Carroll County, MD CCG 24 News, 17 Apr 2023

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From YouTube: Carroll County Veterans Roundtable with Lt. Governor Aruna Miller on April 17, 2023

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Okay- and I think I was getting uh significant trouble if sergeant major.

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Didn't have me start every meeting as we should with the pledge of allegiance.

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Congratulations for all. Thank you. Thank you.

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Want to welcome uh all that are here, I feel like it was just yesterday. We had a.

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Previous meeting with um senator cardin and large part of this team, I was.

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Really pleased to have been asked by lieutenant governor and the administration to come here and.

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Share their thoughts and ideas and then most important, take the opportunity and listen and.

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Learn from you on what is happening here in carroll county in the region and in maryland.

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We have a large group, so we cannot go around the table because if we did it would take a whole.

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Hour and I would take away from the opportunity that uh we're really here for recognizing, where.

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To go charles wheatley, the senior former delegate from uh 60 years ago. Thank you, charles being here.

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uh And I think that's going to be all the introductions except to say that we are blessed to.

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Have lieutenant governor miller and the secretary mdva secretary woods and deputy secretary bob finn.

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And to my right, one of our own senator justin reedy from district five. So thank you very much.

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The order of events lieutenant governor secretary woods I'll then highlight some of the things.

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Happening in the county from the county, giving plenty of time, most importantly, for you to share.

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These are the things that you are accomplishing, and these are things that you want to accomplish.

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To continue to do what's best for our veterans in our community so ma'am the floor is yours.

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Well, good morning, everyone good morning, my name is aruna miller and I am honored to be your.

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Lieutenant governor in the state of maryland and president rothstein. Thank you so much for.

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Your service here in carroll county, and not to mention your service to our country for over.

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30 years really truly appreciate everything that you've done and to all the commissioners that are.

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Here, including commissioner, it's kyler, yes kyler and commissioner okay bigelotti, almost okay got.

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It and commissioner gordon thank you so much uh for having me here and commander stem. Is he here.

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uh Buddy, you got tied up with work, but he told me not to welcome everybody.

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um He might show up, but we'll see him well. Thank you. I just want to say what an honor it is to be.

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Here, with all of you in um in carroll county and on behalf of governor westmore and myself,.

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Thank you. Thank you for everything you do uh in our state and not to mention to every veteran.

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That is here, thank you for your service and your patriotism to our country. Thank you for putting.

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The country above self- I don't know what greater way to be a patriot than that, and I can tell you.

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That when governor westmore and I first ran for office, our mission was to make sure that we left.

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No one behind in the state of maryland and the other thing that we want to help, do and build for.

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The state of maryland, along with partnerships from every one of you, is to make sure that maryland is.

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A state of service these- these are the two areas in which we're focusing on now in the.

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United states, we have over 16 and a half million veterans in the state of maryland. We have over 362.

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000 veterans and right here in great carroll county, I believe we have over ten thousand.

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Veterans that reside right here, and so one of our focuses here for the moore miller.

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Administration, when we say we, we don't want to leave anyone behind line. That is our veterans.

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Who have served so greatly for our nation and so immediately when we started our administration.

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One of the first pieces of legislation that governor westmore introduced and I'll talk.

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About several others, but just to let you know, governor wes moore is a u.s army, combat veteran.

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And he served in the 82nd airborne, I'm a wife of a air force, veteran david miller and then.

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We are so honored to have the secretary of veterans affair right here. Secretary tony.

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Woods, who's, a west point graduate and, of course, served in iraq. So we thank you for your service.

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So, as I said, the moore miller administration, our focus is to make sure that we protect our veterans.

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That we make sure they continue to thrive in the great state of maryland. So you know several pieces.

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Of legislation, one that we just passed, is our keep our heroes home act, which is essentially.

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What we're trying to do is make sure that pension and any tax exemption is going to be provided.

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For veterans, so this is how it works. Right now, veterans below the age of 55 have a five thousand.

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Dollar tax exemption. We raised it to 12 500., so we over doubled it right and then veterans over.

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Or on over the age of 55, currently get a pension of fifteen thousand dollars uh tax exempt. Now.

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We've increased that to twenty thousand dollars. Look when the bill was originally introduced.

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We wanted it to be forty thousand dollars, but the legislature. Of course, we have to work with.

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Them- and I can tell you anytime, we introduce legislation, it takes time to get to exactly.

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The point that you want to so it's incremental, it's small steps uh that are being taken, but we.

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Believe this is a big step in making sure that we show our loyalty to our veterans that we want them.

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To stay in the state of maryland, we want them to invest right here, so that is, um you know. One.

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Piece of legislation I wanted to share with you another one is health care for our heroes and.

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This is for the national guard and, commissioner, you know kyler. I think you will appreciate since.

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You're, a member of the national guard is to make sure that we provide free health care and dental.

