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Welcome to Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida 'a Source for Veteran Resources'

180 W. Idaho Ave, Ontario, Oregon 97914

541-889-1978

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Welcome to Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida 'a Source for Veteran Resources'

180 W. Idaho Ave, Ontario, Oregon 97914

541-889-1978

Ron Verini (5th from the left) along with a few Volunteers and Board Members of Veteran Advocates of

Meet your citizen of the year 2020

Ron Verini, leader of nonprofit dedicated to veterans reluctant to take credit for his win

January 2021 By Leslie Thompson, Argus Observer

ONTARIO

In the absence of the Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizens of the Year awards, which have been celebrated annually since 1972, the Argus Observer aimed to help fill the gap created by the pandemic and offer the community the chance to nominate a citizen of the year.

Nominations for the Argus Observer Citizen of the Year for 2020 were open Jan. 1-8, and the community’s responses came pouring in for people throughout the Western Treasure Valley.

A unifying theme in all of these nominations was people who put their community’s needs before their own.

The person who garnered the most nominations for this inaugural award was Ron Verini, president and chairman of the board for Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida, a nonprofit dedicated to serving veterans. Trailing not far behind, but neck-in-neck, were Malheur County Health Department Director Sarah Poe, who is currently leading the local fight against COVID-19, and Jennifer Tolman, a pharmacist at Malheur Drug in Vale who, according to nominations is a vital part of groups that give back to the community.

Verini mentioned all the work these people do (and there isn’t room to list it all — it is extensive), which includes myriad services, such as running the nonprofit’s food bank, connecting vets with local services, finding housing, hosting a website and Facebook page, sitting and talking with local vets, building ramps, home renovations, setting up a station for the visually impaired to read books and putting together a military museum.

Motivating volunteers

Along with others in the community who nominated Verini, many people from his core group of volunteers say they believe Verini deserves the award.

Haines said Verini is the initiator and motivator behind the nonprofit, which consists solely of volunteers.

“It takes a special gift and desire to motivate and inspire others to do the same,” said Haines. “This year has been unique. Ron has more than passed the test.”

When asked how he keeps inspiring volunteers, Verini had the following to say.

“I stay focused on the mission, and you treat people like you want to be treated,” he said. “I think it’s so important that folks understand that we are all in this together, truly. There is something about the human nature that comes to the surface on a positive level when people are treated with respect.”

Some of the volunteers have their own challenges, Verini said, including in some cases severe physical or mental challenges.

‘It’s far from mine’

Upon finding out he won the Citizen of the Year award, Verini quickly went from disbelief to saying it was quite an honor “especially for Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida.” Then he quickly insisted (and still does) that the award really should go to the volunteers of the organization, without whom he says, “we don’t exist.”

“I am thrilled,” he said about the award. However, added, “It’s far from mine. VAOI would not exist if it wasn’t for the volunteers.”

He said that a core group of people helps get things done. That group includes Charlene Pelland, Doug Dean, Bob and Janet Metzger, Marilyn Justus, Vince and Claudia Schwartz, Billy Vance, Jan and Phil Jacques, David Looper, Margie Yasuda, Barbara Ogawa, Judy Snyder, Gerald Haines and John Breidenbach.

He furthermore said Veteran Advocates could not operate without community services, such as the Oregon Food Bank, Payette Senior Center and Community Action, nor without donations from businesses, such as the nonprofit’s number one contributor Grocery Outlet along with Albertsons, The Home Depot, Dr. Jeffrey Pitts, the Ontario Masonic Lodge and others.

“This is not my award,” Verini reiterated. “It’s an award that transcends anything I do.”

He said it belongs to the team of people who work together to provide services for vets and their family members.

“It’s unbelievable how many people are in that stream of support,” he said.

"If you give them responsibility and you let them take the lead, give a little bit of direction but respect what they have to say — I think that makes all the difference in the world, whether they are a volunteer, worker, political individual serving on the city council, whatever,” he said.

In turn, volunteers continue serving because they love what they are doing and are passionate about it.

“The volunteers take the lead, and I just give them direction

WELCOME! A FEW TOPICS OF INTEREST (click on pics for more)

Veteran Articles published Bi-monthly

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

The Chairman of Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida, Ronald Verini, writes two articles every month for publication in a Regional Newspaper,this article "DR. RUTH WAS A SNIPER AND TAUGHT AT WEST POINT." will be published February 28, 2021. Here is a part of Mr. Verinis' article, and you can read the full article by clicking the red bar below.

