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March 11, 2025--Next DC Area Luncheon from Bob Forster

Our next luncheon will be next Tuesday, March 18th at 11:30am.
We will meet in the ANCC Grill Room and order off the menu. At the end of the luncheon, you will pay Jim the cost of your lunch - please bring cash.
To get to the Grill Room head up the stairs to the 2nd floor and keep going straight ahead.

You don't need to confirm your attendance - just show up. However, if you desire - let us know at bforster5@verizon.net or jep.ring@gmail.com.

Future lunches are April 15th, May 20th, etc. (the 3rd Tuesday of each month)

Thanks
Bob

PS - If you desire to attend but need transportation - let us know and we will try to coordinate a ride s

February 16, 2025--Frank Hilton Memorial Service and Inurnment- New Photo with link to livestream of service..

February 10, 2025--Frank Hilton Memorial Service and Inurnment.

Frank's inurnment will be at the columbarium on Hospital Point on Monday, February 24 at 11:00 a.m. You are all also welcome to come to that as well.

December 25, 2024--Ralph Kimberlin Memorial Service

A Memorial Service will be held at the USNA Main Chapel in Annapolis Maryland starting at 10:30AM on February 6, 2025. Internment ceremony with military honors will be held immediately following at the USNA Columbarium approximately 1/4 mile from the Chapel.

A buffet style sit down luncheon will be held at 1200 at the Naval Academy Club approximately 1/4 mile from the Columbarium for all attendees.

Those who do not possess a DoD ID should reach out to Tony Kimberlin to get specifics on USNA Base access. Those who are familiar with USNA should enter via Gate 8 for parking at the club or in the reserved spots in front of the USNA Chapel for the service.

Tony Kimberlin contact information:
Charles A.(Tony) Kimberlin
(410)919-3880

USNA Class of 1989

January 13, 2025--From Debbie Laury

I have incredibly wonderful news to share! I have attached in the appended PDF a copy of the press release from the White House indicating that The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act was signed into law, January 2, 2025.
Click for the White House notice.

December 15, 2024--An uplifting Christmas story from Bob Abate, who has also dedicated himself to preserving stories from WWII veterans.

For Bob's tale of Christmas letters from children to Santa see https://www.riverdalepress.com/stories/when-cops-and-firefighters-played-santa-claus,55880

November 25, 2024--Roger Mehle Inurement - Wednesday, December 4th at 2pm

Roger's Inurnment will be at the USNA Columbarium at 2pm on Wednesday, December 4th. (It appears that work near the Columbarium on the seawall and Ramsay Road will not be started by the Dec 4). You can park vertically near the Columbarium. I will notify you if there are any changes.

You might have to drive though the cemetery and come in from the playing field (Hospital Point) side. Alternatively, if it is a nice day, you can park near Alumni Hall (or the parking garage) and walk across the bridge to Hospital Point and the Columbarium.

Colette will have a reception at the USNA Club following the ceremony. If you are planning to attend, please let Colette know so she can give the club an accurate number of attendees.

Colette can be reached at email cmehle@mehlelaw.com or phone (202) 255-3187

November 21, 2024--House of Representatives Approves Wide-Ranging Veterans Bill After Bipartisan Compromise Reached -- www.military.com.

November 19, 2024

A wide-ranging veterans policy bill that would bolster home caregiver programs and support for homeless veterans, among other areas, was approved by the House on Monday evening after election-season politics stalled the bill for months.

Tweaks were made to the legislation between when it was first introduced over the summer and Monday's vote that got Democrats on board with the bill, allowing it to easily pass the House in a bipartisan 389-9 vote.

But the backbone of the bill -- language aimed at making it easier for aging and disabled veterans to get home- and community-based nursing care -- remained intact in the version of the bill approved Monday.

"For nearly the entire 118th Congress, the House and Senate committees on Veterans Affairs have worked together to develop a bipartisan package of common-sense proposals," House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., said on the House floor Monday afternoon. "The Dole Act is a result of that work and would enhance, reform and modernize nearly every part of the VA. Specifically, the Dole Act would change the landscape for elderly veterans and finally give them a choice in where they choose to live out their sunset years."

Dubbed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, the marquee provisions in the bill would increase the Department of Veterans Affairs' share of covering home nursing care from 65% to 100% of costs and make several other changes to increase the accessibility of home nursing care for veterans.

The changes have long been sought by caregivers and their advocates who say that veterans should be able to live out their final days at home if they choose.

To see the full report on military.com, https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/11/19/veterans-bill-improvements-caregiver-homelessness-programs-passes-house.html?ESRC=eb_241120.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20241120.

November 12, 2024--Bob Abate has been collecting veteran stories for many years. Here's his latest.

https://cool-grandpa.us/2024/11/07/ep-207-documenting-our-veterans-stories/

November 12, 2024--Next DC Area Luncheon from Bob Forster

Our next luncheon will be Tuesday, December 17th at 11:30am. Future lunches are January 21st and February 18th, 2025, etc. (the 3rd Tuesday of each month)

November 8, 2024--Debbie Laury, widow of our classmate Glenn Laury, is a committed advocate of action to improve the scope and effectiveness of federally provided veterans healthcare. On 12 October she sent this news about legislation now being considered by Congress.

Comprehensive legislation, H. R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, is under consideration by three separate House Committees: Veterans Affairs, Natural Resources (based on VA home lending to our Native population) and the Armed Services Committee. The bill addresses issues of accountability, ease of access, and transparency. It incorporates all of the language included in The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act which it replaces. If passed, the new bill will provide in-home, 24/7, professionally licensed nursing care to deserving veterans. It includes detailed reference to these aspects of care:

Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities
Community care
Mental Health
Access to Dental Care
Provision of Medical Equipment
Ambulance Reimbursement
Suicide Prevention
Educational assistance for veterans and spouses
Commercial Driver Education
Reemployment help
Improved process of Disability Claims
Veterans' Homelessness
Telehealth Services
The VA Home Loan Program
Modernization of Electronic Record keeping

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act is supported by a long and growing list of veterans advocacy organizations including The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, and numerous others. I have learned that the national DAV has sent a communication to all of its chapters in the United States containing a "Click Here" letter which allows all chapter members to send letters to their respective United States Senators and House of Representatives members urging passage of this bill.

To review a summary of the bill, click on this link: https://veterans.house.gov/uploadedfiles/section_by_section_of_senator_elizabeth_dole_ac_-_5-13-24_final.pdf

September 16, 2024--Data on our mortality

Our class recently lost our 350th graduate classmate. We remember and grieve for all of them.

We have lost 40% of our classmates, leaving 60% still alive. That is well above the average of 50% for males born in 1941 (the year I chose as most representative). Life expectancy for our cohort is about 90 years.

We have on average another six or seven years of life remaining. 75% of us will live another two years and 25% will live at least nine more. Perhaps 14% will hit 100 years.

Naturally our death rate is increasing rapidly.

It took 24 years to reach 50 and that included Vietnam and several aviation accidents.
To reach:
100-26 years
150-9 years
200-4 years
250-4 years
300-2 years
350-2 years

Enjoy every day of every year you have left.

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