Honoring Vietnam vets

Veterans, this week I want to talk about honoring a group of warriors who went to war more than 40 years ago.

They fought valiantly, with honor, and returned home to this nation without the deserved treatment of heroes. These warriors returned with heavy hearts at losing many of their buddies in the jungles and rice patties of Vietnam, fighting in an unpopular war that placed them between political issues and their sworn duty.

The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall was dedicated in 1996 to honor and memorialize those 58,000 plus service men and women who perished.  The wall contains the names of all of those who fell and is a powerful healing tribute for those who were fortunate enough to return home alive.

To honor the Vietnam Veterans of Northeast Oregon, we will be hosting the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall here in La Grande sometime in July or August. The wall is being sponsored by VFW Post 4060 in Union, with the aid of the other veteran service organizations in Union County. There is a cost involved in this effort. We need the assistance of the community and fellow veterans to make this happen.

The VFW is asking for donations and assistance in bringing the wall to our home for the inspiration and healing of our friends and neighbors. Any donation will be appreciated. If any of you who read this column wish to contribute, you may do so by visiting any Sterling Saving Bank and making a donation to the VFW Vietnam Veterans’ Moving Wall fund.

The wall is tentatively scheduled to be displayed at the La Grande Armory and I will keep you updated on the place, dates and time.

The above being said, I wish to reiterate what you can do if a veteran close to you dies and some of the benefits are available to the dependents of the veteran.  If the veteran was receiving a pension or compensation from the Department of Veteran Affairs, the next of kin must call 1-800-827-1000 and report the death to the DVA immediately. This will assist in stopping an overpayment of benefits to the veteran’s family.

If a veteran dies of a service-connected disability, up to $2,000 in reimbursement for burial expenses may be available.

If the veteran has a spouse and dependent children, and the veteran dies of a service-connected medical condition, the spouse and dependent children may also be entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. This amount is currently $1,195 monthly for the spouse, plus $296 dollars for each dependent. 

Other benefits may be available. If a veteran dies in a VA facility and their death is not service connected, there may be entitlements of up to $300 in a burial/funeral allowance and up to $300 in a plot allowance.

Most veterans are eligible for an inscribed marker for their grave or a medallion, as well as a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

Veterans who served after Jan. 31, 1955, or during a time of war are eligible for a burial flag. Family members should inform their funeral director if they want military funeral honors.

The Department of Defense maintains a toll-free number (1-877-645-4667) for use by funeral directors to request honors.

The above guidelines are the very basics. For additional information or to set up an appointment, call me at 541-962-8802. I am located at the Center for Human Development, 2301 Cove Ave, La Grande.

Byron Whipple is the Union County veterans service officer.