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Tag: Veterans

General Assembly recognizes active-duty military, veterans in 10 resolutions
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

General Assembly recognizes active-duty military, veterans in 10 resolutions

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Active duty military, veterans and those prisoners of war or missing in action who never made it home were all honored Friday with bipartisan measures in the Colorado House and Senate. House Joint Resolution 25-1010, by Republican Rep. Jarvis Caldwell and Sen. Janice Rich and with Democrat Rep. Sean Camacho and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, commemorated Military Appreciation Day. The resolution notes more than 47,000 Coloradans serve in a branch of the armed forces in active or reserved duty, and another 340,000 military veterans call the state home.That is roughly about 8% of the state's population. HJR 25-1011, by Republican Rep. Ryan Armagost and Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and by Democrat Rep. Matthew Martinez and Sen. Matt Ball, recognized Gold ...
Colorado honors Korean War veterans with resolution on Military Appreciation Day
coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado honors Korean War veterans with resolution on Military Appreciation Day

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Military, Veterans, and POW/MIA Appreciation Day is an annual event at the state Capitol in early February. It is a day for lawmakers in both chambers to recognize the sacrifices of Colorado's servicemen and women in combat. Traditionally, that's included joint resolutions on Military Appreciation Day, plus nine more recognizing Gold Star families, the USS Pueblo, the Tenth Mountain Division, the anniversary of World War II, appreciation for veterans of the Vietnam War and Persian Gulf conflict, and resolutions saluting the service of Latino/a, Native American, and African American veterans. What has never been recognized in that annual remembrance: service by those who fought in the Korean War. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Aurora VA is under federal investigation for serving expired food to veterans
State, TheRooster.com

Aurora VA is under federal investigation for serving expired food to veterans

By Anton Sawyer | TheRooster.com As of this article’s publication date, the VA hospital located in Aurora Colorado is under federal investigation for serving expired/unsafe food in their cafeteria and coffee shop. Between the evidence that was collected by former employee Ralph Robb that fueled the investigation by the US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the fact that someone was hospitalized with a food-borne illness in August 2024, it seems these concerns are warranted. During this winter season, I reached out to Robb and both current and former employees of the Veterans Canteen Services (VCS) subsidiary that is in charge of all the food served to the general public—including veterans, doctors, and other caregivers—to find out what’s really g...
Grandson of fallen World War II hero makes case for public memorial in Colorado Springs
gazette.com, Local

Grandson of fallen World War II hero makes case for public memorial in Colorado Springs

By O'Dell Isaac | The Gazette An official proclamation declaring Dec. 7 as Pearl Harbor Day has been a longstanding tradition for the El Paso County Board of Commissioners. But Tuesday’s ceremonial reading, held during a board meeting at Centennial Hall, was a little different. Dave Griffin, the grandson of fallen World War II hero Daniel T. Griffin, flew in from his Washington home to hear the proclamation and to speak with the county commissioners about his yearslong passion project. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Group raises money to get American flags in Jefferson County classrooms
CBS Colorado, Local

Group raises money to get American flags in Jefferson County classrooms

By Karen Morfitt | CBS Colorado A group in Jefferson County is working to get an American flag into every classroom in that Colorado district. They made their first delivery to North Arvada Middle School on Veterans Day. "It's sacred," Navyveteran Sam Bandimere said. "It's a symbol of my homeland a symbol of freedom," Army veteran Ron Noble said. "Respect, you know. The flag means everything to the U.S.," Dan Wolf said. These veterans say the flag's importance is hard to put into words, but it's something they want future generations to understand. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Nonprofit helping veterans, first responders cope with PTSD with time in Colorado outdoors
kdvr.com, Local

Nonprofit helping veterans, first responders cope with PTSD with time in Colorado outdoors

By Jeremy Hubbard | Fox 31 News A group of veterans and first responders from all over the country are in Colorado, hoping to heal their wounds with the help of nature, and a new non-profit dedicated to helping those suffering from PTSD. Mountain Valor Foundation launched its new initiative at a kick-off event last Thursday at the VFW in Sheridan. The founder got the idea when a good friend needed a helping hand. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Support Amendment G: Modification to property tax exemption for disabled veterans
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Support Amendment G: Modification to property tax exemption for disabled veterans

By Editorial Board | Editorial, Rocky Mountain Voice Ballot language: Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution concerning the expansion of eligibility for the property tax exemption for veterans with a disability to include a veteran who does not have a service-connected disability rated as a one hundred percent permanent disability but does have individual unemployability status? How it reached the ballot: House Continuing Resolution 23-1002, supported by a 62-0 vote of the House and 34-0 vote of the Senate. An overwhelming bipartisan majority of the House and Senate additionally sponsored the measure, in a General Assembly that couldn't agree on eating a ham sandwich for lunch. Background: The Colorado Constitution grants a property tax exemption to veterans with...
GOP VP nominee Vance backs expanding veterans’ access to private doctors
Military.com, National

GOP VP nominee Vance backs expanding veterans’ access to private doctors

By Rebecca Kheel | Military.com Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance expressed support for expanding veterans' ability to use private doctors in a podcast interview this week. During an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show released Wednesday, Vance was asked by the host, a former Navy SEAL who said he stopped using the Department of Veterans Affairs after one try, whether he would consider privatizing veterans' health care. "I think I'd consider it," replied Vance, a former enlisted Marine who deployed to Iraq in a public affairs role. READ THE FULL STORY AT MILITARY.COM
Nonprofit founded in the wake of 9/11 to convert Denver hotel into housing for veterans
DENVER7, Local

Nonprofit founded in the wake of 9/11 to convert Denver hotel into housing for veterans

By Sam Peña| Denver 7 Tunnel to Towers, a nonprofit founded in the wake of 9/11, is taking on the veteran homeless crisis in Denver. The foundation provides a number of services to veterans and their families, including its Homeless Veteran Program, which provides housing to veterans in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Memphis. The organization plans to expand the program to Detroit, Charleston and Denver. On Tuesday, the group purchased the former Fairfield Inn hotel on Colorado Boulevard with plans to convert it into housing for veterans experiencing homelessness. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7
Troops may face inflated drug costs under Tricare, lawmakers say
Air Force Times, National

Troops may face inflated drug costs under Tricare, lawmakers say

By Karen Jowers | Air Force Times A bipartisan group of 24 congressional lawmakers is questioning whether the Pentagon’s pharmacy contract may be driving up drug costs and limiting access to medication for Tricare beneficiaries, while overcharging independent pharmacies and taxpayers. The lawmakers are concerned that the Defense Health Agency has decided to retain Express Scripts as the sole pharmacy benefit manager for Tricare, the military insurance system serving 9.6 million troops, retirees and their families. In a letter sent Wednesday to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Lester Martinez-Lopez and DHA director Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, the lawmakers questioned whether Express Scripts may be using anticompetitive tactics to overcharge Tricare. Express S...