Newspaper Page Text
Change allows Korean War vets access to service medal
From staff report*
- Many of the more than 75,000
Georgians who served during the
Korean War are now eligible to
receive the Republic of Korea War
Service Medal offered more than
50 years ago but never authorized
for wear.
The announcement was made
this week by Veterans Affairs
Commissioner Pete Wheeler.
“The Korean government
offered this medal in 1951 to
United Nations forces serving in
Korea," Wheeler said. “But, at the
time, United States law prohibited
VA announces change in structure of healthcare benefits
Purple Heart recipients and their
families extended new priorities
Georgia Commissioner for
Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler
wants to remind the some 7,000
Georgia war veterans who are
recipients of the Purple Heart
medal that it’s now easier to get
medical care at VA medical facili
ties.
“Because of recent changes to
VA rules, veterans awarded the
Purple Heart now have a higher
priority for health care services,”
Wheeler pointed out. “More
importantly, now they don’t have
to pay out of their pockets for
either inpatient or outpatient VA
medical services.”
The VA’s new eligibility rules
for Purple Heart recipients affect
the seven-step priority system for
VA health care approved by
Congress last year in the Veterans
Millennium Health Care and
Benefits Act.
It moves recipients who were
previously in the VA’s 4-7 priority
groups into priority group 3.
GRTA’s Ross will be the featured speaker
at Cumming-Forsyth Chamber forum
The Cumming-Forsyth Cham
ber of Commerce and Sun Trust
bank will host a forum Sept. 15
featuring guest speaker Dr.
Catherine Ross, executive director
of the Georgia Regional Trans
portation Authority.
The event will be held in the
. chamber’s new event facility
■ located behind the business
group’s office at 212 Kelly Mill
Road.
The forum will begin at 7:45
a.m. and is open to the public.
Cost is sls and that price
includes breakfast.
The GRTA was created by the
Georgia General Assembly in
1999 at the request of Gov. Roy
Bames.
It was charged with finding
ways to improve air quality, opti
mize land use and develop a trans
portation plan for the future.
• The federal government
recently approved GRTA’s Trans-
} portation Improvement Program.
• Chamber officials said hearing
’ what Ross has to say is important.
• “Forsyth County is uniquely
‘ blessed with major transportation
arteries. Transportation is the
lifeblood of our regional econo
-my.
“Jt behooves each of us to stay
abreast of developments and
ensure the needs of our economy
. are addressed in the regional plan-
H&R Block Tax Course Begins September 11
Thousands of people are learning
the skill of income tax preparation
from H&R Block and are training for
careers as income tax preparers.
H&K Block, the world's s largest tax
preparation service, Is offering an
income tax course starting
September 11, with morning, after
noon, and evening classes available.
Classes will be offered at area loca
tions
*'
During the 11-week course, in addi
tion to learning the nuts and bolts of
tax preparation, you will receive
dear explanations of the ever-chang
ing tax laws and how to use them to
your advantage. You'll receive this
information from some of the finest,
most experienced tax preparation
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
the U.S. military from wearing
medals issued by foreign govern
ments.”
In 1998, the Korean govern
ment renewed its original offer of
the ROKWS medal.
After U.S. Defense
Department officials approved the
acceptance and wear of the medal,
Republic of Korea Defense
Minister Seong-Tae Cho formally
announced in May in a letter to
U.S. Defense Secretary William
Cohen that his government would
provide the medal to eligible mili
tary veterans or their surviving
kin.
Its only proper
and right to afford
these combat vet
erans who went
above and beyond
the call of duty a
priority befitting
their service to this
nation.
Recipients who qualify for priori
ty groups 1-2 by virtue of service
connected disabilities will stay in
those higher groups, Wheeler
said.
“It’s only proper and right to
afford these combat veterans who
went above and beyond the call of
duty a priority befitting their ser
vice to this nation,” he added.
The new rules also authorize
the VA to reimburse Purple Heart
ning process,” said Barbara Noon,
chairman of the chamber board of
directors.
Noon is also an appointed
member of the Water Quality
Initiative Committee recently cre
ated by the Greater Metro Atlanta
Chamber of Commerce.
For reservations, call (770)
887-6461 or email fccoc@-
forsythchamber.org.
THE HALL “A” THE BELL I “D” THE HILL 4 “E"
• 1914 sq. ft. under root • 2394 «q. ft under roof • 30«« eq. ft. under
• Cozy 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath • Charming 3 Bedroom*, 2 Bathe n . rirnnm . , «
• Indudee 2O'k2s* Garage • Large Open, Spactoua Plan B .th*
Cm*imm $76,200 • Indudee 2O’x2s’ Garage include* 2O'x2S*
CMOMc. $90,926 Garage
Bom Me* Mymtnta Shown M
c-or*. $113,362
Just a few of the more than 60 plans available now!
i— > nnz--. nnm r~xrv r>/-in •rwiiwMi (*■
in. d V -K O 1/Jill 3. ILJ L/i\( Q d nanaueooeeaM
1 tin II »l IK>I L 4 II *l/ Irl r . »K~lt n
{■t «N 9 »e«ord B*. Meedl, ®* SS2I2KS.
1 aAeweefeH*Mezii4. Brag so ee «*4 fee «W»
E I
in canto Mm tor you
www.americashomeplace.com
instructors in the country. And you'll
have the opportunity to expand or
enhance your job-related skills.
IWR Block designed this course to
suit people who want to increase
their tax knowledge and save
money on taxes, or who are lixrking
for training for a second career or
seasonal employment. A tax related
career is perfect for students or
retirees seeking part-time earnings.
