veteran 2-15-2013

VOL. 1/ISSUE 15 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2013 35 cents

Dog demo

Photo courtesy of Indian River Colony Club Staff Sgt. Steven Hanks (center) and ‘Kelly’ along with Staff Sgt. Tovar and Senior Airman Fouts lead the Dog Parade to kick off the DogFest at Indian River Colony Club in Viera. Kelly and the team from Patrick Air Force Base later provided a demonstration of the patrol and narcotic dog’s skills.

Indian River Colony Club residents treated to performance by ‘Officer Kelly’

VIERA — Denni Burr is a dog lover and the driving force

behind the recent DogFest at Indian River Colony Club in Vi-era. The canine event kicked off with a dog parade led by Kelly, a 6-year-old patrol and narcotic

dog from Patrick Air Force Base. Accompanied by her military

handlers, Kelly, a Belgian Ma-

By Joyce WildenFor Veteran Voice

Vets: Be careful about giving to ‘veterans groups’

They’re in front of nationally known retailers. Their signs say “veterans.” Who’d pass on the chance to help veterans, right? “Walk away,” said Marty Zick-

ert, president of the Veterans Council of Indian River County. “What’s going to happen to that — it’s cash. The guy at the end of the day gets to dip his hand into the bucket. You can’t account for it.” Ed Irons, commander of the

American Legion Post 189, Se-bastian, and Zickert, said ques-tionable individuals and orga-nizations have been soliciting donations in Indian River and area counties. Many seem to be from the Fort Lauderdale area,

Appearances can be deceiving; ‘uniforms,’ signage may not belegitimate, or local

By Patrick McCallisterFor Veteran Voice

Mini-camp set to run MARTIN COUNTY — Ten boys, ages 9-14, will

have the chance to attend a weekend mini-camp from April 12-14, sponsored by the nonprofit foun-dation, Operation 300. To qualify, boys must be the sons of service members who have died while in service. The organization was formed to honor the mem-

ory of Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Vaughn, a member of the elite SEAL Team 6. He was killed in 2011 when the helicopter

in which he and 37 others were riding was shot down over Afghanistan. Forty-four children were left fatherless. The mini-camp will be held at Angel Fire Ranch,

a 400-acre property in Martin County that is owned by the Angel Fire Foundation. The orga-nization sponsors outdoor activities for disabled veterans. Angel Fire is letting Operation 300 use the site at no charge. For Tara Vaughn Baldwin, Aaron Vaughn’s

sister, this is the first step in a plan to offer week-

By Shelley KoppelStaff writer

See DOG page 2

See CAMP page 3 See GIVING page 7

2 • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

linois, later provided one of several exciting demonstra-tions of canine skill to the assembled crowd of onlook-ers. Other activities during the sunny January afternoon included a dog blessing and multi-class dog show. Res-cue groups, product vendors and trainers were in atten-dance for the “all things dog” event. Indian River Colony Club

is a fully maintained and gated neighborhood of nearly 800 homes on 453 acres. Once a retirement destina-tion exclusively for military officers, membership has now expanded to include up to 20 percent of former en-listed or non-military person-nel over the age of 21. Organizer Denni Burr was

overwhelmed with the enthu-siastic response by Indian River Colony Club members. “People just love their

dogs and had a great time showing them off to friends and neighbors,” said Burr. “We had 22 dogs partici-pate in the dog show, along with many more dogs in the parade and great demon-strations of amazing canine skills. We can’t wait to do it again next year!”

DOG from page 1

The Valiant Air Command will present the 36th annual TICO Warbird Airshow March 22, 23 and 24 and advance tickets are on sale now, through www.Tick-etDerby.com, or at the museum’s website at www.vacwarbirds.org for electronic ticket or to see ticket sales locations in our area. Don’t wait! The theme this year honors the B-17 Flying Fortress with special appearance of the USAF Thunderbirds. There will be aircraft on static

display such as the F-14, ME-208, F-80, F-86 A-6, F-8, A-4, F-9 Panther, Wildcat, MiG-15 and MiG-21, C-123 and many others. Also, flying will be many B-25s; along with vintage warbirds such as the P-51, Corsair, T-6, T-28, T-34, L-39, aerobatic teams and military demonstrations. In addition to advance tickets,

there are a limited number of tickets for other venue options.

We will have our “Beer Garden” on the crowd line, close to all the action; with food, drink and airshow pilots on hand to sign autographs. Again, there will be limited seating each day, so pur-chase this special option early. You can go to www.vacwarbirds.

org or www.TicketDerby.com to get your advance tickets and pur-chase a Beer Garden Ticket with ease from your home or office.

Gates open at 8:30 and the airshow starts around 1 p.m., but there is plenty to do in the morn-ing. There will be a flight line full of warbirds on exhibit, with vet-eran pilots or aircraft historians standing by to tell you all about them; WWII re-enactors, antique automobiles, vintage armor, games, music, lots of vendors, exhibitors and more.

For more information, contact (321) 268-1941, or visit our web-site at www.vacwarbirds.org.