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Care for our national guard first time in the nation that any state has ever provided this.

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That bill, thanks to working with our partnership with the legislature, also passed another one that.

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We're really excited about, and this partnership uh and efforts came long before the moore miller.

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Administration, and that is to provide a second nursing home in the state of maryland, for our.

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Veterans right here in sykesville in district five of carroll county, really really excited about that.

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I know that justin reedy and the entire carroll county delegation, including delegate krebs, the.

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Commissioners that are here today, the federal delegation- everybody worked very hard way prior.

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To even governor moore and I coming here so we're excited to report that I believe we're gonna have.

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uh Over a hundred and eighty million dollar investment to build this new facility right.

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Here in sykesville it will be 24 hour, nursing uh home for veterans. It will provide uh dialysis. I.

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Believe for veterans as well and so and I believe it's about 128 beds will be provided and it will.

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Serve as a community center for veterans as well so really really excited about that and I believe.

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The construction will start in another year or so right. So we're really looking forward to that and.

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Then finally, I wanted to mention how we want to create a state of service so again for the first.

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Time ever marilyn will have what is called. We just recently passed a surve act that will allow high.

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School graduates to seek a life of public service by during right after they graduate that first.

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Year, they're out that they can come to the state work in a non-profit work for the state work for.

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Private industry and the state will provide them money in order to do this. Look a lot of times.

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When kids graduate they're not really sure what they want to do and they get into bad situations,.

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Because of the unknown and what's out there, we hope that this will provide them an opportunity.

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Number one to get hands-on learning to be able to focus on areas that interest them the most. Whether.

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It's environment, education. uh You know whatever it may be, that we will give them one year to be able.

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To work in these fields, they'll get paid minimum wage and they will also get a stipend and, during.

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This time they will also get to uh you know, get education like financial literacy and all sorts.

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Of other things that they can use as tools for themselves when they finally decide what it is.

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They'd like to do the importance of the serve act is governor moore and I know, and every one.

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Of the veterans here knows that those who serve together stay together, they'll be loyal to one.

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Another they'll be committed to their community to their state and during these divisive times, we.

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Believe it is service. That's going to save us, not just here in the state of maryland, but across the.

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Nation and that's why it is so important for us to make maryland a state of service. So that's a.

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Quick update on what's going on in the more miller administration and again, I'm thrilled to have all.

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Of you here thank thank you for allowing me to be here. Most importantly, I want to hear from you.

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What's what's important to you what it is that you would like the more miller administration to.

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Focus on to be able to meet your needs and again I'm honored to be here with um you know, president.

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Ross seen for all the great work he does here and secretary woods and I believe, you're going.

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To speak next secretary, woods, okay, so I'm going to hand it off to secretary woods. Thank you again.

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um Lieutenant governor miller, just thank you so much for being here I'll try to keep my.

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Remarks uh as short as possible, because you're right, the best part of this is hearing from the.

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Folks, here in this room, but I I want to just start with a huge congratulations, uh 10 out.

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Of 10 pieces of legislation that the moore miller administration put forward uh passed in some form.

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um I think there's all sorts of wonderful reasons why uh governor moore chose you as his lieutenant.

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Governor, but your experience in the legislature of course, uh has to be a pretty significant part.

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Of why that historic, success with the first set of bills that the mormon illustrator more miller.

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Administration put forward was successful, obviously, veterans and military families.

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Saw themselves represented in that agenda, and I think that comes as no surprise when we've got a.

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Governor who's, a veteran and a lieutenant governor who knows exactly what it's like.

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To balance a career, lead a family and also be a military spouse, and so I just wanted to say thank.

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You for bringing that perspective to your work, those of us in this room and veterans and middle.

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Through families across the state recognize it, and we appreciate that so obviously 10 out of 10.

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Pieces of legislation are going to be impactful for all marylanders and, of course, that includes.

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All of our veterans and and their families, but there were, of course, several pieces that were that.

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Really hit home for us, so obviously you mentioned the keep our heroes, homack and healthcare for.

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Heroes act but one of the pieces that I wanted to just highlight for folks in this room.

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um You know military spouse burials was actually one of the things that I've heard about from a.

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Number of folks- and I know many folks- have tried to be able to make that free for families when.

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They are bearing a loved one of a of an eligible veteran in our state cemeteries and for that to.

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Finally, get across the finish line and be fully funded, really went a long way and we're very, very.

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Appreciative of that, I'm very happy that got done in addition to that growing. Our veterans, trust.

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Fund, which is a resource for veterans in times of need, and so we want to make sure that the folks.

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In this room are aware that there are resources out there for veterans who need that. Thank you to.

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Bob for helping to lead that and keep that working for it for so long. That is a resource that is now.

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Going to grow because marylanders, when they're filling out their taxes can just check off that.

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They'd like to donate a little bit more to that, and that can go straight to veterans who need it.

