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FROM THE DESK OF

COMMANDER WILL DAVIS

September has been a busy month thus far. I attended a Memorial Dedication on September 11, at the Prairie Township Fire Department. Guest speaker was Matt Finkes, who gave his thoughts and appreciation for the firefighters and all personnel that gave the ultimate sacrifice on that day our United States was attacked. On September 15, I met Ray Hutchinson and Martha Tepker at the CVAMC. We were greeted by Tracy Butts who gave us a tour of the facility. The staff members are truly dedicated to provide our veterans with the primary healthcare, specialized care, and mental health service that is so needed. The center has served approximately 26,300 veterans in the emergency room, 6,700 admissions and over 1,000 patients and 2,000 outpatients surgeries this year. We were given a tour of the on-site housing for family members, which will be holding its 10^th year reunion next month. I do believe Ray Hutchinson was State Commander when the housing opened. Our next destination was CVAMC at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. It has a 64 bed Nursing Home Care Unit, 60 bed Domiciliary (homeless program), 12 bed PTSD program for men and a 10 bed PTSD program for women. The facility is under construction, increasing the number of beds for both men and women in the PTSD program by 10 more in each unit. Although, we did not get the opportunity to meet Dr. Chard, winner of the Excellence in Clinical Care Delivery Award, as we was on a speaking engagement in Las Vegas, I met with the medical center director and several psychologists. The motto of the CVMAC, “You Served Us, Let Us Serve You”, is well represented as we viewed the facilities and saw the progress that was being made for our veterans. I attended District #6 on September 18. Thanks Commander Parker for the hospitality, great food, and the time of fellowship with the members. On September 22, I met with Ray, Denise Proffitt (DAVA State Commander), and Harlan Plummer at the Chillicothe VA. Gale Irwin-Clay took us on a tour of the facility. This facility provides inpatient mental health programs including a Substance Abuse Treatment. They offer our veterans computer classes, assembly work and training in other skills that may help them obtain employment. Their mission: “to honor our Veteran’s service and sacrifices by providing exceptional care”. From what I observed, hats off to the Chillicothe VA.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is offering a free rail trip to any veteran along with a guest on Friday, November 11 at 1:00 p.m. Please call 330-657-2000 for information and final details. The ride is from Independence, Ohio to Akron with return trip lasting approximately 3 hours. The starting point is the station off Canal Road just south of Riverside Road, just follow the signs. Chapter #116 Parma will host its members as escorts.

The annual Cookie Party for Sandusky Ohio Home will be held at noon on Sunday, December 4, 2011. Bring your cookies and join the fun. As I received more information, I will pass it along.

Please remember PDC Sam Lanza in your prayers and thoughts. Sam has recently had back surgery. Wishing you a speedy recovery from your DAV comrades.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the Fall Conference, October 7-9, 2011. The conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, Worthington, Ohio.

“One Team One Goal”

Will Davis, State Commander

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Nat’l. Hdqrs., DAV (877) 426-2838

NSO Office, Cleveland (216) 522-3507

NSO Office, Cincinnati (513) 684-2676

Washington Office, DAV (202) 554-3501

Cincinnati HSC (513) 475-6443

William Warren

Dayton HSC, (937) 268-6511

Kevin M. Reilly Ext. 2962

Wade Park HSC, (216) 791-3800

Walter Dryja Ext. 3395

Chillicothe HSC (740) 773-1141

Larry Queen Ext. 7916

Columbus Clinic, (614) 257-5487

Henry Snodgrass

Brecksville HSC, (440) 526-3030

Don Branford Ext. 7353

DATES TO REMEMBER

October 1, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Lake Erie Harley Davidson, 38401 Chester Rd, Avon, 10 a.m. to

6 p.m.

Oct. 2, 2011 8^th District Meeting, Dinner at

1 p.m., Meeting at 2 p.m., Clint Kramer Chapter #12, Zanesville, Ohio.

Oct. 3, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Summit County Chapter #35, VFW, 690 West Waterloo Rd., Akron,

10 a.m. 6 p.m.

Oct. 4, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Lakewood Chapter #108, c/o Rocky Civic Center, 21016 Hillar Blvd., Rocky River, 10 a.m. to

6 p.m.

Oct. 5, 2011 Mobile Service Officer, Norwalk Chapter #62, American Legion Post, 1544 Old US Route 20 W., Norwalk, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Oct. 6-7, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Doubletree Hotel, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Columbus,

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oct. 7-9, 2011 Fall Conference, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Worthington, Ohio.

October 7-8-9, 2011 Forget-Me-Not, Cincinnati Chapter #1, Sam’s Club, Cincinnati, Ohio.

