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Chain of Command Douglas Beckley, President Paul Mann, Vice President
dougb@buckeyepva.org paulm@buckeyepva.org
Lucas Meyer, Treasurer
lucasm@buckeyepva.org
Larry Bostic, Board Member larryb@buckeyepva.org Robert Morris, Board Member robertm@buckeyepva.org Tiffaney Davison, Board Member tiffaneyd@buckeyepva.org Chadwick Watiker, Board Member chadwickw@buckeyepva.org miltony@buckeyepva.org Milton Young, Board Member
National Director Larry Bostic
larryb@buckeyepva.org
Larry Bostic
larryb@buckeyepva.org
Sports Director
Betsey Kamm
betseyk@buckeyepva.org
Associate Executive Director
Aaron Stevens, Cleveland
aarons@pva.org michaely@pva.org
The Buckeye Banner is a publication of the Buckeye Chapter, PVA, and is meant to inform its readers of Chapter activities, legislation, and other matters of concern to veterans and/or members of the disability community. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of BPVA, its Officers, Board Members, the Editor, or production staff.
@buckeyePVA
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President’s Report
Well as we come to the end of summer we are approaching two events. First September 14 is the Buckeye PVA Golf Outing at Bunker Hill Golf Course in Medina. This is a major fundraiser for the chapter. Second is the PVA Buckeye Billiards Tournament is scheduled for October 22nd - 24th, 2026 in Westerville, Ohio (Columbus area) with the following schedule: October 22nd: Novice Clinic 3:00pm-5:00pm October 23rd: Doors open at 9:30am with tournament play beginning at 10:30am October 24th: Doors open at 9:30am with tournament play beginning at 10:30am We encourage everyone to be on the lookout for the registration materials and encourage your participation. Hotel rooms will be provided for any PVA Member that lives more than 50 miles away. In late May we hosted the Buckeye Bash BASS Tournament. Wee had a great turnout for the first year. Unfortunately day one was a blow out for the Boat Division. Strong winds kept the boats from going out on the lake. However day 2 was a good day. The Bank division had two days of fierce completion. We are scheduled for the Buckeye Bash to take place June 11 through 13, 2027. We encourage any member who likes to fish or just wants to try it out to plan to attend. Congratulations to all of the athletes who participated in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Thee Buckeye Team came home with: Gold – 67 Silver 32 Bronze 27 Total 126 Next year’s games, The 46th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, will take place in Orlando, Florida, from July 14–19, 2027. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Doug Beckley
Doug Beckley, President Buckeye Chapter of PVA
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Executive Director’s Report What is it like behind the scenes at the Buckeye PVA? First off, when you look at the Chain of Command page you see 13 names; seems like a lot. So, here’s the real story. Paralyzed Veterans of America Buckeye Chapter has two full-time paid staff, an executive director and an associate executive director. The two staff handle nearly all the day-to-day work of the organization. A board of directors, comprised of 9 chapter members, provides overall leadership of the organization. The board is elected by the members every two years. Among the board members, volunteer roles include Membership Director, Sports Director and National Director, the Chapter’s representative to the national PVA Board. The chapter is fortunate to have access to two Senior Benefit Advocates. These two staffers are employees of Paralyzed Veterans of America, the national organization. One works out of the Cleveland VA Medical Center and the other out of the Federal Building in Cleveland. These are the two experts on benefits who provide support to the members regarding VA benefits. The chapter’s budget is about $500,000. Most of this budget is spent on the chapter’s programs and services. By necessity, we put a great deal of effort each year into fundraising to support these programs and services so that we can make as much programming available to the members for as little cost outlay by them as possible. We generally set minimal program fees to be sure we have an accurate count of participants. Sometimes these fees are refunded to the participants. We generally support member and caregiver lodging if they need to travel to one of our events. We greatly appreciate your financial support. Several times a year we have organized fundraising campaigns. Summer, for the annual golf outing; fall, the member holiday gift card program and the wheelchair billiards tournament; winter, for the Buckeye Bash Bass Fishing tournament for disabled anglers; and winter, for the Buckeye Wheelchair Games. With some exceptions, to economize on mailing costs, we typically email all our contacts and only mail to those donors who have supported a campaign in the past. We are happy to accept financial support at any time from individuals, corporations or organizations. In the future we hope to expand our donation program to allow us to establish a larger fund for home and vehicle modifications for members. Thank you for your interest in our chapter. If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything in this article with me, I’d love to hear from you. Sincerely, Betsey Kamm
Betsey Kamm Executive Director
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Benefits Update
