with all the connections the Chapter and its members have, we cannot seem to find the many possible members who are here in Arizona. We could use their help as much as they could use ours. When you go to the VA and have a positive experience, do you make an effort to tell someone? When you have a less than desirable experience or even a bad experience do you report it? If you do not let us or the National Service Officer know, then the situation cannot be remedied. We are working on various programs and we are looking for someone who is knowledgeable about social media. The Chapter needs a better presence online to reach potential members. If you are experienced please call the office. The National Veterans Wheelchair Games are in Tampa, Florida this year. Please have your applications in by April 10th so we know how many coaches we can send. The Chapter has had a lot of request for medical equipment and supplies and we were curious as to how many of you have equipment just sitting around gathering dust. There is a large demand for sports and bath equipment. We also get request for wound care and urological supplies. The supplies must be sealed and it would be best to remove your name from all items. This is an election year and the slate will be presented at the meeting in April. If you might be interested in running for the Board of Directors please contact the office ASAP, so the committee can contact you before they present their final recommendations. The Chapter will be holding our Annual Trap Shoot at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club October 25th -26th. We will also be attempting another pistol shoot the 24th if we get enough participants.

Enjoy the cool spring weather as the time changes everywhere else and the heat will be soon upon us.

Executive Director AZPVA

Notes From The Executive Director

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Paralyzed Veterans of America Supports Bill to Expand Health Care for CHAMPVA Children Paralyzed Veterans of America is supporting new legislation that was recently introduced by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Jon Tester (D-MT), to adjust current eligibility requirements for children who receive health care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). This legislation would raise the maximum age for CHAMPVA eligibility from 23 to age 26. “This legislation is critical to ensure that dependent children of severely disabled veterans are afforded the same health care protection as all other children,” said Bill Lawson, U.S. Army veteran and national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “It is simply unacceptable that the only children who do not have the benefit of extended health care coverage are those children of the men and women who have sacrificed so much.” Currently, children who are CHAMPVA beneficiaries lose their eligibility for coverage at age 23, if not before. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act a child may stay on a parent’s health insurance plan to age 26. The legislation introduced by Sens. Murray and Tester would bring eligibility under the VA program into parity with the private sector. CHAMPVA is a VA health insurance program that provides coverage for certain eligible dependents and survivors of veterans rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition. CHAMPVA is a cost-sharing program that reimburses providers and facilities a determined allowable amount, minus patient copayment and deductible. Once a veteran becomes VA-rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability, the veteran’s spouse and dependents are then eligible to enroll in CHAMPVA.

Register for the 2013 National Veterans Wheelchair Games Registration is open for 33rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games, July 13-18, 2013, Tampa, FL. The Games are presented by Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Each year more than 500 novice and experienced athletes meet for a week of archery, swimming, weightlifting, basketball, quad rugby and more. It's the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the largest annual wheelchair sports competition of its kind in the world. Throughout the week, veterans realize their abilities and potential while enjoying the spirit of healthy activity and fellowship. Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs have co-presented the Games since 1985. 33rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games Tampa, FL July 13-18, 2013 "Seize the Day in Tampa Bay"

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Paralyzed Veterans of America Welcomes State of the Union Promise to Veterans Paralyzed Veterans of America is welcoming President Obama's State of the Union promise to "keep faith with our veterans" on quality heath care, benefits and job opportunities. "Our men and women who have served and sacrificed deserve action from our leaders," said Bill Lawson, US Army veteran and national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. "Paralyzed Veterans of America stands with our Commander-in-Chief and with Congress in what we hope will be a united bipartisan effort in the coming months to approve and appropriate historic levels of funding for quality veterans' health care and benefits." In his address, his fifth since taking office in 2009, Mr. Obama said: “We will keep faith with our veterans -- investing in world-class care, including mental health care, for our wounded warriors; supporting our military families; and giving our veterans the benefits, education, and job opportunities they have earned." Last week, Paralyzed Veterans of America urged the Administration and Congress to provide $68.4 billion to sufficiently meet veterans’ health care and benefits needs. The recommendation was made in the FY 2014 Independent Budget -- an annual comprehensive budget and policy document, co authored by four of the nation's leading veterans organizations. The IB also noted the fact that VA is currently being funded by a six-month continuing resolution -- leaving vital VA programs to operate in an uncertain and inefficient manner. Mr. Obama's main focus in his address was on economic recovery -- and veterans have an important role to play as America's economy gets moving again. "Hiring more veterans is not just the right thing to do for America, but it's a strategy that will help to reignite our economy," stressed Lawson. "Veterans make great employees. They have served in the best military force in the world. They possess world-class skills. They are great team players. They are loyal. They are decisive, committed, and enthusiastic. Add veterans to any workforce and your business gets stronger, as does the economy." Lawson will testify in March before the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees, to urge full implementation of The Independent Budget.

