Dear Sgt. Shaft:
My husband was killed in Vietnam, when our daughter was only nine months old. Years later, I remarried in reliance of our country's promise to reinstate my widow's benefits should by marriage terminate for any reason. As you know, Congress reneged on that promise, and when my remarriage terminated in 1994, my benefits were not reinstated. Last year, however, Congress passed the Veterans Benefits Act of 1998, restoring the widow's right to reinstatement of her VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), after termination of her remarriage. This law would never have passed without the vigorous support of all the major veterans service organizations, and veterans like you.

I am writing because my other VA benefits, such as medical care and education and home loan benefits, were not restored. I do not want to seem ungrateful, but I do not have medical insurance, and am years away from qualifying for Medicare coverage. I cannot afford to pay an expensive premium for a major medical policy. Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., reports that Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL), recently introduced a bill which would reinstate all VA benefits, including medical benefits lost by a service member's widow whose remarriage terminates. Is this true, and if so, could you tell me more about it?

S.N.
San Antonio, TX

Dear S.N.:
For your information, Cong. Lane Evans has introduced H.R. 708, a bill to restore medical, education, and home loan benefits to reinstated widows, in order to complete the reinstatement program. The Gold Star Wives, a federally chartered veteran service organization comprised of the widowed spouses of military service members who died while on active duty or who died as a result of service-connected disabilities, recently alerted a Joint Committee of Congress that most DIC widows are Medicare-eligible and have to pay the full cost of their prescriptions. The median income for DIC widows in 1993 dollars was $16,495. It is not at all unusual for a Gold Star Wife to spend $200 to $300 per month on prescription costs. Some widows are forced to reduce their pain medication from the prescribed dosages. Prescription costs are too often the biggest single expense among the older DIC recipients.

The Sarge urges that Congress act swiftly on H.R. 708 and to also ensure that the bill includes pharmacy benefits, with a complete formulary, to be available to all DIC Medicare-eligible spouses, so that these deserving citizens can live their golden years with dignity and peace of mind.

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I urge you to give a mention in your column of "Stolen Valor," by B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley. This book performs a great service, not only to Vietnam veterans, but also to the American public. It details the dereliction of the media, academia, politicians, and the Veterans Administration with respect to the frauds and criminals claiming to be Vietnam veterans. It is a sorry story and needs broad dissemination.

As you might suspect, I am a Vietnam veteran and for years have taken offense at the media coverage which routinely pictures Vietnam veterans as deranged and pitiful creatures.

R.W.R
Washington, DC

Dear R.W.R.:
The Sarge also finds it disgraceful that those same individuals who evaded service in Vietnam are now posing as Vietnam veteran wannabes. Persons wishing to order the book "Stolen Valor" should call 1-800-253-6789 or write to Verity Press, P.O. Box 50366, Dallas, TX 75250.

Shaft Kudo

The Sarge was once again pleased to be an invited guest at this year's Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Washington Conference, where they honored Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) with their 1999 VFW Congressional Award for "outstanding service to the nation." In announcing the award, VFW Commander in Chief, Thomas A. Pouilot, of Helena, Mont., said, "Senator Specter believes in doing what is right not only for the people of Pennsylvania, but for our nation, As Chair for the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and as Vice-Chair of the Presidential Commission to Combat the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, his skills as a statesman and as a leader have distinctly made a reputation for himself on issues such as education health care, crime, drugs, and terrorism." Sen. Specter also chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, which oversees all federal dollars spent on health, education, and labor matters. He is also a member of the Judiciary and Governmental Affairs Committees.

And of course, one of the highlights of this year's awards program was the introduction of this year's VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program. This national audio essay competition is designed to give 10th, 11th, and 12th grade high school students the opportunity to voice their opinion, in a three-to-five minute essay, on their responsibility to our country. The program, which focuses on a patriotic theme, had as this year's theme, "My Service to America." Under this program, each VFW Department (state) first-place winner receives an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they have the opportunity to visit the monuments and visit with heads of state, and often with the President or Vice President of the United States. Under VFW sponsorship, the annual national scholarships have increased to 56 fully funded scholarships totaling $132,000. The first place winner now receives a $20,000 scholarship and all national finalists receive at least a $1,000 scholarship. The total monetary value of scholarships, bonds, and awards provided by VFW Posts, Auxiliaries, Districts, County Councils, Departments, and National amount to more than $2.6 million this past year. During this past program, more than 81,000 students participated. More than 6,900 schools participated, and more than 4,300 VFW Posts and more than 3,400 Auxiliaries sponsored the program.