Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 04/25/2005

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
My Champ VA expired October 2005- At this time I will be 65.

Please explain.

Thanks
Patricia W.
Cheverly MD

Dear Patricia
Your CHAMPVA has not expired. When you become Medicare eligible, Parts A & B there are changes in coverage under CHAMPVA. . CHAMPVA becomes the second payer to your Medicare insurance.

Approximately two months before turning age 65, you will routinely receive information from CHAMPVA describing benefit information after age 65. Be assured you will continue to have CHAMPVA but as a secondary payer to Medicare.

You can contact CHAMPVA at 1-800-733-8387 for additional information. I did confirm your name and address in the CHAMPVA system and it is correctly recorded for future mail. Should you move before October 2005 be sure and report your change of address.

Shat Notes
Pitney Bowes Inc. recently announced it has made a $10,000 contribution to a new charity dedicated to helping the families of American Marines wounded in ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As has been in past Shaft columns, The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund provides supplemental assistance to injured marines, sailors and their families as they face the road to recovery from service-related injuries. The fund is a California-based nonprofit that, among other things, provides financial support to military families to facilitate an extended stay near the hospitals where their loved ones are being treated.

Pitney Bowes Chairman & CEO Michael J. Critelli presented the company’s check to Rene Bardorf, vice president of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, before a visit to wounded sailors and Marines at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. I was honored to accompany Mr. Critelli and Mrs. Bardoff on this visit to the wounded and their families. Mr. Critelli was so touched by the visit that he added his own personal check of $5,000 to the Semper Fi Fund

Since its founding in 2004, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund has already given away more than $1 million to help injured Marines and their families.

“It is a privilege to help these Americans in their time of need,” Critelli said. “The United States government does a great deal to help members of the military who are injured or wounded in service. But many of their needs now and for years to come will only be met by voluntary contributions from the public.”

“We’d like to thank Pitney Bowes and its employees for this generous donation to the fund,” said Bardorf. “We are grateful for your commitment to the brave men and women who represent our country on dangerous missions so far from home.”

Pitney Bowes is the world’s leading provider of integrated mail and document management systems, services and solutions. The $5.0 billion company helps organizations of all sizes efficiently and effectively manage their mail and document flow in physical, digital and hybrid forms. Its solutions range from addressing software and metering systems to print stream management, electronic bill presentment and presort mail services. The company’s 80-plus years of technological leadership have produced many major improvements in the mailing industry, and it is consistently on the Intellectual Property Owner’s list of top U.S. patent holders. With approximately 35,000 employees worldwide, Pitney Bowes serves more than 2 million businesses through direct and dealer operations.

I am looking forward to once again joining The Veterans Leadership Program (VLP) at its 16th Annual Partners in Leadership Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. on May 12 at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh. This yearly event is recognized as Western Pennsylvania’s premiere celebration in honor of outstanding veterans. Chris Moore will host the event as Honorary Chair. This year’s dinner is expected to be the biggest ever as we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II with a tribute to the original “Band of Brothers,” as featured in the HBO mini-series. The “Band of Brothers” has had a tremendous impact on all veterans and citizens of our community in helping all of us realize the immense commitment and sacrifice veterans of all wars make to our day to day freedom and quality of life. This year all Western Pennsylvania veterans of that era will be recognized as our “2005 Veteran of the Year Award.”

Other awards to be received at the dinner will be the President’s Award, to be given to friend Ronald Zola. Ron recently retired as Executive Director of VLP, where he spent 10 years dedicated to making a significant difference in the lives of veterans and their families. Ron spent 25 years in the Army before retiring as a Colonel.

Abie Abraham (The Ghost of Bataan) will receive The John Heinz Community Advocate Award for all of his tireless efforts on behalf of veterans in Butler County. Abie survived the Bataan Death March and then led the effort to save the lives of other G.I.s forced to endure that terrible event of WWII. .At age 94 years , Abie remains a vital force of compassion to veterans especially with his continued volunteer work at the Butler Veterans Administration Hospital. Special recognition will be given to WAVES National and the Women’s Overseas Service League to honor women who have served during WWII and to the present.

Founded in 1982, the VLP focuses on providing employment, housing assistance, and supported services to unemployed, underemployed, and homeless veterans and family members in Southwestern Pennsylvania. All programs and services are offered to veterans and their families at no cost. For additional information contact Margaret Schumacher at 412-281-8100

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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