Volume 9, Issue 25

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans con-fuse this holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veterans Affairs.

What's more, some Americans don't know why we commemorate our Veterans on Nov.11. It's im-perative that all Americans know the history of Veterans Day so that we can honor our former ser-vice members properly. Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by strik-ing out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legisla-tion on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veter-ans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Mon-day of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate

the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confu-sion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual ob-servance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11. If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday -- Saturday or Sunday --

the holiday is observed by the federal government on Mon-day (if the holiday falls on Sun-day) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal

government clos-ings are estab-lished by the U.S. Office of Person-nel Management. State and local government clos-ings are deter-mined locally, and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determi-nations.

United States Sen-ate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov. 11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as "National Veterans Awareness Week." The resolution calls for education-al efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concern-

ing the contributions and sacri-fices of veterans. By Ho Lin

The History of Veterans Day

Putnam county Veterans day

Ceremonies

Saturday November 9th

Putnam County Medal presentation

12 Pm

At Historic Courthouse, Carmel

Sunday November 10th

Special Veterans day

Celebration

MCB Church, Carmel

November 11th

Most VFW and American legion posts

Have services

On the 11th hour

November 11th

Putnam County Joint Veterans council

Ceremony at

Putnam County Veterans memorial park

1 PM

Honorary veteran presentations

The Diary of a Horse Skeptic

Dear Diary,

Hey I know this is not about horses but I am a

skeptic about other things. Yoga is (Was?)

another. It was my feeling going into my first

yoga experience on October 19th that the next

thing that would be read about me would be my

obituary. That turned out not to be

the case. However the verdict is still

out regarding my future with yoga.

Had I known that at the end of the

session I could lay down on the floor

and sleep I would have tried it years

ago. I will go back and attempt to do

it again with less grunting

and groaning.

Diary on another note, actually a “Horse” note

there are several exciting items on the equine

side of my life. (Yes Diary I said that). I am

a horse handler at Pegasus Farm for the

latest cohort of Veterans going through the

program. After 2 weeks I have to say it is

as rewarding as it was when I was going

through the program. What is exciting is not

only working with the horses but working

with Veterans going through the program. I

envy them the excitement of bonding with the

horses for the first time.

There is an special event coming up at

Pegasus real soon. A meet and greet. This is

a great opportunity for people to meet the

horses, the staff and Veterans who have

completed the program.

A special feature of this event will be that

three Veterans who are now part

of the Equus Effect will be pre-

sented with the Putnam County

Service Medal by members of the

Putnam County Medal Committee!

Real cool stuff Diary!

One year ago if any told me Diary that I

would have completed a horse therapy

program and have attended a yoga for

Veterans program I would have laughed. I

am happy that I have these experiences and

I can now advise Veterans as to the value of

both. Diary remind me to thank Megan, John

and Pete!

Karl

Volume 9, Issue 25

I believe

it has added

3 points to

my score

as well!

Page 2

Volume 9, Issue 25 Page 3

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing to

process Agent Orange exposure claims for “Blue Water Navy” Veterans who served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam between

Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. These Veterans may be eligible for presumption of herbicide exposure through Public Law 116-23, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veter-ans Act of 2019, which was signed into law June 25, 2019, and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020. They may also qualify for a presumption of service connection if they have a disease that is recognized as being associated with herbicide exposure.

The bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act gives VA until Jan. 1, 2020, to begin deciding Blue Water Navy related claims.

By staying claims decisions until that date, VA is complying with the law that Congress wrote and passed.

“VA is dedicated to ensuring that all Veterans receive the benefits they have earned,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “We are work-

ing to ensure that we have the proper resources in place to meet the needs of our Blue Water Veteran community and minimize the

impact on all Veterans filing for disability compensation.”

Blue Water Navy Veterans are encouraged to submit disability compensation claims for conditions presumed to be related to Agent

Orange exposure. Veterans over age 85 or with life-threatening illnesses will have priority in claims processing.

Veterans who previously were denied for an Agent Orange related presumptive condition can file a new claim based on the change in

law. Eligible survivors of deceased Blue Water Navy Veterans also may benefit from the new law and may file claims for benefits

based on the Veterans’ service. The new law affects Veterans who served on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia, as defined in Public Law 116-23. An estimated 420,000 to 560,000 Vietnam-era Veterans may be considered Blue Water Navy Veterans.