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Improving our ability for veteran-owned businesses to do business with the state, so there's not a new.

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Scorecard system, we have a lot of work to do to make that easier for them and we're excited about.

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Digging into that, and then of course you mentioned the the second new home, which we desperately need.

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Here in the state- and we actually need a third home and a fourth home, we only have about 400.

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Beds so far for veterans, we need 1108 according to the u.s department of veterans affairs, so the home.

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In sykesville gets us a little bit further, we're excited about that and the legislature actually.

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Added additional resources to make sure that that stays on track so I'll wrap there and simply say.

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A huge thank you again and the congratulations for an incredible start. We're excited to to let.

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Folks ask questions here in a moment, after after addis had a chance to speak. Thank you. [Applause].

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Thank you again and thank you for uh the information you provided.

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um Both lieutenant governor and secretary and I am going to uh cut my remarks very short and hand.

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Them over to, we established our veterans advisory council in 2013 and there's a powerpoint deck.

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You're going to receive in just a second and it comes under our department of citizen services and.

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Then, under that the bureau of aging disabilities, but most importantly, it's not the government.

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You know that has the insight and the candidness to understand what the needs are of the community.

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It is those that are around the table and from day one- and this is well before I was part of.

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uh The county's administration participating in the advisory council and advisory community.

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I really saw that firsthand and um you know it's it's nice to be able to facilitate it's nice to.

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Be able to move things in a direction when, when feasible, but it's more important to take a step.

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Back, listen and learn; okay, these are the needs of the veterans community and it's about 11 000, give.

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Or take veterans here in carroll county, um the veterans home is going to be a great addition to.

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Our community and to the state and I'll lastly, say the best part to me about leadership in so.

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Many ways is when you do not see the change in leadership from one administration to the other.

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When it comes to roles and importance of keeping our veterans first and foremost in many of our.

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Minds and communities, and I'm really appreciative of all of that. What I'd like to do is hand us over.

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To miss gina, valentine and she's, going to tag team, walk you through a handful of slides, relatively.

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Briefly and then opening up for the community to say a few words, but before did you have anything.

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You want to share uh it's up to you. I was not going to say anything but I'll. Just say. First of.

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All we're thankful, lieutenant governor moore and secretary woods for being here in carroll county.

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Thank you all for the work that you do every day and, as commissioner rostin said, uh you know.

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There's there will be times where differences of opinion with administration and legislators and.

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You know that what you see in the news and what we're what we sometimes find ourselves arguing.

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And debating in annapolis, the desire to take care of and provide for our veterans was. There was no.

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Debate on that, we we all want to do that. I would have liked us to keep the whole forty thousand.

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Dollars in there lieutenant governor miller was a co-sponsor of that bill, but we're thankful that.

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At least we got some progress made, but we do look forward to hearing from all of you today and I'm.

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More here, representing also a delegate tomlinson boucher and rose all when we get out of session.

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We all get back to our our regular jobs and our bosses give us long lists of things. We have to do.

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So they that we're all kind of flying as we can so I'm here representing them as well, but thank.

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You all for your service and I look forward to you, know, hearing the commentary as well, so thank you.

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Gina, okay, um good morning, everybody um gina valentine, I'm the chief of the bureau of aging and.

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Disabilities bobby lawrence is our client services supervisor and she directly oversees the veteran.

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Services program of carroll county- I provided you with, um or we provided you with our our mission.

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And vision statements which I'm not going to read to you. But I want to start with the history of.

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The program the veteran services program did start in october of 2013, with one part-time.

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Veteran services officer in the following years in 2015 and 2016, two additional part-time veterans.

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Services officers were added and those positions are fully funded by county general fund dollars.

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The veteran services officers are trained and accredited by maryland, department of veterans.

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Affairs- and we thank you for that- continued partnership, secretary woods and deputy secretary.

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Finn and and phil munley, it has been a great partnership and it allows us to do the all of.

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The work that we do for veterans in this county, we have very strong established partnerships, excuse.

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Me with local state and federal entities and we work collaboratively together for the benefit of.

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Veterans in this county, I'm going to turn it over to bobby to talk about the services that.

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Are provided through the program sure good morning, so, as gina noted, we have veteran service officers.

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Training credit through mdva, some of the things they assist are veterans with, would be obtaining.

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Military discharge paperwork meeting with veterans, screening them for eligibility for pensions.

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Survivor, pensions, disability compensation claims and other benefit applications. They stay abreast.

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To all the new updates regarding pac legislation, camp lejeune and then obviously get a lot of.

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Guidance with phil munley as his as his crew as things change, so we meet with veterans constantly.

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They prepare claim forms submit appropriate, supporting documentation to the veteran benefits.

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Administration, um so that what did that enable them to do is to be able to actively see these.

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Claims being processed remind veterans if there's additional submissions that are required and then.