Tico Warbird Airshow advance tickets on sale nowFor Veteran Voice

The

Warbird

Museum

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - 9AM TO 5PMValiant Air Command Warbird Museum 6600 Tico Road, Titusville, FL 32780

(321) 268-1941 • www.vacwarbirds.org

Special Event Venues Available

$1.00 OFFCannot be combined with other offers

This coupon is not redeemable for cash

ADMISSION WITH THIS AD

3 Display HangarsOver 30 Aircraft

MemorabiliaFree Guided Tours

Gift ShopC-47 Plane Rides

Canteen

$1

.00

OFF Adm

issionC

annot be combined w

ith other offers.This coupon is not redeem

able for cashW

ITH TH

IS AD

2009

Having More RetirementAccounts Is Not The Same As Having More Money..When it comes to the number of retirement accounts you have, the saying “more is better” is not necessarily true. In fact, if you hold multipleaccounts with various brokers, it can be difficult to keep track of your investments and to see if you’re properly diversified.* At the very least,multiple accounts usually mean multiple fees.Bringing your accounts to Edward Jones could help solve all that. Plus, one statement can make it easier to see if you’re moving toward your goals. Having More Retirement Accounts Is Not The Same As Having More Money.*Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss

To learn why consolidating your retirement accounts to Edward Jones makes sense, call your local financial advisor today..

Shane D IrelandFinancial Advisor

1172 Sw 30th Street Ste 3Palm City, FL 34990772-219-4454

2049

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

\\s01\Ads\-APPROVED or STRAIGHT PU\2049-(3) Shane Ireland\2049

It’s likely that your retirement income may come from many sources, such as Social Security, pension distributions, a 401(k) or IRA withdrawals. That’s why, if taxes are a concern for you, it’s important to choose the right investments for your portfolio. At Edward Jones, we have many options that can give you more control over your taxes, so you can enjoy what you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax advice. You should consult with a qualified tax specialist for professional advice on your specific situation.

So Much Planning goeS into RetiReMent. have You thought about taxeS aS Well?

call today to see how our unique, face-to-face approach makes us best-suited to help long-term investors meet their current needs and future financial goals.

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

Jamie L Chapogas, AAMS®Financial Advisor.

2900 S W Town Center WayPalm City, FL 34990772-463-7189

Also featuring Fine Art and Orchid Show & Sale!

Presented by: Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce

Saturday & Sunday 9 AM to 4 PM

Special Thanks to These Sponsors!

For info call (772) 287-1088, ext. 111 • [email protected]

FREE ADMISSION • FREE PARKING • GREAT DEALS

“Orchids Aloha”Open Friday Noon to 5 PM

Martin County Fairgrounds2616 S.E. Dixie Hwy., Stuart

2037

VETERAN VOICE • THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE • FEBRUARY 15, 2013 • 3

long camps throughout the sum-mer for boys, and eventually girls, as well. “This is our pilot camp,” she

said. “We’ll see what works.” Prospective campers and

parents can go to the Operation 300 website and click on the tab ‘Attend Camp’” to apply. The camper, a parent and siblings will receive transportation to the camp as well as free lodging. “We’re looking for boys 9-14

because we want them to be able to do activities together,” Baldwin said. “Everything will be at no cost to the kids and moms. We hope to have most (of them) from Florida, to keep travel expenses lower. If they drive, they should bring gas receipts. We don’t want them to worry about anything, down to the gas it takes to get there.” The camp will meet at the

beach. Surf Central will provide two hours of surfing lessons, paddle boarding and other ac-tivities. Then the boys will go to the ranch. They will be housed in motor homes that are on loan. Baldwin said that more mobile homes or campers are needed. Baldwin is still working on

meal arrangements. Food will be brought in, and a donor has offered a hotdog and hamburger grill. Again, Baldwin welcomes

donations of food by local busi-nesses for any of the weekend meals. Friday night, Pastor Tom Mul-

lins of Christ Fellowship Church will speak. “He’s a great storyteller,” Bald-

win said. “He’ll tell an historical story about bravery and courage with a spiritual emphasis.” Saturday will be packed with

activities and moms and younger siblings are welcome to join in. “In the morning, there will be

sailing at the US Sailing Center in Jensen Beach,” Baldwin said. “After, we’ll have a trail ride for half the boys while the others get instruction in tacking and groom-ing. Then they’ll switch. The local equestrian community has loaned the horses and they are all trail-certified.” The afternoon features archery

instruction with youth-size bows. Riflery will also be available. There will be downtime, when campers can rest, ride kid-sized ATVs or throw around a football. After dinner, they’ll be more time to relax. The day will end with a campfire. On Sunday the group will go to

Christ Fellowship Church, which meets at South Fork High School, down the road from the camp. After church, the kids will receive instruction in the use of com-

CAMP from page 1 When Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Vaughn, a member of the elite SEAL Team 6, was killed in Afghanistan in 2011, he left behind son Rea-gan, in photo at left, with his father, and daughter Chamberlyn. Vaughn’s family has started a foundation to raise money for a camp for the children of service members killed while in service.

