Fighter craft of the Tuskegee Airmen lined up in Ramitelli, Italy sometime in March, 1945. (Photo: Toni Frissell)
This week’s roundup on California Veterans news honors former Tuskegee Airman Henry D. Polite of Los Angeles, who is best remembered as a “family man.”
We have also collected updates from the VA and DoD, details on a Veterans job fair in Kern County, a Memorial Day ceremony co-hosted by Post 66 in San Luis Obispo, and more.
Readers are encouraged to send Veterans-related stories to news@calegion.org.
Statewide: California Veterans news
- Former Tuskegee Airman and Army Veteran Henry D. Polite of Los Angeles passed away last Monday, May 8 at the age of 96. Polite served as an aviator during World War II, then worked at the Department of Defense for nearly 30 years.
- Per a study published by JAMA Neurology, Veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina between 1975 and 1985 are significantly more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease. Veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune may be eligible for additional benefits under the PACT Act.
- Continuing an upward trend, recent studies published by the Journal of General Internal Medicine and the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, as part of an ongoing third-party review of patient satisfaction, have found that VA health care is “consistently as good as — or better than — non-VA health care.” More info can be found in the VA’s most recent press release.
- The VA will be hosting Memorial Day ceremonies at Veterans cemeteries around the country. A list of dates and times for ceremonies at California’s national cemeteries can be found here.
Bakersfield Veterans news
- Kern County’s 2023 Veterans Resource and Job Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 25 at 1120 Golden State Avenue.
Fresno Veterans news
- Central Valley Honor Flight gathered today to begin their 25th flight to the Veterans memorials in Washington D.C. Over 60 Veterans joined this year’s flight, all of whom served in the Vietnam War.
Santa Barbara County Veterans news
- Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 218 is looking for a new place to host its antique Huey within Santa Barbara County. Readers can contact Chapter 218 representative Ed Foster at (805) 770-0979.
- Construction has begun at Santa Maria’s Hope Village, which will provide temporary housing for 10 homeless veterans, among dozens of others, once complete. The site will also provide medical and mental health care.
San Luis Obispo County Veterans news
- The Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum will be holding a Memorial Day ceremony beginning on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. American Legion Post 66 is co-hosting the event.
Recent Veterans articles & videos from California American Legion
- Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
- News: VA offers PACT Act implementation update, over $1 billion in benefits awarded since January 1
- Legionnaire Insurance Trust
Important Veterans & Military Holidays in May
- May 1 — Silver Star Service Banner Day
- The Friday before Mother’s Day — Military Spouse Appreciation Day
- May 8 — Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (World War II)
- The last Monday in Day — Memorial 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.