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Really assist them through the very difficult process. At times they assist veterans in enrolling.

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Into the va health care system, letting them know what benefits for they may be eligible and then.

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Again, like I mentioned filing supplemental review and higher level review requests along with also.

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Making veterans aware of funeral and cemetery benefits that would be allotted to him or her.

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Another big part of the program is that we provide case management services in emergency financial.

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Assistance to veterans so, as gina mentioned the history of the program a few years in it seemed.

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As though there were some needs that veterans in our community had that seem to lie outside.

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What the va can provide particularly diverting those individuals from homelessness so through.

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A local grant that we secured through the collar foundation, we are able to provide a separate staff.

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That provides primarily case management for those needs. We sometimes can provide emergency housing.

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For homeless veterans and again, and do everything that we can to divert him or her from homelessness.

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We sit on our local continuum of care initiatives, so that involves a lot of collaboration with our.

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Community partners, human services program, our local health department, our hospital staff and of.

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Course, rba liaisons through baltimore, some certain things that we can provide for that they've been.

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Instrumental here in the last few months, maybe assisting a veteran paying some back rents or.

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Looking at resources that can do that, for that veteran, maybe providing assistance to security.

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Deposit, maybe this utility assistance lately we've been looking at helping veterans a lot with maybe.

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Some food costs some some gasoline costs to get to and from work. It's been very instrumental.

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um Last month we did assist with two veterans who were able to secure hud bash subsidies in order to.

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Move into an apartment they were experiencing homelessness and the grant specifically.

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Helped with securing some moving costs for for those gentlemen to be able to move into those.

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Apartments and then to kind of follow them with any other needs that he may he or she may have.

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um Okay, yeah and, and we, the county, has 15 hudvash vouchers to support veterans who are experiencing.

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Homelessness in carroll county- and that has been a great addition- um you know to the services that.

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Are available in carroll county to support our homeless veterans and get them out of homelessness.

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um The next slide are veterans advisory council. um The council was established um in july 1st of.

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2014 and of course, their mission is to evaluate, develop and promote new and existing programs.

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And services for veterans and our families within carroll county, um our veterans, advisory council.

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Meets monthly, um they they are all active. We have multiple if you could just maybe raise a hand. We.

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Have multiple veteran advisory council members here um the chair, of course, which is mr bill nash,.

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um So, thank you all for being here today and the veterans advisory council, like they also.

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Are responsible for advising our board of carroll county commissioners and they are.

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Very active group. They volunteer to help out at a lot of veteran, related events that we have in the.

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County and we of course support their involvement or we appreciate their involvement and support of.

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Our veteran services program and the veterans at this county um just a few additional points.

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The county has a veteran shuttle transportation program, which is fully funded by the board of.

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Carroll county commissioners, the veteran shuttle goes to four different locations to baltimore, to.

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Loch raven to fort dietrich and martinsburg west virginia veterans are transported to their medical.

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Appointments at no charge and a caregiver can ride along with them at no cost as well. It is.

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A great service that ensures that veterans, you know, can access their medical care and.

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Their needs can be met. um We also have within our agency it's um it's called a veteran directed home.

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And community based services program, it provides services to veterans who are in need of services.

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To keep them in their homes, those referrals come from perry points um for veterans who.

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Qualify and the program's actually administered by maryland, department of aging um and we've had.

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That, in a program for a number of years, the veterans are provided with a monthly budget.

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To provide for personal care and other needs that they have again to keep them in their homes.

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um And just the next few slides we wanted to share with you our utilization and the services that.

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Are provided by our veterans, services officers and, through our case management side as well, if.

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You flip to the very last slide you will see it is the return on investment and then, since the.

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Inception of the program, the veteran services program of carroll county has recouped over 57.

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Million dollars in pension and compensation claims for carroll county veterans, and so it.

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Is a great program, and the last thing that I just want to share is that it is housed within.

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The bureau of aging and disabilities, which allows for a warm handoff to other programs and services.

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That veterans may qualify, for we have staff that might help them with renters or homeowners tax.

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Credits and accessing other needed services that they may have so we'd be happy to answer.

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Any questions that you have, but we thank you for your time to share information about our program.

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You know at the end of the day, it's about again supporting veterans and.

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Transportation to uh green street in baltimore to uh martinsburg to the clinics around the state.

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It is about reaching out and finding the veterans that don't know services are available to them.

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And there's still so many veterans that say: I've only done one stint in vietnam.

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I'm sorry a little more volume please. I apologize sorry about that. I apologize for that.

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um You know it's a lot of veterans and a lot of service men and women. You know we'll do a tour.

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uh In vietnam, or do uh three years, you know in uniform or national guard, whatever it may be, and.

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Say: well, I'm not worthy, and you know finding those veterans in the community. That's why.

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um Having the community outreach you know is so is so important.

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um 57 million dollars recouping for veterans, is a lot of money.