Photo courtesy of Tara Vaughn Baldwin

See CAMP page 5

Enjoy an Evening with Grammy Award Winner

JudyCollinsLyric TheatreMarch 13

59 S.W. Flagler Ave.,Stuart

A portion of the proceeds will benefitHeLping peopLe SuCCeed.

Get Tickets at www.lyrictheatre.com772-286-7827 or at the box office.

Ivy League is an Approved child care provider that meets all equirements and standards as defined in the Operation Military Child Care (OMCC) program. This means your childcare center has its State Child Care License and has a current annual inspection and Free of anydisqualifying incidents.

ivy leaguePREScHOOL acadEmyInfants•Pre-K•VPK•Before & after School•Kindergarten/1st Grade•camp

The Operation MilitaryChild Care Program

Provider

New Next Year. Kindergarten & First grade!Limited Availability – Call Today!!Free VPK785-6505

[email protected] SE Belvedere SDt., Port Saint Lucie,

FL 32984 (behind PSL Community Center)Hours: M-F 6:30am- 6:30 pm

License #C19SL0049

Low Teacher to Child RatiosNo Teacher Work Days or

Early Release Days to Worry About.

Winter, spring & summer Camp school Programs available

2067

www.ivyleaguepa.com


Ted ElkinsPublisher

Steve ErlangerPartner

Phil GaldysDirector of Operati ons

Debbi DenningAdverti sing Consultant

Jennifer ToombsAdverti sing Consultant

Dave MercierGraphic Designer

Tammy RaitsManaging Editor

Mitch KloorfainChief Photographer

Nicole RodriguezStaff Writer

Shelley KoppelStaff Writer

Donna MarinakHR/Accounti ng Manager

JoAnn AguilaNews Clerk/

Administrati ve Assistant

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

$18 YEAR (52 weeks)$12 Veterans or Acti ve Military

For more informati on ondistributi on and subscripti ons of this newspaper,please call our main offi ce(772) 204-2409

or contact us by email at:[email protected]

Veteran Voice is a newspaper for veterans, acti ve military,their families and their friends.

We are published weekly by Veteran Voice, LLC.1919 SW South Macedo Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34984

(772) 204-2409 Offi ce • (772) 204-2940 Fax

veteran voice� e Voice of Experience

MARTIN COUNTY — A service that began more than 20 years ago in Martin County will continue, thanks to the efforts of the Veter-ans Council of Martin County, the Martin County Board of Coun-ty Commissioners and Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network. The Martin County Veteran’s Ser-

vice Office recently took posses-sion of a new 12-passenger van to transport veterans from Stuart to their appointments at the VA Med-ical Center, West Palm Beach. Before being pressed into service,

the van decorated in patriotic col-ors with a massive flag logo and will also display major donors for the purchase of the van displayed on the doors. “This is our third van purchase,”

said Bruce Millett, chairman of the Veterans Council of Martin Coun-ty. Cost has risen but not drasti-cally. The price has raised about $2,000 per year to the current price of $25,000. The van has all seats filled each weekday run. More than 1,700 veterans are transported each year. We’ve had this service

available for so long, it is hard to remember what it was like when we didn’t have it. I hope that day never comes, said Commissioner John Haddox, formerly the Veter-ans Service Office supervisor. The vans, although purchased

through the DAV, are signed over to the VA. The VA then provides insurance and all maintenance on the van. The life of the van is ex-pected to last for about 100,000 miles or seven years. The vans are then returned by the VA to the Veterans Council to be donated or used to raise funds. The most recent to reach the end of its ser-vice was donated to the VFW Post 10132, Hobe Sound, for transport-ing of their Honor Guard to various events throughout Martin County. Before this the Honor Guard had to travel separately to their com-mitments. Now they can all meet at one location and travel together. Veterans are encouraged to call

the Martin County Veterans Ser-vice Office at (772) 288-5448 to schedule a ride on the van. If you are interested in making a

donation to help keep this service, you can send your check made out to: Veterans Council of Martin County, Inc., P.O. Box 1994, Stuart, FL 34995.

County buys third van to transport veterans to clinic

Photo courtesy of Tony ReeseLeft, George Sanders, Martin County Veterans Service Office driver for 14 years, and Ron Polzin, VFW Post 10132, Honor Guard.

By Tony ReeseMartin County Veterans Service Officer

Cities of Sebastian, Vero recognize local Purple Heart recipients

Photo courtesy of Marty ZickertCouncilman Jim Hill, Mayor Bob McPartlan, Councilman Don Wright, Purple Heart designees Craig Waskow, Vietnam; Ron Stevens, Korea; James Ridnour, Iraq, Coun-cilman Jerome Adams and Councilwoman Andrea Coy at a recent Sebastian City Council meeting.

On Jan. 15, Indian River County became one of a grow-ing number of communities throughout the U.S. to recog-nize Purple Heart recipients. Ron Stevens, Korean War; Craig Waskow, Vietnam; and James Rednour, OEF/OIF accepted the proclamation on behalf of all Purple Heart recipients in our county. These veterans were also on

hand when Vero Beach issued a similar Proclamation on Jan. 8 and the city of Sebastian will recognize Purple Heart recipients on Jan. 23. The Sebastian chap-

ters of the VFW and American Legion have been notified the Proclamation will be read. As recently as August of last

year, there were only four Pur-ple Heart counties in the United States. Joining a nationwide movement, our communities join a tradition of support for vet-erans who have been wounded while serving. The heritage of the Purple

Heart originated with George Washington, who issued heart-shaped purple pillows to wound-ed veterans. General Washington also issued the Badge of Military Merit for enlisted servicemen in-jured during meritorious service.

