Special Bulletin from the National Chair
It is with tremendous pride and joy that I share glad tidings with all members of Veterans’ Widows(ers) International Network, Inc. (VWIN).
For the past few years, members of VWIN National Council have traveled, each at their own expenses, to meet with members of the U.S. Congress. This, in order to prompt action regarding the deficiencies of Veterans Survivors Benefits. VWIN representatives this year included Yvonne Staton, Jenell Carter, Cynthia Dawkins, Pat Kriegel, Etta McAffee, Susan Pough, Leslie Tjarks, Elsie Ryan and me.
During three 10-hour days, we walked the hard floors of the Halls of Congress (five separate bldgs) to keep our appointments with 11 Senators and 8 Representatives from both sides of the Aisle. We also met with Mr. C. Conley, American Battles Monuments Commission and the Acting Superintendent of the Park Commission, regarding the needed upgrading of the Vietnam “In Memory Plaque” on the Mall. The following five issues were also presented to each individual we met with.
1.) National office of Survivor Affairs. The need to create one national office solely dedicated to handle Veterans’ Survivors benefit inquiries became evident to the newly founded Veterans’ Widows International Network, Inc. (1995), when it began to receive inquiries from military widows who had been denied benefits. The flow of inquiries has yet to subside. A national office of Survivor Affairs would be staffed with multilingual counselors, well trained in the art of listening and patient enough to help survivors reconstruct a veteran’s 201 file. Initial inquiry forms should be made available at VA hospitals, Libraries, Congressional offices, overseas American Consulates and Retirees’ Affairs offices. 1-800 numbers should be listed in every telephone directory in the U.S. and should be required to be published in every available military organization publication.
2.) DIC/SBP offset
3.) New survivors death benefit of $100,000. In January 2005, a new survivor death benefit was launched when Senator Sessions introduced Senate bill 77 IS. This bill stipulates new widows and widowers of members of the armed forces who die while deployed in combat zones would receive $100,000 death gratuity plus proceeds from whatever insurance plans the veterans chose. Such insurance plans have recently been maximized way out of proportion for those serving overseas. This ‘new widow benefit’ would only be retroactive to October 7, 2001. What makes those survivors so different than the ones who lose their spouses to 100% service connected disabilities incurred on active duty? How do you explain to the latter category of survivors that they don’t qualify for the new survivor death benefit because their spouses did not die on active duty?
Families who take care of disabled veterans over long periods of time and watch them suffer and deteriorate, know full well their demise will be the outcome of their active duty military service, and they deserve the same considerations and compensations as those falling within the new death benefit classification. VWIN urges members of Congress to ensure all veterans’ survivors qualifying for DIC to be treated equally when discussing allowances. Whether the death was today or years ago, the loss of one life is no greater than the loss of another’s.
VWIN is fully cognizant that this Law cannot be rescinded. In lieu, it is submitting the request that an increase of $250 to be added to the monthly checks received by all DIC recipients.
4.) Recognition of Veterans’ Widows Widowers by the Country. Each year since 2002, VWIN has requested, without success, that the President proclaim June 28 as Veterans’ Widows Day. We see this as the awareness and recognition of the people who are not in the military (Survivors) but sacrifice so much so their loved ones can support and defend this country. These people (Survivors) may not get ribbons or medals but they deserve gratitude and recognition from our nation. Latest News: State Representative Andrew Romanoff, Speaker of the House in Colorado, is ready to introduce a joint Resolution that will, if passed, "Recognize June 28, 2008 as Veterans' Widows and Widowers Day in the State of Colorado."
Proposed Presidential Resolution by the Veterans' Widow International Network (VWIN)
WHEREAS, throughout our country's history women have supported their husbands when the men were called to war, such as the two most popular ones nicknamed "Molly Pitcher" during the American Revolutionary War:
"Molly Pitcher" was a slang term given any woman who fetched water for thirsty soldiers on duty. Water was also vital for the operation of a cannon to wet and cool down the just fired hot barrel. Each woman was Pennsylvania born and married to an artillery soldier. One, by the name of Mary Ludwig Hayes was at her husband's side when he was killed during the Battle of Monmouth, NJ, on June 28, 1778. Similarly, the other "Molly Pitcher", named Margaret Corbin, stood and served by her husband in the Battle of Washington, NY. Both women became widows as a result of their husbands' deaths in battle and both heroically took over their fallen husbands' artillery position and continued to help fire the cannon throughout the battle. And both had to struggle to survive similarly as most of our Nation's veterans' Survivors have done throughout the ages and still do nowadays! "
- Alan C. Aimone - Senior Special Collections Librarian, United States Military Academy West Point, New York.
WHEREAS, since those days more than 200 years ago, servicemen’ spouses have followed their husbands from place to place within the United States as well as overseas, giving up career opportunities, raising families on the go, sometimes under most trying circumstances; and
WHEREAS, these women who, during their husbands' active duty career unselfishly made great sacrifices to insure the support and welfare of our armed forces on the local and national levels; and
WHEREAS, since veterans' widows do not have a national 'home' where to address their request, as suggested by the VETERANS' WIDOWS INTERNATIONAL NETWORK, Inc.
NOW THEREFORE, I, George W. Bush, do hereby proclaim this June 28 and others to follow, VETERANS' WIDOWS DAY, to be observed each year throughout the United States, in order to focus the attention of our great Nation upon these women who have so gallantly earned our profound gratitude and admiration.
5.) Ten years waiting period. The Dependent and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefit eligibility criteria requires that a veteran be continuously rated totally disabled (100%) for a period of ten or more years immediately preceding the death. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs should take into consideration the date when the 100% disability rating is first applied for, instead of the date when the disability award is granted. In view of the fact the U.S. courts statute of limitation at its longest is only seven years and that there are other different statutes of limitation for different causes of actions, this ten years requirement should be reduced.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs should only call for five or six years waiting period. The survivor, who has provided most of the care of the veteran for so many years, should not be barred from receiving DIC. The present criterion is neither fair nor justified.
In addition of the above five issues Susan Pough, who works for the VA Nursing long term System, had prepared a report regarding the issue of the lack of appropriate staff-to-patient ratios at veterans long term facilities and the lack of quality care patients are receiving. She also questioned the skill, knowledge, caliber, credentials, and background of the doctors employed at VA hospitals, as well as the issue of neglect/misdiagnoses and death of VA patients.
All together, the trip to Washington was an exhausting but electrifying experience. We received a positive reaction half of individuals with whom we met. In particular, we must acknowledge Senator Landrieu of Louisiana. She took our breath away when she stated she was going to introduce legislation to create an office dedicated to handling veteran survivor benefit inquiries. VWIN has been working toward this goal since 1998.
Please join with us, become a supportive member of VWIN.
Cheers, Edmée J. Hills
Please keep in mind our four VWIN Representatives went to D.C. at their own expenses.
Special Request
Donations are needed to allow VWIN to serve as a resource for those who call or email for help and to carry on in support of our goals as outlined above. Please consider making a donation in honor of a loved one or in memory of a veteran at a special time of the year. Or you may choose to donate funds to assist with travel costs associated with sending VWIN representatives to the annual VWIN meetings in Washington, D.C.
VWIN is a 501-c3 designated organization, so contributions are fully deductible. In order to make a donation, please send a check to VWIN c/o Joyce Spaulding, 1953 South Newark Way, Aurora, CO 80014.
You can also donate online with a credit card. Please click the "Donate" button.
Veterans' Widows/ers International Network 303.693.4745