VA Secretary Doug Collins released a video from his office recently addressing misinformation circulating about Veterans’ benefits and VA health care. In a direct and candid message, Collins refuted several rumors he described as “whoppers.” This video is available on VA News along with other timely videos from our administration.
For a printed summary of the video click the button below and scroll down once you reach the VA page.
COMPILED/SUBMITTED BY: ADJUTANT Shawn R Taylor
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – Date: 11 February 2025
Reviewed and approved By: COMMANDER Terry Ward, POST 281, Tyler Cates, Dept of TN
CONVENED: 1830 ADJOURNED: 1950
MEMBERS PRESENT: __24___ VISITORS: _1____ POST OFFICERS: _5____ TOTAL: _30____
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At 1800 hrs., the doors of the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center (MJSAC) were opened for food and fellowship. Sergeant-at Arms, Don Barnes, provided pizza and soft drinks for members and guests.
Guest Speaker: Susan P. Hunter, author of book 77 Letters – Operation Morale Booster: Vietnam.
Tuesday, March 4, 2020, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Del Webb Lake Providence Veterans Club
Del Webb Lake Providence Clubhouse, 1100 Del Webb Blvd, Mt. Juliet, TN
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: Contact John Herko, 830-431-1296 or to john.herko@me.com.
Social time (pizza) from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by a short meeting and guest speaker.
About the author: Susan P. Hunter, a passionate supporter of Vietnam veterans (“#BravestGeneration), provides an energetic presentation about her mother, Joan Hunter) spearheading “Operation Morale Booster” during the Vietnam Era. It became an extraordinary humanitarian effort to ensure that every GI received a letter during the unit’s weekly mail call. Joan became an ardent pen pal to many veterans. One in particular, Robert Johnson, responded to her letters over the span of seven years (1966-1972)…hence, the title of the book. This unlikely “pen pal” relationship helped Johnson through some of his darkest days (including four tours in Vietnam) at home and abroad. As part of the presentation, Susan discusses some of the contrasts between WWII veterans and Vietnam veterans regarding length of assignments, days in combat, and how returning soldiers were treated by the country for which they risked their lives.
Visit www.susanhunterbooks.com for a more detailed synopsis of her book.
Dear Veterans,
Did you know VA provides travel pay reimbursement for eligible Veterans and caregivers for mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved VA health care appointments?
Starting February 24, 2025, we’re updating how you submit a travel reimbursement claim for VA Community Care appointments to make the process smoother and faster.
Submitting a travel reimbursement claim for VA Community Care appointments:
Alternative to paper filing: file your claim online for faster processing:
We encourage using the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS) for quicker claim processing. With BTSSS, you can submit and track your claims online, upload documents and get reimbursed faster.
Need help using BTSSS? Check out these resources:
• How to file a travel pay claim online
• VA online travel pay reimbursement claim
instructional videos
If you have questions, please call the Beneficiary Travel Department at (307) 778-7552.
Thank you for your service,
Beneficiary Travel Department
Cheyenne VA Health Care System
This is all important information and please read it if you haven’t been following these issues over the past month. If you have been following, the request for action (Contact our Representatives and Senators) is found in the last two or three paragraphs. Please take some time to look/read and send a message if you want to express your support for these issues.
To All TNVET member organizations and those who signed up for Veterans Day on the Hill (whether you attended or not)
Below is a report on the disabled veteran property tax bill and how to send a letter to your legislators asking for support. Those that attended “Veterans Day on the Hill” have done their part….to a degree. Many of you attendees have spouses, friends and family who support the veteran causes and they are registered voters too. We need them to sign a letter and email it to legislators too. This will come down to a budget/funding fight at the legislature. We need legislators to get thousands of email/letters so they understand that this issue is important. Now many of you are not directly affected by this bill, but as veterans we lobby for the benefit of all of us. There are about 430,000 veterans in Tennessee currently….about 50,000 are part of TNVET, through their veteran organization membership. As far as we know, that makes TNVET the 800lb gorilla in the legislative ring…compared to all other veteran organizations. That has been the legislative goal since the beginning of TNVET….represent the voices of many through one focused effort. That effort must work as veteran numbers have dropped from over 500,000 less than 10 years ago. By the state’s own numbers, we are over a $12 billion impact on this state ( https://www.tn.gov/veteran/vrbp/economic-impact-veterans-tn.html ). Last year to fund this bill would cost an additional $2.5 million/yr. There are other bills out there related to the veteran property tax reimbursement. Some would pay for all of the disabled’s property tax. Some would allow for a level higher than the $175K limit on property value. HOWEVER, the repeated pattern year after year that TNVET has personally witnessed in legislative committee meetings is to see these other initiatives shot down immediately as being too costly. The other bills, while potentially being of great benefit to these disabled vets run 3 to almost 10 times the cost of our effort. As the updated version of these bills are being bought forth, costs will only go higher. Also, for those bills that increase the amount of value the reimbursement can be based on, still have the flaw of using “Market Value” versus “County Accessed Value”, which still short changes the disabled vet and their family. This was explained at the last summer TNVET meeting an at the Veterans Day event.
