NORMAN — Volunteer of the week is Jim Flowers who has been with Veterans Corner for two years. Jim served in the United States Army. His wife Rhonda supports his efforts to help veterans. Jim is always at the front door greeting veterans as they come in and works hard loading and unloading the trailer each Thursday morning.
We were able to provide assistance to 148 veterans and surviving spouses last Thursday. There were 29 veterans who filed their first claim for VA benefits. Several of these served in World War II and the Korean War with the rest having served between then and the Afghanistan War.
There were six veterans’ widows who stopped by to see Shirley and her crew of ladies who specialize in assisting these very important people. I was visiting with one of our surviving spouses whose husband served in Vietnam and then died from alchemic heart disease in the early 80s. This lady should be able to receive DIC benefits since his heart condition is one of the presumptive diseases caused by exposure to Agent Orange. There are many of our veterans who are ill or have died from some of the 15 diseases that were caused by that chemical. If you know of a veteran or a surviving spouse who could use our assistance please send them down to see one of our specialists.
Last Thursday, we were able assist eight veterans to receive a 100 percent rating from VA for their service connected disabilities. There also were 23 veterans who received ratings from 10 percent to a high of 90 percent for their injuries that occurred or were aggravated by military service.
With so many people needing assistance, the benevolence fund continues to run in the red. This past week the cost to provide assistance to those in need reached $3,000. I want to thank those of you who send a tax deductible donation each month to support veterans corner. Without your help our volunteers could not provide assistance to the many veterans and surviving spouses in our community. Please remember that all of us are volunteers and that there is no paid staff.
Sid Smith provided food boxes for veterans and their families who are in need. If you need this type of assistance, stop by Thursday morning or call Sid at 573-1990. Jerry Baxter manages the benevolence fund that is used to provide services to many of those who are in need. We are a 501(c )(3) non-profit with all of your donations being tax deductible.
Clayton Lee, 684-8860, and the other transportation drivers provided rides to seven veterans to the Oklahoma City VA Hospital for their appointments. For the Norman area, veterans can call Harold Martin at 227-3239 or Robert Root at 919-3008. For the Moore area, call Howard Robertson at 205-4895.
For all of your questions and assistance about Veterans benefits, we are at the Goldsby Community Center each Thursday. The doors open at 8 a.m. Please be there early for us to help you with your claim.
You also may send donations to Veterans Corner, P.O. Box 704, Washington, OK, 73093.
You can call me at 550-8806 or email kdgraham@windstream.net.
Semper Fi.
Dale K. Graham is VFW Service Officer for Post 4890.
For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