By Brian HeadyFor Veteran Voice

See HEART page 11


passes to find directions. “Then there will be a team

scavenger hunt,” Baldwin said. After lunch, there will an ar-chery competition to use the skills they learned. There will be a dismissal ceremony, and kids can hang out for awhile.” Baldwin hopes to have a

week-long camp running this summer. That is a much larger undertaking and requires a lot more money. Donations of cash are welcome, as are donations of equipment. For this camp, much of it is on loan. Baldwin would like the camp to have its

own equipment so that they are not as dependent on donations each time. Baldwin said that she is

praying for good weather, but if it rains, they’ll move activi-ties indoors and go bowling or play games. The goal is for boys and mentors to bond and form relationships that can last past the camp. In a Dec. 21, 2012 story

about Operation 300, Baldwin expressed the hope that lasting relationships would form. “I envision, in my heart, that

someday, a mentor would go to the boy’s hometown and watch him play football,” she said.

CAMP from page 3Operation 300 seeking donated supplies for campOperation 300 needs the following items for its camp:• Youth ATVs and safety gear• Trail horses and tack• Camping equipment• Archery equipment (youth)• .22 caliber rifles and ammunition• Shooting targets• Youth surfboards• 15-passenger van• Flag Football equipment For more information about Operation 300, visit the website, www.operation300.com. To donate goods, contact [email protected]. Checks may be sent to Operation 300, Inc., P.O. Box 3, Port Salerno, FL 34992

2098

Monica BrownMortgage Loan ConsultantAssistant Vice President772.621.9106 Office772.240.4461 CellNMLSR# [email protected]/mbrown

You’ve worked hard to serve Your countrY.we’ll work hard to save You moneY. Ask me about the benefits of a VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan1 (IRRRL).

1Loan program features are subject to restrictions under applicable law. Equal Housing Lender. SunTrust Mortgage, Inc., 901 Semmes Avenue, Richmond, VA 23224, NMLS # 2915, is licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act; is an Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee; is a Lender in Massachusetts having Mortgage Lender license #s ML1216, ML0133, ML1432, ML1914, ML1913, ML1815, ML2411, ML1214, ML2442, ML2491, and ML2538; is licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department; is licensed by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, toll free 1-800-330-4684; is a licensed lender in Rhode Island; and is doing business in Arizona as Crestar Mortgage, 7250 N. 16th Street, Ste. 100, Phoenix, AZ 85020. ©2013 SunTrust Banks, Inc. SunTrust and SunTrust Mortgage are federally registered service marks of SunTrust Banks, Inc. How Can We Help You Shine Today? is a service mark of SunTrust Banks, Inc.

2099


PALM CITY — Most people are acutely aware of the condition of both the auto and the driver before getting in to travel down a highway. The same precautions should be taken by boaters, says Tim Mullen, manager of the Me-ridian Marina and Yacht Club in Palm City. “Can you imagine being in a

car, sitting as a passenger with someone who didn’t know what they were doing when they were driving?” Mullen asked. “It’s frightening because people say ‘I own a boat.’ But the truth is that anyone with a checkbook can own a boat.” It doesn’t take a checkbook

to get safety certification by the Coast Guard Auxiliary. It does take a knowledgeable skipper and a safe boat. That’s what members of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotil-

la 59 were aiming for when they provided free vessel safety checks at the Meridian Marina all last weekend. Certified Flotilla 59 examiners

went through a variety of poten-tial problems in examining 35 vessels that were inspected over the weekend of vessels at the marina on Southwest Chapman Way. “We look for the presence and

condition of equipment that is required by state and federal regulations,” said Hank Cushard, Public Affairs officer for Flotilla 59. “We’re checking that your fire

extinguishers are not expired and that you have the correct number; that you have the right amount of life jackets; that your flares aren’t expired; that your lights work; that you know how

Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 59 expands vessel checks to Palm CityBy Tom SchramFor Veteran Voice

See VESSEL page 11

ARE YOU READY FOR LAORETTI?

- Larry Laoretti

Call me at 772-285-6467 for appointment. All lessons are given at the Fox Club in Palm City.

2003

Very effective for short shots around the greens or downwind holes. The first adjustment to make is to be sure the ball is positioned more forward in your stance than normal (more to your for-ward foot). As I said earlier if you want to keep the ball low you swing the club low both ways. Now we are going to do the opposite, swing club higher on the back

swing. Higher on the follow thru. This should produce a much higher ball flight than normal. Your speed of the swing should be the same as your normal pace.

Good luck with both, high and low shots.

LOFTED SHOTS OR HIGH SHOTS

Larry’s Golf Tips

of the Week

More tips to follow in

coming weeks.

