VERMONT - Bringing an Old Fashioned
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Gold Star Wives of America, Inc
5 Ellsworth Park This organization began as World War II was drawing to a close. Little was being done for the many young widows, who were also victims of that war, suffering the loss of their husbands and having to provide for their fatherless children. Contrary to Abraham Lincoln's mandate to ..."remember the widows and orphans", these women and their children were truly forgotten. Some were dependent on the charity of family & friends. Others who were not fortunate enough to have this support moved in together to combine their meager pensions sharing and raising their children. They no longer had any medical care, nor commissary privileges, NOR HOMES. In keeping with the paternalistic attitudes of those days, if the widow was 25 or younger, she was not allowed to collect her husband's insurance but had it doled out to her at $25 a month with a bit more for each child, some are still receiving this "benefit" at $57 per mo. Many found that their husbands had named their own parents as beneficiaries on their insurance policies, and the widow was left nothing! Most widows, in the custom of that era, had minimal or no job training and had married young. By 1947, the widows' pension of $60 per month was about half of what the government considered a fair minimum wage for working people in this country. Knowing that they had only had each other to rely on four New York widow established a support group in 1945. They became the American Widows of WW II. It was not long before they realized men were still dying from service-connected causes and in 1948 the name was changed. We became the Gold Star Wives of America Inc - to include ALL the service widows in our NATION. The Gold Star is taken from the symbolic banner that hung in the window when a member of the armed forces wa killed-in-action. Chartered by Congress, we are a Veterans' Service Organization, not an auxiliary. From the beginning strong support and encouragement was given by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the widow of our Commander-in-Chief. We are all-inclusive, from the newest recruit to the highest ranking officer. Widows from all walks of life are entitled to belong due to a very exclusive criterion, the death of a spouse, killed-in-action, missing-in-action, while on active duty of 100% service-connected causes. There are no barriers to race, color, creed or national origin. WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT DOESN'T LIKE TO GROW. Our motto "United we stand - divided we fall - and are forgotten" is indicative of the strong spirit of sharing and caring that only other widows can experience. It is a bridge to cross the void left in her life, to find that inner strength to live independently. Although we enjoy the support of other veterans' organizations, there are special problems inherent in making a new life especially with fatherless children. To this day, there are some military personnel who treat these families as an embarrassment to be hustled off the base as quickly as possible. THEY ARE NO LONGER PART OF THE FAMILY, THEY ARE NO LONGER WELCOME! It was not until 1956 that the War Orphans Educational Bill was passed. Now, not only veterans, but the children of their deceased comrades, could aspire to a higher education and many attained it. By 1960 Veterans' Benefits were justifiably increasing but the widows of those who had made the supreme sacrifice were not included. It was 1968 before the widows received any educational benefit, but the limited time-frame doesn't take into consideration the duties of caring for children. Widows' compensations were somewhat improved but, being based on ranking meant that the youngest, lowest ranked serviceman's widow's benefits were appalling low. A few years ago some corrective measures were taken to assure a base level of benefits regardless of rank. From 1940 - 1970 widows who wished to remarry were told quite emphatically that they would NEVER be able to regain their benefits if they did so. They believed our government! In 1970, when the VA wanted to reduce their survivor benefits rolls, Congress removed the bar to reinstatement of DIC benefits to remarried widows. This "take a chance on romance" bill had the immediate effect of removing many widows from the DIC rolls with the promise that if the subsequent marriage ended she would be reinstated and regain her benefits. HOWEVER, most of their VA survivors benefits lists were not consulted, or had vanished therefore those surviving spouses who had already remarried were never notified, nor have they been so to this day. Ironically, many were WWII widows who had remained on the VA rolls as they were still receiving their husband's insurance money ($57 per mo as an annuity) which had been denied in full to them, as they were considered unable to handle it as they were women. THEY STILL HAVE VALID ACTIVE CLAIM NUMBERS. Guaranteed many are in their eighties & nineties but the VA owes it to them to right this wrong. For the next 20 yrs many widows, believing in the nation's promises, took that chance and the couples relied on it when putting their affairs in order. Unfortunately that trust was misplaced when on 1 Nov 1990 these widows were cut-off from reinstatement of benefits WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. Again, no notice was given until 1 May 1997 when it was apparent that CONGRESS was once again reinstating these benefits on 1 October 1998. However, there was no back pay for benefits lost during those years and there are many surviving spouses in these categories who have yet to be located. On December 16, 2003, the latest "take-a-chance on romance-act II bill signed into law granting surviving spouses of those who died in service of our country - on active duty (killed-in-action or missing-in-action) or later of 100% service-connected causes - the "right" to remarry after the age of 57 without losing their DIC benefits and be eligible for medical and prescription benefits. It also granted those who had already remarried after 57 the right to regain these benefits "providing that they filed with the Veterans' Administration by December 15, 2003" but no effort was made to identify them. If you are a remarried widow/er whose spouse died while on active duty (killed-in-action, missing-in-action) or later of 100% service-connected causes and your remarriage took place after the age of 55 you may be eligible to receive medical benefits (including prescription drugs from CHAMPVA. It is the most bizarre treatment of military surviving spouses vis-à-vis all other federal programs which have been generously expanded at our expense. HOW MUCH MORE CAN A SERVICEMAN/WOMAN CONTRIBUTE THAN THE LOSS OF HIS/HER LIFE ? THEIR WIDOWS/ERS AND CHILDREN ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST COSTS OF WAR!!! Our aging World War II widows are in the greatest need. Some have lost their homes as they only receive minimal Social Security benefits. Chances are that you are entitled to a COMMISSARY Card. Most are eligible. You should be receiving medical/pharmacy help under either TRICARE OR CHAMPVA! If you feel you need additional assistance please ask the VA to open your claim for the possibility of HOMEBOUND or AID & ATTENDANCE. State benefits vary greatly across this country as do the benefits granted by the cities and towns. Each member needs to understand that they may be entitled to benefits beyond the Federal level. They may include property tax-abatements, special liclense plates or other possibilities. Each state has a form of Veterans' Service Officers in their location. In most states they can be located on a County level. Massachusetts in unique in that they are mandated for every city & town. Find out who he/she is and just what is available in your area. One does not have to be a member of our organization to receive these benefits. NO LONGER ARE OUR SURVIVING SPOUSES FORGOTTEN. At long last they and their children are being recognized as the NEXT-OF-KIN of the married servicemen. EQUAL CONSIDERATION IS FINALLY BEING GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE BORNE THE GREATEST BURDEN. We must remain VIGILANT in order to RETAIN both STATE & FEDERAL BENEFITS for ALL whose loved ones make the supreme sacrifice - PAST, PRESENT, or in the FUTURE.
Virginia MORAN HURLEY |
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