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um Wish it could be a whole lot more again, it's they're still for every veteran. I believe. That's.

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Out there- and this is, you know, anecdotal on my part- there is one or two veterans that.

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Are still not served in our community in our region and our state because either they don't.

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Know about the services or they are feeling themselves not worthy of those services and.

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It's for them their families and our children, um and that's just uh you know where, where I believe.

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I'm really proud of our team what they do and more proud of the community's participation uh with.

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Our team to allow us to do the things we do so uh with that. If it's okay with you, we can open it up.

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Okay, what I'd like to do is, I know people are not shy and should not be shy in this.

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Community in this room, so this is a target opportunity uh to to be heard and listen to.

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There you go yes, sir uh thanks for uh having this event, and I appreciate your service.

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um I think I heard a key thing just a moment ago. The problem is, we can't get this message out.

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To our veterans, how can we do better? I've just established a constant contact with our legion.

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Post in an effort to try to reach out to more and more people, but uh I've been a veteran in.

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This county since 1998, and saw him in the last few years and I'm starting to learn about the stuff.

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um What is your name mark so tell me, how did you learn about this program.

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um As far as today, I learned about it friday night. Oh no, that's a perfect example right, but uh it's.

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Only been in the last couple of years that I've been actively involved, my legion post, but uh I'm.

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A lifetime member but, like I say communication, is a major stumbling block across the board.

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Couldn't agree with you more mark transparency, communication and meeting people where they are.

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Right, it's so critical. So um let me ask you this: I assume that you meet with other veterans either.

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Socially, or otherwise are those places that you have not seen this information highlighted before.

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Or do you have suggestions for us in which, well frankly, I don't my only suggestion was I.

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Started this contact name, which I just got started here in the last month and uh but you know like.

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I'm with post officers in sightsville legion posts- and we just haven't- had a whole lot of.

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Contact and communication, so you know my goal- is to take this- gives many copies I can distributed.

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Our general meeting this week mark we can certainly send you the electronic version.

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Of that as well, so you have it in both platforms. I can send it out in the constant contact where.

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People can link onto it great. I would just quickly add I think you're you're raising.

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Excellent points, a couple of things that the maryland department of veterans affairs does.

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So we we maintain about a 205 000, I think now 205 000 person, email list, which is which is helpful.

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Where we send out newsletters, which are focused on uh the wonderful events that take place at the.

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County level, of course, but also the benefits and resources that are available, phil's team actually.

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Has done a great job of getting out some more claims clinics, uh but again, that's that's part.

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Of the lieutenant governor's recommendation of meeting veterans where they are, but I'll be honest,.

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um I I think my generation of veterans, the sort of gulf war post, 911 generation of veterans they.

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Don't realize that great american legion posts are are, are a wonderful community for them to connect.

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In and spend time in or vfw posts, et cetera, et cetera right, so we have to do a better job of.

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Meeting uh that generation of veterans where they are certainly social media plays a part of that.

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But it's an area of focus and I appreciate you're raising this because it's an important issue.

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Let me just add one last thing to that because last year my colleague at the time, commissioner.

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Weaver saw that this problem was how to reach out to a younger community, and he initiated uh and.

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Then brought in the veteran advisory council, you know- and I was a participant in this- to establish.

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A veterans celebration and we're having our second celebration on may 7th, but the focus.

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Of the initial one- and this one was to reach out to that younger community and say here are the.

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Resources available last year, I believe we had uh 3 000 over at the farm museum, so everyone should.

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Be attending uh there'll, be beer, food, beer and uh a lot of opportunities. The u.s army field band.

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Will be there uh reagan, something reagan's own reagan years reagan years will be there.

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And some music uh there will be beer but anyway, um but it's an opera. It's a helicopter will be.

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Coming in um it's an opportunity- and uh you know really continue to promote it- continue to share.

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And tell your stories because it is, it's: tough veterans sometimes are challenged to talking.

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Through issues to people that are not veterans and that's why all of these opportunities you.

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Know it's not one or the other, but that's just my two cents, but I apologize sir. Yes, uh my name.

I

Is james holland, I'm the incoming state commander for the department of maryland and I'm also post.

I

Commander for bmw, post 9619 outside of andrews air force base in pg county now what my favorite.

I

What my post does is every wednesday we have our service officer who holds a meeting from 12.

I

In the afternoon to six at night, all he does is conversation perfections. He makes sure they get.

I

Their money he puts in all their claims in their faith, is also my state service office, which gives.

I

Us the upper hand on that now this coming uh june, the 10th he's going to hold a meeting for all that.

I

Who needs compensation if they have acclaimed men, they can come down because we're going to.

I

Help these va people there and they can sit down with them until further acclaimed meals.

I

If they want to get an increase, they'll be able to tell them how to get that increase.

I

Sit down with them talk with them and let them know this is just some of the things that we do.