To qualify, under the new law, these Veterans must have a disease associated with herbicide exposure, as listed in 38 Code of Fed-eral Regulations section 3.309(e).

Agent Orange presumptive conditions are:

AL amyloidosis

Chloracne or similar acneform disease

Chronic B-cell leukemias

Diabetes mellitus Type 2

Hodgkin lymphoma, formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease

Ischemic heart disease

Multiple myeloma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, formerly known as Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Parkinson’s disease

Peripheral neuropathy, early-onset

Porphyria cutanea tarda

Prostate cancer

Respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx or trachea)

Soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma or mesothelioma). For more information about Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam waters (Blue Water Navy Veterans), visit https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/navy-coast-guard-ships-vietnam/.

Veterans seeking more information should contact their Veterans Service Officer, call VA’s toll-free number at 800-827-1000 or visit the VA Blue Water Navy Agent Orange website.

VA extends Agent Orange presumption to ‘Blue Water Navy’ Veterans Volume 9, Issue 25

Volume 9, Issue 25

“Mommy…I didn’t know that

Veterans wrote poems”

Last fall, I had the pleasure of attending the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Vet2Vet-Putnam Program’s Gala at the Studio Around the Corner for the fir st time. I came to hear a friend read a piece he wrote through the Writing Workshop Vet2Vet sponsors. As is often the case, I had my two girls, ages 11 and 9 at the time, in tow with me. We sat and lis-tened to all of the speakers as they read their respective piec-es of writing…some brought tears to my eyes…others made me smile. The entire time I was in awe of the courage that it took for them to not only do the writing, but to stand up in front of the audience and bare their souls, their emotions, their wounds, their pain. To be vulnerable. After we left, as we were driving home in the car….. talking about the guy who used the “f” word in one of his readings…(several times…I had been hoping my kids were distracted by their electronic devices at that exact moment, apparently not…oh well..), I was struck by something my daughter said. She said, “Mommy…I didn’t know that Veterans wrote poems”. And I thought to myself, I’m glad they were paying attention and learned something important about Veterans. I’m confi-dent the guy who said the “f” word deserves all the credit for getting their attention! It opened up a beautiful conversation. The following Saturday, we returned to the Gala at the Studio Around the Corner for the music Saturday, to hear the “3 Bridges Band”….once again, my kids in tow. My girls thought it was cool that the band…Veterans….played an acoustic version of an AC/DC song they knew. Everyone there had a great time, tapping toes, singing along to a few numbers and everyone left with smiles on their faces feeling uplifted by the experience. Except of course for my kids who kept saying, “can we go now?” That day on the car ride home, they were talking about the donuts they snuck while everyone was watching the band and about the cool instru-ments they played. Days later, they were telling someone about being there and I heard them saying, “Did you know that Veterans play music? And write poems?” After that conversation took place I thought, I should write about our experience so that other people know that Veterans write poems and stories…even plays, create music, paint, draw, sketch, take photographs, among other creative outlets. I know a lot of kids, and maybe adults for that matter, who think of Veterans as ‘guys with guns’. Come to the Studio Around the Corner in Brewster every Saturday in No-vember between 12pm and 2pm so you can see what Vet-erans really are…real men and women who have incredible experiences, perspectives and talents to share. It will touch your heart and maybe change your perceptions…perhaps start a conversation. Hope to see you there….. Respectfully submitted by Megan Castellano

“Studio Around The Corner”

67 Main Street Brewster NY

Where local Veterans

Artistic talents will be highlighted this November

On display during the month will be artwork created by

Veterans of Putnam including paintings, photographs and

sculpture. During the month there will be readings of

poetry and other written works by Veterans from the

Writers Workshop and from our book.

FRIDAY Nov. 1st Gala Grand Opening 7PM-9PM

SATURDAY Nov. 2nd ARTWORK on Display 12PM-2PM

SATURDAY Nov. 9th Selected Readings 12PM-2PM

SATURDAY Nov. 16th Two One Man Plays 12PM-2PM

SATURDAY Nov. 23rd MUSIC 3 Bridges Band 12PM-2PM

SATURDAY Nov. 23rd Last day for viewing 12PM-2PM

Page 5

Donald b. smith government

campus

110 old route 6, bldg. #3

Carmel NY 10512

Monday—Friday 9-5

Call for appointment either location

845-808-1620

Tuesday evenings 5-8PM

2505 Carmel ave. (rt 6) Suite 212

Brewster, NY 10509

Karl Rohde, Director