VFW Action Corps Weekly

Disaster Relief for Veterans: The fires in California have caused catastrophic damage. Please consider giving an emergency gift today to the VFW's Disaster Relief Fund. Your support will provide direct assistance to veterans and military families who have been forced to flee their homes. 

VFW Podcast Provides Inside Scoop: Join VFW Director of Public Affairs and Strategic Outreach Rob Couture as he hosts “Getting the Inside Scoop” on #StillServing: The VFW Podcast, along with other participants from our VFW Washington Office. This informative discussion covers the VFW’s advocacy efforts, achievements, and legislative wins. The podcast also includes a lively review of VFW’s participation in the Student Veterans of America 17th Annual National Conference, generally referred to as SVA NatCon. Watch the podcast on the VFW's YouTube channel or wherever you get your podcasts.

VA Announces Further Presumptive Service Connections: As of Jan. 10, 2025, VA has established presumptive service connections from exposure to particulate matter 2.5 for leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myelofibrosis. Eligible veterans must have served on active military, naval, air, or space service in Somalia or the Southwest Asia theater of operations on or after Aug. 2, 1990; or in Afghanistan, Syria, Djibouti, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, or Yemen on or after Sept. 11, 2001. This interim final rule will ease the evidentiary burden for VA disability compensation claimants with these conditions. The public may submit comments until March 11, 2025. Read more or find an accredited representative for claims assistance.

Reminder for VA Secure Sign In: VA has issued changes for signing into your VA.gov or My HealtheVet accounts. Currently, there are four ways to sign in to your VA accounts: LOGIN.GOV, ID.ME, My HealtheVet, and DS Logon. Both My HealtheVet and DS Logon will be discontinued for accessing VA accounts. My HealtheVet sign in will be available until Jan. 31, 2025. Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors with VA accounts are encouraged to transition how they sign in to access these accounts prior to that date. Get the details.

Accepting Nominations for VFW Volunteer Service Award: Nominations for VFW’s Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) of the Year award are open until Jan. 27, 2025. Nominees must participate in VAVS assignments, serving as regularly scheduled volunteers. Contact your VFW National VAVS Representative at vavs@vfw.org for more information.

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced one identification and one burial update for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II.

Identification:

-- World War II Army Air Forces Pvt. Donald E. Bays

Update:

-- World War II Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Loring E. Lord, Massachusetts

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As always, we want to hear your advocacy stories. To share your stories or photos with us, simply email them directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

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