I

And if everybody's doing the same thing, the same thing, we should be able to get all the veterans.

I

Into the system and get them compensated, whether it should be compensated there.

I

But without anybody being dropped out, our next thing that we're going to be doing over there.

I

Is homeless studies we're gonna, try to get them onto our roads so that we can take care of them.

I

Because there is a lot of them out there, that's not being taken care of, and we need to sit down.

I

And take care of the homeless guys like I said that will be one of my biggest projects that I.

I

Come in as state command, I'm going to be pushing help for the homeless veterans. All the new homes.

I

That you all said that's going to be building everything we're going to help you with that.

I

When we look for efficient people to come in and sit down and do their conversation, paperwork and.

I

There's a lot of them. That's out there, that's not doing it, but we're going to find those people.

I

And we're going to bring them in, especially in pg county, where I do have the authority to do certain.

I

Things there I will be pushing it girl. I seem to be doing a really outstanding job, not the minute.

I

You are on what you all are doing up here. It is a start. It is a good start. I'm going to take some of.

I

The information back and see, if they're doing it down there, if they're, not I'm going to have them.

I

To reinstate it down there with our effects in this down there always so, I appreciate everything.

I

You've done but, like I said, there is way into doing it and you just kept when things going for.

I

Us that it's working really well, we do anywhere from 10 to 15 conversations every wednesday.

I

J

Auxiliary and state secretary, um what I want to talk to you all about today is make aware.

K

Of some issues that I have found with the pact act um attend governors, senator the va representatives.

K

um So section 804 of the pack, that is the camp lejeune justice act, and it reads this.

K

Section provides a federal cause of action for individuals who resided worked or were.

K

Otherwise exposed for not less than 30 days to order at camp lejeune by 30 days.

K

While we look at the history of camp lejeune because of manpower's demands for vietnam in 1966,.

K

Infantry training was reduced from eight weeks to four weeks four weeks 28 days.

K

So now I'm going to talk to you about my husband.

K

About a year ago, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer to my two metastasize spots,.

K

The va is actually going to tell that he served his. He did his infantry training in 1960.

J

S 67 during that time, ba is going to tell him I'm sorry bud you're not eligible for va benefits.

K

Because of two days, okay, it is, was that 30 days done on purpose, because if you look further into.

K

The history of camp lejeune, the marine combat training, which I have no personal, I have no real.

K

Information about that, it's not a personal thing, but marine combat training is a 29-day course.

K

So, okay, so of our 362 000, maryland veterans. How many are we leaving.

K

I wonder what other issues I only know this, because it's been personal to me.

K

Can you put other issues? Does that act acting tax.

K

Thank you thank you for sharing your story and I'm so sorry that your husband is experiencing.

C

This and I don't know what to say other than that's injustice right there. uh You know to.

C

Make it 30 days uh no less than 30 days, and you know I'm not sure if um any of us have an answer.

C

To how we can address this, but I hope at the state level that we can do something to be able.

C

To help those that have been impacted by this uh tragedy of being exposed to such chemicals.

C

And all I don't know secretary woods if you have some comments on this yeah actually I'll.

E

I'll turn it to our expert uh phil munley uh oversees our veteran benefits program. So I'd.

E

Love to see if you can just sort of share any of your initial reactions, sure and again I like to.

L

To uh again apologize for the difficulties that you're having and I'm hoping through, the claim.

L

Process, you're working through an accredited service officer, a part of the claim process.

L

Is when you file a claim for anything related to camp lejeune, the ba is obligated to receive.

L

Their service records the course may have been 28 days or 29 days, but you don't check in the.

L

Day, you start a course, and you don't sometimes you don't leave the day the course ends it. So a.

L

Veteran could be there for a week prior to or a week after, so there could be 30 days documented.

L

Somewhere now I'm not saying that's the case here, but there could be so. The goal would be.

L

To work through someone who's accredited now, if a claim to submitted and denied you know.

L

There there is an appeal process that we can go through, I'm not guaranteeing anybody any success.

L

A claim such as that, maybe there are a day or two missing. It happens agent orange for vietnam. It.

L

Does happen for folks that maybe which the pack act address camp lejeune is kind of a separate.

L

Issue from from the pact act, so I would recommend that you file a claim work through an accredited.

L

Service officer and go through the process again we're not guaranteeing any success, but.

L

At least, if you can't get an initial submission, get in front of an administrative law, judge.

L

Laws, administrative law judges are able to make decisions where they're not binding upon the va.

L

That it will affect every veteran in the country, so they can make a decision that maybe that could.

L

Be favorable in your case, so you know that that's the suggestion I would have for you.

L

K

So if we did scrounge through his records and find his his um japanese orders that was sent.

K

To him when he was in paris island that his next station would be at camp lejeune, that's yeah.

K

We're hoping that that is sufficient, but as far as some time period.