2061

$48..Before 11 AM$40.....After 11 AM$30.......After 2 PM

(All Rates Include Cart and Tax)

FebruarySaturday Special$40 til 2pM

772-465-8110

1600 SOUTH 3RD ST., FORT PIERCEFor More information or

to Schedule Your Tee Time

From uS1, turn east on Ohio ave., directly behind td bank

CURRENT RATES

2068


both said.“You’ll see a guy dressed up like a Ma-

rine, but he has no rank or name,” Irons said. “That should be your first clue. These guys crop up everywhere. You get rid of one group, and a month later another shows up.” The reason for the “no rank or name”? Back

in 2010, the Florida Legislature passed, and then Gov. Charlie Crist, signed a bill backed by the Florida Department of Veterans Af-fairs and Florida Veterans Council making it a felony for those who’ve not served in the armed forces to claim they have while solic-iting. Steve Murray, communications director for

the department, said questionable individu-als and organizations have long used Ameri-ca’s wish to help veterans to glean money. “It is a problem around the country and

in Florida,” he said. “There are legitimate people out there. They, for the most part, are not going to be on street corners and in front of retailers.” He said the Brevard, Indian River, Port St.

Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties seem to be a hot spot for questionable solicitors

claiming to help veterans. “I know in Central and South Florida, I

see news media stuff on this at least once a quarter,” Murray said.There are a few ways donors can know that

their dollars are helping veterans. Biggest one is by keeping local. Zickert said it’s best to be able to hand-deliver a donation to a

Photo illustration by Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographerBefore forking over your hard-earned cash to help a veterans organization, look for signs that the group might not be legitimate, such as the absence of name patch and rank insignia on the uniform the representative is wearing. Even if the organization is genuine, ask the representative where the group is based -- you might be surprised to learn the cause is located hours away from your city, which has its own veterans organizations competing for the same dollars.

GIVING from page 1

See GIVING page 9

“Ask them where the money is going,” he said. “Is it all staying right here in this county? If they say, “No,” then tell them, ‘Thank you but no thank you.’ The money that we raise as a veterans council stays

right here in Indian River County for Indian River County.”

Marty Zickert

The nation’s pre-eminent Latino dance organization.

February 20th

8:00PM

Soloacoustic tourGrammy winning, country music star

February 18th 7:00PM

February 23rd 2:00PM

February 17th

7:00PM

WRITTEN AND STARRING JIM BROCHU AS ZERO MOSTEL DIRECTED BY PIPER LAURIE

2010 NY DRAMA DESK AWARDLOS ANGELES OVATION AWARD

SO. FLORIDA CARBONELL AWARDWASHINGTON DC HELEN HAYES AWARD

MOST HONORED NATIONWIDE PLAY AND PERFORMANCE OF 2010!February 15th 7:00PM

February 16th 4:00PM & 7:00PM

LyricTheatre.com Box Office 772-286-7827

2024


CLUES ACROSS 1. Afraid feeling 5. Cause to be embarrassed 10. A group of hunting animals 14. At some prior time 15. Papier-__, art material 16. Disney’s “____ and Stitch” 17. College army 18. Essential oil from flowers 19. Solo vocal piece 20. “Bodyguard’s” female star 23. Liz’s 3rd husband Mike 24. A weapons emplacement 25. Vast desert in N Africa 28. Fasten by sewing 32. Organic compound 33. Cooper’s Hawk (abbr.) 34. Immerse in a liquid 35. A beatnik’s abode 36. Utter sounds 38. Used esp. of dry vege-

tation 39. Live in 42. Metric linear units 44. Indian frock 46. Stand for a coffin 47. The Great Emancipator 53. Brown coat mixed with

gray or white 54. Lightly fry 55. New Yorker film critic

Pauline 57. European sea eagle 58. Lasiocampidae 59. Another name for Irish

Gaelic 60. Droops 61. Clairvoyants 62. Phonograph record

CLUES DOWN 1. On behalf of 2. Enough (archaic) 3. Adrenocorticotropin 4. Public recitation 5. “Gunsmoke” actress Blake 6. Waited with _____ breath 7. ____-Breaky Heart 8. Sacco and Vanzetti artist

Ben 9. Those who inspire others 10. Capable of being shaped 11. Cardinal compass point

(Scot.) 12. TV advertising award 13. Zen Buddist riddle 21. Hill (Celtic) 22. Universal standard time 25. Passover feast and

ceremony

26. Zanzibar copal 27. NE Arizona pueblo people 29. Pith helmet 30. Small trout-like fish 31. Greek hell 37. Herbal teas 38. Struck a golf ball 40. Dash 41. Removes writing 42. Coal laborers 43. Old world, new 45. Mental representation 46. Someone who bites 47. Greek god of war 48. Albanian word for snow 49. Resounded 50. Solo racing sled 51. Gull suborder 52. Crimefighter Elliot 56. Albanian monetary unit

