Story courtesy: Jerry Vogler, The McLean County VA
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LOCAL MEDAL OF HONOR AWARDEE RECOGNIZED
A special ceremony will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Bloomington, to Honor Private Joseph Kimball, a Civil War soldier who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (CMH) on May 3, 1865. Private Kimball’s CMH burial marker was mistakenly placed on another Joseph Kimball’s gravesite many years before. Dedication and much hard work by VA Historians and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, this error is now being corrected.
The Ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery will commence at 10:00 a.m. on September 17, 2022 and will include attendance by Betsy Tietz, a family member of Private Kimball who lives in the Decatur area and Ray Johnston who works with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
All Veterans and members of the public are invited to attend and bestow the honor Private Kimball greatly deserves.
POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY
POW/MIA Recognition Day is commemorated on the third Friday of September, (September 16, 2022).
The phrase “You Are Not Forgotten” on the POW/MIA flag, clearly declares the purpose of the POW/MIA Recognition Day!
According to a Congressional Research Service report on POWs: 130,201 World War II service members were imprisoned ; 14, 072 of them died. Seven thousand, one hundred forty Korean War service members were imprisoned; 2,701 of them died. 725 Vietnam service members were imprisoned; 64 of them died, and 37 service members were imprisoned during conflicts since 1991, including both Gulf Wars.
None are still in captivity.
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 83,114 Americans who fought in those wars are still missing, including: 73,515 from World War II, 7,841 from the Korean War, 1,626 from Vietnam,126 from the Cold War, and 6 from conflicts since 1991.
Of those service members who are still missing, it is believed that more than 41,000 have been presumed lost at sea.
Veterans Organizations have ceremonies commemorating the POW/MIA issues including the POW/MIA ceremony that opens regular meetings of the American Legion at all Legion gatherings.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
The Air Force celebrates its 75th birthday on Sept. 18, 2022.
Just four years after the Wright Brothers conducted the world’s first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903, the U. S. Army Signal Corps created an Aeronautical Division and put it in “charge of all matters pertaining to military ballooning, air machines and all kindred subjects”.
Hence the “Air Force” became a part of the Nation’s military forces. On July 26, 1947, President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act on board the Presidential aircraft, the sacred cow which set the creation of the USAF in motion.
Happy Birthday!
VA INTERIM FINAL RULE ISSUED CONCERNING ABORTION
VA will be able to offer abortion counseling and abortions to pregnant Veterans and VA beneficiaries in cases of rape, incest, or when the life or health of the Veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term — in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice. VA beneficiaries enrolled in CHAMPVA will also have access to this care.
Determination that the “life and health” of the Veteran would be endangered will be determined on a case-by-case basis between patient and doctor.
In case of rape, or incest, self-reporting from a Veteran or VA beneficiary will constitute sufficient evidence that an act of rape or incest occurred.
VA employees when working within the scope of their federal employment, may provide authorized services regardless of state restrictions.
For more information visit HERE.
This change was made administratively and not legislatively and no explanation of its relationship to the overturning of Roe v. Wade was included in the announcement.
RESPECTING THE AMERICAN FLAG
What is the proper thing to do when the American Flag is passing in a parade or during the playing of the National Anthem? Should you stand or salute? Are women required to remove their hats?
Can you salute if you are not in uniform?
Old questions; current guidelines:
Wording of 4 U.S. Code section 9, “Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of Flag”
provides guidelines for showing proper respect to the American Flag. All military personnel in uniform, should salute the Flag as it passes without removing their cover.
All Military active duty not in uniform and Veterans may salute the Flag without removing their hat.
All non-Veterans should remove their hat holding it in the right hand and placing the hat over the left shoulder which will result in the right hand being held over the heart. When you see a person wearing ordinary clothing salute the American Flag without removing the hat, it should mean the person is an active-duty member or a Veteran.
Veterans are proud of their Country and their service, and it is appropriate that they can continue to show the respect for the Flag and their Country.