K

That's good again: the carroll county votes are what they're doing is they're going to.

L

The va is making that decision right, so they're going to send that in and we're.

L

Going to try and uncover every stone, you know they're going to go to st louis and.

L

Try to obtain his records, there was a fire there as you as we're aware, uh not all the.

L

Records are going to be there. All we can do is keep pushing forward uh again. My my.

L

We're not we're not an organization that is super big on trying to go forward into.

L

Appeals we try to get our stuff done, providing the documentation up front, but if we can get.

L

In front of an administrative law judge, sometimes that that's where we win our.

L

Cases we start knowing we're going to lose, but to get to that judge is where we're trying to go.

D

My name is doc: dockery, I'm the vfw district 7 commander. I covered all.

D

Of carroll, county and foremost surrounding carroll county that.

D

Veterans that live in carroll county belong to just want to recognize the fact we have.

D

Vfw we have american legion, dfw auxiliary. Of course, the carroll county government.

D

I don't want to use your number, I believe you said it was 10 300 veterans, veterans in carroll, county.

D

All of our individual organizations have vsos at every level. I think, for example, vfw. We.

D

Started, certainly after world war, one to the sole purpose of taking care of our veterans that needed.

D

The camaraderie of being with people that they served over season and it grew and grew and grew to the point now that nashville has a vso.

D

All the departments are required to have bso all the districts are required to have to be.

D

This other and every post is required to have to use from the national level. I'm.

D

Certain that the department of town, if we don't have those we lose our charter, we're no longer.

D

All that being said is with the amount of numbers that we have for veterans in carroll county.

D

For 362 000 that we have in the state of maryland.

D

Weird in dire need, more quality, training, certified bso.

D

Technology a couple weeks ago, at the back meeting I'll say it again. I got I go to.

D

The grocery shopping for my family, I have about three grams of the same flavored chips.

D

Because I got three different ones in my house that wants to eat their own brand.

D

Of chips, they taste it, I don't get it, but while I sat back and thought about it, it makes sense.

D

Why why is there three different brands of potato chips on the grocery store? Why is there four.

D

Different brands of bacon, we all need variety. We some of us like this. Some of us don't like that.

D

I'll use mike, for example, mike me and mike he's he's actually my district jag officer soon to be.

D

My uh district senior vice commander did not carry one bit for that man. Whenever I first made it.

D

And he was proud of it, as you can tell.

D

So I did my best to stay away from him for a little bit, but now there's not a day that me.

J

And him don't talk and there's not a minute that if I need all of his number that I know.

D

For darn sure he wouldn't be there to have my back if I needed something done, and vice versa,.

D

Now, since you know we have, the question was: is how do we get these words out.

D

uh He was mentioned about the younger veterans as well as being here with tony woods as a generation.

D

I can't sit around a bar all day long every day I don't have the.

D

Time, I've got kids, I got a wife, I've got household duties, everything to take care of.

D

So that lack of camaraderie that I'm missing throughout the day of hearing what's going on.

D

With that venture in their life and how they've gotten their claims, everything set up and done or.

D

Whatnot, I'm missing that because I can't sit up there younger generations. You want to pull them.

D

Together, we got to find things that make that stand out to the younger generations that have.

D

Kids, that have jobs that don't have the time to sit around on their on a barstool all day, long.

D

Nothing against the individuals that do y'all earned it. That's what you choose to do, go for it.

D

That's how we hit our younger veterans. The other thing is.

D

And I've I've heard this from one too many of them.

D

Has a nice way to say this: we we had our lives with the government.

D

Most of us got screwed by the government to walk back into another county offices. There's.

D

No offense on anyone that had the county but for to get someone that has a mistrust with the united.

D

States, government or local government to walk back into a government office. That's that's difficult!.

D

So the importance of us having other vsos out there, whether they're.

D

The vfw, the american legion dav, which, by the way morris, is top-notch. I love that name of the day.

D

um That's important because we, I know where my younger events are from my county. I know how to.

D

Reach them the man right there, danny rodriguez, he owns another non-profit works at a veterans center.

D

He helps on his civilian life, home health care, home maintenance, anything that the veteran needs.

D

He knows where the younger guys are too and he works with.

D

But for all of this to work, we all have to work together.

D

Can I do everything it's vfw that the county can absolutely not. I don't have those resources.

D

What resources we do have department venture needs. Some needs money for rent fifteen hundred.

D

Dollars, one time here, you approved your venture. There's your money go, do what you got to do.

D

The district level has money for emergency needs, every post has money for emergency needs and.

D

There's no limit at district and post, but we can give them is what our membership says to do. So I.

D

Know one person in their unmet needs or emergency funds. They have over 500 thousand dollars in.

D

God think of the number of people they can help with that spread. Nut orders around is good too.

D

That's where this that's, where working together comes in playa, if I hit a brick wall with help and.

