THE COUNCIL COURIER

Brevard Veterans Council, Inc. & Veterans Memorial Center, Inc.

400 South Sykes Creek Pkwy. Merritt Island, FL 32952-3547

Office 321-453-1776 Service Office 321-453-1776 Fax 321-453-1152 Web Site: www.veteransmemorialcenter.org

JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 2016

(A Coalition of Veterans Organizations)

A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life,

wrote a blank check, made payable to “The United States of

America” for an amount of “up to and including my life.”

EXPANSION IN HIGH GEAR

Any recent visit to the Veterans Memorial Center (VMC)you will be able to confirm the obvious. Our Expansion and Enhancement Program is in full sprint with the Museum on track to be completed by June 2016 and the Library, Plaza Upgrades, Enhancements to the current facility already in train and scheduled to be fully completed by Veterans Day in November. Now is the time for members and friends to help us get all thus done. Please call Donn or Bob Doyle below or meet with ant Committee member to sign on for work details and the in reading effort of our Museum Exhibits Committee (See below). Following are some highlights of where things stand with the most significant expansion program in the history of our Center: A. Our work will now include both Expansion and Enhancement per our January Meeting Decision. We hope to expand the Committee to get at least 30 active members who will hopefully help us recruit various work details as needed while the projects move forward. Please call to sign up. B. The County is working hard on the adjoining acres of the Veterans Memorial Park which is also due for completion by Veterans Day. They have separate funding for that project which will include kayaking, pathways, a Memorial walkway, jogging trail and many other park type items. C. We have established a Fund Raising Committee including myself, Kim Koplar, Ted Whitlock and Harry Beaver. We would like two more volunteers from among the rest of you are anyone else you may know who would be interested. Post Commissioner Wayne Justice and County Commissioner Jim Barfield as well as the Tourist Development Corporation (TDC) will be our advisers as we began to reach out in February to the private sector, other Vet organizations (The VVB just pledged funds) and in kind service companies like Home Depot, Orlando Together, etc. D. The Cement and Steel has been ordered with initial pouring set as early as 22 February. The New Museum Contract is expected to be completed on time by mid-June to meet State funding requirements. E. The Museum Team has formed an expanding Exhibits Committee to plan out the new building presentations while still working on current lobby and museum inventories and cataloging. The cataloging teams work in groups of 2-3 people for two hours per shift (morning or afternoon). No knowledge of the items in the collection is needed. It’s almost like a treasure hunt – nearly every time we catalog we find something very interesting. Please come out to help and be the one to find our next historic pearl! The Exhibit Committee is forming small teams to concentrate on specific displays. If you have an interest in a certain historic period, a branch of the service or other special interest, please let us know and get involved in pulling together the displays of interest to you for the new museum. Please contact Dean Schaaf to volunteer for this important work. So, please consider being a part of this great effort whether it be as a worker, someone to help raise funds, a museum team builder and/or inventory team member, or someone to help us canvas for in kind support from companies and contractors. The end results will be very special if we all help to make it so. Donn Weaver Brevard Veterans Memorial Center Chairman, Expansion Committee (321) 613-2403

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Strong Start for Veterans Back to Class

In October this year you read about a new program focused through the Joe Foss Institute (JFI), MOAACC and the Brevard Veterans Center — Brevard Veterans Back to Class. The initiative began with meetings in July with six veterans interested in a concept and with Audrey Mazzotta, the SE USA regional rep for the JFI. With the help of Matt Susin, a former teacher and focal point for the All America Flag Act, the program has grown now to 17 volunteers. In only three plus months these volunteers have spoken to more than 4200 students of all grade levels in 13 Brevard County and area schools about what the Constitution means, why freedom is not free and their own experiences as veterans of our great country. On Veterans Day week alone, 1454 students were reached. JFI arranges the classroom visits and provides materials to the students as well as our veterans involved in the program. By late November the JFI described the Brevard Program as the most active JFI effort in the country behind only the Dallas, Texas area where the program began and San Diego, much larger areas of veteran and student populations. Thanks to all who have joined us and who most often report great classroom experiences! The word is spreading about the program and we expect more invitations this spring. If you are interested and want to learn more about the program and JFI, please contact Donn Weaver at 321-613-2403.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ YOUR NEW COURIER