National Personnel Records Center Fire of 1973 Update By Aaron Stevens, Area Manager On July 12, 1973, a catastrophic fire erupted at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in Overland, Missouri. The fire burned out of control for 22 hours and took four days to extinguish, destroying roughly 16 to 18 million official military personnel files and primarily impacting mid-20thcentury Army and Air Force records. In the months following the fire, NPRC initiated several records recovery and reconstruction efforts, including establishing a new branch to address damaged records issues. As many records had been partially or completely destroyed by the fire, the new branch’s central mission was to reconstruct records for those requesting service information from NPRC. While some staff sought to recover information from documents and alternate sources outside of NPRC, others searched through center’s organizational files for records to supplement the destroyed personnel files. Now, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is making the claims process easier for Veterans whose records were damaged or destroyed in the 1973 fire at NPRC. Effective July 31, 2026, VA will use a comprehensive fire-related development packet. Claims processors will send this packet to Veterans who have initiated a claim. The packet will include the following two forms: 1. NA Form 13055 (Request for Information Needed to Reconstruct Medical Data), used to gather detailed information about inservice medical treatment (dates, units, locations) needed for NPRC to reconstruct medical data. 2. NA Form 13075 (Questionnaire About Military Service), used to collect personal and servicerelated identifying information (service numbers, units, dates of service) necessary for NPRC to locate or reconstruct personnel records. This new process will ensure that VA obtains sufficient information from the Veteran to enable NPRC to search reconstructed sources, such as morning reports, hospital admission cards, Surgeon General’s Office extracts, and other service-related materials. When a Veteran’s service records are confirmed or reasonably presumed to have been destroyed or damaged in the 1973 NPRC fire, VA may apply a sympathetic evidentiary standard that accounts for the unavailability of official records. This approach streamlines the development process, reduces repetitive outreach, and improves compliance with VA’s duty-to-assist requirements. For Veterans, this change will provide faster timelines for their claims. The VA recognizes the unique evidentiary challenges created by this loss of records. This update reinforces VA’s commitment to developing and evaluating affected claims in a fair, claimant-friendly manner while reducing the burden on Veterans to provide evidence that may already be of record. If you have any questions regarding this information, please reach out to your local PVA National Service Officer.
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National Veteran Wheelchair Games Hello Buckeye PVA members, I hope all of you are having a great summer. This is a story about what your Buckeye PVA sports team did this summer. We attended the 45th annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Detroit, Michigan. The games were from the ninth until fourteenth of July. The games have many Paralympic type of events, from track and field events to swimming, and shooting. There are team events like softball, basketball, wheelchair rugby, and power soccer. Even many nontraditional events, such as disc golf, bowling, and fishing. They even prepare a slalom course for the veterans. The top finishers of the event are chosen to compete in a super slalom. This shows these individuals’ abilities in a wheelchair. Each year they have a kids day. They set up a play area with smaller versions of some of the events we compete in. They bring local children from hospitals and organizations to compete. A child safe and decorated area with veterans and administration dressed as characters to aid in the fun. They even had a racing area for veterans to race remote control cars this year. As always our team had a impressive medal count. The Buckeye team won 126 medals, 67 gold, 32 silver, and 27 bronze. It was a beautiful hotel with the casino and several different restaurants to enjoy. The hotel and venue were not far from the Detroit Tigers stadium, the Comerica Park. I’m not sure how many members went there to enjoy it. I went with a couple of the Oscar Mike Militia Rugby players. We had dinner at Eminem‘s restaurant, Mama’s Spaghetti across the street from the park. It’s not really a restaurant more than just a pick up window. I tried the spaghetti sandwich which was two pieces of garlic bread with spaghetti and meat sauce in the middle. It was good, and did taste like a homemade dish. I enjoyed a great game at a new park. There was a fireworks display after the game. I also went to the Henry Ford’s museum of American innovation. Where I saw Ford vehicles throughout history. There were even airplanes and farm machinery. We also were encouraged to explore the hotel and the city. Our hotel was the Motor City hotel and Casino. These games are about bringing back the joy of competition to the veterans. They also give you a opportunity to explore the different cities. A meal card is issued by the PVA to go enjoy the local restaurants. Each year the games are a new city, with new food to try, and new sites to see. I encourage all of you to try these games. Even if you’re not the most athletic individual , I’m sure there are events you would enjoy competing in. I feel one of the best things about these games is the ability to keep veterans on the move and competing with other veterans and friends. Next year’s games are in Orlando, Florida, and I hope to see you there. Hope you’re having a wonderful day,
Paul Mann
Paul Mann, Sports Director and Board Member