Qualified students may be offered
job interviews for positions with
Block.* Many accept employment
with Block because of the flexible
hours available. However, Block is
under no obligation to offer employ
ment, nor are students under any
obligation to accept employment
H&R BLOCK
“This is an important step in
continuing to remember the
impact of our men and women
who served in Korea.
“They served there with dis
tinction and valor their courage
and sacrifice saved a nation from
Communist enslavement, pre
served peace, freedom and pros
perity for that part of the world,”
Wheeler said.
He also pointed out that, to be
eligible, a veteran must have
served within the land mass, terri
torial waters or air space of the
Korean peninsula at some point
from June 25, 1950 to July 27,
recipients for any medical copay
ment made to the VA for care
given on or after Nov. 30, 1999.
However, recipients are still
responsible for making $2 copay
ments for each 30-day supply of
prescription medicine given to
outpatients for nonservice-con
nected disabilities.
Veterans who want to claim
benefits as a Purple Heart recipi
ent must submit appropriate docu
mentation such as DD-2145, ser
vice records, award certificates,
etc., for inclusion in their
Consolidated Health Record fold
ers, Wheeler said.
For more information or assis
tance about the new VA rules.
Purple Heart recipients should
contact the Georgia Department
of Veterans Service at (404) 929-
5345.
The Purple Heart is the
nation's oldest military medal.
George Washington presented the
first medals in 1783.
The event will be
held in the cham
ber's new event
facility behind the
office at 212 Kelly
Mill Road.
with H&R Block. One low course
fee includes all texlbtxrks, supplies
and tax forms necessary for comple
tion of the course. Certificates and
6?> continuing education units will
lx: awarded upon successful com
pletion of the course.
Registration forms and brochure for
the income tax course may be
obtained by contacting IWR Block.
For more information, call
1-800-HRBLOCK or visit our
Web site at www.hrblock.com
’Enrollment In, <x crxnpktkm of, the crxtne
Is neither an offer nor a guarantee of
employment
AA EEO/MF/D/V
lUk« Uxfc T» WMt», lu
Cumming
(770) 887-1650
1953. The U.S. Air Force, desig
nated as the DoD executive agent
to receive applications and distrib
ute medals, will accept requests
anytime during the 50th Anni
versary Korean War Commem
oration, from June to November
of this year. The medal will be
provided at no cost.
To apply, Korean War veterans
or their primary next of kin must
submit appropriate documenta
tion, such as DD Form 214,
Certificate of Release or
Discharge from Active Duty; DD
Form 215, Correction to Certi
ficate of Release if applicable or
Bush/Cheney campaign HQ now open
George Bush and Dick Cheney, Republican
candidates for president and vice president, respec
tively, have announced the opening of their new
campaign headquarters for Georgia at 3116 Maple
Drive in Atlanta. The office will be open Mondays
Clean Air Campaign to host annual awards show
The Clean Air Campaign will present its annual
PACE Awards Oct. 5 during a special program at the
Loudermilk Center for Regional Community in
Atlanta. The awards honor metro area employers
Q Uncertain About Your Future? 4|L
Need Advice About Love? w-rffl
Relationships? Marriage? Health?
Do you want to succeed in your career? \aJ
Reveals Your Past, Present & Future.
f si?nn I 1 WEEKEND »
i OFF 1 4710 South Lee Street {
first I (770)614-9998 ■ pal s m /Am ,h ° I
Cumming Christian fellowship
invites you to join us
Sunday at 10:00 am
When choosing a church the question is not
which church is the best, but which church is
the best for you! With that in mind, let us share
a few distinctives of CCF as we invite you to
stop by and visit with us.
• We provide an atmosphere that is casual and friendly
• We teach the Bible verse by verse and book by book
(New Testament Sunday morning and Old Testament
Wednesday evening.)
• We pray and praise with passion, balance and anticipation
• We provide plenty of opportunities for fun and fellowship.
• We place a high priority on our children
If this sounds like a fit for you, we’ll see
you on Sunday!
CUMMING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP:
SIMPLY WORSHIPPING SIMPLY
Meeting at Morris
Performing Arts Center Get a taste of OUT
1938 Buford Hwy teaching by tuning in
(11/4 mile east off GA 400 to n7O at 3.30 pm
exit 14 on Hwy 20) a _
For info call us at 770-886- an Y Sunday afternoon
3345 or check our website at for our Grace Point
www.cummingcf.com program
Chip Holmes, Pastor
FOR*YTH COUNTY HEW* Friday, «, 2000 -
National Guard Form 22, Release
From Duty.
Veterans can include support
ing documentation such as special
orders, temporary-duty orders,
completed travel voucher or cita
tions for awards.
If copies of the mandatory or
optional document are not avail
able, the veteran could be able to
obtain them from the National
Personnel Records Center, 9700
Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132-
5100. Send copies, not originals,
of documentation with a cover let
ter to: HQAFPC/DPPPRK, 550 C.
St. W, Suite 12, Randolph AFB,
through Saturdays and is coordinating all efforts in
Georgia for the November general election.
The phone number is (404) 365-9525 and the
fax number is (404) 365-9035, or access the cam
paign via the Internet at www.GeorgeWßush.com.
who are doing their best to reduce traffic congestion
and improve air quality.
For more information on the awards, call (877)
CLEAN-AIR.
TX 78150-4714.
Defense officials estimate
approximately 1.8 million Army,
h|avy, Marine Corps, Air Force
and Coast Guard veterans or
their direct survivors are eligi
ble to receive the medal. Because
of that, defense officials say it
could take up to four years to
process requests and distribute
medals.
For more information, contact
the Air Force Personnel Center at
(800) 558-1401 from 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
or via the internet at www.af
pc.randolph.af.mil/awards.
PAGE 3A