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COINS LEFT ON TOMBSTONES While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that headstones marking certain graves have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave. These coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America's military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin. A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited. A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the solider when he was killed. According to tradition, the money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans. In the US, this practice became common during the Vietnam war, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier's family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war. Some Vietnam veterans would leave coins as a "down payment" to buy their fallen comrades a beer or play a hand of cards when they would finally be reunited. The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire.

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OPERATIONPAVE:PVA’sVocationalProgram!Re‐enteringtheWorkforceItisfrighteningsometimestothinkaboutgoingbacktoworkifyou’vebeenoutoftheworkforceforafewyearsordecades!Leavingthejobmarketisdoneforlotsofreasons:*Raiseafamily*Earlyretirement*Don’tneedthemoney*Getmarried*Disability(s)Returningtothejobmarketisdoneforlotsofreasons:*Childrengrown*Financialproblems*Bored*Personalful illment*DeathofspouseTakestockofyourself.Figurewhatyouwanttodo.Whatmakesyouhappy?Whatareyourskills?Whatareyourinterests?Bepatient.

Takeaskillsinventory:*Areskillsyouhaveapplicableintheworkforce?Dotheyneedtobeupdated?*Doyouhaveskillsrelatedtonon‐paidlifeexperience?Thinkaboutthis:makenotes.*Listnon‐paidexperienceandseewhatskillscomefromthat.Haveyouhelpedafamilymemberwithabusiness?Haveyouvolunteeredsomewhere?Doyourresearch.Findoutwhatskillsareneededintheareawhereyouliveandwhatskillsyouhaveordonothave.Checkjobadsinyourarea.Checkonclassesavaila‐bleatalocalcommunitycollege.Explore.Figurewhatyouneedtodoandwhen.Itisoktotakesmallsteps.Onceyouknowwhatkindofjoborjobsyouwouldliketopursueandhavefoundoutwhatkindsofjoborjobsareindemandintheareawhereyoulivethenyoucan igureifyouhavetheskillsornecessarybackgroundtopursuesuchwork…ifnot,thenidentifywhereyoucangaintheexperienceorskills.Remembertonetwork.Talktopeople(family,friends,collegead‐visors,employmentcounselors,vocationalrehabilitationcounse‐lors)whocanhelp.InternetResources:www.msmoney.com/mm/career/transitions/reenter_workforce/reenter?workforce?intro.htm(informationforwomenreturningtowork)www.iRelaunch.org(giveswebinarsandseminarsaboutgettingbacktowork)

www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/career/re‐entering(informationforreturningcollegegraduates)www.jobsearch.about.com/od/workfromhome/a/workathomejobs.htm(workfromhomeideasandsuggestions)VeteranswithSpinalCordInjuryorSpinalCordDiseasewhomaybereceivingSSDIorSSIandwishtoworkmightconsidercallingaParalyzedVeteransofAmericaCerti iedVocationalRehabilitationCounselor.Contactinformation:JoanHaskins,M.A.,CRCRehabilitationCounselorOf ice:562‐826‐8000Ext:4607Toll‐Free:1‐888‐771‐8387Ext:4607Email:joanh@pva.org

www.OperationPAVE.org

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PHOENIX – The CAF Arizona Wing Avia on Museum, located at Falcon Field in Mesa Arizona, announced today the names of four dis nguished honorees to be inducted into the Arizona Military Avia on Walk of Honor at a ceremony to be held on February 16, 2013. The four honorees include General Seth J. McKee, USAF, ret., Major General Barry M. Goldwater, Sr., USAFR, Colonel Bruce P. Crandall, U. S. Army, ret., and Captain Ted E. Lines, USAAF. Biographical sketches of each honoree are included as an a achment with this release. The Induc on Ceremony will take place at a dinner recognizing the four Inductees on Saturday evening, February 16, 2013 at the Phoenix Hilton East‐Mesa Hotel, 1011 W. Holmes, Mesa, Arizona 85210. Cocktails will be served from 5:30 p.m. un l 6:30 p.m. Dinner and the induc on ceremony will follow. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Colonel Joseph B. Wilson, commander of the 161st Maintenance Group, Arizona Air Na onal Guard, Sky Harbor Interna onal Airport and former Air Na onal Guard Advisor to the commander, Oklahoma City Air Logis cs Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The event is made possible in part by MD Helicopters, Inc. Other sponsors will be announced as confirmed. Reserva ons for the Induc on Dinner can be made by calling 480‐268‐2144 or by email to XO@azcaf.org. Admission is $45.00 per person. The Arizona Military Avia on Walk of Honor was established by the Museum in 2012 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of na ve, resident or former resident Arizonans, living or deceased, who made noteworthy contribu ons in flying, manufacturing, educa on, engineering, opera ons or other ac vi es of a commendable nature related to military avia on development. Members of the public are invited to nominate eligible individuals for considera on by a