With expansion and many other issues over the past few months, we know you have missed your Courier. As you see it is now a new version which we will resume publishing monthly beginning with this January, February, March issue. Thank you for your patience. The Courier is now published at the VMC with a cost savings of over $600 per month thanks to Doris Hendricks for taking over as our new editor. She has a team to help her – Summer Graf & Will Soto. Please submit all articles and information to Doris no later than the 15th of the preceding month. If you have any questions including distribution contact Doris at (321) 458-1138

Chairman’s Report

It is with good humor that I accept the appointment of Chair of the Brevard Veterans Council. (I missed a meeting). Here goes for the first of the introductory comments to the Council Courier. There will be two sections of the comments. First be recent developments of the Council. Later will be a spotlight on our members. Our Council bylaws require that the meetings be conducted using Robert's Rules of Order as a guide. I am pleased that we do indeed come close. Conduct is exemplary, speakers stand when recognized by the Chair, etc. Sergeant at Arms Doyle confirmed that we met the basic requirement of the VMC Article 501(C)19 Section 504 of Council by having at least two elected/appointed officers present. Also, we had at least 5% of the members/organization represented. The first meeting ran smoothly and we finished in just over an hour. The Council (lessee) rents the "Park" from Brevard County (lessor) for one dollar a year. We have a rental contract which extends to the year 2026 for the Park which includes the property to the west including the lake. We had one guest, Mr. Steven Williams who is the Secretary of the Brevard Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Williams was Revolutionary War uniform. He had a request for the Center to provide a small storage area for SAR equipment that is be used for the Last Naval Battle ceremonies, etc. A good symbiotic gesture to be heartily accommodated. Example: exposure by the National Commander and staff visit during a visit to Port Canaveral which included a review of the Center, Plaza and museum. We have reinstituted the 50/50 raffle as a contribution to our expenses or the scholarship fund. As we review the budget I found out that refreshments cost about $100 per month. All donations are appreciated. The refreshments add to the ambiance of our meetings. This month, a member won both the 50% and an additional memorial clock which was also part of the drawing. Good Luck of the draw! Treasurer Ted Schmid is doing a yeoman's job. Working with the Brevard Accounting firm he is reconstructing records lost in a computer hiccup. We are separating expansion funds and developing a budgeting format to make it easy for all to understand. As the lessee we are obligated to indemnify ourselves, the County and the Center. We are doing this by general liability insurance and by director and officer insurance. Costs of insurance and of the non-profit experienced lawyer are split with the Center. In the budgeting process it would be my goal to allocate resources so that a committee would have their funds to manage and not have to request board approval for smaller decisions. I had not heard of Sunbiz until recently. This is a critical function of the Florida business system. Sunbiz is the State of Florida Corporation registering agency and must be accommodated to do business in the State. We are updating our records accordingly. Next issue we will have member spotlights with fewer Chair comments! Ray Norman Chairman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stand Down 2016 – 21st Annual

Please note the new dates for the Stand Down at the Cocoa Armory are Friday, March 25, 2016 from 1200 – 1700 for set up and Saturday 0700 – 1400 hours to support our veterans in need.

Please register on line at http://vols.pt/VvM35k

CHAPLAINS CORNER

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Chip Hanson. I recently have been appointed as Chaplain for the Center. My predecessor Chaplain Dan Mix has retired from the Chaplaincy. He is and always will be a man of God, a Great Chaplain, and a loyal member of our Organization. A little about myself. I am the current Chaplain for the State of Florida with the Disabled American Veterans, and other Veteran organizations. Each month there will be a Chaplains Corner. With your help we will include, sick call (a list of those who are in the hospital, on hospice, those who are sick or injured) and Taps (list of our Brothers and Sisters who have passed on). It is important to call us at 321-453-1776 and make us aware of any sickness, injury or death. I will try to visit or call anyone in need. We can also assist the needs of Veterans and their families. We have fifteen trained Service Officers available to assist and answer your questions. It is an exciting time for all of us, the building addition and the many projects that are under way. Please have patience with one another and the folks who are working to make everything perfect. God Bless Chaplain Chip

MEMBERSHIP

If you have not completed and returned the Membership Update form previously sent to you, please do so immediately so we can bring our records up to date.