D

Adventure- and I know I could go to the american legion- I can talk to the dav. I can come to the.

D

County and say look, this is what we've done. What else can y'all do? Working together is going to be.

D

The key to getting all these veterans together and getting them taken care of having animosity.

D

And I'll say you're here, I'll use you I'll use you and your post. This poses example.

D

A local vfw post and this american legion post have been butting heads for decades, and it is.

D

Ridiculous me and adrian start talking before trying to figure out how we can eliminate that.

D

We had a joint function. 911 somebody got a wall, stick up their rear end.

D

Broke that broke that relationship before it ever even ended.

D

Most of the people that sitting down here at the bar at night time or during the day they belong to both here and the vfw.

D

It's just sad that we can work together.

D

There's not one single place that a veteran needs to go to get care if it's with their benefits. It.

D

May be 16 different places, but we won't know that unless we're all working again. Thank you.

B

Okay, I'm like.

B

Veterans and that's um I'm willing to bet that's a low number, okay, but five dsos ain't. Nowhere near.

B

Enough to handle that many veterans period, you know- and I believe, there's a senator up there.

B

uh Richard starr act is extremely important. I don't know if there's state or federal state state.

B

It's, I think, that's federal, but uh I'm sure the the secretary knows the richest starr act was put.

B

As has been sent to congress and to senate a half dozen country, um and it is to stop the offset for.

B

Disabled veterans, with their military retirement, you know I myself, I'm 100 disabled and medically.

B

Medically retired and I have to forego my military retirement because of what I get from the.

B

Va which really isn't right, but you know I mean, there's people that need it a lot more than I.

B

There's there's a lot more that can be done.

B

Carroll county seems to do pretty good. You know I've been living in carroll county for six years.

B

To buy it, it's easy and so far pretty good, but you know there's always room for improvement.

B

Yeah I do apologize, we have five minutes. Unfortunately, lieutenant governor does have.

A

A heart stop at 10 30.. So let's try to keep comments and or questions you may have with.

A

A

I hear all the problems that I've changed hats from political to better. I bet I.

M

Guess today the announcement of good news: it's always nice.

M

Probably that it looks like that, we're going to be able to uh continue where we started as.

M

A veterans big stem park we had to locate some of our members here were present for our flag, raising.

M

We're getting ready to move into the fourth phase of our ship, I think, to subsided. I hope.

M

So we're planning maybe to be able to resume this this year at the fourth of july, but prior to that.

M

Our institute that we have- and we probably in may and maybe in june, doing our first international tv.

M

Podcast, our first program is dedicated to veterans and citizens. Similarly, effective.

M

Because I've been very fortunate of this in working with dod, when I work with the.

M

Biotech company getting grants for veterans, they're, male and female cancer patients.

M

And as your support for what will be appreciating.

M

My friend and dr johnson at hopkins, whom I worked with in a little bit of paris with dr.

M

Several things for hopkins has asked me to help him with stem cells that I'm also working on.

M

I hope that we can make carroll county's, disability and the veterans council. The.

M

Kickoff spot for the announcement that this will be the first time in history.

M

By doing stem cell transplants, the doctor that I'm working with has been designated the chair of.

M

The entire country at hopkins, wilmer he's asked me to help you with this through our institute.

M

Called the learning institute for excellence until we've been working with since 1994.

M

I'm going to try to set in our first program the announcement that we will get in the original.

M

People who will be in the first time we've ever made blind people, see a veteran who is in that.

M

Group and I I can think of no greater benefit. I work with the the veteran supply vendors for.

M

Many years and I can think of bill greater, give at any point you get as a veteran, because why.

M

Hope and then now it goes today may see again. I do apologize.

M

Because I will cut off that announcement, chapter john posterior, competitive news. First, we have.

M

A follow-up to a whole new form of disabilities, their location. Thank you so much. It's unfortunate.

A

Man, because I think we can have another hour plus, but I do know you have a hard stop.

A

So I appreciate this please, sir.

C

um President osteen, thank you so much to all the commissioners. Thank you for having me here and.

C

To all the veterans who are here as well and to the entire team that made today possible, please.

C

Know this is not the only hour that you get to share your concerns with me. You can call.

C

Me, anytime, you can email me anytime, you can tell me to come and meet you somewhere to talk about.

C

Your specific concerns, governor moore and I are here for you for the next four years. At least.

C

Hopefully another four after that, but please know that you know, along with secretary woods,.

C

We're here for you 24 7., this is not the end of our conversation and our dialogue will continue.

C

To be, you know here for you in every way possible, so please know that my staff can share my email.

C

And phone number with you feel free to reach out to me anytime and finally, I want to say if you.

C

Have an opportunity to come visit me in annapolis. Please do so so you'd be surprised how many people.

C

Have never been in the lieutenant governor's office, I'd love to host you and have you there.

C

Again, thank you. Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for being here today. [Applause].