Win a Fishing Trip for 4!

How would you like to go on an all day offshore fishing trip on September 25? And take 3 of your friends?

VVA-885 is currently selling tickets for a chance to win an ALL-DAY OFF-SHORE FISHING TRIP FOR FOUR aboard the Winner Queen-II.

From the Winner Boats web site:

Venture approximately 45 miles offshore to the rocky bottom of the continental shelf aboard a high speed catamaran. You will be in good hands with our experienced Captains. The latest fish finding equipment aids the captain in finding the fish while the crew will be preparing your gear and bait for the big bite. We have friendly and knowledgeable crew members to assist you throughout the day. Rods and Reel, Bait and Tackle will be provided. Your fish will be tagged and iced, then packed inside our on-board ice box to keep your catch fresh.

I hope to see all of you at the Federal courthouse on the 13th of October.

Rossie

Message forwarded from a close friend.

Subject: STOLEN VALOR

Patriots, Ladies and Gentlemen:

As many of you know I am a 10 year Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a Combat Wounded Veteran of the Vietnam war. I am involved with the Military Order of the Purple Heart on the local level as a member of Chapter 639 in Morehead City and as the Junior Vice Commander for the Department of North Carolina. I am also recently elected to the position of 1^st Vice Chairman of the New Hanover County Veterans Council, representing ALL of the Veterans Service Organizations in New Hanover County, North Carolina. I tell you all of this, not to inflate my ego but to acknowledge all of those men and women who have gone before me to give me these opportunities and to support all of those I now serve and who will serve after me.

On August 18^, 2010 [Update: Court date has been changed to 13 October 2010] at 1030 a legal proceeding will begin at the Federal Courthouse here in Wilmington, in which an individual will defend himself, from what Veterans have labeled as STOLEN VALOR. Read more...

Court orders VA to act on new Agent Orange findings

An estimated 200,000 Vietnam veterans suffering from three diseases newly associated with exposure to Agent Orange are closer to receiving disability compensation following an appeals court order Aug. 2 directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to publish a final implementing regulation within 30 days.

In response to a lawsuit brought by a coalition of veterans' service organizations, the U.S. Court of Appeals instructed the VA to issue by Sept. 1 a final regulation authorizing payment of claims for ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease or B-cell leukemia for any veteran who stepped foot in Vietnam during the war, or their survivors. Read more...

Tax Burden for North Carolina Retirees

Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesn‘t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in North Carolina: Read more...

PTSD Qualifier Reduced

PTSD Update 52: Under the new rule VA‘s new rule regarding Stressor Determinations for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA doctor confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a non-combat veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. Read more...