To maintain our status as a Non-Profit Corp. under IRS rules, 97% of our members must be Veterans and of that 97%, 75% must have served during war eras (not necessarily in the battlefield). This is why it is so important that we have our records reflect accurately each Veteran’s status.

Thank you for your cooperation.. Margie Collins, Membership Chair

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Charles Mitchell James Yost Paul Mathias Louis Dorsey Louis Harlow James LeNoir

Halina Young

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MEMBER OF THE MONTH

Robert ‘Bob’Doyle Operations Director

“Operations Corner” Operations is looking for volunteers for all positions especially for MOD’s. If you are able to

volunteer please contact Bob Doyle.

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VMC FACEBOOK PAGE

We have changed the name of our Facebook page. It is now Brevard Veterans

Memorial Center ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“VMC Librarian”

The history of the VMC began in Titusville in 1978, helping a Navy veteran find a worthy resting place for an indigent veteran. After this successful project the gentlemen who as veterans decided more needed to be done for veterans and they began a council to overlook veteran concerns in benefits of Brevard County. In 1980 ten members of the Brevard County Fl, Veterans Advisory Council began looking for a site for a veterans center. After 10 years of frustration the Brevard county Commissioners donated sufficient land adjacent to Sykes creek for the centers location. Many noble deeds of donations and volunteering brought into realization our present facility. It is a facility that any veteran would be proud of. The benefits to all veterans have been immeasurable. Now we are on the brink of wonderful expansion which will educate and benefit further the welfare of the veteran. It seems with every worthwhile endeavor there can be many obstacles involving pride and egos. It’s been a long hard struggle shown in the history of VMC to get where we are. This has been a beautiful human desire and fulfillment of such a worthy cause for the MILLIONS who died to keep us free. Nothing we can do can even “scratch the surface” to celebrate their sacrifice. Let us come together as brothers in arms, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and Air Force to bring this endeavor to fruition. Tim Scott VMC Librarian

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Brevard Veterans Council Officers/Board

TEMPORARY CLOSING OF THE LIBRARY

The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center Library temporarily closed until sometime in the summer of 2016. We have enjoyed serving the Center’s readers and viewers with all wonderful stories and videos of courage, heroics, and deceit in time of conflicts.

We are sorry for the inconvenience, but are looking forward to a great and new experience in reading and seeing new concepts in the new military library. Tim Scott and Eleanor Fudok

VMC Librarian and Assistant Librarian

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BOOK OF THE MONTH

“ 90 mph Door” by David Miller {a BVMC member }

David writes with humor and great descriptions to put you in his experience as a young army “aircraft ordinance repairman”. His experience as a young teen before entering the Army is an interesting beginning to this book. David found himself in a special position in that this was a new field and not many officers were trained in it . He was found to be very good at it and this gave him some priority treatment. David keeps your focus with his humor and descriptions throughout the book. Such as this excerpt in checking out a small observation helicopter “my next impression caught me flat-footed, Little bird or not, this puppy could really perform. We shot off like a rocket and buzzed around the sky like a hummingbird on steroids! “. Get the idea? David’s experience in the combat arena describes the fear in attacks and weird happenings during those frightful events. Many of his friends died in friendly fire or just accidents, some stupid acts. David ends the book describing his and others experience with PTSD. He tells of some events after returning from Nam. Many of us veterans did important backup jobs but never in direct combat. In many of my studies of the wars , I hold great thankfulness for their sacrifice and realize that “Freedom isn’t Free”. NOTE: [ If you would like to read this book see Tim Scott librarian or David Miller author who is a BVCVMC Member ]

