Veteran’s Voice
There is a new way to access the National Suicide Prevention Hotline — dial “988”, or text “988” on a cell phone. Selecting Option 1 (‘Press 1’) will get you immediately to the Veterans Crisis Line. The new system just went into effect in mid-July. _e Veterans Crisis Line can still be reached using the previous methods: calling 1-800-273-8255 and pressing ‘1’ by text (838255), and through chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat). Both the voice and text have options for Spanish, however the chat feature is only in English at this time. For more information, see https://bit.ly/3occ0jE, and for more information in Spanish, please see https://bit.ly/3o7r5Tq
New VA Life Insurance Program
Many of us have had major changes in life due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. If you are a disabled veteran and were eligible for life insurance from Veterans Affairs but declined it at the time, you were locked out of the program after that window closed. Now a new program is coming online that is open, for the time being, to all eligible disabled veterans aged 80 and under. Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) provides guaranteed acceptance whole life coverage of up to $40,000 to Veterans with service-connected disabilities. Lesser amounts are available in increments of $10,000. For more information, see https:// www.benefits.va.gov/ insurance/VALife.asp.
Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) Another program related to COVID-19, VRRAP offers education and training for highdemand jobs to veterans who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying veterans can receive up to 12 months of tuition and fees, and a monthly housing allowance based on post-9/11 GI Bill rates. Like any VA program, there are a number of eligibility requirements so please see the VA’s specific website, shortened here, for details. https://bit.ly/3MzwTzS
Osceola Quilts of Valor
About two years ago, Central Florida Quilts of Valor (QOV) presented a beautiful handmade quilt to World War II Navy veteran Robert Kemp Sr. On July 9, Central Florida QOV outdid themselves by presenting 12 veterans with quilts during a ceremony at the Museum of Military History in Kissimmee. To receive a quilt, veterans must be nominated by family, friends, or other individuals. Over 300,000 quilts have been awarded nationally. For more information visit the Quilts of Valor Foundation website at www.qovf.org.
VA’s Million Veteran Program If you would like to help fellow veterans, and potentially yourself, please consider participating in The Million Veteran Program (MVP). This is a national research program to learn how genes, lifestyle, and military exposures affect health and illness. Starting in 2011, over 875,000 Veterans have joined MVP, making it one of the world’s largest programs on genetics and health. The research includes predicting risks of cancer, the complications of diabetes, mental illnesses like PTSD and depression, and preventing cardiovascular disease. For more information, see https://bit.ly/3IRBaxl
If you have information concerning veterans, veterans organizations, and events, email osceolavets@gmail.com.
