June 23, the date the fragging trial of Alberto Martinez was supposed to start, has gone by with no indication when it may eventually start. Yes, people who have been following the case knew that date wouln't hold because of excruciating legal manouvering. But none the less it gives reason to pause and remember that [...]

Here's some good news for veterans: New York state has impoved its veteran's tuition award program by raising the maximum financial aid it gives to the state's combat veterans to what SUNY charges the state's veterans for undergrad courses. In simple terms, the maximum award money will equal the tuition costs. The money will be [...]

Stephen Barry of Building Homes for Heroes just called me to tell me about a fundraiser the agency is doing this weekened to raise money for injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. It's a 5 K walk that will be held at Rockland Lake on Sunday, June 15, at 8:30 a.m. All money will go to [...]

Returning soldiers — How about food and fun while you do some business? The Orange County Veteran's Coalition is putting together informational booths for veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom on Saturday, May 17, at Goshen Park in Goshen, NY. Veterans can get information about services for returning soldiers and at [...]

It's happened again. A scheduled May 15 hearing in the murder trial of Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez has been postponed. A brief press release from Fort Bragg gave no reason and offered no alternative date. In about three weeks, the families of the victims — Army Capt. Phillip Esposito of Suffern and 1st Lt. [...]

Military.com is reporting that the VA and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, have announced a $75 million grant to provide permanent housing for about 10,000 veterans nationwide. That should be welcome news for veterans. The VA says that at least a third of the country's homeless population has served in [...]

It's that time of the year again. For the third year in a row, wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will be coming to Nyack to try their hand at bass fishing. The contest will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, at the Nyack Boat Launch, which is at the foot of [...]

If you are a service member who has qualified for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) or the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM), you may soon be able to display a bronze campaign star on your medal for each campaign phase you participated in. The Department of Defense made an announcement today that campaign stars are [...]

Some Web site have put out reports suggesting that veterans will now be eligible for free tuition in state universities. Those reports are misleading. State Assemblyman Greg Ball announced recently that his proposal to create a tuition remission program for veterans had been included in the recently passed state budget. While that is correct, [...]

A military judge has postponed a scheduled pretrial hearing in the Esposito fragging case. Fort Bragg Public Affairs gave no reason for pushing back the April 17 hearing, but it seems likely that the delay is because the prosecution has decided to appeal a court decision that prevents them from using potentially incriminating statements [...]

For years VCS Inc. has provided couseling for all groups of people – youth, families, seniors. Now they have a new initiative for veterans, and they are trying to put the word out. The Vets to Vets peer counseling program can address family concerns, life crises, adjustment issues, and concerns related to post traumatic [...]

We all know that care packages are morale boosters for soldiers deployed overseas. A 25-year-old Iraq veteran told me last year how he and others in his unit looked forward to letters and care packages coming from back home.
"When mail call comes around and your name isn't called, it's a downer. You hear your [...]

For veterans living on a fixed income, every little bit helps. Veterans and military personnel with life insurance policies managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs will soon see a reduction in their premiums, according to the VA. Jerry Donnellan, director of Rockland County's Veterans Service Agency alerted me to this news. To [...]

For those who have been following the murder trial of Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez in the slaying of Army Captain Phillip Esposito and 1st Lt. Louis E. Allen, here's an update: Fort Bragg may provide a live video feed for the court martial of the man accused of killing Esposito and Allen in Iraq two [...]