Base Cleveland Veteran News 28 April 2017 Prepared and distributed monthly to Veterans and supporters of those who served Special Events End of the Vietnam War Ceremony An end of the Vietnam War ceremony will be held on the Veterans Memorial Plaza at Mall A at 5 PM Sunday, April 30, 2017. The ceremony will include the reading of the 418 Vietnam Veterans from Cuyahoga County killed in Vietnam. 15th Annual Rally for the Troops The “15th Annual Rally for Troops” will be held at the Greater Cleveland Veterans Memorial, also known as the Fountain of Eternal Life at 11 AM Sunday, April 30, 2017. John “KIKS” Kikol, the rally organizer stated that ‘the purpose of the Rally is to acknowledge the sacrifices of our active military, veterans from wars past and present and Ohio’s Gold Star Families who have lost a loved one in combat or active duty.” Today less than one half of one percent (or approximately 1,250,000 men and women) are actively serving our country in the uniform of our military and they are the true defenders of our daily freedoms, which many of us take for granted. They stand between us and the societies that want to destroy our western way of life and take away our freedoms. The Rally wants to emphasize that me must continue to express our never-ending support and prayers for our active military and their safe return to their families. Unfortunately many of our veterans return home with missing limbs and invisible wounds (post-traumatic stress disorder or P.T.S.D.) that will haunt them for a lifetime and we must continue to express our demands that our government in the form of the Department of Veterans Affairs make extra effort to attend to their daily needs. We unfortunately read in the media of suicides by our veterans that sometimes includes their spouse and children. These men and women need immediate counseling in an effort to reduce and try to eliminate these troubled souls. Monica Robins of WKYC is the Master of Ceremonies and will open the Rally with the singing of the National Anthem. Speakers include Marine LtCol Chalkley, 3/25 Inspector-Instructor; Matthew Slater, Director of Veteran Services and Valor Homes;Michele Weiland, Facility Director Lorain VA Outpatient Clinic; Edward Pfahl,Vietnam Army Veteran and Jack Newman, 30-year Navy veteran, representing NEOPAT. The Rally is open to the public and there is no cost to attend. As in past years, assuming good weather, an expected one thousand plus motorcyclists will ride to the Rally from various Harley Davidson dealerships. The Rally for Troops will begin promptly at 11:00 AM with the 3/25 Marine Color Guard from Brook Park Ohio presenting the Flag. After the speakers conclude their remarks there will be a reading of the names of the “Two Hundred and Seventy-Nine” Ohio’s Fallen Heroes from Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Strongsville VFW Post 3345 will honor Ohio’s “Two Hundred and Seventy-Nine” Fallen Heroes with a 21-gun salute and Taps. The members of the Cleveland Firefighters Pipes and Drums will conclude the Rally with Amazing Grace. As in past years, Cleveland Rock N’ Roll Harley Davidson located at 4985 W150th in Brook Park Ohio, will host a post Rally for Troops gathering at their dealership will food and entertainment. Thanks to Mike Davis for his support of the Rally. Additionally, thanks to Eighth Day Sound for their annual support of the sound equipment for the Rally since the first year. For more information on the Rally for Troops please contact John “KIKS” Kikol Organizer at [email protected] or call 440-263-8121. The 2017 other rides or events supporting firefighters and law enforcement are the Firefighters Memorial Ride on May 28th, the Cops Ride on June 25th and Never Forget 9/11 Ride and Ceremony on September 10, 2017. For more information on the Firefighters Memorial Ride go to www.firefightersmemorialride.com and Cops Ride go towww.copsride.com USS COD Submarine Memorial: opens for daily public tours May 1, 2017 10 AM – 5 PM Fallen Comrade Ceremony A ‘Fallen Comrade Ceremony’ will be held Sunday, May 7, 2017 at the Trinity United Methodist Church at 1581 Cambridge Blvd., Columbus 2-3:30 PM This special Fallen Comrade Ceremony honors living warriors and the resulting "soul injuries" that occurred from their military service and/or combat experiences. We thank them for their service and offer a safe place to remember those lost. Family members affected by their loved ones' service are provided a safe place to remember. Caregivers and other civilians have the opportunity to show support. Military currently serving, veterans, families and all civilian community members are encouraged to participate. Child care will be provided. A time of gathering and fellowship will follow. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/central-ohios-fallen-comrade-ceremony- honor-the-living-tickets-31809471987 Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Events Calendar http://www.cleveland.va.gov/calendar.asp Ohio Veterans Memorial Park Events Calendar http://www.ovmp.org/ Cleveland Senior Day The Cleveland Department of Aging presents the 28th annual Senior Day Wednesday, May 24, 2016 at Cleveland Public Hall. For more information, www.cleveland-oh-gov/aging Cleveland Tank Plant Homecoming Military Show and Swap Meet The International Exposition (I-X) Center and the Military Vehicle Preservation Association announced the 42nd annual MVPA International Convention will be held in conjunction with the Cleveland Tank Plant Homecoming Military Show and Swap Meet June 22-24, 2017 at the I-X Center. www.IXClevelandTankShow.com USS COD Dutch Friendship Day: join the COD as they reenact COD’s WWII rescue of 55 crewman from the Dutch Submarine 019 at 2 PM Saturday, July 8, 2017. Annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade The City of Cleveland will partner and host the annual Veterans Day ceremony and Parade on Friday, November 10, 2017 News Marine who lost leg in Afghanistan finishes Boston Marathon, American flag in hand Staff Sgt. Jose Sanchez ran in the Boston Marathon on Monday because he can. In 2011, he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan and lost the lower part of his left leg. While doctors were able to save his right leg, it sustained serious injuries. “When I was recovering, I couldn’t stand up for three seconds or walk for more than two feet,” Sanchez told Runners World. “I fought for four or five years to be able to walk and lift my body. Then I wanted to push it further by doing a marathon.” On Monday, that grit was on full display as he ran for hours through the streets of Boston, wearing a smile and waving the American flag. The flag was a gift from his unit, received while he was in the hospital. He retired from service in 2013. Troops, veterans and wounded warriors show strength and courage at Boston Marathon Military Times: Among the estimated 30,000 participants in this year’s Boston Marathon were several awe-inspiring stories of soldiers and veterans who demonstrated their strength and their courage by enduring the 26.2 mile run. These are just some of the stories of the many heroes that participated in the marathon. Earl Granville, a veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, lost his left leg in Afghanistan when the vehicle he was in hit an improvised explosive device, reports Fox News. The blast killed Read the full story 4 Vietnam War veterans receive Silver Star for 1972 rescue mission Four army men who rescued seven people from a burning transport plane in 1972 during the Vietnam War will receive Silver Star medals on Tuesday for their heroic action. Read the full story POW/MIA Update: April 19, 2017 The number still missing and otherwise unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War is now 1,611. Of the 1,611 still missing (POW/MIA) and unaccounted-for (KIA/BNR), 90% were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Cambodia or Laos under Vietnam’s wartime control: Vietnam-1,258 (VN-463, VS-795); Laos-297; Cambodia-49; PRC territorial waters-7. (Country-specific numbers fluctuate when investigations result in changes to loss locations.) Since formation in 1970, the League has sought the return of all POWs, the fullest possible accounting for the missing, and repatriation of all recoverable remains. The total accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is now 972. http://www.veteransresources.org/2017/04/powmia-update-april-19- 2017/?utm_source=Feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Vet erans+Resources+Feed#.WPjN9aPD9i8 Trump to Sign Bill Extending VA Choice Program President Donald Trump was expected to sign a bill extending the current Veterans Choice Program, which allows vets to opt for private care. However, new VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin has said the program still needs a major fix from Congress before the end of the year. Shulkin said he is also counting on Congress to pass additional legislation overhauling the disability claims appeals process, adding that Trump's 90-day hiring freeze on the federal workforce had limited the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to bring on more claims processors to tackle the backlog in initial disability claims. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/04/18/trump-sign-bill-extending- va-choice-program.html Veterans Affairs Chief Says Reforms Are Trump Priority - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/articles/veterans-affairs-chief-says-reforms-are- trump-priority-1492186612 Can President Trump keep his promises to veterans? | PBS NewsHour http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/can-president-trump-keep- promises-veterans/ New VA Access Website The VA launched a new website yesterday in hopes of increasing transparency.