The Erie VA Medical Center held its 20th annual Home Town Heroes Bowling Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 25, at East Way Lanes in Erie. All the money raised goes to the veterans at the Erie VA. The total from all donations, 50/50 High and Low Auction items, came to $29,709, the highest amount in 20 years. The center thanks all those that donated items and all the volunteers. You can still make a donation to the VA. The address is VAMC Voluntary Office, 135 East 38th St., Erie, Pa. In the memo put Bowling Tournament.
Independent Budget Released
Leading veterans service organizations – Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) – have released The Independent Budget Recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Years 2025-2026. This report serves as a roadmap to ensure VA is fully funded and capable of carrying out its mission to serve veterans and their families, both now and in the future. “While this year’s Independent Budget is once again complete, it is now imperative that Congress and VA work together, along with veterans service organizations and other stakeholders, to make the needs and interests of all veterans a top priority,” said VFW Washington Office Executive Director Ryan Gallucci. “We have co-authored this report and offered budgetary recommendations to ensure the timely delivery of specialized health care and earned benefits for the men and women who served.”
VA Direct Deposit Consolidation
Starting April 20, 2024, VA will no longer send benefit payments for veterans or family members to more than one bank account. This is due to an IT modernization effort by VA for its GI Bill payment system. This change will impact approximately 50,000 students who receive the GI Bill and other VA benefits in separate direct deposit accounts. VA is sending weekly emails and text messages to this group of veterans and beneficiaries informing them of the upcoming change and asking them to select one bank account going forward. If students do not consolidate their bank accounts by April 20, VA will continue to send payments but will designate the non-education benefit payment account as the primary bank account.
Important Dates in March
The Month of March has many important dates. Here are a few:
The month of March is Women’s History Month.
March 3 – Navy Reserve birthday
March 4 – Hug A GI Day
March 5 – Seabee birthday
March 10 – Daylight Savings Time begins
March 13 – K-9 Veterans Day
March 15 – American Legion birthday
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
March 25 – Medal Of Honor Day
March 29 – National Vietnam War Veterans Day
March 31 – Easter
Till next week, praying for all veterans.
– Charles Castelluccio
