September 2018:  If PTSD has a presence in your life, there are many options, including the Veterans Crisis Hotline at

1-800-273-8255 (Press 1), your County Veterans Service Office or the VA. The Tomah VA has a Combat Veteran PTSD Residential Program for veterans to stay at the VA to receive counseling and treatment. To inquire more about this program or to sign up for this program, please contact your CVSO or the VA at 608-372-1758.

If anyone has need of disaster relief, the American Legion has a Disaster Relief Fund that is available for members in good standing, to include Auxiliary members. Since most everything at Post 116 was destroyed, applications are available at the Vernon County Veterans Service Office.

If PTSD has a presence in your life, there are many options, including the Veterans Crisis Hotline at

1-800-273-8255 (Press 1), your County Veterans Service Office or the VA. The Tomah VA has a Combat Veteran PTSD Residential Program for veterans to stay at the VA to receive counseling and treatment. To inquire more about this program or to sign up for this program, please contact your CVSO or the VA at 608-372-1758.

If PTSD has a presence in your life, there are many options, including the Veterans Crisis Hotline at

1-800-273-8255 (Press 1), your County Veterans Service Office or the VA. The Tomah VA has a Combat Veteran PTSD Residential Program for veterans to stay at the VA to receive counseling and treatment. To inquire more about this program or to sign up for this program, please contact your CVSO or the VA at 608-372-1758.

If PTSD has a presence in your life, there are many options, including the Veterans Crisis Hotline at

1-800-273-8255 (Press 1), your County Veterans Service Office or the VA. The Tomah VA has a Combat Veteran PTSD Residential Program for veterans to stay at the VA to receive counseling and treatment. To inquire more about this program or to sign up for this program, please contact your CVSO or the VA at 608-372-1758.

If PTSD has a presence in your life, there are many options, including the Veterans Crisis Hotline at

1-800-273-8255 (Press 1), your County Veterans Service Office or the VA. The Tomah VA has a Combat Veteran PTSD Residential Program for veterans to stay at the VA to receive counseling and treatment. To inquire more about this program or to sign up for this program, please contact your CVSO or the VA at 608-372-1758.

Are you 55 years old or older? Do you experience low income or unemployment? Do you reside in Crawford, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, La Crosse, Lafayette, Richland or Vernon Counties? Are you looking for employment? SER-Jobs For Progress has been working with employers and potential employees, helping gain access to a US Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration program called Senior Community Service Employment Program. They look specifically for older workers to help train potential employees on new job skills needed in today’s work-place. The SCSEP has helped older workers find productive, unsubsidized jobs for more than 40 years. For more information, contact Bonita Platta, an Employment and Training Specialist for SER SCSEP - Madison Region. Phone number: 608-826-1059. E-mail address: bplatta@ser-national.org. Website: www.ser-national.org.

Mailing address: 6320 Monona Dr., Suite #309, Monona, WI 53716.

Also there is a Veterans Outreach and Enrollment Day from 10am to 3pm May 10th at Viroqua Legion Post 138.

Were you in the Navy or have you ever been interested in Navy ships? On Thursday, August 23rd, there will be a mini bus trip to Dubuque, IA to tour the USS LST 325. This LST (Landing Ship, Tank) is an amphibious vessel deigned to land battle-ready tanks, troops and supplies. This will be the first time ever that this ship will have sailed up the Mississippi River this far north.

Admission for the tour is $10.00, mini bus ride is $7.00. WWII Veterans get to tour the ship for free.

If you are interested, call the Aging and Disability Resources Center of Vernon County at 608-637-5201 or 1-888-637-1323 for reservations or for more information.

You are responsible for your own lunch and any purchases or services.

Thank you!

A new organization is available in Vernon County for Veterans who need assistance. They are called VetsNet, Wisconsin Veterans Network. They are available to ANY Veteran and their families, no matter the discharge type, to help in times of crisis. The Vernon County VSO will be working with the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center to get a listing of resources in the area that VetsNet can co-op with. To contact VetsNet you may call them at (414)-257-3624 between 9am and 4pm, e-mail them at info@wisvetsnet.org or check out their website http://wisvetsnet.org.