Now, having said that, the best way to eat the elephant is a bite at a time. We have taken bites of this elephant since 2016 and been successful. The TNVET approach of fixing “Market Value” is another bit. We are fully aware, understand and see future bites that will include bigger and better reimbursements. However, TNVET will stay the course as all member organizations agreed to…..fix the “market value” calculation first.
With that said, all TNVET appointed veteran organizations contacts that get this email are URGED to make sure it gets to all the grass root organizational levels. This was a topic of concern that was covered at “Vet Day”. This report has also been posted to the TNVET Facebook page.
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TNVET Legislative Update – Disable Veteran Property Tax Reimbursement – HB0436/SB0651
At the “Veterans Day on the Hill” (Jan 29) over 100 attendees signed letters addressed to their House and Senate legislators on proposed TNVET veteran legislation. At the time, the legislators carrying our bills had not been able to get bill numbers assigned, due to the special session activity. TNVET collected those letters with the promise that once the bill numbers were assigned, we would “pen” them in and deliver to their respective legislators.
We now have bill numbers for the Disable Veteran Property Tax Reimbursement – HB0436/SB0651. As promised, TNVET placed the numbers on the letters, placed the letters into folders assigned with legislator’s name, and placed a cover letter on the outside of the folder explaining our goal again. TNVET delivered them to the 22 Senate and 36 House offices that the attendees represented by district. Legislators not having a vet from their district have received a visit and letter from TNVET…we covered ALL 132 legislative offices. This was accomplished on Feb13, 2025. This may have been the best across-the-state representation we have had of legislative districts at the annual meeting.
Now we need to engage the thousands of other veterans (whether they are a part of TNVET or not) to send this letter to their Tennessee State House and Senate representatives. Government responds when the interest is shown and support at the grass roots! TNVET has provided the same letter that attendees signed on our website. The basics are, 1) have the email address of your legislator, 2) copy and pasted the letter we have provided to an email, 3) fill in the required blanks of the letter and 4) email.
We have more details (if you don’t know who is your state House and Senate legislator is, or what is their email, etc.), at our website that help you access all the info you need to contact/email your legislators. For the letter and details go to: https://tnvet.org/legislative-success/letters-for-legislator-support-2025/
Due to the anticipated winter weather, the following TVHS locations will open at 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025:
Appointments scheduled before 10 a.m. will be rescheduled or converted to VA Video Connect (VVC). The Nashville VA and Alvin C. York VA Medical Centers will remain operational for emergent and urgent care. There is no change to inpatient services. The Chattanooga, Athens, Roane County, and Pointe Centre VA Clinics will operate on a normal schedule.
Veterans who are unable to attend, wish to convert their appointment to VVC, or reschedule their appointment should contact their provider via secure messaging on My HealtheVet.
Last night Ms. Zabrina supplied handouts at our meeting detailing the bills we were promoting during our visit with some of our representatives and senators during Veterans Day on the Hill.
Here is a summary of those bills:
If you would like to further support any of these bills here’s link to where you can find your specific representative and senator so you can let them know. All you have to do is put your address in:
Former Commander Max Wix has sent this along to share with our Post:
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/valife.asp
All Veterans age 80 and under. If 81 or over, veterans can apply after receiving a new VA Rating letter. VALife can pay in $10K increments up to $40K at death. Payments are based upon your age, at the time of application. Must pay premiums from VA Disability for 2 full years after enrollment. 2 year waiting period replaces the need for medical underwriting. If the veteran passes away before 2 years, premium amounts (Plus Interest) are returned, when applied for by beneficiaries.
