Veterans Day: Serving Those Who Served

November 9, 2016

arlington-820751_960_720As we well know, November 11 is Veterans Day. But it wasn’t always called that. At the end of WWI, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as the first Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.” Not until June 1, 1954 did President Dwight D. Eisenhower sign the law that struck out the word “Armistice” and replaced it with “Veterans.” Thus, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. GPO employees printed that original act and now make it digitally available on govinfo.

One important way the U.S. Government honors all military service veterans is by providing first-rate health benefits and services. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs serves more than 8 million Veterans each year. Coverage is immediate, travels with recipients, meets healthcare law standards, and surpasses quality and effectiveness measurements. It’s the care Veterans have earned.

GPO makes available these health and benefits resources from the VA and its Veterans Health Administration:

Health Care Benefits Overview 2016 Edition, Vols. 1 & 2

051-000-00256-3This comprehensive medical benefits publication includes the standard FAQs on basic eligibility requirements, enrollment, copays, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, and the like. It also highlights community living centers, medical foster homes, geriatric evaluation, home telehealth, and online tools that are part of the VA’s silver plate of world-class care.

Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors 2016

051-000-00258-0This annual publication provides a complete summary of all Federal benefits available to qualified American veterans and their families. It’s must-have, up-to-date information on the benefits and rights owed to those who accepted the responsibility to defend America when duty called.

In the VA’s own words: “Our Servicemembers and Veterans have sacrificed to keep our country – and everything it represents – safe…Thank you for your service. Now let us serve you.”

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Chelsea Milko is a Public Relations Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations Office.


The Benefits of Service for Our Nation’s Veterans

November 10, 2015

Service. Courage. Honor. Healthcare. You certainly won’t see that last word—healthcare—on a Veterans Day parade banner. But it belongs there nonetheless. For one important way the U.S. Government honors military service is by providing its Veterans first-rate health benefits and services. It’s the care they have earned.

051-000-00254-7 Guiding our nation’s Veterans and their families through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health benefits and services network—America’s largest integrated health care system—is a job for Health Care Benefits Overview 2015 Edition, Vol. 2. The 50-page booklet states: “Enrollment in the VA health care system provides Veterans with the promise that comprehensive health care services will be available when and where they are needed.” Now that’s a guarantee worth reading about!

A few neat facts from the benefits overview: VA serves more than 8 million Veterans each year. Coverage is immediate, travels with recipients, meets healthcare law standards, and surpasses quality and effectiveness measurements. And VA offers a free transportation program for Veterans who face challenges traveling to and from health care facilities.

Our Mission Page 34 (003)

Click on image to enlarge

Of course, the publication includes the standard cut-and-dry FAQs on basic eligibility requirements, enrollment, copays, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, and the like. The comprehensive medical benefits package available to Veterans doesn’t stop there. Information on services such as community living centers, medical foster homes, geriatric evaluation, and home telehealth is part of the VA’s silver plate of world-class care.

In a way, this publication functions a bit like a magazine advertising modern, digital services: Veterans Crisis Line, My HealtheVet, eBenefits gateway, and the Veterans Canteen Service all have attention-grabbing ads. It’s a smart strategy. Meeting vets on the interwebs and connecting them to their VA medical benefits package is a necessary update to the care they have earned.

One particular statement, from a full-page dangling dog tag advert on page 34 (image above), provides the perfect ending to this post: “Thank you for your service. Now let us serve you.”

How do I obtain this publication?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Our guest blogger is Chelsea Milko, Public Relations Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations Office.

 


%d bloggers like this: