VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced that a team is being formed to investigate why black veterans receive VA benefits at lower rates than white veterans. (Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza, U.S. Navy)
Updates from the VA, a concerning report from an organization led by former Pentagon leaders, and more make up our early March 2023 roundup.
Readers can send veterans-related stories to Southards.CALegion@gmail.com.
Statewide: California Veterans News
- The Veterans Justice Commission, which is led by former Defense Secretaries Chuck Hagel and Leon Panetta, is recommending that legislatures and courts devise new ways to account for military service when convicting veterans. The commission found that as many as one in three veterans have been arrested and that veterans make up eight and five percent of state and federal prison populations respectively.
- Per NBC, the VA has begun an investigation into why and how black veterans across the United States receive benefits at lower rates than white veterans.
- As of March 2, the VA is accepting grant applicants for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention program. Over $52 million will be granted to U.S. organizations that work to prevent veterans suicide.
- On March 3, the VA announced that it will be lessening its mask requirements at VA medical care facilities. The new system will take into account local and regional COVID-19 risks.
Los Angeles County Veterans News
- The West Los Angeles VA Campus is opening a 59-unit permanent housing complex on its campus six years after announcing it would be converting old and unused buildings into 1,200 units. It’s unclear if the development is in response to growing criticism—including a recent lawsuit filed by veterans—of the VA’s alleged mismanagement of the land. California Legion News will have more on this story later this week.
Sacramento County Veterans News
- Dignity’s Alcove, a Stockton-based nonprofit homeless veterans shelter that was forced to temporarily shut down in early February, is seeking help from the public to relocate elsewhere in the city. Readers can find Dignity’s Alcove’s Go Fund Me here.
San Diego County Veterans News
- Cox Charities is awarding up to $200,000 in grants toward programs that benefit military families and veterans, among other causes. Readers can learn more here.
- As reported by Kelly Davis and Jeff McDonald for the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego County has been forced to pay Army veteran Frankie Greer $7.75 million after he was severely injured due to neglect at a county jail. Greer was prevented from taking a needed seizure medication after being booked. Not long after, he suffered a seizure that led to a serious head injury.
Recent Veterans Posts & Videos from California American Legion
- Patricia Jackson Kelley: Making History Every Day for Decades
- Do you have a purpose, a reason for being?
- Talk with a Legion Member of Laguna Beach Post 222 – George Ciampa
- News: City of Vallejo to Honor Women Veterans
- News: California veteran Giovanni Roman injured by Russian Forces while volunteering in Ukraine
Important Veterans & Military Holidays in March
- March 3 — Navy Reserve Birthday
- March 13 — K-9 Veterans Day
- March 15 — Anniversary of the first caucus of The American Legion
- March 25 — National Medal of Honor Day
- March 26 — Anniversary of the U.S. victory at the Battle of Iwo Jima
- March 29 — Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans 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.