Chairman Ray Norman 452-5376

Vice-Chairman Bill Vagianos 431-0364

Secretary Ray Norman 452-5376

Treasurer Ted Schmid 863-3640

Chaplain Chip Hanson 543-7505

Board Ap. VACANT

Board Ap. VACANT

Board Ap. Tim Scott 632-2550

Board 1 yr. Ray Norman 452-5376

Board 1 yr Alex Terrero 453-4526

Board 1 yr Paul Spescia 636-1148

Board 2 yr VACANT

Board 2 yr VACANT

Board 2 yr Lou Rossi 455-9743

Board 3 yr Margie Collins 225-4069

Board 3 yr VACANT 453-6907

Board 3 yr Dean Schaaf 452-0365

Operations Robert Doyle 452-3724

Veterans Memorial Center Officers/Board

President Bill Vagianos 431-0364

Vice President Ray Norman 452-5376

Secretary, Acting Ray Norman 452-5376

Treasurer, Acting Ted Schmid 863-3640

Chaplain Chip Hanson 543-7505

Board Ap VACANT

Board 1 yr VACANT

Board 1 yr Ray Norman 452-5376

Board 1 yr VACANT

Board 2 yr Rod Smith 978-5359

Board 2 yr Harry Beaver 507-4226

Board 2 yr Lou Rossi 455-9743

Board 3 yr/Curator Dean Schaaf 452-0365

Board 3 yr VACANT

Board 3 yr Jim Dennis 305-4720

Operations Robert Doyle 452-3724

Asst. Ops/Curator Will Soto

Museum Curator Dean Schaaf 452-0365

Plaza Coordinator Bill Kowalcyk 302-4077

WEB/Face Page Asst. Ops/Courier

Doris Hendricks Doris Hendricks

458-1138 458-1138

We Believe In and Support Our Brevard Veterans Council & Veterans Memorial Center

Become a Booster today and help defray the cost of printing and mailing our newsletter. Only $10.00 per name per year! Show Your Support!

Our Booster Club Skip & Ruth Bateman (Jan 2016) In Memory of Noel Lee Bateman Fred & Carmen Adams (Nov 2016) Warren A. Barnett (Sept, 2016) Barbara Best (Apr 2016) In Memory of Robert M. Best Stephen Bodie (Nov 2016) Donald & Patti Bullen (Sept 2016) Gloria & Joe Caldiero (Aug 2016) Margie & Gary Collins (Aug 2016) William F. “Bill” Dias (Sept 2016)) John & Janet Dymond (Jan 2016) Fleet Reserve Assoc., Br. 263 (Jan 2016) Rick & Joan Fugaro (Oct 2016) Joe & Florence Hershey (Jan 2016) In Memory of Bella R. Hershey Warren Hold (Sept 2016) Col. Paul A. Ill (Ret) (Sept 2016) Jack Jackson (Mar 2016) In Memory of Florence Jackson Stanley & Eileen Keller (Sept 2016) Susan Kneeland (Sept 2016) Joseph F. Lendle (Sept 2016) Richard McConaughy (Dec 2016) Lucille Misurella (Nov 2016) Rev. Daniel & Betty Mix (Nov 2016 Ms. Sharon Mix (Nov 2016)

John R. Newman, Sr. (Aug 2016) Wendell Newton (Sept 2016) Al Pappas (Sept 2016) Gary W. Rapp, USMC (Aug 2016) Don & Barbara Rathbun (Feb 2016)) John & Gayle Richardson (Sept 2016) Robert Rodrigues (Sept 2016) Tom & Catherine Roseland (Sept 2016) Jewell & William Schick (Aug 2016) Ted Schmid (Nov 2016) John “Tim” Scott (Feb 2016)) Sharon Seaman (Sept 2016) (In Memory of Stephan Seaman) John S. (Tank) Sherman (Sept 2016) Kathryn & Patrick Smith (Sept 2016) (In Memory of Robert C. Smith & Nita Smith) Sylvia & Richard Trzasjoma (Aug 2016) Bob & Pat Urbano (Nov 2016) Warren C. Weld (Feb 2016)) Conrad J. “Low-Rider” Wohltmann (Sept 2016) In Memory of Florence Lynch In Memory of John Lynch In Memory of Alice “Linea” Wohltmann In Memory of John D. Wohltmann Glen E & Jane A Snodgrass (January 2017) Rick Leonhart (March 2017) George and Sherry Schlossnagle

If you feel your name is missing and that you paid for Booster sponsorship the year, please contact the Treasurer,

Ted Schmid. Thank you for your forbearance and understanding. This is a work in progress!