Call 800 669-8477 to establish a date and time for an VA Insurance Agent to call for fill out forms to apply for the insurance. Or you may apply at the VA website above.
How your beneficiaries would file a claim
Your beneficiaries would need to fill out a Claim for One Sum Payment (VA Form 29-4125). They can fill out the form and file it online through DocuSign. The following information is REQUIRED to complete this form: – Veteran’s Social Security Number – Beneficiary’s Social Security Number – Electronic copy of the Veteran’s death certificate or a statement from the attending physician showing date and cause of death. Once you click (Begin Signing), you will be directed to an online form to provide the required information to request benefits.
Go to VA Form 29-4125 on the DocuSign website
Or they can fill out the form and then upload it online or send it by mail.
6:00 PM, Pizza, Chips and Soft Drinks and Cookies socializing time.
On or about 6:30, Begin opening protocol for the meeting.
Welcome guest speaker, Wilson County Veterans Service Officer, Zabrina Seay
Adoption of the minutes as posted on the Post web portal; 7 February as posted by the Post Adjutant.
Officer reports: 1st Vice, 2nd Vice, ADJ, FO, SO, S@A, CH (sick call)
Special committees/groups HG, ALR, SAL, Auxiliary updates
Oratorical Update from Bruno Padovani
CDR: New Business / Correspondence/ CDR’s Comments
TNVET Day on the hill discussion
Update on Mt. Juliet, SAC and the pending move to CD Park and the renovated current police station.
Discussion about our Honoring America’s Flag event in May.
Next regularly meeting is : 11 Mar Post meeting the Mt J SAC,
Anything else for the good of the legion.
Closing Protocol.
January, February, March 2025 Newsletter
(Mailing) PO Box 67, Mt. Juliet, TN 37121
(Meeting Place) 2034 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37121
HTTPS:/WWW.MTJULIETALPOST281.COM
Come join us for our next meeting, February 11th
FROM THE COMMANDER:
Recently, I had the distinct honor of attending Veteran’s Day on Capitol Hill, that was sponsored by the Tennessee veterans organization known as TNVET, with a few members of our post. In that meeting there were representatives from 12 different nonprofit veterans organizations within the state that all have a common goal of offering services to our state’s veteran population, which is just south of 500,000 veterans in total. Our purpose for the meeting was to visit our legislators that represent our districts and counties and to ask them to support the four proposed pieces of legislation to take before the General Assembly.
(See brief of proposed legislation in this newsletter) The day was just a little bit chaotic with getting shuffled to the Cordell Hull building in a van from Titan Stadium and then being shuffled through security checks and then upstairs to a narrow and long conference room, followed by becoming familiarized with the four pieces of legislation we had to know well enough to introduce and talk with each representative we had the opportunity to meet with. Then we were off to different floors and different senate and representative members’ offices, in the hopes of finding them in and available to talk with. Surprisingly every representative was there and seemed more than happy to talk with us and listen to what we had to say. My biggest takeaway from the whole experience was that our senators and representatives listen to us when we voice an opinion and want to address a foreseen problem. Collectively, we as veterans in our communities do have influence and our mission is to stand up and be heard. I look forward to next year’s Veteran’s
Day on the Hill. Who will stand up and go with me?
Local Public Servants get recognized by the post during January’s regular post meeting
Post recognition of Mt J Police Officer Justin Angle and MT J Firefighter Matthias Beatty , with distinguished leadership from the City of Mt. Juliet as guests along with city manager Kenny Martin sharing his appreciation of our city’s veterans and our post presence in the community.
New Post Challenge Coin available for purchase
We are proud to announce that we now have a post challenge coin. It was decided by the executive committee and voted on and approved by the general membership to purchase challenge coins to be able to give away to those people and organizations that promote our post and support us. They are also for members of our post that go above and beyond in their community service and to nonmember veterans that provide service to our community of veterans in our state. If you would like to purchase a few coins to give away, they are $7.00 apiece. We have a good supply and we’re happy to have them and to be able to award them as well. For more information about purchasing a coin, talk to one of your executive committee leaders.
