Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 04/07/2008

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I am a retired E-7 (Navy) 21 years as of May 2, 1960. I received an answer to a "forgotten widows benefit" that you published in The Washington Times and would like more information on qualifications for it. I am thankful for Tricare for Life.

Albert D.
Via the Internet

Dear Albert:
Those in the know tell me that the Forgotten Widows Survivor Benefits Plan is an annuity payable to certain widows and widowers of military retirees who were ineligible for the military's Survivor Benefits Plan when it began in 1972. To be considered eligible for this program, the claimant must be a widow or widower of a member of the military service who died on active duty before Sept. 21, 1972, and who was eligible for retirement at the time of death. The widow or widower must not have ever remarried, and cannot have received Dependency and Indemnity Compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Survivor Benefit Plan Minimum Income Widow Annuity.

The program is administered by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. For more information, call 800/321-1080.

Shaft Notes

• During the years, many of us have attended the musical feasts given by the VA-National Medical Musical Group or watched these musicians on television. The group is made up of health care professionals from Veterans Affairs, military and other medical centers and schools all over the nation. These inspirational programs of music and readings spread national healing and patriotism and honor our veterans. This year, in addition to these goals at home, the medical musicians are expanding their reach to the Middle East.

The nonsectarian event will be held from 8 to 9:30 p.m. May 14 at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the District. The theme of the program is "Healing for the Nations."

Screen actor Ernie Hudson will be the narrator. Bill Kurtis of A&E and Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry will be hosts. "Good Morning, Vietnam" broadcaster Adrian Cronauer will serve as announcer and participate in the narrations. Also narrating will be several members of Congress.

Admission is free. Early arrival is recommended.

• Rep. Steve Buyer, Indiana Republican and ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, recently introduced a bill to include mortgages guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the economic stimulus package signed into law by the president on Feb. 13.

Mr. Buyer and Rep. Michael H. Michaud, Maine Democrat, sent a letter to House leadership on Jan. 28 recommending the VA Loan Guaranty program in the stimulus bill.

The economic stimulus package authorized government-sponsored entities such as Freddie Mac to guarantee loans for up to 175 percent of current limits in some high-cost areas. VA-backed loan limits are normally tied to Freddie Mac limits, but the language in the stimulus package did not maintain that connection.

• A Department of Veterans Affairs research project, which may lead to development of a vaccine to prevent salmonella poisoning, was aboard the NASA space shuttle that launched March 11.

Space Shuttle Endeavour transported research material to the International Space Station. The research will be used by VA investigators and other researchers to develop a salmonella vaccine with the potential to save lives and billions of dollars.

Previous work identified several genes that weaken salmonella when they are removed. One of these weakened strains may be suitable to use in a vaccine, but the salmonella organism quickly loses its infectious characteristics under normal test circumstances, making it difficult to study.

Researchers think the environment of space can bring about key genetic changes in cells that affect the ability of the organism to invade human tissue and cause disease.

To induce these changes, worms will be grown from eggs aboard the space shuttle. While in space, the worms will be fed salmonella. The extent of damage will be measured when the worms are returned to Earth, helping to identify which of the weakened strains is the most effective to use in a vaccine.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

BAVF is a tax deductible organization, CFC Number 11282. Monetary gifts are gladly accepted and welcome.
To donate online, please use this link to Independent Charities of America.
Please use the address listed below when sending your contribution via postal mail or including BAVF as a beneficiary on your will.

BAVF Home | Who We Are | Sgt. Shaft | Flag Week | Links | Financials | Search | Contact BAVF

BAVF - P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900

Copyright BAVF 2008