Fill in your names and send to the BVC along with your check Please make your check payable to: Brevard Veterans Council

Single Name - $10.00 Double Names – $20.00 Name(s)____________________________________________________________________________

(Please print legibly) Send payment with this slip to: Brevard Veterans Council, Inc.

400 S. Sykes Creek ParkwayMerritt Island, FL 32952-3547

Happy Birthday

January, February, March

Fred “Andy” Andrews Charlie Antoni Bryan Armstrong Matthew Barkevich Bob Barrett Skip Bateman William Benagh M Douglas Bisset Norma Bruce Donald Buffkin Jason Canfield William Carnes Richard Cassidy Jean Campbell Dawn Cejda Gerald Cherry Luis Cintron Patrick Clendenning Richard Cole Harrell “Buck” Crenshaw Sharla Cruz George Darby Gordon Denson James Deshotel Robert Dimola Gary Dolin Dorothy Evans Julius Farago Lewis (Jim) Feminao Kelly Fiorentino Joe P Ford Paul Fowler Stephen Fowler Richardo Fugaro James V George Lloyd George

Capt Chris Gibson Joseph Gothard Larry Grammer William Grooten Ted Hackler, Jr David Hague Thomas Hames Karen Hansen Dave Hawks John Haynes Doris Hendricks Kenneth Hill Robert W Hill Bill Hoffpauir Howard Hopwood Charles Henderson, Jr Henry Henderson Kay Henry Wm “Hutch”Hutchison” Paul Ill Deland Jones Samuel Jordan Diane King Kevin King Robert Kiser James Klingeman George Kozlowski Harold LaMarchg, Jr Edward Light Joseph Lochgner Lillian MacEntee Lawrence Maggie Jefferson Main Robert Manahan Brian Marfitt James Marshall

Bob Milvac Rodney Mock Clark Moody Weldon Moore Melvin Morris Mel Mueller Larry Mull Steve Nall Wendell Newton Wayne Noble Merritt A Nord Ray Norman Robert O’Connor Ernest Ortenburg Albert J Pappas James Parish Robert T Pereira Edmund Peresluha Meredith Peterson Alston Phillips Rodger Pickett Garrett Pomilchter Frederick Popovich Robert Post Walter Pubnaty Howard Quale, Jr Lawrence Reinig James Rhoads Isom “Ike” Rigell Francisco Rios Tom Roseland Gary R Rozier Norm Rowe Sandra Saleski Tony Sasso Donald Schindler

Chuck Seibert Carl J Signorelli Richard Schimet John Scott W Ben Simms Bill J Smith Charles Smith Don Smith William Spivey Grover Stillwagon Donald Sylvester Roger Talbott II Steve Testa Dale Tompkins Michael Thompson Joseph Townsend Richard Trzaskoma Ted Trousdale Jim Tuck Carrie Turkoski Elias Valdez Helme Walter David Webb Dale Whipple Carole Williams-Hayes Dissa Azonaha Williams Leonard Wirtzberger John F Wood H Elton Wooward Ray Zakratsek Frank Zamboni Charles Zecman Ed Zimmerman

The names are taken from the Enrollment Cards on file. If you do not see your name, it is because your birth information was not entered. If you wish your name to be added, please let me know. Please be

patient with us as this is a work in progress. Margie Collins, Membership Chair

TABLE TENNIS CLUB

Meets Every Monday 7:30-10:30 pm &

Every Wednesday 7:00-10:00 pm

For more information, call Danny Nail (784-2152) or

Bill Durban (799-3878)

3 DAYS OF PARTY BRIDGE Tuesday 12:30

Wednesday 12:30 Thursday 12:30

For information, Jewell & Bill Schick at 452-2387

MEETING ROOMS & RECEPTION HALL

FOR RENT Hourly or Daily Rates

At the Beautiful Veterans Memorial Center

Call 453-1776 for information

This Newsletter is recyclable, pass it along to a friend, mail it, copy it, post it on a bulletin board, copy articles into your newsletter

The Council Courier is the Monthly publication of the Brevard Veterans Council, Inc, and the Veterans Memorial Center, Inc. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily that of the organization. News items, poems, and letters of interest to Veterans are encouraged. We reserve the right to edit anything submitted. The Council is not responsible for content of fliers inserted by our members.

This Newsletter is mailed at reduced rates and the Post Office will not forward it. Please give any address changes or corrections to Margie Collins at 225-4069, or mail it to her at The Brevard Veterans Council, Inc., 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy., Merritt Island, FL 32952

BVC Board of Directors Meeting & VMC, Executive Board Meets

9:00 am 1st Wednesday Every Month

Brevard Veterans General Membership Meeting

9:00 am 2nd Wednesday Every Month

MUSEUM HOURS Monday thru Saturday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Sunday: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Rolling Thunder Florida One – A POW/MIA & Veterans Advocacy Group meets at the Veterans Memorial Center on the 4th Sunday of each month at 2:00 pm

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Cocoa Beach Sail & Power Squadron 1st Tuesday of each month 6-9 pm at Veterans Memorial Center - Public Welcome

American Legion Post #344 Meets 4th Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at Veterans Memorial Center

Fleet Reserve Association Branch 263 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm at Veterans Memorial Center

The two enemies of the people are criminals and the government. So let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution

so that the second will not become the legalized version of the first. Thomas Jefferson

BENEFACTORS SPOTLIGHT Our sincere “Thanks” to the following individuals and businesses that have made contributions to

various projects within the Veterans Memorial Center and/or Brevard Veterans Council

VETERANS MEMORIAL CENTER OPERATIONS Veterans Voice Weekly St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Cocoa Beach

VMC/MEMORIAL PLAZA Don Williams, Merritt Island (Tuskegee Airman)

MUSEUM & FACILITY EXPANSION PROJECT Jim Barfield, Rockledge Luke & Associates, Inc. Mel Mueller, Merritt Island Wayne Justice, Port Commissioner IRAQ FREEDOM MEMORIAL Maurice & Emma Meisner, Louisville, KY

A-7 RESORATION JET FUND Skip & Ruth Bateman, Merritt Island Patricia Jo Berman Ligon, Raleigh, NC (daughter of Seymour & Betty Berman Howard Hardcastle Maurice & Emma Meisner, Louisville, KY

(In Memory of Bill Kowalczyk’s mother) Markley Selbert Jean Sinclair COMPUTERS FOR EXPANSION DAV Chapter 123, Merritt Island *STAY TUNED FOR BIG UPDATES NEXT MONTH*

YOUR BREVARD VETERANS SERVICES TEAM

Property Tax Exemptions for Eligible Resident Veterans Basic Property Tax Exemption: Eligible resident Veterans with a VA Certified Service-Connected Disability of 10% or greater are entitled to a $5,000 Property Tax Exemption. Veterans must establish this Exemption with the County Tax Official or Property Appraiser Official in the County in which he or she resides by providing documentation of the Disability. The unremarried surviving spouse of such a Disabled Ex-Service Member, who on the date of the Disabled Ex-Service Member’s Death had been married to the Veteran for at least five years, is also entitled to this Exemption. Additional Property Tax Exemption: Any real estate owned and used as a homestead by a Veteran who was honorably discharged and has been certified as having a Service-Connected Disability, Permanent and total Disability, is exempt from taxation if the Veteran is a permanent resident of Florida and has legal title to the property on January 1 of the tax year for which the exemption is being claimed. Any real estate owned and used as a homestead by the surviving spouse of an Armed Forces member who died from Service-Connected causes while on active duty is exempt from taxation if the member was a permanent resident of Florida on January 1 of the year in which the member died. If, upon the death of the veteran, the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead and permanently resides there, the exemption from taxation carries over to the benefit of the veteran’s spouse until he or she remarries, sells, or disposes of the property. Combat Related: Any Partially Disabled Veteran who is age 65 or older, any portion of whose disability was combat-related, and who was Honorably Discharged, may be eligible for a discount from the amount of Ad Valorem tax on the homestead, commensurate with the percentage of the Veteran’s Permanent Service-Connected Disability. Eligible Veterans should apply for this benefit at the County Property Appraiser’s Office.

