Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Laurie Clay and Thomas W. Mastaglio
Veterans Corner

May is (or for 2025 “was”) Military Appreciation Month. If you did not have the opportunity to talk with and thank a currently serving serviceman or woman, a veteran, or the survivors of someone lost during service to the nation, remember it is never too late. Take the time to reach out and tell them their service and sacrifices are appreciated.

Some recent reforms in survivor benefits should be of interest to both veterans and their spouses. They are intended to eliminate barriers and streamline the process for families of deceased veterans to apply for benefits and services. See https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-announces-major-survivor-benefits-reforms/ for details.

Veteran Caregivers are recognized by the VA as an important part of assisting veterans deal with medical issues. If you are a caregiver and have yet to access any of their services we suggest you consult their website for assistance, search on VA caregiver-support-program.

While we talk a lot about the VA and our respective service organization, the VFW and Legion, in this space there are other equally dedicated programs. One of those is the Military Officers Association of America or MOAA. They support all ranks (not just officers) and you can read about and access their services for surviving spouses at https://www.moaa.org/caregiverresources.

As of April 1, the Department of Virginia, Veterans of Foreign Wars Service Office will no longer be accepting any new veterans/clients. Any new veterans/clients can call the Virginia Department of Veteran Services (VDVS) at 804-786-0286 or make an appointment on their website at dvs.virginia.gov. You can also email VFWNVSCommunications@vfw.org and one of our Regional Quality Assurance Specialists will assist you. The VFW Service Offices in Virginia will be closing Sept. 1. Please be assured that one of the organizations listed above will assist in this transition and ensure that all veterans are taken care of moving forward.  It has been an honor serving Virginia Veterans and their families.  

In the meantime both the local VFW and Legion Posts will have a volunteer service officer whom may be able to assist any veteran with a claim or dealing with the VA as well as Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Veteran Service office at Joint Base-Fort Eustis 804-512-2642. If you are a veteran reading this please join a local service organization, if not one of these two then another. Collectively they speak for and assist all veterans and your membership will help with that.

LAURIE CLAY, of VFW Post No. 8545, can be reached at serviceofficer@vfwva.org.

THOMAS W. MASTAGLIO, of American Legion Post No. 49, can be reached at tom.mastaglio@outlook.com.