DR. RUTH WAS A SNIPER AND TAUGHT AT WEST POINT…

February 28,, 2021 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini

Willie Nelson, Tony Bennett, B. B. King, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Pressley were incredible musicians, and they all served our nation in the military! What called this to my attention was a veteran and his wife stopping me the other day at the Ontario Post Office, to tell me just how surprised he was to learn that Tony Bennett served in the US Army during WWII, this was before he was Tony Bennett. His real name was Anthony Benedetto and was drafted into the Army in 1944 and was a front-line infantryman across France and Germany. Tony had several brushes narrowly escaping death, but went on to help liberate Nazi concentration camp and freeing prisoners of war. Tony was with the Army’s 63rd Division.

The veteran continued his conversation by mentioning other musicians and composers that also served their country in the US Military. So, I have added some of their stories here: Country music singer, songwriter and producer, George Strait (The King of Country), in 1971 eloped with his High School sweetheart and joined the Army. Served from 1971 to 1975 in Hawaii where he launched his lifelong music career by singing with the Army sponsored base band ‘Rambling Country’. And continued his support of wounded and fallen military veterans and their families.

Jazz legend and saxophonist John Coltrane, enlisted in the Navy on the day the first atomic bomb was dropped. He trained as an apprentice seaman, sent to Pearl Harbor, joined the Base swing band “Melody Masters” and made his first recordings with them playing jazz standards and some bebop tunes.

Hip-Hop recording artist, dancer and producer, famous for among other hits “u Can’t Touch This” and “2 Legit to Quit”, MC Hammer, after deciding not to become a drug dealer, joined the Navy to serve our Country. He was an Aviation Storekeeper 3rd Class at the Naval Air Station at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California.

Willie Nelson grew up in Texas during the ‘Great Depression’. After he left High School Nelson enlisted in the US Air Force and served only for about nine months before receiving a medical discharge due to a back illness, I guess that might be why he embraced the power of weed. Though he did not serve very long in the military, he has always maintained a passionate support for our veterans, advocating for increased medical care and also helping to raise awareness about ‘homelessness’ among veterans.

Jimi Hendrix, after being caught twice in stolen cars, was given two choices by the police, prison or the military. So, he enlisted in 1961 to the 101st Airborne Division, completed paratrooper training and was awarded the prestigious “Screaming Eagles Award” in early 1962. Shortly after that was given a medical discharge.

TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE PLEASE CLICK THE RED BAR BELOW.....

Current & past Articles available

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

Veterans, service members and families: online programs help you cope with stress

January 2021

After many months of facing the COVID-19 pandemic, many are feeling on edge. Worrying about catching the virus, financial difficulties, isolation: these challenging times are causing a lot of anxiety.

VA’s Veteran Training website offers free online self-help programs to help. VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention developed the programs specifically for Veterans, service members, and their families.

These online tools and resources now work on both computers and mobile devices.

Veterans, service members and families: online programs help you cope with stress

Experiencing stress and anxiety, especially now, is not a form of weakness. If you find yourself struggling to cope, you may find these online programs helpful:

Moving Forward: This course teaches problem solving skills to help you better handle life’s challenges, such as managing stress and adjustment issues, as well as balancing school, family life, and financial difficulties.
Parenting for Veterans: In this updated course, you will find tools to help reconnect with your kids and strengthen your parenting skills.
Path to Better Sleep: If getting a good night’s rest is a nightly challenge, use Sleep Check-Up to better understand your sleep problems. If you’ve been diagnosed with insomnia, try the Path to Better Sleep course. It can help you develop habits that promote a healthy pattern of sleep.
- Sleep Apnea: This is a new resource on the Veteran Training website. If you have been diagnosed with or may have sleep apnea, try the Sleep Apnea page. This page has useful resources, such as videos, fact sheets and links to other helpful sleep health sites.
Anger & Irritability Management Skills (AIMS): This course can help you control your reactions to irritating events and manage angry feelings. AIMS is a Veteran-specific. Veterans and service members around the world have used it

Click here to read the full article

VA program offers veterans access to banking services

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

VA program offers veterans access to banking services

Packs of freshly printed $20 bills are processed for bundling and packaging at the U.S. Treasury

February 2021 by Charles S. Tapp II, Military Times

As chief financial officer at the Veterans Benefits Administration, I am responsible for ensuring veterans and their beneficiaries receive the monetary benefits they deserve. While most veterans opt to receive benefits through direct deposit — which is faster, safer and cheaper than getting a paper check in the mail — we noticed a significant number of veterans did not have bank accounts and were still receiving checks or prepaid debit cards.