(Veterans Services Team continued)

For more information regarding Veteran Property Tax Exemptions and Discounts, please contact your County Property Appraiser or your County Veteran Service Office (321-633-2012). Dennis Vannorsdall Brevard County Veteran Service Officer

CONTACT NUMBERS

Your Brevard Veteran Services Team 633-2012 or South Area (Toll Free) 952-4700, ext. 2012 Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 for confidential help

E-mail: dennis.vannorsdall@brevardcounty.us

OTHER NUMBERS OF INTEREST

Brevard VA Outpatient Clinic 637-3788 long distance (Toll Free) 1-877-878-3878 Brevard VA Clinic Enrollment 637-3788, push 0 and ask for Eligibility Enrollment Brevard VA Clinic Volunteer Services 637-3517 VA Regional Office (Toll Free) 800-827-1000 DEERS Enrollment-TRICARE for Life Enrollment 494-2276

CHAMPVA for Life 1-888-289-2411

USEFUL VETERAN WEB SITES

Brevard Veteran Services Team: www.brevardcounty.us/veterans/

The VA’s main Web Site: www.va.gov

The Florida Department of Veteran Affairs: www.floridavets.org

The St. Petersburg VA Regional Office:

www.vba.va.gov/ro/south/spete

Reminder: Is your beneficiary information current?

To check, call the VA Insurance Center at 1-800-669-8477

And, don’t forget - on Saturdays from 11:00 am to Noon on WMEL-AM 1300, listen to “American Warrior Radio.” This is a radio show dedicated to providing up-to-date VA claims information and other important Veteran/ Survivor VA and Military Retiree information.

BREVARD VETERANS ACTIVITIES CALENDAR MARCH 2016

11 - 13 Valiant Air Command and TICO WarBird Air Show (Friday 1700 - First Evening Show) and Saturday/ Sunday 1000-1700. Tickets Required. Volunteers Needed. TICO Airport, Titusville. Contact Info: 321-268-1941 12 St. Patrick’s Day Parade with Veteran Units 1100 hours Downtown Melbourne. Contact: Pat Keane, MOAACC 777-6921 25 Set up 21 st Annual Central Brevard Stand Down 1200-1700 hours Cocoa Armory, Cocoa Fl. Volunteers needed for set up; see Stand Down Cocoa Armory Website for info. POC: Veterans Center 453-1776 26 The 21st Annual Support to Homeless and needy Veterans Stand Down 0800-1400 hours at the Cocoa Armory in Cocoa Fl. 29 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Event 1100- 1300 Melbourne Veterans Center, 2098 Sarno Road, Melbourne POC: 254-3410

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VMC MARCH 2016 CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

Mar. 2nd Wed. 9:00 AM Board Meetings, Council & Center Mar. 2nd Wed. 12:00 PM KWVA 210 /Members 1 PM Mar. 2nd Wed. 6:00 PM Fleet Reserve Mar. 3rd Thur. 10:00 AM DAV 123 Exec. Meeting Mar. 9th Wed. 9:00 AM BVC/VMC General Membership Meeting

Mar. 10th Thur. 10:30 AM DAV 123 Members Meeting Mar. 11th Fri. 6:00 PM Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard

Mar. 18th Fri. 2:00 PM NAUS & BVC Mar. 27th Sun. 2:30 PM Rolling Thunder Mar. 28th Mar. 31st

Mon. Thurs.

11:00 AM 6:00 PM

Mil. Order of the Purple Heart American Legion

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Greetings from The Community Band of Brevard!

Please join us Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 3:00 PM for our next concert titled: “Mamma Mia! Favorites from Italian Composers”. The concert is at the Merritt Island High School Auditorium and is FREE. Tickets not

required. See you there!