Hey Veterans, Did You Know?

… the origins of Memorial Day?

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day to remember those who have died in our nation's service. After the Civil War many in the North and South decorated graves of fallen soldiers with flowers.

In spring 1866, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, N.Y., suggested that the patriots who had died in the Civil War should be honored by decorating their graves. Gen. John B. Murray, Seneca County Clerk, embraced the idea and a committee was formed to plan a day devoted to honoring the dead. Townspeople made wreaths, crosses and bouquets for each veteran's grave. The village was decorated with flags at half-staff. On May 5 of that year, a processional was held to the town's cemeteries, led by veterans. The town observed this day of remembrance on May 5 the following year as well.

Decoration Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by Gen. John Logan in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed officially on May 30, 1868. The South did not observe Decoration Day, preferring to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I. In 1882, the name was changed to Memorial Day, and soldiers who had died in other wars were also honored.

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May. Today, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season in the United States. It is still a time to remember those who have passed on, whether in war or otherwise. It also is a time for families to get together for picnics, ball games, and other early summer activities. (Thanks to the Idaho Division of Veteran Services for providing this info in its April 2021 Bulletin.)

… the VA offers a non-service connected pension?

The VA has a benefit called the non-service connected pension which helps low-income veterans get to a prescribed income level set by law. I had a World War II couple come to my office asking for assistance in getting registered for VA health care. I asked them into my office and discovered they only received, between the two of them, $720 a month. I asked them if I could help them with this and they smiled and said yes. A few months later they came back to the office and stated that this year they would be able to buy their grandchildren Christmas presents. The benefit increased their income by 120%. The sad part about this story is the couple were eligible for this benefit for over 35 years and didn't know it.” (Shared by Darryl Heisey, former North Idaho Service Officer)

Does this sound like someone you know? Want to know more? In North Idaho call (208) 4461029 or in Spokane call (509) 477-3690.

For more info or assistance please see “How Can I Get Help?” on Page 5 of this publication.

… more benefits might be available?

There is a VA-service connected matrix for additional benefits that you may be eligible to receive? The benefits, known as derivatives, are based on a favorable decision for a VA benefit and/or based on special circumstances.

The VA website includes links to each: benefits.va.gov/ benefits/derivative_sc.asp

Each benefit goes to a link to more detailed information on that topic.

Service-connected disability rated at 10%: • No-cost health care and prescription medications for service-connected disabilities • Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA authorized health care facility • Waiver of VA funding fee for home loan • 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (with a serious employment handicap) • Burial and plot allowance • Commissary and Exchange Privileges

• Use of commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online. … the VA does NOT pay for veterans’ funerals or cremations?

The only thing that is free is burial or inurnment at a state or national veterans cemetery (spouses are $300).Veterans that qualify must either be cremated or in a casket and the VA pays for neither. The VA also does not pay for caskets, embalming, cremation, urns, memorial or funeral services.

For those veterans who do qualify for VA death benefits, there is a partial reimbursement after the fact. The amounts provided are a fraction of actual costs in most cases.