Allan Perkal Secretary/Treasurer: Dana (Finn

Issue 1 Volume 1 - April/May 2014
2014/15 Chapter Officers
From Chapter 124 Secretary - Dana (Finn) Hallfors
President: Spider Trantham
Vice President: Allan Perkal
Secretary/Treasurer: Dana (Finn) Hallfors
Sgt At Arms: Tom Weatherford
Chaplain: Ben Maultsby
We had a great turnout of 35 members attending our Annual
April 8th meeting for elections, at the left is your results.
State Delegates: Jack Albright & Trevor Nash
Board Of Directors:
Jack Albright
Sam Alexander
Gary Barnes
Ray Benfield
Trevor Nash
Marsha Tolbert (AVVA Rep)
In the next week or two we will be purchasing our Chapter
Trailer, below is a sample of what it might look like and what a
great way to advertise our Chapter. Plus by storing all of our
equipment in one place we will be able to drive it to each event
with everything available in one place.
Nominating Committee
Ray Benfield
Richard Hensley
Trevor Nash
Committees
Agent Orange/Dioxin: Jack Lorden
Community Affairs: Nick DiYorio
Finance: Johnny Martinez
Membership: Dana (Finn) Hallfors
Veterans Affairs: Allan Perkal
Operation Old Flag: David Hart
The Wall: Dana (Finn) Hallfors
Meetings Dates/Times:
May - 13th - 5:30PM - Bingo Night
June - 10th - 6:00PM
July - 8th - 6:00PM
Aug - 12th - 5:30PM - Bingo Night
Sept - 9th - 6:00PM
Oct - 14th - 6:00PM
Nov - 11th - 5:30PM - Bingo Night
Dec - 9th - Christmas Party
Articles For Newsletter:
Anyone wishing to submit an article to our next Newsletter
please submit on or before May 31st for the June/July issue.
Email this to me at dhallfors@ashvva124.org. If you have an
image for the article please send it as an attachment instead of
inside the email.
Send me your "Letters to the Editor " for the next issue on
subjects that our members might be interested in.
Bike Night At Rodney's Thursday April 17th.
Several members attended this event where Rodney handed me
$619.00 from the proceeds for The Wall Fund. Also Ted Minnick
handed me a personal check for $1,000.00 from him and his wife
Joy. Total in the Wall Fund to date: $3,619.00
L
Pioneer Day April Saturday April 26th:
This Saturday at the Gateway Museum in Old Fort,
NC our chapter will be setting up our tent for this
event. Those who can make in the morning please
be there around 8:00 AM and all day for those who
can make it in the afternoon to help take the tent
down.
Membership Drive:
Saturday May 31st we are holding our First Annual
Membership for 2014 at the Rail Road Depot in Old
Fort. We are requesting members who want to
participate be there at 9:00AM to help setup.
Gold Festival:
First weekend in June we will be at this event, we will
discuss this at our May 13th chapter meeting.
Operation Old Flag view image at the right!
For info on these events contact David Hart at:
828-243-0029 Email: david.hart@ashvva124.org
2013 Pioneer Day at Old Fort
Vice President Allan Perkal is putting this together for
Saturday October 25th from 1PM to 5PM. We
already have the room reserved at the UNC Asheville
Sherrill Center/Kimmel Arena. Anyone wishing to
help Allan with this task email him at:
perkman@mac.com
Prostatitis Warning Signs:
The symptoms of an enlarged prostate are often painful, embarrassing, and frustrating. If you experience
any of the symptoms listed below, it may indicate an enlarged prostate or Prostatitis and you should make
an appointment to see an urologist.
A frequent need to urinate, causing you to get up several times a night.
A weak, often interrupted stream.
A full bladder feeling, as if you can never completely empty your bladder.
Difficulty initiating urine stream, with involuntarily dribbling at the beginning or end.
Sudden, sometimes uncontrollable urgency to urinate.
A burning, painful or throbbing sensation when urinating.
Loss of libido and sexual potency.
Blood in the urine and any pain or discomfort in the urinary tract.
Heart Disease Symptoms:
Don’t suffer if you don’t have to, make an appointment to see a doctor and get a screening.
Heart Disease Symptoms to Look Out For Spotting heart disease symptoms can prevent an attack and
save your life. We are not going to live forever but maybe, you might not want to go out earlier than you
planned.
Warning Signs:
Chest pain ranging from mild to severe.
Shortness of breath.
Extreme fatigue.
Swelling of your feet or ankles.
Asheville VA Medical Center Adds Self Check-in Kiosks:
Veterans recently arriving for medical appointments at the Charles George VA Medical Center will likely
notice a change when they are checking in for their appointments. Veterans will have the option of using
their VA identification card to avoid lines and check in for their appointments at digital kiosks. The kiosks are
basically touch screen monitors mounted on pedestals in the traditional check-in areas. Dozens of VA
Medical Centers have already started using the devices.
Charles George VA Lead Medical Support Assistant Tammy Phillips who has been helping to coordinate
the roll out of 23 kiosks at the medical center and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Rutherford
and Franklin says the kiosks have been positively received by Veterans.
“They are loving it,” said Phillips. “Veterans have been saying how great this is for getting around long line
and are taking to the kiosks quite easily.”