October 8, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Powder Keg Harley-Davidson, 2382 Kings Center Ct., Mason, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 10, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Jackson County Chapter #45, 170 Pearl St., Jackson, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

October 11, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Conrath-Bean Chapter #37, 355 E. State St., Athens, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

October 12, 2011 Mobile Service Office, American Legion Post #11, Lancaster Chapter #40, 279 Canal St., Lancaster, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

October 13, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Cambridge Chapter #28, 2090 North Ave., Cambridge, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

October 14, 2011 Mobile Service Office, Clint Kramer Chapter #12, 428 Moxahala Ave., Zanesville, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

October 15, 2011 1^st District Meeting, St. Timothy’s Church, 8101 Beechmont Ave., at 1 p.m., Cincinnati, Ohio.

October 15, 2011 9^th District Meeting, Victory Chapter #134, Wheelersburg, Ohio. Lunch at 12 noon, meeting to begin at 1 p.m.

October 15, 2011 Mobile Service Office, C&A Harley Davidson, 7610 Commerce Place, Plain City, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 23, 2011 7^th District Meting, Alliance Chapter #50, 2 p.m., Alliance, Ohio.

October 30 10^th District Meeting, 1416 W. Broad Street, 1 p.m., Columbus, Ohio.

November 5 2^nd District Meeting, 2 p.m., Dayton VA Bldg., Room 305, Dayton, Ohio.

November 14, 2011 Golden Corral Military Appreciation Dinner, Various restaurants, Ohio.

Feb. 26-29, 2012 C&A Midwinter Conference, Washington, DC

June 21-24, 2012 91^st Department Convention, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson, Worthington, Ohio.

Aug. 4-7, 2012 National Convention, Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

Oct. 12-14, 2012 Fall Conference, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Worthington, Ohio.

Feb. 24-27, 2013 C&A Midwinter Conference, Washington, DC

June 20-23, 2013 92^nd Department Convention, Doubletree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Worthington, Ohio.

Aug. 10-13, 2013 National Convention, Hilton Orlando, Orlando, FL

Oct. 4-6, 2013 Fall Conference, Double Tree Columbus Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Worthington, Ohio.

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Frank Williams

Thought for October: Horse sense is what keeps horses from betting on what people will do.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah has, for the first time in Saudi History, given the kingdom’s women the right to run for office and vote in the next Saudi elections scheduled for 2015! Only in middle eastern countries has women’s rights been violated for so long. This action by the Saudi King is one small step towards bring his country into the 21^st century!

Honoring Our Military: The solemn sound of Taps played as a POW/MIA Flag was raised at a rest stop on Interstate 70 in Licking County. The driving force behind the idea to place the POW/MIA Flag at every rest stop was Carolyn Maupin, whose son Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin was captured in Iraq in April 2004. His remains were found in March 2008. Mrs. Maupin says the flag represents Matt and all soldiers held prisoner of missing in action.

Tom Moe, Director of Ohio Department of Veterans Services, took part in the flag raising ceremonies. Colonel Moe, a former pilot, knows all too well what the flag represents as he was shot down over Vietnam and spent over 5 years as a prisoner of war.

The Licking County Rest Stop in the first in Ohio to fly the POW/MIA Flag, but in time all 45 rest stops throughout our state will have and fly the flag.

New Leg for Older Vets: a new prosthetic leg is being offered by the VA to eligible older veterans. For details go to: www.stripes.com/new/x2-prosthetic-leg-now-offered-to-older-veterans-1.115257

Bring Back the Draft??: The Washington Post reports that a few of our legislators are considering brining back the draft as a way to meet our country’s shortage of soldiers and help eliminate multiple deployments. Good luck with that!

ASBP Blood Drive: The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) is the only organization that collects blood for military members. The Red Cross does not!! Their next Blood Drive is scheduled for October 15, 9am-2pm at the Army Reserve Center, 165 N. Yearling Road, Columbus, Ohio. To find out if you can give blood for this extremely worthy cause, go to www.militaryblood.doc.mil/donors/can_I_donate.aspx.

Tuskegee Airmen: A Tuskegee Airman Ceremony will be held 11am, October 8^th in he Tuskegee Airmen Park on Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base.

How many DAV members have you signed up this month? How about last month? Remember: After you have recruited a new DAV member, sign up all eligible members in their family also. Our Auxiliary needs new members too. The more members we have in the DAV, gives us much more clout when talking with our Legislators, both here in Ohio and in DC, about rights and benefits we have earned as veterans.