We created a fiscal stewardship initiative with the two primary goals of encouraging our nonbanking veterans to enroll in direct deposit while also saving taxpayer money by not mailing paper checks. As a result, over 35,000 veterans opened bank accounts or signed up to receive VA benefits payments through direct deposit during this past year.

We partnered with the Association of Military Banks of America and created the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP). VBBP gives veterans access to low to no-cost banking options and allows them to receive their benefit payments, Economic Impact Payments or stimulus checks faster. VBBP also provides veterans with online banking options beyond the automated teller machine or check-cashing venue....

click here for more on this story

NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO?

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

VA program offers veterans access to banking services

Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone.
Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder.
Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
Take a self-check quiz at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Quiz to learn whether stress and depression might be affecting you.
Find a VA facility near you.
Visit MilitaryCrisisLine.net if you are an active duty Service member, Guardsman, or Reservist.
Connect through chat, text, or TTY if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

More info on Crisis Line and Suicide Prevention

Why the military should educate its members about the Constitution

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

National Guard Master Sgt. George Roachs holds up a pamphlet of the U.S. Constitution on Jan. 17, 20

February 2021 by Chris Dalton, Military Times

Every American service member takes an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” The oath is not to the country, the government, or the flag. It is to the Constitution.

But precious few service members truly know what that oath means because the military makes no effort to teach it. I speak from experience: I served in the Marine Corps for nine years, after which I attended law school, where it took only a few weeks before I had learned infinitely more about the Constitution than I learned during my nine years defending it.

The military spends billions of dollars educating service members about all manner of subjects. Yet most members of our military receive no education about the Constitution — the document we are sworn to defend. As we learned on Jan. 6, that oversight has consequences.

Jan. 6′s insurrection was littered with military veterans. Reports state that 20 percent of those who stormed the Capitol had military ties. While Congress was counting electoral votes — a solemn obligation specifically required by the Constitution — veterans assaulted the Constitution itself by storming the Capitol to undermine that solemn duty.

The Constitution is not open to interpretation regarding how electors are to be appointed and their votes to be counted. Its requirements regarding presidential elections are laid out with precision. Under Article II and the Twelfth Amendment, each state decides how to appoint electors; each state then counts its electors’ ballots, certifies the vote totals, and transmits them to Congress. All of this was done precisely as the Constitution requires....

Read the full Article, click here.....

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

What is the White House VA Hotline?

The hotline’s pilot began under direction of the Veterans Experience Office on June 1, 2017, and entered phase two on October 15, 2017.

White House VA Hotline: 1-855-948-2311.

Calls are answered by a live agent 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The hotline is staffed by more than 60 agents who have had extensive training on VA programs and services. Most of these agents are a Veteran, military family member, caregiver or a survivor.

The White House VA Hotline conducts immediate warm hand offs for at-crisis risk Veterans needing the services of the Veterans Crisis Line.

Trends identified by the hotline will be used to rapidly respond to systemic inefficiencies and empower VA employees to resolve Veteran concerns quickly.

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255

More info from the VA on this service

Lawmakers Want to Make All Vets, Some Caregivers Eligible

For the VA COVID-19 Vaccines

February 2021, by Patricia Time, Military.com

When Vietnam veteran Donald Snyder heard his local Department of Veterans Affairs hospital was offering coronavirus vaccines to vets 65 and older, he immediately called to make an appointment. But Snyder, who does not get health care through the VA because he does not meet its eligibility criteria, was turned down.

He was miffed.

"I understand the income [limits] to be eligible for veterans health care benefits, but the vaccine? The vaccine is free to all Americans; we paid for it with our tax dollars. There's no reason a veteran shouldn't be able to get it at the VA," Snyder said.

In Congress, lawmakers have heard similar thoughts from veterans and those who care for ill and at-risk former service members -- those who are not enrolled in VA health care and not able to get the vaccine from the VA.

A few lawmakers are trying to do something about it.

"Getting vaccines into the arms of every person who wants one as soon as we can is key to finally getting us past this pandemic. In my mind, veterans should always be at the front of the line," said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, in a release Wednesday.

"Your goal should be to vaccinate every single [veteran] assuming they are not going to object to getting the vaccine," Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, told Dr. Richard Stone, acting under secretary for health during a hearing Wednesday....