Besides checking in for their appointment Veterans will also be able to update personal information,
insurance information and print off a list of their appointments. While convenient, the kiosks are also secure
and do not store a Veteran’s personal information. The addition of the kiosks is intended to shorten lines
and give VA personal more time to focus on individual Veteran needs. Veterans will still be able to check in
for their appointment with a VA employee if they prefer. Source: http://www.asheville.va.gov/features/Self_Check_in_Kiosks.asp
Agent Orange Zone: http://agentorangezone.blogspot.com/
Veterans' health today, our children and grandchildren tomorrow? Written by Sony Parker ClarionLedger
The impact of health issues on the nation’s veterans will in time confront our children and grandchildren in the form of
genetically modified organisms (GMO).
The greatest threat to public health is genetically modified organism (GMO) plant production by Monsanto Company
(Agent Orange and Bt cotton) and Pfizer, Inc. (Zyklon B. Holocaust gas). Both have research facilities in the YazooMississippi Delta to produce GMO’s.
Our nation’s veterans suffered from the impact of Agent Orange for years before the Veterans Administration
acknowledged causation of toxic exposure to dioxin, a defoliant used in Vietnam to kill the jungle like conditions that
provided cover for the enemy. The herbicide utilized two chemicals--2, 4-D and 2, 4, 5-T that was linked to a variety of
health disorders: headaches, liver and blood disorders, nerve damage, cancer.
Now we know that veterans, who served in Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange, had their DNA mutated by
exposure to herbicides, and unknowingly passed on genetic mutations to their unborn. Interesting enough the male and
female veterans may have children born with spina bifida, but the woman veteran exposed to dioxin may have child with
a whole host of different medical conditions supporting genetic mutation.
With this history now well defined the Agent Orange Benefits Act, was passed in 1996 to provide benefits for Vietnam
veterans’ children who were born with spina bifida, as a result of Agent Orange exposure.
These benefits include lifetime health care services for children with spina bifida and “any disability associated” with
spina bifida, a monthly monetary allowance ranging from $200.00-$1,200.00, and Veterans Affairs (VA) vocational
training/rehabilitation services.
In the late summer of 1966, the Zoology Department of Mississippi State University was asked to examine evidence
and information related to the fish kill that occurred in the Choccolocco Creek in March 1966 in Anniston, Alabama. The
research was conducted by Dr. Denzel Ferguson, who has since passed away in 1998, and two graduate assistants,
George Murphy, now at Middle Tennessee State and Mack Finley, now at Austin Peay.
Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140322/COL04/303220022/Veterans-health-today-our-children-grandchildren-tomorrow-
New ID Cards for Vets Enrolled in VA Health Care:
VA is introducing a new, secure identification card called the Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). VHIC replaces
the Veteran Identification Card (VIC), which was introduced in 2004.
VA is committed to providing the high quality, safe and effective health care Veterans have earned and deserve, and part
of this effort includes ensuring the personal security of Veterans.
As part of a phased rollout, on February 21, 2014, VA began issuing the newly designed, more secure VHIC to newly
enrolled and other Veterans who were not issued a VIC. Starting in April VA will begin a replacement effort to
automatically mail the more secure VHIC to Veterans who have the old VIC.
You can go to the VAMC and get a new picture to be mailed to your home.
Below is a sample of the new card that will be issued.
Ischemic Heart Disease and Agent Orange
Source: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/ischemicheartdisease.asp
Veterans who develop ischemic heart disease and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military
service do not have to prove a connection between their disease and service to be eligible to receive VA health care
and disability compensation.
About heart disease
Ischemic heart disease is also known as coronary artery disease or “hardening of the arteries.”
Cholesterol plaque can build up in the arteries of the heart and cause “ischemia,” which means the heart is not getting
enough blood flow and oxygen. If the plaque blocks an artery, a heart attack can result. Up to 90 percent of heart
attacks are due to: smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity ("spare tire"), not
eating enough fruits and vegetables, lack of exercise, drinking too much alcohol, and stress
VA benefits for ischemic heart disease Veterans with ischemic heart disease who were exposed to herbicides during
service may be eligible for disability compensation and health care. Vietnam Veterans may apply for disability
compensation for ischemic heart disease using VA's Fast Track Claims Processing System. Veterans who served in
Vietnam, the Korean demilitarized zone or another area where Agent Orange was sprayed may be eligible for a free
Agent Orange registry health exam. Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of Veterans who
were exposed to herbicides during military service and died as the result of ischemic heart disease may be eligible for
survivors' benefits. Research on ischemic heart disease and herbicides The Institute of Medicine of the National
Academy of Sciences concluded in its report "Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2008" released July 24, 2009, that
there is "suggestive but limited evidence that exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam
War is associated with an increased chance of developing ischemic heart disease." As a result, VA recognized
ischemic heart disease as associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. VA's
final regulation recognizing this association took effect on October 30, 2010.
VVA Chapter 124
P.O. Box 9468
Asheville, NC 28815
Phone: 828-367-2804
Website: http://ashvva124.org
President: Spider Trantham
Vice President: Allan Perkal
Secretary/Treasurer: Dana Hallfors
Sgt At Arms: Tom Weatherford
Chaplain: Ben Maultsby
Contact Information
spidroadglide@gamil.com - 828-280-7084
perkman@mac.com - 808-383-7877
dhallfors@ashvva124.org - 828-505-4865
828-989-9862
gigiben@morrisbb.net - 828-692-3260