As always, keep our troops in Afghanistan in your thoughts and prayers as they fight, like we have fought, to keep America free. Never shall we forget that Freedom is not Free!! May God bless all of you. God bless our troops, God bless the DAV, and may God Bless America, home of the free, because of the Brave!

TREASURY DEPARTMENT

The Treasury Department is switching millions of people who receive Social Security and other federal benefits from paper checks sent in the mail to electronic payments. The switch will save more than $300 million each year through 2016, and then $125 million each year thereafter. The switch will start with new enrollees. People already receiving checks in the mail will be shifted beginning in March, 2013. “We want to allow plenty of time to educate benefits recipients,” said Dick Gregg, acting fiscal assistant secretary.

A bank account will not be necessary to receive benefits payments electronically, as Treasury will send a debit card preloaded with the money, though currently only one free transaction on the card per month is allowed.

OHIO VETERAN BONUS

Presented by: Richard Cordray in 2010

Former Ohio Attorney General

One war veteran’s simple question is about to bear fruit for 200,000 of his fellow Ohio veterans.

In 2007, U.S. Army Capt. Thomas Germano, a Mentor native then serving in Iraq, asked my office in a letter if the state offered financial benefits to veterans of recent wars, The state did not at the time, but Capt. Germano’s question prompted me to ask the Legislature to ask voters to approve a bonus payment to veterans in salute to their service, just as Ohioans had done after World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam. Last November, more than seven in 10 Ohioans approved this bonus.

Today, state leaders and I announced that applications are now being accepted for the veterans’ bonus.

Veterans can download the application or get more information at www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov

Eligible veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Iraq or Afghanistan wars may receive $100 for each month of active duty service up to $1,000. Eligible veterans serving on active duty elsewhere in the world during these wars may receive $50 per month of service up to a maximum of $500. An eligible veteran may combine their service bonuses for a maximum payment of $1,500. Family members of deceased veterans may also be eligible for compensation.

Notary service for applications will be available to all of Ohio’s more than 200 county clerks of courts locations.

In addition, assistant attorneys general in my offices in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Youngstown and Toledo will provide the needed notarization on veterans’ applications free of cost.

Information on those locations is available at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/VeteransBonus

If you know someone who might be eligible for this bonus, please forward this message to that person. And, again, please visit www.veteransbonus.ohio.org for specific information about the application process and eligibility.

It is very gratifying to see Capt. Germano’s suggestion from 2007 finally become reality, just as it is gratifying to see Ohio voters reward the service of their fellow citizens.

ARMED FORCES STAMP ON DRIVER’S LICENSE COULD GIVE VETERANS A RETAIL DISCOUNT

COLUMBUS – Ohio veterans can get an “Armed Forces” designation stamped on their driver’s license fees still apply.

“The ‘Armed Forces’ designation on the Ohio driver’s license and/or ID card recognizes the service of our military men, women and veterans,” said Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Thomas Charles. “We are proud to offer this no-cost way of recognizing those who have served.”

One of the advantages of this program is that the specially labeled license may be honored by Ohio merchants who give military members or veterans a discount. Whether a discount is granted, however, is solely dependent upon each individual retailer’s policy.

A number of retailers in Ohio will offer a military or veterans discount, either periodically during major holidays, or at all times. Retailers generally require that some form of photo ID is produced to receive the discount, either a current military active duty or retired ID card, an ID from the National Guard or Reserve, or an ID showing enrollment in health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). But veterans who served limited terms of service are generally not issued such documentation.

The “Armed Forces” stamp, which has been in existence since December 2009, enables these veterans to have a photo ID as a sign of their service. To be eligible to receive the stamp, at no extra cost, veterans must provide to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles a copy of their DD 215 or DD 215 when they renew their driver’s license or military ID. Other forms of identification acceptable to receive the stamp include a VA ID, a current military ID, a leave and earnings statement, or a cop of orders.

“I strongly encourage all veterans to get the ‘Armed Forces’ stamp when they renew their license,” said Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Tom Moe. “Our department’s principal goal is to connect veterans to their benefits, and this will help identify our veterans while possibly providing them with a very helpful benefit.”

The Directors of Public Safety and Veterans Services emphasized that a military or veterans to their benefits, and this will help us identify our veterans while possibly providing them with a very helpful benefit.”

The Directors of Public Safety and Veterans Services emphasized that a military or veterans discount is not available from all retails, or if so, perhaps not year-round. Whether or not a retailer provides a discount or accepts the “Armed Forces” stamp is proof of service to receive a discount is up to the policy for each individual retailer.

However, the minimal time and effort expended to obtain the “Armed Forces” stamp, at no additional cost, could add up to real money saved next time they shop.

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS