Annual Wreaths Across America remembrance and wreath-laying ceremonies will take place at two cemeteries in Osceola County on Saturday, Dec. 13. The ceremony at Kissimmee’s Rose Holl Cemetery, hosted by American Legion Post 10, will start at 8 a.m. The long-running event at St. Cloud’s Mount Peace Cemetery, hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 3227, will start at noon.
Each December, over two million volunteers gather at cemeteries across the country to “Remember, Honor, Teach” by laying donated wreaths on veterans' graves for the holidays, striving to ensure “no matter where they served or how, …no one is forgotten.” For more information on Wreaths Across America, see https://bit.ly/3TmzJOO.
COVID vaccine refusers may now be eligible for education benefits
Veterans who were discharged from service by the Biden Administration for refusing the COVID vaccine may regain eligibility for their GI Bill education benefits. Of course, we all know Uncle Sam never makes anything easy, so prepare to eye roll. There is a two-part process necessary to regain benefits. First, veterans who believe they were discharged inappropriately or believe their military personnel records still reflect an error or injustice (for example, separation under the COVID-19 mandate) may request review from a Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military or Naval Records. Once the discharge status has been upgraded to fully honorable, they can submit a new education benefits claim to the VA.
The value of Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits is significant, and there are a variety of options and allowances available as well, so it may truly be worth the hassle to regain your benefits. For more information, see https://bit.ly/49yAPPI.
“White Glove” treatment for survivors
Say the phrase “white glove” to many veterans, and they quickly recall some NCO or officer literally wearing a white glove while inspecting for dirt on equipment and surfaces. Well, this “white glove” refers to the VA’s establishment of a specialized team to guide survivors through the often-complex claims process after a veteran or active-duty service member passes on. The “White Glove Survivor Outreach Team” will offer personalized assistance as dedicated liaisons within VA. Team members have received specialized training to manage each case to effectively provide survivors with the information and support needed to complete their applications for benefits, like indemnity compensation. The program started in May 2025, along with automating some portion of dependent indemnity compensation claims (DIC), but no telling how the recent government shut down has impacted implementation of these programs. For more information, see https://bit.ly/4o5FYlF.