What makes a great American Legion Post?
1st Vice/ Mike Faoro
Simple, its members. Members engage in their post and in their community. Former 1st Vice Commander John Herko leads a buddy call campaign every year. He and about 8-12 Legionnaires call members to check on them to see how they are doing and if they need help. This process is called Buddy Check and involves members who we haven’t seen or heard from recently. It takes some time to accomplish, but if we don’t do it, who will?
How do you make your post known in the community? Simple, get involved. One of the initiatives that the post has undertaken in the last year is an expansion of doing just that. Sure, we have our Honor the Flag event, and we will participate in the Christmas parade. We even sponsor our post oratorical contest and support Scouting, Boys’ State, and junior ROTC at two high schools. But we need to do more. This year we engaged with Mt. Juliet Police and Firefighters to sponsor and recognize the top recommendations from each agency. While this was our first year, we will continue this every year and hope to expand it to include employer of the year for Mt. Juliet. We will continue to seek ideas on how to be engaged and contribute to our community. When you are out in the community shopping or just milling around, wear with pride your American Legion hat. It will engage you with people who may also be veterans and look for fellow veterans. Again, people interaction and involvement.
Post Adjutant Taylor’s Corner
We have 243 members on the roster. 173 are up to date for 2025 or beyond. Call your friends and ask them to check their card and see if it says 2025. If not, see the adjutant or renew online. You can renew online with no more problems for the post. You can renew it for 1 or 3 years. 2026 will be 250 years of AMERICA! Start preparing now. 2025 will be 250 years of THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. It started on November 10th, 1776 in a little bar in Pennsylvania called Tun Tavern.
The Post Data Report is due May 15th, 2026. If you’ve done any type of community service, please fill out an After-Action Report and forward it to the adjutant. These PDR’s are the report used by National to justify our existence and require support by the Federal government. American Legion Riders – Officer elections were held in November 2024. Rosters are due immediately along with $3 per rider. To be a rider you must be a member of the post in good standing (dues current) or a family member of a post 281 member.
The Eagle Scout of the Year nomination is due March 1st, 2025. SAL of the Year nominations are due by May 15th, 2025, per National.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP: Dues shall be paid by October 20 of each year prior to the start of the next calendar year. Legion membership is annual, the Legion year being from January 1 to December 31. Department and National dues shall be paid for the full year, irrespective of the month in which the member shall join the local Post. Membership dues are three-fold, Post, Department and National. Membership is not considered current until paid and transmitted to all three levels. If membership dues have not been paid by January 1 of each calendar year, the member becomes delinquent. If dues have not been paid by February 1, the member is suspended, but nevertheless as a member with no privilege to vote, or hold office except that of reinstatement by vote of the Post and payment of dues; and dues not being paid, such membership continues without privileges for a period of five months, to June 30, at which time the member is dropped from the roll by Constitutional mandate and the membership forfeited.
As always, if you need anything or just want to talk, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by phone, text, email or snail mail. We all need to “Be the One” to be there for our brothers and sisters of Combat in Arms. WE know what it’s like; WE know how the mind wanders and thinks. NEVER think you are alone or the only one to be in a position of conflict by body or mind.
Congratulations DON MOODY, one of our new Post members, for his 57 years of American Legion Membership.
From our Post 281 Finance Officer,
Steve ILes
The finances of Post 281 continue to be healthy and enable our Post to be active in community & other veterans-focused events.
For example, our Post has recently donated $500 to the American Legion Emergency Fund, donated over $600 toward Wreaths Across America, purchased over $600 of items for Hurricane relief in East TN, and purchased and gave out candy for both Halloween In The Park and the MJ Christmas parade. So, I am grateful for the generosity of our Post that enables us to help support many functions in the local community as well as the State of TN.