There will be a Veterans Benefit Bonanza in La Crosse at the Radisson Hotel, 200 Second Street South, on March 8th, 2018 from 11:00am to 7:00pm. This event will have numerous vendors from all aspects of Veterans’ benefits all in one location for Veterans to get information.

There is also a VA Veterans’ Benefit Fair being held on March 10th, 2018, at Viroqua American Legion Post 138, 120 N. Rusk St., from 10:00am to 3:00pm. This event is about the VA and everything that they do.

Vernon County Aging and Disabilities Resource Ccenter and the Veterans Service Office are looking into a trip to Dubuque, IA on August 23rd to tour the USS LST 325, a WWII Tank Landing Ship and the last of its kind. WWII Veterans get in free. Admission is $10 for 18 and older, ages 6-17 $5, and 5 & under are free. Small children will have to be carried as there is no accommodations for strollers. The VSO is trying to get a feel for interest in the county to determine feasibility of organizing a trip to tour the ship. More information may be found at www.traveldubuque.com/groups/uss-lst-325/.

The Vernon County Veterans Service Office will be increasing some of the costs of travel to VA sanctioned appointments. Current costs are: La Crosse=$5, Tomah=$10, Madison=$20, other location’s costs disclosed at the time of the appointment.

As of February 1st, 2018 the costs will increase for VA sanctioned appointment trips to La Crosse and Tomah. New rates will be: La Crosse=$10, Tomah=$15, Madison=$20. If your VA appointment is in another location, the cost per trip will be given to you upon notification of the Vernon County Service Offices of your VA sanctioned appointment.

Note: The Veterans Service Office ONLY provides travel to VA sanctioned appointments, which includes Veterans Choice appointments. Some veterans who have numerous or continuously ongoing appointments may see different charges based upon their situation.

If any veteran is in need of a wheelchair, the Vernon County Veterans Service Office has 6 in several different sizes and there is no cost to the veteran.

The Tomah VA has implemented 3 programs which are getting rave reviews from Veterans using them. The M.O.V.E. program is for Veterans who would like assistance with weight gain or loss and healthy eating. You need to see your Primary care VA physician to be enrolled. There is an intensive Diabetic program to help those with diabetes better manage their disease. It is a unique program in that it uses a group and individual dynamic. Veterans in the program love this new dynamic. You also need to see your Primary care VA physician to be enrolled. The last is something that is not being done anywhere else in the VA community and that is called PAIN University. This is a program is where Vets who are dealing with chronic pain can get help and treatment to reduce their pain. It couples therapy with instruction and understanding of the problem. Again see your primary care VA physician to be enrolled.

Orlin and Lauren Ihle came to the Regular Post Meeting on September 20th to discuss placement of a memorial bench for Ozzie and Annette. A motion was made and approved for the placement on Legion property in the vicinity of the retaining wall next to the Veterans Memorial. A committee will be formed to formulate a strategy for future memorials such as this so that there is a plan in place for such dedications. If anyone is interested in being on this committee, please contact Gary Hess.

On September 7th, as part of the VA’s continued efforts to improve timeliness of services for Veterans and their families, the VA unveiled the Decision Ready Claims (DRC) initiative, a disability claims submission option with accredited Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) that promises to deliver faster claims decisions to Veterans and their families.

The DRC initiative is a collaborative effort between the VA and VSOs to help Veterans receive faster decisions on disability claims, according to VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin. According to Shulkin, the VA will work closely with VSOs to make sure they are properly trained in the new process and are given the tools they need to participate successfully in the program on behalf of the Veterans that they serve.

Veterans who choose to submit their claim under DRC can expect to receive a decision within 30 days from the time the VA receives the claim. VSOs will ensure all supporting evidence is included with the claim submission. This advance preparation by the VSOs allows claims to be assigned immediately to claims processors for a quick decision.

