Category: Veteran News

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is annually on December 7, commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, during World War II. Many American service men and women lost their lives or were injured on December 7, 1941. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day.

Is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day a Public Holiday?

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

What Do People Do?

On the direction of the President, the flag of the United States of America should be displayed on the homes of Americans, the White House and all United States government buildings. The flag should be flown at half-mast to honor those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Many associations, especially those linked with Pearl Harbor survivors or those who died from the attack, participate in special services to commemorate the event. Memorial services are held at venues such as the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Other activities include: wreath-laying ceremonies; keynote speeches by those associated with the event; luncheons; media stories on survivors’ recollections of the Pearl Harbor attack; and school activities to educate students about the attack on Pearl Harbor in relation to World War II history.

Public Life

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is not a federal holiday. Government offices, schools, businesses and other organizations do not close. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. Some organizations may hold special events in memory of those killed or injured in Pearl Harbor.

Background

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the American Army and Navy base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The attack came as a surprise to the American Army and Navy and lead to great losses of life and equipment. More than 2000 American citizens were killed and more than 1000 were injured. The Americans also lost a large proportion of their battle ships and nearly 200 aircraft that were stationed in the Pacific region. More than 60 Japanese servicemen were killed, injured or captured. The Japanese Navy also lost five midget submarines and 29 aircraft.

The Japanese military had hoped that the attack on Pearl Harbor would prevent the United States of America from increasing her influence in the Pacific. However, the events in Pearl Harbor actually led to the escalation of World War II. The day after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan and so entered World War II. President Franklin Roosevelt in a speech to Congress stated that the bombing of Pearl Harbor was “a date which will live in infamy”. Shortly afterwards, Germany also declared war on the United States. In the months that followed the attack, the slogan “Remember Pearl Harbor” swept the United States and radio stations repeatedly played a song of the same name.

In 1991, which marked the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Congress established the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal. This is also known as the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Medal and can be awarded to any veteran of the United States military who were present in or around Pearl Harbor during the attack by the Japanese military. The medal can be awarded to civilians, who were killed or injured in the attack.

By Steve Liewer / World-Herald staff writer Dec 3, 2018 Updated 11 hrs ago  2

The proposal would broaden an income-tax exemption passed in the Nebraska Legislature in 2014 allowing new retirees to exempt all of their retirement pay from taxes for seven years. Alternatively, at age 67, military retirees could exempt 15 percent of their retirement pay for the rest of their lives.

Blood and Crawford argued that Nebraska is at a disadvantage compared with the states that border it. Wyoming and South Dakota, for example, have no state income tax at all. Iowa, just across the state line from Offutt Air Force Base and Omaha, fully exempts military retirement pay from state income taxes.

When they retire from the military after 20 or more years of service, military retirees draw pay similar to a pension that equals half or more of their military paycheck. Typically the military also will pay to move a retiring service member and his or her family to the place of their choice.

“It’s the job availability, and it’s the schools,” Mikesell said. “Nebraska tends to be towards the top.”
Still, Blood said, the state needs to give retirees every reason to stick around.

Exempting the income of military retirees is a recurring topic in the Legislature, especially among legislators representing Sarpy County, which has a high concentration of military retirees due to its proximity to Offutt.

“They don’t understand the impact Offutt Air Force Base has on the whole state of Nebraska,” she said.

This could be a tough session for the proposal to gain traction. Property tax relief, especially for agricultural landowners, is at the top of the priority list for legislators across the state, and for Gov. Pete Ricketts.

“I don’t know why the Legislature doesn’t understand: ‘you have to spend money to make money,’ ” he said.

Blood said she agreed with the goal but supports going after it in smaller steps.

“We have to start somewhere,” she said.

KEARNEY – The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) has set January 16, 2019, as the date for the transition to the state-of-the-art Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home (CNVH) in Kearney. After an inspection by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Licensure Unit division on December 17th, the facility will be ready for occupancy. The move itself will then take place after the holiday season.

“This is a massive project that has been years in the making,” said NDVA Director John Hilgert. “It’s exciting to see the finish line and know we’ll be crossing it with no doubt the facility is exactly what our veterans deserve.”

Members’ families will help with the transition, as well as volunteers who have been training as “moving buddies.” They will ensure members’ rooms are prepared for their arrival and help members move their belongings into the facility.

“We want to make the move-in a special day for our members,” said Facility Administrator Alex Willford. “They’re excited to have this as their new home, and our team and volunteers are working to make sure they feel welcomed when they arrive.”

The CNVH is a 338,000-square-foot facility that is comprised of ten buildings on 67 acres. The main building—Juliet—is home to administration offices, a chapel, library, ceramics area, woodshop, Foxhole Lounge, guest rooms for traveling visitors, pharmacy, medical clinic, dental suite, and more. Connected to Juliet are two hubs, Golf and Hotel, which house physical, occupational, and speech therapy areas and a restorative kitchen. The therapy area will be one of the few in the country with an anti-gravity treadmill.

The hubs branch off to the facility’s six neighborhoods—Alpha, Bravo, Charlie Delta, Echo, and Foxtrot. Each neighborhood has three homes, which include communal living spaces, a kitchen, and 12-15 member rooms. The homes offer various levels of care, including domiciliary, palliative, memory support, and skilled care.

Dear Veterans on Nebraska’s Second Congressional District,

Please join me at a forum for veterans and active-duty military personnel to discuss the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, military readiness and the National Defense Authorization Act. My staff will also be in attendance to assist with any veteran-related issues.

WHAT:           Rep. Don Bacon will be hosting a veteran’s forum open to all veterans and active-duty military personnel.

WHEN:           Saturday, October 27, 2018                                                                                       

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:         Omaha VFW Post #2503

8904 Military Road

Omaha, NE 

I look forward to seeing you there!

Don Bacon

Member of Congress

Brigadier General, USAF (retired)

Assist Homeless Veterans on STAND DOWN DAY Friday, November 16, 2018

Omaha, NE: Volunteers and gift donors are encouraged to assist the Veterans Administration – Omaha “Stand Down,” on Friday, November 16, 2018. It is being held at the UNO Campus in the Milo Bail Student Center, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha.  A Stand Down is typically a 1-3 day event providing supplies and services to homeless veterans. These donated items include food, hygiene supplies, and winter clothing, Additional services available include health screenings and VA Social Security benefits counseling. Veterans can also receive referrals to other assistance such as health care, housing solutions, employment, substance use treatment and mental health counseling.

VOLUNTEERS: Help is needed for handing out items in 2 hour shifts. American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) volunteers may schedule by contacting Leatrice Doolan, ALA District 8 President, [email protected] Other Questions may be directed to Kerry Miller Loos, (402)-599-0083, [email protected]. The alternate contact is Sara Meints, (402) 669-0364, [email protected].

SUPPLIES: by November 12th, donated items are needed for Stand Down. Contact phone number (402) 763-6209 or email [ [email protected] ] to arrange for donation pick up or delivery.

Hygiene items to be donated include soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs/brushes, razors, lotion, lip balm, sunglasses, nail files/clippers, and first aid/bandaids.

Clothing is needed for 90-100 men (sizes Medium – 3X), and for 9 – 12 women: (sizes Large-3X). All socks have been donated by the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Herman Unit. Other suggestions include underwear, sweaters/sweatshirts, and jeans, Outerwear needed are coats, stocking hats, gloves, scarves, and boots. Sleeping gear are also essentials: blankets, inflatable pillows or mats.

Food items should be easy to use(open by tabs or tearing, to eat out of).

FUNDING: Please send all cash donations to, Sally Johnson, ALA District 8, 17511 “O” Street, Omaha, NE, 68135. Make checks payable to “District 8 ALA” and be sure to insert on the memo line “Stand Down Donation.

” Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VA Medical Centers, other government agencies, and community-based homeless service providers.

BACON ENSURES AMERICA KEEPS ITS PROMISES TO VETERANS

WASHINGTON, D.C.— In a strong show of support for our nation’s veterans, Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) voted on September 13 in favor of the Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. This historic bill includes $86.5 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $5 billion above the 2018 fiscal year. It was passed by the House and Senate and is awaiting the President’s signature.

“Since I started in Congress and dating back to my years in the United States Air Force, taking care of our veterans has been one of my top priorities. Our servicemen and women, who dedicated their lives to the security of our nation, deserve the full range of benefits and care they were promised. This VA appropriations bill keeps us on the right track to fulfilling our promise to our veterans,” said Rep. Bacon. “Congress has made great strides to enact legislation that provides more options and greater care for our veterans. I look forward to continuing this effort.”

Included in this bill was funding for programs and services that provide critical help to our nation’s veterans. This bill included the following:

·         Funds VA medical care at $72.3 billion – providing for 7 million patients to be treated in the 2019 fiscal year, including:

               o   $8.6 billion for mental health care services

               o   $206 million for suicide prevention outreach

               o   $400 million for opioid abuse prevention

               o   $270 million for rural veterans’ health initiatives

·         A $1.75 billion increase over the advance funding already provided for ongoing care, including existing programs and MISSION Act programs like community care, caregivers, and other medical services (such as improved access to organ transplants)

·         Ensures funding $1.1 billion to modernize the VA’s electronic health record system to provide seamless care to veterans as they transition from military service

 ·         Speeds up claim processing for more than 450 thousand veterans who are waiting for the compensation they deserve.

The Omaha World-Herald is putting together a special section Veterans Day this year that honors Nebraska’s living veterans, As part of that process, they’re looking for local military veterans to share their info with the Omaha World-Herald . All of them who do, will be featured in an online gallery of local veterans. the Omaha World-Herald will pick some to feature more prominently in the section.

The Omaha World-Herald is asking all of these veterans to go to omaha.com/veterans, where they can fill out a short form about their service and submit some photos for our gallery.

Online editor

The Omaha World-Herald

402-444-1219

[email protected]