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Caregivers Military caregivers provide essential care for Veterans, supporting their physical, mental, and emotional wellness. While providing care, it is common to prioritize others and delay our own care, as caregiving takes a toll on our bodies. This dedication tends to override our desire to care for ourselves, even in times when we struggle with illness, disease, or other health challenges. Many times, when we are ill, we continue to serve in our caregiving role, which can worsen the condition. Asking friends, family members, and others in our support system to help can lessen the burden and give the caregiver time to recoup and recover. We are resilient, but we are human beings; therefore, we must make time for ourselves. If our health fails, we may require care ourselves. This serious situation deserves attention, support, and care. Health challenges can be unpredictable but planning and preparation can lessen the effects on the caregiver and Veteran. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Tara, a caregiver from Texas, about this topic. She has experienced chronic health conditions while caring for her Veteran. She shared tips that helped her and her Veteran. While she normally provides transportation for the household, she chose to ask someone to drive her to the hospital because rideshare platforms cannot take responsibility for checking you in at the hospital or serving as your mode of transportation after surgery. Tara researched solutions to plan for her situation. In her plan, she asked her insurance company for an overnight stay instead of same-day surgery; they approved her request. She reached out to an organization that graciously provided meal gift cards, which eased the burden of cooking. She had prescriptions filled and scheduled appointments before the surgery and afterward to avoid delays in care. Additionally, Tara needed to discuss the process with her Veteran; she placed Post-it notes around her home with key information to help her Veteran remember the details, including her limitations. Although the experience was stressful and worrisome, it was important for Tara to let her Veteran nurture her, participate in her healing journey, and help support her recovery. Some tips and considerations for caregivers are the following: • Prioritize your health by seeking routine medical care. Mental health support is essential, too • Stay connected to support systems and resources that can address your current and future needs, including emergencies • There is no shame in asking for help; caregiving is difficult, and asking for assistance is wise • Take time for yourself. Neglecting yourself can harm your overall health Whenever possible, establish a backup plan you can implement if your condition worsens or requires extended care. Create a binder with vital information you will need if your condition persists. The binder should include a list of people who can help, you and your Veteran’s medical team and medication lists, appointments, community and support organizations you are associated with, and people who can help with meals and transportation. Please share your daily routine, including ADL assistance, along with a detailed list of what is required, including household tasks and chores. continued
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Caregivers Keeping your Veteran safe, cared for, and supported is extremely important. If your situation requires extended treatment, develop a plan that explains what your Veteran's care will entail. The goal is to have uninterrupted care. Evaluate whether respite care is needed; if so, seek assistance to set it up in advance. Remember: you matter and are valued. The care you provide is an act of love that speaks louder than words. Remember, you may need help sometimes, but that doesn't mean you are incapable of being an effective caregiver; it simply means you need time to recover so you can resume your role. Be well, Jeanette Ezell Jeanette Ezell Ohio Dole Caregiver Fellow
Holiday Gift Cards Attention Members! Holiday Gift Card forms are going to be coming in the mail soon! They will be going out mid-late September. Be sure to keep an eye out when checking your mail. Once you get the form make sure to fill it out and send it back to us as soon as you can. We will not accept any forms once the deadline has passed. The deadline this year will be October 21st,2026
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By using this QR Code, you can get sign up for our mailing list! You’ll get updates about any news or updates going on at the BPVA!
330-827-5782
Every Gain Counts.
Even small improvements in hand strength and sensation can restore meaningful independence. ARCEX is the first FDA-cleared system for non-invasive spinal cord stimulation therapy designed specifically to improve hand strength and hand sensation in people with chronic, incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Used alongside functional movement in rehabilitation, the ARCEX System delivers targeted stimulation to the spinal cord without surgery. In clinical studies, 90% of participants improved in at least one major strength or function assessment1. If you’re a Veteran living with SCI, reach out to your VA provider to see if the ARCEX System is available to you at your facility. For additional information, you can contact us at support@onwd.com
Scan the QR code to learn more about the ARCEX System
The ARCEX System is intended to deliver programmed, transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation in conjunction with functional task practice in the clinic to improve hand sensation and strength in individuals between 18 and 75 years old that present with a chronic, non-progressive neurological deficit resulting from an incomplete spinal cord injury (C2- C8 inclusive). The ONWARD® Medical ARCEX® System is cleared for use in the United States. Please refer to the indication for use / intended purpose, which may differ. ARCEX®, ARCEX® logo, ONWARD®, and ONWARD® Medical logo are proprietary and registered trademarks of ONWARD Medical. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. © 2025 ONWARD Medical. All Rights Reserved. 2025045 Moritz, Chet, et al. “Non-invasive spinal cord stimulation for arm and hand function in chronic tetraplegia: a safety and efficacy trial.” Nature Medicine. 2024.
VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAM
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VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAM
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MEMBERS BIRTHDAYS
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Members Birthdays
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er Octob
Kenneth Melesky David Yocom Patrick Harris Wondle Dinguss Daniel Crawford Michael Cornwell Robert Sanders Donald Roberts Christopher Dowell Michael Gallagher John Sarosy Lary York John Davis Lorenzo Perdue Charles Hake Bobby Click Thomas Fisher William Beckham Wandlyn Handy Lucas Meyer Ronald Hudson Eddie Dixon Brian Malbrough Sarah Holley Narciso Amesquita Brian Moore Melvin Appell Tiffaney Davison Thomas Barnes Robert Morris James Brown Terry Smeal Eric Wright Shawn Ritchhart Glenn Miller
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r r e e b b m m ee t t p p e e S S
Chris Fritts Lauren Friedman Kenneth Kessler Merlin Markland David Wood Thomas Schmitt Anthony Nickolite Luther Preston Richard Zielinski Joseph Myers Robert Young Timothy Osborne George Tehan Tracy Neu Thomas Hornecker Julie Charette Gary Wallace Destiny Gray Brown Bryan Hibinger Paul Cook Emmett Pyle Paul Mann Dwight Adams Joseph Kerns James Letizio Walter Pruitt Ronnie Lovejoy Stephen Brandt Robert Bush William Fry Vernon Monroe William Larson Jeremy Trammell Edward Daso Lisa Chongris David Prestegaard Daniel Brown Mark Waites Patrick Sullivan Brad Wolf Claude Owens Robert Redden Brian Johnson Harvey Coleman Chadwick Watiker
Charles McGugan Mark Forsyth Miller Mangham Frank Sears Kevin Samuels John Green Sheila Azbell James Robinson Daniel Marzullo Randy Hendricks John Polewchak Charles Stillwell Terry Rock Darrell Bogan Deborah McCreath Richard Might Lee Blake Jeffrey Howell Larry Bostic David Belak Richard Hofmeister Michael Reynolds Sunny Yang Edward Keating Barry Steinnecker Ashley Buschur Ronald Veverka Patti Pleasant-Ross Michael Fumarola Paul Sanderson James O'Harra Gregory Weaver Jeffery Roseman Joel Reese Robert Rich Robert Kemper James Bartholomew Warren Spaulding William Cooper Sean Couch William Phillips Roderick Wright
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2027!
Sarah Hoffman
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Emergency Assistance Program Paralyzed Veterans of America, Buckeye Chapter has available an Emergency Assistance Program. This program helps members of the Buckeye Chapter who may find themselves in financial distress causing possible eviction from their homes, disconnection of utilities or the inability to pay for their food. Please visit buckeyepva.org/links for an extensive list of community resources that can help you with a variety of things. Many of these are organized by County so you can see what's in your area.
Members must be in good standing for a minimum of 90 days prior to qualifying for consideration. Application for help is limited to twice yearly or up to a maximum of $500 per year. This is a confidential process. Payments must be made directly to the vendor. Please contact the Chapter office for more details. (800) 248-2548 or (216) 731-1017
VA Emergency Care
For more information please visit: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf /10-10143g_Non VA_Hospital_Emergency_Notification_Fill. pdf
For more information about care coordination, documentation submission, eligibility, claims and payments visit: https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/ providers/infor_EmergencyCare.asp
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Why Donate Your Vehicle? Easy and Convenient: Free towing/pickup available in most cases across the U.S. Accepts Most Vehicles: Cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats, campers, and more— running or not— as long as towable and in one piece. Tax Benefits: Your donation is tax-deductible. You’ll receive a receipt based on the vehicle’s sale price (consult your tax advisor or IRS guidelines for details). Maximum Impact: Vehicles are sold through a network of vendors to generate the highest possible proceeds for PVA’s mission. How It Works Contact or Submit Online: Visit the official PVA vehicle donation page at https://pva.careasy.org to fill out the secure form or call toll-free 877-900-VETS (877-9008387) seven days a week. Provide Details: Have your vehicle title ready (or call if you don’t). Our team will confirm acceptance and schedule a free pickup at your convenience. Pickup and Sale: A towing partner collects the vehicle, it’s sold, and proceeds support PVA programs. Receive Your Receipt: Get your tax-deductible acknowledgment after the sale. Donating is a hassle-free way to give back to the heroes who’ve sacrificed so much — turning an unused vehicle into meaningful support for veterans’ independence, health, and futures. Ready to make a difference? Start your donation today at https://pva.careasy.org or call 877-900-8387.
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MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT
Call the office at (216) 731-1017 to find out more
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