Find out more

The First G.I. Joe Action Series, Army Staff Sgt. Lady Jaye

an Airborne- and Ranger-qualified covert operations specialist

February 2021 by James Barber, Military.com

Amazon Prime Video continues its commitment to action series with plans for a show based on the G.I. Joe character Lady Jaye, an Airborne- and Ranger-qualified covert operations specialist. The character previously appeared in the 2013 movie "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," where she was portrayed by Adrianne Palicki.

Amazon just announced a new series based on former Navy SEAL Jack Carr's James Reece novels, with the first season focused on "The Terminal List." Amazon is also home to "Bosch," the series about Iraq War veteran and LAPD detective Harry Bosch; "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan," starring John Krasinski; and an upcoming series based on Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels.

Lady Jaye first appeared in 1985

If you're confused by this announcement, you're probably on the wrong side of the G.I. Joe generational controversy. Anyone who grew up with the 12-inch-tall action figure whose tools were based on real military gear is bound to be baffled by the universe of weirdness that came with Joe's 3.75-inch relaunch in the 1980s.

Lady Jaye first appeared in 1985, during the era when G.I. Joe was fighting cartoon enemies like the Cobra Commandos, whose ranks included Raptor, Serpentor, Major Bludd and Zartan. His allies were a motley crew that featured Hardball, a former baseball player who insisted on wearing his old uniform as part of his combat gear; Ice Cream Soldier; Metalhead, who blasted a hard rock soundtrack as he went into battle; and Chuckles....

Click here to read the full article..

Burning oil well in field coated in spilled oil in Kuwait in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm

30 Years After the Gulf War: Veterans Legacy of Toxic Wounds

February 2021 by James H. Bings, Military.com

This is by James H. Binns, a Vietnam War veteran, chaired the congressionally mandated Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses from 2002 to 2014.

America's memory of the 1991 Gulf War has faded, but we must remember the 697,000 U.S. veterans who drove the Iraqi army from Kuwait 30 years ago this month -- especially the one in four who lost their health to toxic exposures serving their country. That country refuses to care for them.

The inauguration of a president who personally understands the terrible consequences of toxic wounds to veterans and their families inspires hope that help may finally be coming.

The Gulf War was hailed at the time as a great victory, with U.S. casualties limited to 148 dead and 467 wounded. Today, we know that at least 175,000 American servicemen and women returned home with constant pain; fatigue; and gastrointestinal, memory and chronic neurological problems now referred to as Gulf War Illness. They will not be celebrating this anniversary.

All Americans should remember the Gulf War as these veterans do

This article is from February 2021

American battle casualties in the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq currently total 5,458 dead and 53,250 wounded. More than 213,000 veterans have reported respiratory diseases, cancers and other protracted health problems to the Department of Veterans Affairs' registry for burn pits, the massive fire pits on U.S. bases where waste was incinerated with jet fuel.

In the Vietnam War, 58,000 U.S. service members died and 153,000 were wounded. But more than 650,000 Vietnam veterans suffer or have died from illnesses related to Agent Orange......

Find out more, read the full article

Some Ongoing Stories of Interest For Our Veterans

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

A sailor welds a brass dog on a pyrotech junction box at George Washington’s Industrial Facility.

Feb. 2021, by Blake Stilwell, Military.com

Unions are looking to U.S. military veterans to fill their ranks with the skilled tradespeople needed for the future. The Utility Workers Union of America is leading the way with an extensive program that covers the cost of training and puts vets in jobs when their service ends.

Not only can veterans looking for a new skilled trades career outside the military find one after transitioning, there's no risk in getting started. And thanks to the Pentagon's Skillbridge program, which helps troops as they get ready to head back to civilian life, they can get started before they even separate.

The Utility Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP) is a six-month, pipeline training-to-placement program that teaches veterans to work in the utilities sector. This includes the natural gas, electric, water and nuclear industries, as well as the burgeoning renewable energy industry.

The Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, or UWUA, represents around 50,000 members employed in the energy, electric, gas, steam, water and related professional, technical and service industries.

"We don't talk about it as jobs because our folks in the utility industry are able to retire with dignity, with pensions and tremendous 401(k) packages," says Rick Passarelli, a Navy veteran and director of veterans affairs for UWUA. "There's tons of growth in these jobs because they're collectively bargained and they can move into a lot of different skill sets."

Applicants don't need to have a military specialty related to utility work. The union will take care of training and experience. All are welcome, said Passarelli -- from Air Force admin troops to Marine Corps infantry and everyone in between....