SuDOKu

CrOSSwOrD

2002

77

14

69

*PICTURES, PHOTOGRAPHS, FEATURES, COLORS DRAWINGS, FLOOR PLANS, SQUARE FOOTAGES AND SIZES ARE APPROXIMATE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY AND WILL VARY FROM THE HOMEAS BUILT. ALL DRAWINGS ARE THE ARTIST’S CONCEPT. HOME AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION, INCLUDING VALUE, PRICING, INCLUDING FEATURES, TERMS AVAILABILITY AND AMENITIES ARE SUB-JECT TO CHANGE AND PRIOR SALE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE OR OBLIGATION. DUE TO D.R. HORTON, INC’S CONTINUAL BUILDING RESEARCH AND POSSIBILITY OF MATERIAL SHORTAGES, THEREMAY BE EXISTING OR FUTURE CHANGES MADE IN BUILDING PRODUCTS, MATERIALS, METHODS, OR DESIGNS USED IN OUR HOMES WHICH ARE NOT REFLECTED IN OUR MODELS. D.R. HORTON ISNOT INVOLVED WITH HE DRAWING AND IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH YMCA AND DOES NOT REPRESENT ENDORSE ANY STATEMENTS MADE BY YMCA. SEE OFFICIALS RULES FOR COMPLETE DETAILS.

7714

69


771469


77

14

69


3 EASY WAYS TOGET TICKETS

7714

69


2060


local office. “Ask them where the money is go-

ing,” he said. “Is it all staying right here in this county? If they say, “No,” then tell them, ‘Thank you but no thank you.’ The money that we raise as a veterans council stays right here in Indian River County for Indian River County.” Better still, give time to an orga-

nization before donating money. Zickert and Irons said local veter-ans organizations often need help with projects. They said spending time volunteering helps potential benefactors get a feel for an orga-nization. Zickert said if things feel squirrely, they probably are. Move on to giving volunteer hours to another organization with an eye toward financial giving, too. Murray said that if people don’t

have time to volunteer at veterans organizations, a quick litmus test for authenticity is congressional charters. A list of congressional-ly-chartered veterans organizations is at the National Resource Direc-tory, nrd.gov. There’s also a list at the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, va.gov/vso.

The state started a not-for-profit organization that

helps veterans, too, the Florida Vet-erans Foundation. That’s at floridav-eteransfoundation.org.

GIVING from page 7

VA overpaid disabled vets $943 million The Department of Veterans

Affairs lost $943 million from 1993 to 2009 in overpayments to veterans who had received a 100 percent disability rating, according to an audit by the VA’s Inspector General. The Veterans Benefits Admin-

istration failed to adequately track veterans’ health through follow-up exams to validate the 100 percent rating. Losing track of their progress resulted in thousands of veterans receiving payments that the VA later de-termined they should not have received. The House Veterans Affairs

Committee’s disability assis-tance panel held a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill to dis-cuss overpayments that were overseen by the Veterans Bene-fits Administration. Linda Halliday, VA assistant

inspector general for audits and evaluations, told the sub-committee that her office deter-mined that VBA regional staff “did not correctly process claims for about 27,500 veterans with 100 percent ratings and that since January 1993 VBA had overpaid these veterans a net amount of about $943 million.” The IG projected that unless

VBA got its system under con-trol it could expect an additional $1.1 billion in overpayments be-tween now and 2016. Halliday noted that VBA con-

sidered the IG’s analysis flawed, but did accept several recom-mendations it made including the plan to conduct a review of all temporary 100 percent dis-ability evaluations to make sure each has a follow-up exam date in his or her electronic record. But she said VBA did not be-

gin the review until September 2011, and then pushed back the deadline for it to be completed

several times, finally settling on Dec. 31, 2012. “We have not tested the sys-

tem modifications, so we have no assurance they’ve resulted in systemwide corrections,” she said. VBA officials need to embrace

a fully electronic system for scheduling exams and follow-up exams for veterans awarded temporary 100 percent disabil-ity, Rick Weidman, executive director of Vietnam Veterans of America, told the panel. The Vietnam Veterans of Amer-

ica is urging the agency to get as many human beings out of the system as possible. “Automate what you can and

avoid a lot of heartache,” Weid-man said on Tuesday. “Concen-trate on where you need the hu-man factor brought in.”Congress typically chastises

VA leaders for not delivering

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

See VA page 10

2012/13 Sunrise Theatre Presenting Sponsors

Get Your

Tickets Today!

Get Your

Tickets Today!

2026


support and payments to disabled veterans fast enough. Weidman emphasized that he’d rather see veterans overpaid rather than not paid in a timely fashion. “People don’t have the resourc-

es to pay it back,” he said. “They have to either take it out of the monies which will be much less than 100 percent … and it leaves people with a credit history that is destroyed, in some cases from which they never can recover.” Weidman’s organization has

worked with VA by reviewing three Inspector General reports on the temporary ratings and overpay-ments. Like other major veterans service organizations, such as the American Legion and the Veter-ans of Foreign Wars, VVA works with veterans in helping them file

claims.He told the House Veterans Af-

fairs Committee panel that VVA and other organizations have been pushing for joint training with the VBA “for some time” on the claims process. “But it has yet to happen at any

level, to our knowledge,” he said. The IG investigations that have

continued to turn up evidence of human error in the system strengthens the argument for more automation in the process, he said. Weidman said that with some

tweaking the VA could set its “eBenefits” portal to automatically send out a statement each month to veterans telling them exact-ly what benefits they’re receiving and how much. It would also is-