Selec on Commi ee made up of Museum members and experts in the field. Inductees are announced by the close of each year for induc on in February of the following year. Once inducted, copper plaques honoring each Inductee are installed upon concrete pillars in the walk leading to the Museum. The 2013 Inductees join those honorees inducted in 2012, including Lieutenant Frank Luke, Major Fred Ferguson, Admiral W. L. Chatham, Mr. Sergei Sikorsky, Major Joseph Foss and Dr. Harry Robertson. The CAF Arizona Wing Avia on Museum is operated by the Arizona Wing of the Commemora ve Air Force. Organized in 1978 as the Arizona chapter of the Commemora ve Air Force, the Wing's mission is to restore and preserve historically important aircra and related memorabilia in order to educate the public about the significant contribu ons made by men and women in the defense of the Na on.

  HONOREES NAMED FOR INDUCTION INTO THE         ARIZONA MILITARY AVIATION WALK OF            HONOR 

The Arizona Chapter has a prosthetics Lending closet. For a small donation you can acquire a power wheelchair, a manual wheelchair, shower equipment, aluminum walkers, canes, crutches. We also have Hoyer Lifts (manual & electric) Do not hesitate to call the Chapter office if you are in need of any type of equipment. We may have just what you need.

Call us at : 602-244-9168

Attention All Readers !!!!

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Page 14

January 1st 2013

New Years Day!!!! Everywhere Everyone

January 21st 2013

Martin Luther King Day Everywhere Everyone

February 14th 2013

Valentines Day

Everywhere Everyone

February 18th 2013

Presidents Day Everywhere Everyone

When What Where Who

MEMBERSHIP REPORT from

The Arizona Chapter

The Arizona Chapter voting membership stands at 498 as of February 2013. National and APVA records show our voting membership as:

278- Service Connected 220- Non-Service Connected

The Arizona Chapter encourages each of our members to contact the Chapter and let us know how you are doing, and if we can help you in any way. If you know of any of our members who have passed away, or if you have an address/phone change, please contact the Chapter as soon as possible. Also, if you would like to receive the Desert Oracle Newsletter by e-mail, please call or e-mail the office with your e-mail address.

Do you know a veteran with spinal cord dysfunction who isn’t a member of the APVA? Let us know at the Chapter office by calling

602-244-9168 or 1-800-621-9217 e-mail: azpva@azpva.org

Any questions, or if you would like to add to the calendar

please call the office at 602-244-9168

Calendar of Events

2013

Please have someone contact our Chapter office in the event of a member’s death so that we can inform other member’s who might wish to pay their respects to the departed.

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Stewart E. Davis Donald Woodward George A. Kohl John M. Lawrence Kathleen A. Lake Francis D. Bessette Lollie A. Kesterson William R. Lambert Milton T. Scott Joseph A. DiMeco Bernard E. Hixson Gregory A. Ward John M. Gardner Kenneth A. Huckans Donald G. Thomas Willard M. Bales Richard Bead James A. Escobar Arthur C. Majalca Jose A. Dastas Nathan S. Junker Claire L. Matthews Jeffrey D. Malm Robert G. Schmidt Manuel L. Ballesteros John W. Forehand Michael J. Haase Kenneth E. Perry Dennis J. Kavanagh Frederick M. DeGalan Francis Stacy Michael J. Osolnik Reymundo Chavez Reynaldo Romero Arnold J. Gustafson

Tyson W. Sullins Margaret E. Dixon Juan C. Sanchez Merlin Hocken King O. Houston David R. Bell David D. Carlson

JANUARY - FEBRUARY

Lester O. Ackerma Edward J. Drews David Schmitz Michael F. West Hartvig E. Holmberg Shelia F. Sessions Edwin O. Nick John E. Short Brenda A. Way Scott M. Balko Marvin A. Floyd James A. Kissamitakis John R. Makin Tommy R. Brooks Stephen D. Knode Bobby L. James Billy J. Moore Charles J. Newbold Edward C. Noriega Francisco Concepcion Howard D. Deatherage Charles C. Hudson Terry J. Forcier Thomas S. Heesch Michael A. Gaita James R. Hostetter James J. Huff Matthew R. Winters David N. Ferrazzi Michael J. Berry Ernest "Burt" B. Buxton Keith M. Jacobsen Joseph E. Stanislawski Lawrence F. Celano George J. Sheehan, Jr

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