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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Posted on 12/12/2002 5:39:05 AM PST by SAMWolf
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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.
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When the troops came home from World War I, some 300,000 carried grim reminders of war: disabling injuries, battle scars, gas-seared lungs, and prolonged illnesses. Following a tumultuous hero's welcome, America wiped the horror of war from its mind almost as quickly as the ticker tape was swept from the streets of New York City. As a result, the needs of the nation's disabled heroes were swept aside as well. Prejudice kept capable and qualified--but disabled--veterans from gaining employment in a job market with few enough opportunities to offer anyone. Veterans benefits programs were administered by three separate government agencies with conflicting and overlapping responsibilities, leaving disabled veterans with massive confusion and red tape. Without a medical system dedicated to their needs, many disabled veterans found themselves sleeping on cots--or even on floors--in the halls of America's overwhelmed hospitals. Some just gave up the struggle, sitting on street corners with tin cups and signs reading: "Help Me. I'm a Disabled Veteran."  Angered by the negligence and incompetence of the federal government in dealing with their problems, disabled veterans began forming local self-help groups in cities across America. In 1920, leaders from 250 of these groups gathered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Under the charismatic leadership of Judge Robert S. Marx, himself a veteran disabled in France, they federated into a national body named the Disabled American Veterans of the World War (DAVWW). Judge Marx's public life took him to cities across the country, affording him the opportunity to use his superior organizing skills in the new DAVWW's behalf. The new organization also attracted some very high-powered supporters from society at large. For example, our first corporate sponsor was Henry Ford, who supplied a caravan of 50 Model-T Fords to carry needy disabled veterans to San Francisco for the organization's second national convention in 1922. At that convention, the famed Rudolph Valentino became the DAVWW's first celebrity sponsor when he threw a benefit concert on the organization's behalf.  Early on, the DAVWW also opened a Washington, D.C., office to help veterans file claims for disability benefits. By the mid-1930s, the DAVWW had veterans' benefits experts stationed in Veterans Bureau hospitals across the country. When the specter of World War II raised its head, the DAVWW dropped the reference to the First World War from it's name, becoming simply the Disabled American Veterans, or DAV. Among those who led the DAV in the era following World War II were two famous generals. One was General Jonathan M. Wainwright, well known for his defense of Corregidor and his 39 months as a prisoner of the Japanese. The other was General Melvin J. Maas, who became known as the "blind general" when he remained on duty after combat wounds suffered on Okinawa took his sight.  The World War II and Korean War generation built a DAV that could never have been imagined by those who founded the organization back in the 1920s. Their efforts to open up employment opportunities for disabled veterans and other handicapped people are legendary. They built a volunteer network that now contributes nearly 2 million hours annually to patients in VA medical facilities. Using a formula provided by Independent Sector, an organization that provides oversight to American nonprofits, this time is valued at $30.5 million. Most importantly, they prepared an organization that was ready to serve the veterans of the next generation, those who returned from the Vietnam War sick and wounded. In doing so, they resolutely stood in opposition to a society that often shunned these younger veterans. In the belief that Vietnam veterans should be treated with the same respect enjoyed by earlier generations of veterans, they worked hard on behalf of the Veterans Readjustment Act of 1966. In the years following the war, they worked with younger veterans to establish a treatment model for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a model later adopted by the VA Vet Center program. The DAV's Vietnam generation continued that tradition of advocacy, among other victories winning recognition of the needs of veterans exposed to radiation in the post-World War II era and Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. They also won establishment of the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals, which affords veterans the right to gain judicial review of unfavorable VA decisions.  If the DAV's World War II and Korean War veterans were quick to respond to the needs of Vietnam veterans, the Vietnam generation proved just as ready to respond to the veterans of the Persian Gulf War and other post-Vietnam military conflicts. They have been outspoken in their advocacy on issues like the unexplained illnesses that plague the lives of so many Gulf War veterans. In addition, they're actively recruiting a new generation of DAV National Service Officers from disabled veterans now in their twenties and thirties, a generation that will lead the DAV into the 21st century. It is important to note that the DAV has had a quiet partner as the organization built this substantial record of achievement. It takes funds to field the kind of services, programs and advocacy the DAV offers to disabled veterans and their families--more funding than could possibly be supplied by the dues paid by disabled veterans for membership in the organization. The American people--good and loyal people like yourself--have stood by our organization, providing nearly all of the funding necessary to field our extensive network of services. We are not exaggerating one bit when we say we are eternally grateful to you. Your generosity has allowed us to touch the lives of literally millions of disabled veterans and their families. Thank you for such great kindness. 
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Actually Sweetliberty did the great graphics
I just added the music
And I thought the way to a man's heart was through his stomach... hahahahaha
Misty, if Raven6 is not firmly within the loop now, you might be able to help get him "in the loop" with your roping skills! hehehe
"The new contract provides a greatly enhanced dental benefit package and improved customer service for our retirees," said Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.
The new contract becomes effective May 1, 2003. With its current enrollment of 650,000, the TRDP is already the nation's largest voluntary, all enrollee-paid dental program. It will continue to provide a dental plan to uniformed service retirees and their family members, certain surviving members of deceased active duty sponsors and to Medal of Honor recipients and their immediate family members and survivors.
The TRDP will offer dental coverage throughout the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Canada. All premiums are paid by those enrolled and vary depending on where they live.
According to Delta officials, the new contract reduces the mandatory enrollment obligation to only 12 months, after which enrollees can remain in the program on a month-to-month basis. Additionally, the waiting period for a full scope of benefits has been reduced to just 12 months, after which 50 percent coverage for crowns, bridges, full/partial dentures and orthodontics goes into effect.
"Since the program was first introduced in 1998, Congress and the Department of Defense have steadily increased the benefits we are allowed to offer," said Lowell Daun, DDS, senior vice president for Delta's Federal Services division.
Dr. Daun noted the program continues to carry a $50 per person, per year deductible, but now also includes a family cap of $150 and an increased annual maximum amount of $1,200 against which preventive and diagnostic services are not counted.
Coverage for these services, as well as for basic restorative services, periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery and dental emergencies is available immediately on the effective date of coverage. Crowns, bridges, full and partial dentures and orthodontics are available after 12 months continuous enrollment.
Retirees and their family members can obtain more information about the program at http://www.tricare.osd.mil or by visiting the Delta Dental Plan of California Web site at http://www.ddpdelta.org.
Delta Dental may also be contacted:
By Phone:
Enrollment (new enrollments, changes and related correspondence)
Phone 1 (888) 838-8737
Monday - Friday (excluding holidays), 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST
Customer Service (claims, eligibility inquiries & related correspondence)
Phone 1 (888) 336-3260
Monday - Friday (excluding holidays), 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. PST
Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
Phone 1 (888) 336-3260
Available around the clock, Monday - Saturday
By Mail:
Delta Dental Plan of California
Federal Services
P.O. Box 537008
Sacramento, CA 95853-7008
By E-mail:
Enrollment: ddpenroll@delta.org
Customer service: ddpservice@delta.org
(From Air Force Retiree News Service)
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