VA from page 9

See VA page 11 20

05

St. Lucie Co. FairFEB 22 – MAr 3

Gates Open4pM–Weekdaysnoon–Weekendsall entertainment

FReew/Gate admission

No JoeClown Circus

EVErYDAYLloyd Mabrey

EVErYDAY

Whacky WheelerEVErYDAY

Petting ZooEVErYDAY

recycle CycleEVErYDAY

Kari & BillyEVErYDAY

rowdy roosterEVErYDAY

racing PigsEVErYDAY

Free admissionMon & WedDollar Daythursday

Buy One Get Onetuesday

Midnight MadnessBoth Fridays

$2 Off admissionBoth sundays

w/ a Canned food Itemtues. Feb 26 7:30

Christian Choir

stLucieCountyFair.comat the Intersection of Midway & Okeechobee Rd. Ft. Pierce

772-464-2910

Visit Our Website Belowfor Details

PrCA rodeoMarch 1 & 2

7:30 PM

2085

Kellie PicklerSat. Feb 23

7:30 PMFri. Feb 22

7:30 PM

Master HypnotistChris Mabrey

EVErYDAY


to call mayday. There’s a whole list.” It’s a service that Flotilla 59

performs regularly around the Treasure Coast. Those who passed this weekend’s examina-tion were given a free flare kit (a $59 retail value) from Meridian, plus a Coast Guard certification sticker. That sticker comes in handy

when the Coast Guard is con-ducting at-sea inspections, Cushard said. “They may stop you for some-

thing else, but they won’t pull you over for a safety violation if you have that sticker on your boat,” he said. “And then of course, you have the awareness

that your boat has all the safety equipment that’s needed.” Meridian Marina held its first

safety check last year and Mul-len intends to make it an annual affair. “This is personal for me,”

Mullen said. “Having grown up around the water, I have basically no fear of it, but not everybody feels that way. What we want to promote is the security and safety of the boat and all of its equip-ment.” And that in turn gives boat-

ers greater peace of mind when they set out to drive down that big blue highway known as the Atlantic Ocean. For a list of upcoming Coast

Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 59 vessel safety checks, visit cgaux59.org.

VESSEL from page 6

sue reminders to those on temporary 100 per-cent disability to keep or schedule a follow-up exam. Not only would that

help VBA meet its obli-gation to run a smoother system, but it would be a reminder to the veter-an that he has a respon-sibility to the process, Weidman said.

VA from page 10

The modern Purple Heart was re-es-tablished on May 28, 1932, and awarded to 138 World War I veterans at Temple Hill in New Windsor, N.Y., the site of the Continental Army’s first encampment and home today to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. Purple Hearts have been conferred on

more than 320,000 World War I veterans, more than 1,000,000 World War II vet-erans, 118,650 from the Korean conflict, 351,794 from Vietnam and the Middle East conflicts now number more than 44,000 recipients.

HEART from page 4

50% OFF LunchLunch: Tue-Sat 11AM-3PM • Dinner: Wed-Sat 5PM-9PM

New Menu Every Thursday!

Appetizer, Entrée, Dessertand a Glass of Wine

3 FOr ThurSDAy!

Full Service Catering Available

FriDAy - Live MuSic!WeDneSDAy - TriviA nighT!$1895

345-2100199 SE Via Tesoro Blvd.

North off of Becker Rd.into Tesoro Entrance turn left

to Tennis Courts 2014

at t h e Ra c q u e t cl u b at te s o R o

NOW O

PEN

TO ThE PuBliC

SATurDAy - unDer The STArS!

Buy one Entrée, get 2nd Entrée of equal or lesser valuefor 50% off. Expires 02/22/2013

Visit our Family ... It will Become Yours!parking FrEE • admission $3.00 (pEr pErson)

ChildrEn undEr agE 8 FrEE Greek Dancing • Greek Music

Greek Food march 1, 2, & 3

Fri. & sat. 11am – 10pm • sun. 11am – 7pm

saint nicholas-greek orthodox Church2525 south 25th strEEt, Fort piErCE, Fl

(2 Blocks south of Virginia avenue)

772-464-7194

2051


County Veterans Service OfficersSt. Lucie County, Donna CarlsenPhone: (772) 337-5670Fax: (772) [email protected] J. Conrad Building(formerly the Walton Road Annex Bldg.)1664 S.E. Walton Road, Suite 205Port St. Lucie, FL 34952By appointmentMon., Tues, Thurs, Fri * 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.Wed * 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. St. Lucie County Community Services Bldg.(Corner of Avenue D and 7th Street) 437 N. Seventh St., Fort Pierce, FL 34950Walk-insMon. and Fri. * 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Brevard Veteran’s Services Office2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Bldg. B, Suite 102Viera, FL 32940Office: (321) 633-2012Fax: (321) 637-5432Mon., Tues. and Thurs., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.Wed. and Fri, 8 a.m.-noonManager: Glenn McGuffieIndian River CountyJoel HermanVero Beach 2525 St. Lucie Ave.,Vero Beach, FL 32960 Ph: (772) 226-1499 Fax: (772) 770-5038Sebastian Square 11602 U.S. 1, Sebastian, FL 32958 Ph: (772) 589-6597 Fax: (772) 581-4988

