May 19, 2025

VFW Meets with House Subcommittee

Chairwoman: VFW National Senior Vice

Commander Carol Whitmore and National Legislative

Director Kristina Keenan met with House Committee

on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health

Chairwoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. They

discussed the VFW's legislative priorities including

needed research on alternative treatments for post-

traumatic stress disorder, and ways to improve VA’s

Foreign Medical Program.

VFW Joins Roundtable on Underserved Veterans:

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking

Member Mark Takano convened a roundtable with

veteran organizations and advocacy groups to

discuss disparities in access to VA care and benefits

for minority and underserved veterans. VFW National

Legislative Director Kristina Keenan highlighted the

need for VA to collect more data to identify areas of

need, conduct research on women veterans during all

phases of life to include during menopause, reach

veterans on tribal lands, and provide mandatory

military cultural competency training for Community

Care Network providers.

VFW Statement for House Subcommittee Hearing:

VFW National Legislative Associate Director Nancy

Springer provided a statement for the record for a

House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability

Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing on improper

VA compensation and pension payments. She

commented on four common causes of irregular

payments and how they affect beneficiaries. Read the

statement or watch the hearing, which begins at the

23:57 mark.

Honoring Fallen Veterans on Memorial Day: From

May 1 to May 24, 2025, volunteers organized by the

non-profit organization Carry The Load will honor

veterans with a 20,000-mile Memorial Day tribute

relay, stopping at 16 VA national cemeteries across

the country. Volunteers will gather at each location to

pay respects, carry banners and flags, and remember

the fallen. Participants are encouraged to post online

remembrances on VA’s Veterans Legacy Memorial.

The event will culminate in a Memorial Day rally on

May 26 in Dallas, Texas. Those wishing to participate

should register in advance. Read more.

Fourth Annual Flowers of Remembrance Day:

Arlington National Cemetery will hold its fourth annual

Flowers of Remembrance Day on Sunday, May 25,

2025, from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Tomb of the

Unknown Soldier. Visitors are invited to lay flowers

that will be provided onsite in tribute to fallen service

members. This is a solemn tradition rooted in the

original Decoration Day of 1868, now known as

Memorial Day. At 10 a.m. there will be a program on

the history of the holiday, followed by a 10:30 a.m.

walking tour highlighting sites connected to the

Army’s 250th anniversary. No registration is required.

Read more.

Million Veteran Program Impact on Mental Health

Care: VA’s Million Veteran Program is committed to

making health discoveries to improve care for mental

health, including post-traumatic stress disorder,

substance use disorders, and suicide prevention.

Learn more about the program and how your

participation can help can make a difference in the

physical and mental well-being of yourself and others

now and in the future.MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting

Agency announced five updates and eight

identifications for service members who have been

missing and unaccounted for from World War II and

the Korean War.

Updates:

-- World War II Army CWO Charles G. Benthien,

California

-- World War II Army Pvt. Ben F. Leslie, New Mexico

-- World War II Army Air Forces 1st Lt. George F.

Wilson Jr., Utah

-- World War II Army Capt. Ralph L. Rowland,

California

-- Korean War Army Sgt. Thomas J. O’Brien,

California

Identifications:

-- World War II Army Air Forces Warrant Officer

William J. McMichael

-- World War II Army Pfc. Nicholas Hartman

-- World War II Army Pfc. Edward J. Kramer

-- World War II Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Jason K.

Goldwater

-- World War II Army Pvt. Mack Homer

-- World War II Army Pfc. St. Clair M. Gibson

-- World War II Navy Ensign Joseph L. Richey

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Edwin C. Martin

VFW Tommy Miller-Dean Johnson Post 4933 Web Site is live! The post hosts the following organizations:

 

• VFW Post 4933
• VFW Post 4933 Auxiliary
• VFW Post 4933 Social Membership
• American Legion Post 255
• The Dam Tavern Canteen