DoD SkillBridge: The best military transition program you didn’t know existed

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

James Montgomery, right, management analyst, Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Pea

January 2021 By Harm Venhuizen. MilitaryTimes

When separating from the military, it’s not uncommon for servicemembers to discover gaps between their resume and the civilian job they want.

Worries about putting food on the table can make going back to school, getting on-the-job training, or taking an internship seem like costly ways of filling that gap. Luckily, there’s a way servicemembers can gain the experience required by civilian jobs while still on the military’s payroll.

The DoD SkillBridge Program lets active-duty personnel from all four branches spend the last 180 days of their military service interning at a civilian job with one of more than 500 industry partners.

Participants continue to receive military pay and benefits, whether they’re getting certified by Microsoft in cloud development, learning to weld, or taking advantage of any one of the hundreds of other opportunities available.

As part of the DoD’s requirements, all training programs offer a “high probability of post-service employment with the provider or other employers in a field related to the opportunity,” according to the SkillBridge website.

In his internship with the Global SOF Foundation, retired Navy commander Chuck Neu says he not only tripled the size of his professional network, but also discovered a talent for sales.

“Without that exposure to cold-call sales from doing SkillBridge with the Global SOF Foundation, I likely would have ended up on-base as a contractor or a government civilian, which is really not what I wanted to do,” Neu told Military Times....

For more on this story click the 'Red Bar' below.

For more on this story click here

This Is the State of Military Entrepreneurship After 2020

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

VA's updated list of Agent Orange sites outside of Vietnam

Rear Adm. Paul Pearigen, NMW commander and chief of the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, speaks to Veterans

February 2021 by Blake Stilwell, Military.com

A new veteran survey shows that, while significant barriers to entry exist for veterans starting their own business -- especially when it comes to raising capital, understanding regulations and accessing help, veterans are still successfully starting and expanding businesses.

The survey, conducted during 2020 by Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), received responses from about 2,500 U.S. military-affiliated entrepreneurs in the United States to garner an understanding of trends in the activities, needs and barriers facing military business people.

Since 2020 was the first year the survey was conducted, this information is a base of knowledge regarding the veteran community in the area of entrepreneurship. Future surveys, which will be conducted annually, will be able to track changes in the data.

Officials at the IVMF said they hope to use the data to inform public and private leaders, as well as future veteran entrepreneurs, about the state of being a veteran business owner and how centers like IVMF can help.

Veterans Are Geared Toward Entrepreneurship

With a full 44% of participants expressing difficulty with transitioning to civilian life, entrepreneurship makes sense as a means of getting started; 53% say they had no idea what they wanted to do as civilians. Some of the problems they faced were getting socialized to civilian culture, losing the military community and feeling a sense of purpose -- all of which are challenges that can be addressed when creating the culture of a new business.....

Read the full article, click here....

VA's updated list of Agent Orange sites outside of Vietnam

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

VA's updated list of Agent Orange sites outside of Vietnam

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released in January an updated Department of Defense (DOD) list of locations outside of Vietnam where tactical herbicides were used, tested or stored by the United States military.

“This update was necessary to improve accuracy and communication of information,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “VA depends on DOD to provide information regarding in-service environmental exposure for disability claims based on exposure to herbicides outside of Vietnam."

DOD conducted a thorough review of research, reports and government publications in response to a November 2018 Government Accountability Office report.

“DOD will continue to be responsive to the needs of our interagency partners in all matters related to taking care of both current and former service members,” said Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper. “The updated list includes Agents Orange, Pink, Green, Purple, Blue and White and other chemicals and will be updated as verifiable information becomes available.”

Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including an Agent Orange Registry health exam, health care and disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. Their dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits.

Click here for list of Agent Orange sites in USA

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

December 2020

For veterans who think they were exposed to toxic substances during their service, the Department of Veterans Affairs has a mobile application that will help them answer questions about what this potential exposure means for their long-term health.

Originally designed for VA providers, Exposure Ed now lets anyone view a list of service-related exposures -- broken down by type, conflict and date or location of service. It also has a map veterans can use to find the closest VA facilities and exposure-related programs.

For example, veterans thinking they came into contact with the Vietnam-era herbicide Agent Orange can use the "Exposures" button on the home page for immediate access to a list of illnesses related to exposure. Or, veterans can input in the time and location they served to view everything they might have been exposed to.