Honored to serve you and Post 281,
Steve ILes
5th District 2025 Oratorical Contest
Congratulations to the winner of the American Legion 5th District Oratorical contest that was held in Old Hickory, TN at Saint Stephen’s Catholic Church on Saturday the 8th of February, 2025. Three contestants, all from Mount Juliet, came and gave it their best. Congratulations go to Katelynn A. from Mt. Juliet Greenhill High School who came in first place (pictured above), with Alex C., also from Greenhill High School, coming in second, and Savannah S. from Mt. Juliet High School coming in third. Each student walked away with a little cash in their pocket and a challenge coin from our post. This is my fifth year of being involved in the local/division/and state levels of the oratorical contest and it’s always so rewarding and most certainly one of the strengths of the American Legion in our local communities. A special thanks to the organizer, Post member Bruno Padovani, for his organizational efforts to make the contest happen and to American Legion Auxiliary Unit 281 for their snacks they provided to those who attend. Katelynn now advances to Central Tennessee competition where she will compete with the 1st place winners from five districts. Job well done, students. It’s always refreshing to hear the patriotic expressions of our youth, while knowing they are our future as well.
Greetings Everyone,
It is that time of year again for the Auxiliary Tree Sale in Mt. Juliet. I have attached the order form for your convenience in ordering your trees. Click Here for your Order Form
Please note: There are a few changes to be mindful of. First of all, we had to schedule the pickup earlier than usual this year, so it is imperative that you get your order in quickly. The pickup date is Saturday, March 29, 2025. We are now taking orders through March 19, 2025 with payment due by March 22, 2025. Please, no exceptions.
Secondly, we had to increase our cost this year to $30.00 per tree. However, the good news is if you pay by credit card or Venmo, you will not be charged a fee. Of course, checks are also acceptable.
Third, the only refunds we will be issuing this year will be for trees ordered and paid for but not available from our supplier. We ask that you make sure when the trees are loaded into your vehicle that the count is correct. Our helpers will make every effort to load the correct number, but it is also your responsibility to verify the count. You will not be issued a refund if you get home and find your order was short.
All of that being said, we look forward to supplying you with some great shrubs and trees again this year and hope that you will once again support our Auxiliary fundraiser. As in the past, some of the funds will be used to send local 11th grade girls to Tennessee Volunteer Girls State (an Auxiliary program designed to empower young women to become great leaders and responsible citizens and to learn about our government and how laws are enacted). Remaining funds will be used to support our Veterans and to promote patriotism in our community in any way we can.
I will look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely, Kathy Leedy Unit 281 Fund Raising Chairman
IT’S AS SIMPLE AS A PHONE CALL
Buddy Check callers with appreciation certificates, from left to right: Terry Ward, Jackie Price, Bridget Passatore, Jeff Mattingly, Roger Brugger, John Ogle, Wayne Smith, John Herko and Delmar Smith. Not pictured: Pat Costanzo, Katie (Sarazine) Gallimore, Eric Rodiguez, Joshua Sims, Chaz Spampinato, Pat Unger and Max Wix.
We consider it our most sacred responsibility to look out for each other and our fellow veterans. Since May 2019, by way of an organization-wide resolution, Legionnaires conduct Buddy Checks during the weeks of The American Legion’s birthday, March 15, and Veterans Day. Legion posts also perform this vital function whenever it makes the most sense in their communities.
Hey….Post Members, we’re going to meet for Breakfast. Saturday, February 15th, 9 AM. Flat Tire Diner, 4700 Old Hickory Blvd, Old Hickory TN 37138. Family and Veterans friends are also welcome. Come and join us. Their Pastrami Eggs Benedict is to DIE for!
Post 281 Honor Guard members at Veterans Day in Lebanon. Our Honor Guard has rendered a total of497 military honors since inception in 2010.
Tennessee Veterans (TNVET) Veterans Day on the Hill
TNVET is a 501(C) (3) Veteran Organization composed of 12 different Veterans Support organizations from across the state with over 50,000 veterans, as members, when combined.
On January 29th, 2025. Members from of TNVET met at the Cordell Hill Building at the state’s Capital for the annual Veteran’s day on the Hill. Members met with their legislators to brief and gain support for four pieces of TN VET legislation.
They were as follows:
Come and join the discussion on Tuesday, February the 11 at our regular meeting.
Pictures from our day on Capitol Hill.
District 17’s, (Wilson and Davidson County) Representative Mark Pody, was more than gracious and eager to meet Jeff Mattingly, Mike Faoro, and me.
Seems we have a good variety of Veterans, from all time periods of American’s conflicts and wars.
Fill in your names, addresses and then sign, and repeat.
It was a pleasure to have our Wilson County Veteran’s Service Office in the assembly, Ms. Zabrina Seay.