DRC was first implemented May 1, 2017, at the St. Paul Regional Office and is now available at all VA regional offices. While the DRC is currently limited to claims for increased compensation, and requires Veterans to work with VSOs, the VA’s goal is to expand the types of claims accepted under the initiative and allow Veterans other ways to submit their claims under DRC.

DRC is another key step in aggressively modernizing the VA’s benefits delivery to Veterans in a fully digital operating environment. With electronic claims processing as a foundation, the VA’s innovation will improve service to Veterans, their families and survivors.

The Senate passed the "Forever GI Bill" legislation recently that is the largest expansion of veterans educational benefits in a decade. With senators’ unanimous consent, the bill moves to President Trump’s desk to become law. This will end a 15-year limit for veterans to use their educational benefits, restore benefits to veterans whose schools abruptly close and fix a Pentagon deployment authorization that has kept about 5,000 reservists from accumulating earned educational benefits.

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 -- named after the Past American Legion National Commander -- was introduced July 13 in the House, passed through the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on July 19 and approved in the House as a whole with a 405-0 vote on July 25. It was introduced in the Senate on July 20 and passed through the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on July 26.

There were many hurdles to negotiate earlier this year, such as how to fund the $3 billion that the measure is expected to cost in the next 10 years. This measure is a combination of 18 different bills and negotiations had broken down between veterans organizations and Congress. But veterans organizations would not let this go and reignited the momentum for GI Bill Expansion by contacting Congress and Senate members and urging action on this measure.

The bill has widespread support among veterans and higher education organizations. It has been dubbed the "Forever GI Bill" because it removes the 15-year deadline to use educational benefits. That restriction will be gone for veterans who were discharged on or after Jan. 1, 2013. The bill also eliminates "Post-9/11" from the GI Bill’s title.

The WDVA has changed how the process goes for getting the Wisconsin Property Tax Credit for qualifying veteran or their surviving spouses. The new form is WDVA 2096 and it does need to be signed by an accredited service officer in order for it to be submitted. So qualifying veterans or surviving spouses can stop in and see us or any Wisconsin County Veteran Service Officer to get this paper work taken care of.

The Milwaukee County Zoo invites all military members and veterans to their annual Military/Veterans Family Day on Sunday, July 2, 2017 from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Enjoy free zoo admission and parking. There will be a Veterans Ben-efit Expo at the US Bank Gathering place from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Admission tickets will be available from May 30 until June 30. Active duty military and veterans residing in Wisconsin can pick up their tickets at their local County Veterans Service Office. Contact Jim Young or Crystal Knoll at 608-367-5323 for information on ticket pick-up. Tickets are required for admission and are available for immediate family only, with a limit of 10 tickets per family.

The Milwaukee County Zoo is located at 10001 W. Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226.

If PTSD has a presence in your life, there are many options, including the Veterans Crisis Hotline at

A veterans service officer (VSO) is an individual who advocates for veterans benefits. They should never take an action which they believe to have a negative impact on the veteran or family of the veteran. The VSO is also responsible for being proficient in the areas of customer service, technical knowledge of regulation and law as it pertains to VA matters, and proper disposition of claims and appeals. This is a valuable resource for all veterans in order to wade through the intimidating maze that can be the Veterans Administration.

Congratulations to Tami Saleska on the new position that she has accepted in the Barron County Veterans Service Office! We are going to miss you here in Vernon County, but since there are more veterans in Barron County, we know you are going to do a fine job taking as good of care for them as you did for us!

THE AMERICAN LEGION, DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN SERVICE OFFICE

We assist with compensation, pension, appeals, education, vocational rehabilitation, home loan guarantee and death benefits. Additionally we assist with obtaining records, awards and decorations, discharge upgrades and answer ques-tions of general nature pertaining to veteran’s programs. We work with your County Veteran’s Service Officer to pro-cess your claims and represent you at Regional Office and Board of Veteran’s Appeals Travel Board hearings.

