Five Vietnam Veterans from Central California were honored in Washington D.C. this past weekend. (Photo: manhhai)
This week’s California Veterans news roundup includes new legislative updates, a promising outlook on Veterans homelessness in a Central California county, and more.
Readers are encouraged to send Veterans-related stories to news@calegion.org.
Statewide: California Veterans news
- With the passing of the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023, Service-Disabled Veterans and families of fallen service members will see a boost in compensation payments beginning in 2024.
- A new bill, the Maternal Health for Veterans Act, has been introduced in Congress. If passed, the bill will open up additional funding for Women Veterans’ maternity care benefits. Our full article covers several Veterans bills in state and federal legislatures: UPDATED: Veterans State Tax Exemptions and Extended COVID-19 Benefits Included Among Several Veterans Bills Moving Through Calif., U.S. Legislatures
Bakersfield Veterans news
- As of Saturday, U.S. Army Veteran Jose Lopez of Bakersfield has been sworn in as Kern County’s next Veterans Service Officer.
San Luis Obispo County Veterans
- Stephen Leonard Champeau, Kenny Eatherly, Ernie Gonzalez, Robert Mollenkopf, and Charles Kirk Zirion were among Vietnam Veterans from Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties who passed away from complications due to their military service honored in a Washington D.C. ceremony sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund this past Saturday.
- Per the San Luis Obispo Tribune, Veterans homelessness in SLO County dropped from 144 to 16 between 2019 and 2022, making the county’s efforts some of the most successful in California.
Recent Veterans articles & videos from California American Legion
- News: VA Police will be required to wear body cameras and use dashboard cameras
- News: Compassionate Contact Corps helps Veterans struggling with loneliness
- News: Inspector General Report: VA Travel Reimbursement Program Not Meeting Expectations
- News: SAL 291 hosts third annual Fairways of Honor golf tournament
- News: San Diego VA Nurses Protest for Better Working Conditions and Staffing Improvements
Important Veterans & Military Holidays in June
- June is PTSD Awareness Month
- June 6 — Anniversary of the D-Day Landings at Normandy
- June 7 — Anniversary of the U.S. Victory at the Battle of Midway
- June 12 — Women’s Veterans Day
- June 14 — U.S. Army Birthday
- June 14 — Flag Day
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.