The last option sorts exposure risks by conflict, ranging from World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom/Op

Vets with iPhones can access their VA Medical Records

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

December 2020

Veterans with iPhones can now view their Department of Veterans Affairs medical records through their phone’s Health app.

VA and Apple began rolling out the capability during the summer but issued formal announcements this week, just ahead of Veterans Day.

“We have delivered veterans an innovative new way to easily and securely access their health information,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said Nov. 6 in a release. “Veterans deserve access to their health data at any time and in one place, and with health records on the Health app, VA has pushed the veterans experience forward.”

Veterans will see an aggregated view of their VA health care information such as lab results, medical history, procedures and medications.

Information from private medical providers also is available if that provider participates in the Apple Health program. More than 400 companies are on board, including Johns Hopkins, University of California San Diego, Quest Diagnostics and Allscripts.

More about iPhones Health App

Crayon-eating Marine launches edible crayon business

Feb. 27, 2021 by Sarah Sicard, Observation Post

While finishing up a work project, Marine-veteran-turned-carpenter Frank Manteau decided to employ the use of a popular piece of Marine-issued gear: crayons. Switching from one color to another, he absentmindedly stuck one waxy stick in his mouth for safe keeping and continued scribbling. Before he knew it, he was doing what Marines do best: nomming on crayons.

When he finally realized the stereotype he was fulfilling, his next thought was, “Is there something to this?”

And thus, “Crayons Ready-to-Eat” was born.

I know I’ve eaten crayons before when I was a kid, and now Marines are being called crayon eaters,” Manteau told Military Times, “I started researching and figured out that if we’re going to make them truly edible, they’ve got to be made out of chocolate.”

Only, he didn’t know how to do so. Luckily, Cassandra Gordon, one of the team members at the shop where he worked, happened to be a pastry chef. The pair soon went into business together, making edible crayons (that also draw!) out of their San Diego homes.....

Crayons Ready-to-Eat officially launched in 2018,

Manteau said that when he served from 1995 to 2002, Marines were not called crayon-eaters. And while there seems to be no clear origin story for the Marines-eat-crayons legend, Manteau did acknowledge that Marines “have been known to do the weirdest, stupidest things.”

And as such, all good jokes are worth embracing. As the memes about Marines chowing down on Crayola crudités became a mainstay of military culture, Manteau saw an opportunity.

Before long, the duo was including stereotypes about other branches by way of their crayon palette, one that now includes Squid Blue, Flyboy Yellow, Jarhead Red, Dawg Face Green, and Puddle Pirate Orange.

Some Stories that Inspire, and have 'Positive Energy'

Best Picks for the Week February 21, 2021

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

Air Force Capt. Ryan Heil and a maintainer assigned stand on an F-15E Strike Eagle

Here are 10 pictures picked for the week...February 7, 2021.....

Please click here for the pictures

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

West Frankfort, Ill Veterans Depot Museum volunteers Jack McReynold & Danny Loeh

January 2021

By Molly Parker, The Southern Illinoisan

WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. — In this Franklin County town sits an unassuming museum packed with memorabilia from the region’s men and women who served their country in conflicts dating back to the Civil War.

It is located inside an old train depot off Main Street, a few feet from the tracks that once hauled commuters and loads of coal mined from the county’s belly to places across the nation.

The tracks still serve freight cars, but the depot has been out of service as a commuter hub for many years. In the 1980s, citizens transformed it into a museum to honor the region’s servicemembers.

It offers the perfect salute to their contributions — and the town’s historical significance at the crossroads of America.....,,,,,

Many of Franklin County’s citizens called to serve in foreign wars were the same men who toiled in dangerous conditions in underground mines back home to help fuel the nation’s growth.

Of note, a significant number of the 119 men who died in the Orient 2 Mine explosion just days before Christmas in 1951 were veterans, said Jack McReynolds, a volunteer with the Veterans Depot Museum.

How a Roman-era Rapunzel became the patron saint of artillery

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

How a Roman-era Rapunzel became the patron saint of artillery

Château de Chantilly, Marco d'Oggiono, Saint Barbara (Wikimedia Commons)

On Dec. 4, artillery units around the world traditionally celebrate the feast day of the mysterious St. Barbara, a Roman-era Rapunzel, who was removed from the Catholic Church’s calendar in 1969 over questions of her historical existence.

The legend goes that young Barbara was the beautiful daughter of rich Roman pagan Dioscorus in the late third century A.D. Attempting to protect her from the outside world he purportedly locked his beautiful daughter in the top of a tower, much like a Disney protagonist, according to catholic.org.