Martin CountyTony Reese, Veterans Service Office SupervisorNick Ciotti, Veterans Service Officer(772) 288-5448Veterans Services OfficeMartin County Community Services435 S.E. Flagler Ave., Stuart, FL 34994Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.VA Life Insurance Ctr., Phil., PA - 1-800-669-8477 VA Regional Office - 1-800-827-1000 VA Medical Ctr, W. Palm Beach - 1-800-972-8262 Pharmacy, VA Medical Center - 1-800-317-8387 Military Retired Pay Activities, Cleveland, OH - (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force ONLY) 1-800-321-1080 Military Retired Pay Activities, Topeka, KS - (Coast Guard ONLY)1-800-772-8724 Survivor Benefits (SBP),Denver, CO - 1-800-435-3396 Stuart VA Clinic - (772) 288-0304 Okeechobee CountyVeterans Services office (863) 763-6441, Ext 5. Fax: (863) 763-0118.Orlando VA Medical Cente5201 Raymond St., Orlando, FL 32803(407) 629-1599 or (800) 922-7521Telephone Care(407) 599-1404 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon. - Fri. (800) 645-6895 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon - Fri (321) 637-3625 Viera patients8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon. - Fri. (877) 741-3400 Weekends, holidays, evenings and nights

West Palm Beach Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center7305 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33410(561) 422-8262 or (800) 972-8262 Telephone Care(561) 422-6838 (866) 383-9036 Open 24 hours - 7 daysViera VA Outpatient Clinic2900 Veterans Way, Viera, FL 32940Phone: (321) 637-3788 1 (877) 878-8387Mon. - Fri. - 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.St Lucie County PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) Outpatient Program126 S.W. Chamber Court, Port St Lucie, FL 34986Phone: (772) 878-7876Fort Pierce Community BasedOutpatient Clinic727 North U.S. 1, Fort Pierce, FL 34950Phone: (772) 595-5150Fax: (772) 595-6560St Lucie Community Based Outpatient Clinic128 S.W. Chamber Court, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986Phone: (772) 344-9288Stuart Community BasedOutpatient Clinic 3501 S E Willoughby Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34997Phone: (772) 288-0304Fax: (772) 288-1371Vero Beach Community BasedOutpatient Clinic372 17th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960Phone: (772) 299-4623Fax: (772) 299-4632

Importantnumbers ...

Veteran Voice is a weekly publication designed to provide information to and about veterans to veterans and to the broader community. Veterans are an integral part of their Florida communities, which currently have individual organizations of their own, such as the Veter-ans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America and many other groups with a nar-row focus, but no convenient way to connect to a wider population of veterans and to the community in general within a limited geographic area, their community. The mission of Veteran Voice is to publish a weekly source of information that will provide, in one place, a listing of resources available to veterans, articles about changes in policies or organizations affecting veterans and events of interest to veterans as well as articles about veterans of interest to the general public. Veteran Voice LLC is organized as a partnership of experienced newspaper executives with an interest in veterans and in the communities of Florida veterans and friends. VV is a start-up intended to address a per-ceived lack of information readily available to veterans on programs and policies affecting them and objective reporting of veteran affairs to the public.To our knowledge, and based on comments from lead-ers of local veterans organizations, there was no media or website currently meeting this need until the launch of VeteranVoice.We hope you agree, and will support this publication with your subscription. Without subscriptions there will be a limited number of people we can help, without which this mission will not be realized. As part of our commitment to supporting local veteran communities, we will donate 10 percent of our profits each quarter to qualified veteran charities recommended by you, our readers and subscribers. Please let us know what you think by emailing [email protected] or mailing your comments to us at 1919 S.W. South Macedo Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34984.

our mIssIon statementanD our obJeCtIVe

2007

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!!!1 Year Subscription (52 Weeks)

□ Regular .................................... $18/yr

□ Veterans/Active Military......... $12/yr

PAYMENT OPTIONS

□ Enclosed check payable to: VETERAN VOICE, LLC.

□ Credit Card

#_____________________________________

Expiration # _______________ CVC #_______

subsCrIptIon GIFt Form

MAIL SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT TO:Veteran Voice, LLC. 1919 SW South Macedo Blvd. Port St. Lucie, FL 34984

You may also subscribe by calling (772) 204-2409 or FAX payment info to (772) 204-2940

BILL TO NAME: ___________________________________________

BILLING ADDRESS: _________________________________________

CITY, STATE, ZIP: ___________________________________________

GIFT TO NAME: ___________________________________________

GIFT TO ADDRESS: _________________________________________

CITY, STATE, ZIP: ___________________________________________

Veteran Voice is a weekly newspaper for veterans,active military, their families and their friends.

Veteran VoiceThe Voice of Experience

veteran 2-15-2013

Documents

dog parade

dog lover

dog blessing

multiclass dog

things dog event

camp page

veterans groupstheyre

disabled veterans