If you need assistance you may contact us at:

Department Service Officer james.fialkowski@va.gov

Veterans Service Representative bryan.gorski@va.gov

Veterans Service Representative mitchell.woytych@va.gov

Veterans Service Representative michael.french@va.gov

Veteran Service Representative maynard.perszyk@va.gov

Veteran Service Representative kurt.goeller@va.gov

Additional Links:

Federal VA Benefits Information www.va.gov

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Information http://dva.state.wi.us/

On February 2nd, Governor Scott Walker announced his appointment of Daniel Zimmerman to serve as the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA). Mr. Zimmerman is a retired lieutenant colonel and mili-tary intelligence officer with 25 years of service in the United States Army. Governor Walker’s appointment of Mr. Zimmerman is effective immediately.

"Dan’s career is defined by public service," Governor Walker said. "Wisconsin’s veterans deserve the best care and services possible, and with Dan’s experience in the military and government, I know he will serve as a tireless advo-cate for Wisconsin’s veterans."

Governor Walker is directing Mr. Zimmerman to immediately conduct a thorough assessment of the operations at Wisconsin’s veterans homes and to schedule regular discussions with the County Veterans Service Officer Associa-tion and veterans service organizations.

"We serve some of our most vulnerable veterans at our veterans' homes, and I expect nothing short of the best when it comes to the care of these patriots," Governor Walker continued. "Improving communication between the WDVA and veterans service organizations and officers will also be a priority for Dan."

Mr. Zimmerman is a decorated combat veteran, having received the Bronze Star Medal twice and the Meritorious Service Medal five times. He holds a master’s degree in Homeland Security from American Military University in Charles Town, West Virginia, and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

"‘Serving those who have served’ will be our guiding principle at WDVA. It will be engrained in every action we take," Mr. Zimmerman said. "I thank Governor Walker for trusting me to lead the department. I’m ready to get to work."

Since his retirement from the active Army in 2008, Mr. Zimmerman has worked as a training consultant for U.S. Na-tional Guard Bureau and as an exercise officer and threat planner at Wisconsin Emergency Management, Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. He is also the vice president of the Ripon Area School District Board of Education, chairman of Big Hills Lake Management District, and serves as president of two non-profit charitable organizations. He resides in Ripon with his wife and four children.

TOMAH, Wis. - The Tomah VA Medical Center is notifying 592 Veterans they are eligible to obtain free screenings for possible infections due to lapses in established infection control procedures that occurred in the Dental clinic with a single provider from October 2015 through October 2016.

The infection risk is low and limited to patients of a single clinician. VA is contacting potentially affected Veterans by phone and mail to explain the situation. Screenings for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV are being offered at no cost to the Veteran. Should an affected Veteran test positive, VA will provide the necessary care and treatment without charge.

A Communication Center is available to enable Veterans to ask questions. Those dental patients affected may call 1-888-598-7793 seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Special arrangements have been established to provide notified Veterans with a safe, easy, and private environment to obtain follow-up testing. The Clinic is in Building 400 Room # 1054 on the Tomah VA Medical Center Campus and will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon (excluding holidays). This clinic will be open until December 22, 2016. Notified Veterans are requested to call the number above for an appointment.

The Tomah VA Medical Center emphasizes that screening is strictly precautionary. There is no indication any pa-tients have contracted an infection.

After discovery of the risks taken by a single clinician the clinician was immediately removed from patient care. A fact-finding was ordered by the Acting Medical Center Director, which was completed on October 31, 2016, Clini-cal staff at the facility continues to review relevant patient records and will conduct validation studies to ensure all Veteran records are thoroughly inspected and verified

TOMAH, Wis. - The Tomah VA Medical Center is notifying 592 Veterans they are eligible to obtain free screenings for possible infections due to lapses in established infection control procedures that occurred in the Dental clinic with a single provider from October 2015 through October 2016.

The infection risk is low and limited to patients of a single clinician. VA is contacting potentially affected Veterans by phone and mail to explain the situation. Screenings for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV are being offered at no cost to the Veteran. Should an affected Veteran test positive, VA will provide the necessary care and treatment without charge.