“The festivities are likely to look a bit different this year in order to ensure proper mitigation of COVID-19, but we will still make every effort to honor our traditions in a safe manner,”......

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Chinese Americans Who Served in WWII Honored by Congress

Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law

How a Roman-era Rapunzel became the patron saint of artillery

In this image from House Television video, Staff Sgt. Lewis Woo Yee of Houston, accepts a Congressio

WASHINGTON — Seventy-five years after World War II ended, Congress is honoring thousands of Chinese Americans who served the United States in the war, earning citations for heroism — including the Medal of Honor — despite discrimination that included limits on numbers allowed in the U.S.

Nearly 20,000 people of Chinese ancestry served in the U.S. military during World War II, including about 40 percent who were not U.S. citizens due to laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act. That law made it illegal for Chinese laborers to immigrate to America and limited the Chinese population in the U.S. for more than 60 years.

hinese Americans served in all major branches of the military, including the so-called Flying Tigers, the 14th Air Service that flew missions in the China-Burma-India Theater. For their service to the nation during the war, Chinese-American veterans were honored at a Congressional Gold Medalceremony Wednesday....

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Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law

BAR HARBOR, Maine — A proposal from New England senators to ensure free lifetime entry to national parks for all disabled U.S. veterans has been signed into law.

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine proposed the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act to provide the free access to veterans who suffered or aggravated disabilities while serving in the military. President Donald Trump has signed the proposal into law.

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Ghost Fleet’ cemetery now a national sanctuary

Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law

Wooden ships owned by Western Marine & Salvage tied together in 1925, likely on the Potomac or at Mallows Bay.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — An area in Maryland that’s home to abandoned World War I-era steamships has been designated a new national marine sanctuary.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state of Maryland and Charles County announced the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary on Monday. It contains more than 100 abandoned steamships and vessels that were built as part of the nation’s engagement in World War I.

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Mobile Vet Centers (Readjustment Counseling)

24 Hour/ 365 Day CONTACT: 877-927-8387 CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR INFO ON READJUSTMENT COUNSELING

All Vet Centers are currently open and operational, providing face to face and virtual counseling and outreach. Vet Centers will continue to assess the community impact of COVID-19 at a local level and may begin to restrict access or limit foot traffic, transitioning services to virtual care if needed. This would be assessed on a case by case basis and as a last measure. It is VA’s goal of keeping Vet Centers open and operational for Veterans, active duty service members, and their families. Those looking to seek Vet Center services may call their nearest Vet Center or the Vet Center Call Center at 877-WAR-VETS (927-8387). Please check back regularly as this situation may change.

Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. Readjustment counseling is offered to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military. Individual, group, marriage and family counseling is offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services. Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are Veterans themselves, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief and transition after trauma.

Services

What is readjustment counseling?

Readjustment counseling is a wide range of psycho social services offered to eligible Veterans, Service members, and their families in the effort to make a successful transition from military to civilian life. They include:

Individual and group counseling for Veterans, Service members, and their families
Family counseling for military related issues
Bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death
Military sexual trauma counseling and referral
Outreach and education including PDHRA, community events, etc.
Substance abuse assessment and referral
Employment assessment & referral
VBA benefits explanation and referral
Screening & referral for medical issues including TBI, depression, etc.

Does VA have readjustment counseling for family members?

Family members of combat Veterans and Service members have been eligible for Vet Center readjustment counseling services for military related issues since 1979.

Am I eligible for Vet Center readjustment counseling?

If you, or a family member, served in any combat zone and received a military campaign ribbon (Vietnam, Southwest Asia, OEF, OIF, etc.) then both you and your family are eligible for Vet Center services.

Where is counseling offered?

VA's readjustment counseling is provided at community-based Vet Centers located in easily accessable neighborhoods near Veterans, Service members, and their families, yet separate from VA organizational sites to ensure confidential counseling and reduce barriers to care. All Vet Center services are prepaid through military service. Contact your nearest Vet Center through information provided in the Vet Center Directory or listings in your local blue pages. Vet Center staff are available toll free and around the clock at 877-WAR-VETS (927-8387).

Veterans Transition Survival Guide

By Blake Stilwell, Military Times

So you finally came around to the idea that you might have what it takes to make it in civilian life? What took you so long? You can trudge through mud and rain while training for three days, stand watch through a humid night in the Baghdad suburbs, or maintain the latest in multimillion-dollar aircraft technology, but you weren’t sure if you could commute to an office somewhere for eight hours a day? Son, that might be your only problem.

