GIG LINE
By Marsha M. Brown
Yes folks…I couldn’t agree more…GIG LINE is long and yes…sometimes its right down mushy but there are two good reasons…I always have a lot to tell you from week to week AND I believe that telling folks you love ‘em can’t be said often enough, you know? So, for anybody who’s read GIG LINE and fallen asleep in the middle of it…I accept your gratitude for a $.50 sleeping aide!
There’s a lot to be said about the material we chose to spend our time reading these days. Some folks like ‘who dunnit’ mysteries; cook books; romance novels; car, fishing & gardening magazines; child rearing books and of course…the Bible. If you’re a veteran or you’re married to a veteran, you may be a member of The American Legion which entitles you to receive their monthly magazine…’The American Legion – the magazine for a strong America’…a very accurate sub-title I might add. No doubt you probably flip through the pages and if a caption catches your eye, maybe you settle in for a bit of advice, direction or reference to good resources for help. If you don’t…I strongly recommend that you do…seriously. Like many magazines you’ll find a considerable amount of advertisements that help support its publication. However, in’ The American Legion’ magazine you’ll also discover things to buy like service branch signature rings, specialized T-shirts, hearing aids, mobility chairs and the like which is O.K. and just part of the deal but if you really take the time to look through it, you should expect to find a treasure.
My everyday magazine choices relate to interior decorating, crafts, real estate and of course writing but it always does my heart good to read positive articles that support and celebrate our veterans…especially. I also regret that I ever took the ‘Legion’ magazine for granted in the past. The wide variety of stories it features resonates to veterans of all ages, experiences, expertise and the topics are fresh, dependable and interesting. So…if you have any of their magazines just lying around, please pick them up, give them another chance and see what you’ve been missing. And when you’re finished with them, please pass them on to another veteran who may not subscribe so he or she will be inspired to join the ‘Legion’ too. Besides up to date veteran related news, you’ll find neat gift items that reflect a veteran’s history, love of the military and remembrances of that special time in their life featured throughout ‘The American Legion’ too. For example: dog tag pendants, statues of military figures, hat pins, music boxes, jewelry and an array of items that you can’t find in everyday stores. Speaking of which, our best source of military shopping reference on the Outer Banks is Red’s Carolina Outfitters of Kitty Hawk. Once there you’ll find military related T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers and a nice assortment of hunting and sporting equipment. I like that there’s a place close to all of us where you can go inside and either find what you’re looking for or ask ‘Ed’ if he can order it for you. He’s very accommodating and he welcomes the opportunity to help someone find what they’re looking for. It’s a neat store so check it out sometime. Wear your American pride…sport a hat or T-shirt or something that shows you love America and our veterans…by doing so; you’ll inspire others to love them more too.
Please note that if you have interest in submitting a claim to the VA, or require assistance from our Dare County Veterans Service Officer, Rhonda Creef, it would be helpful for you to make an appointment to meet with Rhonda on the following days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays each week by calling her direct line at (252) 475-5604. Veteran inquiries have increased considerably and this new schedule at Rhonda’s request will allow Mondays and Fridays for more verbal and written communications and follow up between Rhonda and the VA on your behalf.
Speaking of references, please take the time at some point to visit the U. S. Department of Veteran Affairs website or go to www.va.gov to acquaint yourselves with a host of vital veteran information and resources.
Please don’t forget that we’ll be issuing Dare County Veteran I. D. Card(s) next Thursday, August 22nd – 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Manteo at the Dare County Administrative Building – Rm. 168 and again the following week on Tuesday, August 27th – 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Then, we’ll be in Buxton the following day at the Fessenden Center on Wednesday, August 28th – 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Just bring your DD-214 and proof of your Dare County residency. When we assign you your ‘CARD’ we’ll give you a list of the businesses that participate in local veteran discounts. The process for ‘CARD’ issuance takes only 10 – 15 minutes and you’ll be glad you did. A veteran told me just today that he had purchased an item at one of the stores that honor the ‘CARD’ that was over $200. When he presented his veteran ‘CARD’ the money he saved made it worth his gas and even lunch to come to Manteo to buy it. He was tickled and so was I for him!
I recently found out about a real benefit to veterans who need minimal assisted living care but who live in your home rather than a nursing home or hospital. I’m investigating exactly how the program works and I’ll write about it in depth in Sunday, August 25th GIG LINE. I can’t help but be excited about the concept being as how there may be many veterans who don’t have family and even perhaps friends who could take he or she in. With so many people who own large, houses who also might be lonesome, it sounds like a perfect union to me under the right circumstances. I understand from the initial introduction to the idea that compensation can be paid to the host/hostess who welcomes a veteran or veterans into their home and that training may be available for them too. I’ll keep you posted, I promise because it’s a neat idea and most importantly good for a veteran who doesn’t require ‘round the clock’ monitoring or skilled nursing care. In this still struggling economy, it might also help families generate income without leaving home…yippee!
Please mark your calendar for Saturday, November 9th to attend our 3rd Annual ‘Salute to Veterans’ in Manteo. The event promises again to be full of surprises and it will embrace a ‘walk down memory lane’. I’m counting on being able to see you all that night so please don’t miss being with us.
Until next time…be happy, be safe, be proud and thank a veteran in a very special way…just look, they’re all around you! If you have any questions or comments you’d like to share, please write to me at editor@giglineheroes.com or you’re welcomed to call my cell: (252) 202-2058. And as usual and in the meantime, thank you and stay tuned!