A Communication Center is available to enable Veterans to ask questions. Those dental patients affected may call 1-888-598-7793 seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Special arrangements have been established to provide notified Veterans with a safe, easy, and private environment to obtain follow-up testing. The Clinic is in Building 400 Room # 1054 on the Tomah VA Medical Center Campus and will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon (excluding holidays). This clinic will be open until December 22, 2016. Notified Veterans are requested to call the number above for an appointment.

The Tomah VA Medical Center emphasizes that screening is strictly precautionary. There is no indication any pa-tients have contracted an infection.

After discovery of the risks taken by a single clinician the clinician was immediately removed from patient care. A fact-finding was ordered by the Acting Medical Center Director, which was completed on October 31, 2016, Clini-cal staff at the facility continues to review relevant patient records and will conduct validation studies to ensure all Veteran records are thoroughly inspected and verified.

Eligible veterans or spouses of deceased veterans meeting the income limits can go to the following entry contacts to complete the appropriate paperwork. County Veteran Service Office, Continuum of Care Agencies, or the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program (VORP) specialists that serve 49 counties.

What the Program Can provide: (Case by Case situation): Security Deposit and First Month of Rent, Utilities and arrears (Electric, Gas & Propane) (Crisis Assistance), Eviction notice and arrears (Crisis Assistance)

If in doubt if someone qualifies or not, contact your local WHEAP agency or the Home Energy Plus Help Desk via (608) 267-3680 or heat@wisconsin.gov.

The success of this program along with federal funding opportunities will further determine if there is a future need to continue the program into the next Federal Fiscal Year.

Your help sharing this program with veterans in need enables us to fulfill their final dreams. Dreams range from basic need items (like a working appliance or mobility scooter) to bedside reunions, final vacations with family, meetings with personal heroes or reconnecting with aspects of former military service.

Dream recipients are U.S. military veterans 18 years of age or older with a life expectancy of 12 months or less.

Dreams for Veterans collaborates with America’s hospice professionals and veterans organizations in all 50 states to meet the unique needs of our nation’s veterans.

Get involved. There are many ways to get involved including referring applicants, helping to make dreams come true, or donating time or resources to Dreams for Veterans. Dreams for Veterans is a program of Dream Foundation.

Refer a veteran and make a dream come true. www.dreamfoundation.org/veterans or 888-4DREAMS

Designed to raise awareness and initiate meaningful dialog about shared hearing loss experiences among veterans, their families and friends – the Heroes With Hearing Loss program is a platform of engagement, providing insightful solutions and successful lifestyle-focused results.

For more information: call toll-free 800-974-1517, visit www.HeroesWithHearingLoss.org,

Email: info@HeroesWithHearingLoss.org

Please contact Jim Young or Tami Saleska with any VSO questions at 608-637-5323.

The VCVSO has a limited number of tickets available at the office for Military Veterans Family Day at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Sunday, July 3, 2016--9:00 am to 5:00pm--Milwaukee County Zoo--1001 W. Blue Mound Rd--Milwaukee, WI 53226--1-414-771-3040

Tickets can be picked up at the office – Mon. to Friday 8:30 to 4:30pm – 402 Courthouse Sq., Viroqua, WI 54665 Phone 608-637-5323. Please pass along to other veterans if you know of any.

Please contact Jim Young or Tami Saleska with any VSO questions at 608-637-5323.  See here! for PDF file to download!

Sheriff John B. Spears would like to invite everyone to attend the Law Enforcement Police Memorial Service on Tues-day, May 17th, 2016 at 10:00am.

The service will be held in front of the Sheriff’s Office at 1320 Bad Axe Court in Viroqua, Wisconsin.

Please contact Jim Young or Tami Saleska with any VSO questions at 608-637-5323.

Stuff like football, baseball, soccer, basketball, concerts, zoo passes, plays and more!

You can sign up using the following link. http://www.VetTix.org/ref/252926 When you do, and verify your service you will get an additional 15 VetTix Lottery Coins to start off with!