But there’s a lot of ground to cover before you start writing TPS reports.

Getting out of the military is a big deal, about as big a deal as going in. It’s not something you just want to up and do one day. If all you do is fill out a checklist and then go back to your hometown and think everything is just going to work out, you’re gonna be in for a big surprise. There are actually some things you’ll want to think about before you go back to the block. Starting with what exactly you want to do when you get out of that uniform.

Which, we’re probably going to need back, by the way.

Transition Assistance Program

Will you actually be getting a civilian job? Do you want to do the same thing out there that you did in the military? Or will you go to school? Where will you do these things? How will you prepare to pay for them while you wait for benefits … do you even know how to get into the VA system? You may have it all figured out as an E-4. But the mafia doesn’t teach you about Tuition Assistance, the blended retirement system, or getting a VA home loan. Some of that’s what the Transition Assistance Program teaches. (You did know about the TAP class, right?)

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THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR WEBPAGE!

We thank all the Supporters, Businesses and Friends for giving their time and resources in helping and caring for our Veterans, Military and First Responders and their Families.

We really appreciate your interest too, in 'Who we are and What we do'. If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to 'volunteer' or 'donate', well please contact us with an email, a phone call, or just drop on into the office.

You are always welcome to come and join us Monday thru Friday from 9am to 4pm. We are a "No Dues' nonprofit organization with the coffee pot always on and lots of conversation always available. Bring your questions regarding any veteran services you are concerned about, and we will do our best to steer you in the right direction.

Our phone is 541-889-1978, and we are located in Ontario, Oregon at 180 W. Idaho Ave.

Welcome to Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida 'a Source for Veteran Resources'

Welcome to Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida 'a Source for Veteran Resources'

This will take you to our very exciting "Facebook" page

Welcome to our Website, Here is our "Quote" for the Month........

Help Our Cause

Meet your citizen of the year 2020

Ron Verini, leader of nonprofit dedicated to veterans reluctant to take credit for his win

Motivating volunteers

‘It’s far from mine’

Our 'Facebook' page has 'Daily' postings covering Veteran/Military topics - log-on and enjoy!!!!!!!

WELCOME! A FEW TOPICS OF INTEREST (click on pics for more)

Veteran Articles published Bi-monthly

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

Veterans, service members and families: online programs help you cope with stress

VA program offers veterans access to banking services

VA’s online resources for Veterans now more convenient

VA program offers veterans access to banking services

NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO?

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

VA program offers veterans access to banking services

Why the military should educate its members about the Constitution

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

1-855-948-2311 - This is the phone number for the 'White House' VA Hotline

Lawmakers Want to Make All Vets, Some Caregivers Eligible

For the VA COVID-19 Vaccines

A few lawmakers are trying to do something about it.

The First G.I. Joe Action Series, Army Staff Sgt. Lady Jaye

an Airborne- and Ranger-qualified covert operations specialist

Lady Jaye first appeared in 1985

30 Years After the Gulf War: Veterans Legacy of Toxic Wounds

February 2021 by James H. Bings, Military.com

All Americans should remember the Gulf War as these veterans do

Some Ongoing Stories of Interest For Our Veterans

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

DoD SkillBridge: The best military transition program you didn’t know existed

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

This Is the State of Military Entrepreneurship After 2020

Utility Workers Union of America Is Training Veterans for Post-Military Careers

VA's updated list of Agent Orange sites outside of Vietnam

VA's updated list of Agent Orange sites outside of Vietnam

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

VA's updated list of Agent Orange sites outside of Vietnam

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

Vets with iPhones can access their VA Medical Records

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

Veterans Can Now Learn About Their Toxic Exposure Risks with New VA App

Crayon-eating Marine launches edible crayon business

Feb. 27, 2021 by Sarah Sicard, Observation Post

Crayons Ready-to-Eat officially launched in 2018,

Some Stories that Inspire, and have 'Positive Energy'

Best Picks for the Week February 21, 2021

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

How a Roman-era Rapunzel became the patron saint of artillery

Volunteers seek to honor service members, preserve history at Illinois museum

How a Roman-era Rapunzel became the patron saint of artillery

Chinese Americans Who Served in WWII Honored by Congress

Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law

How a Roman-era Rapunzel became the patron saint of artillery

Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law

Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law

Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law

Ghost Fleet’ cemetery now a national sanctuary

Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law

Plan for free national park access for wounded vets signed into law