Polk County Board of County Commissioners
commit to Armed Forces Covenant.
In Bartow, on
September 2, 2009, under the impetus of Commissioner Jean Reed, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, Bob English;
Randy Wilkinson; Ed Smith; Jean Reed; and Chairman Sam Johnson entered into a partnership agreement with Armed Forces community
organizations represented by U.S. Army Captain David R. Wilson of U.S. Army Recruiting, Lakeland; to assist the citizens of
the County in working together to build a strong, viable community.
Click on the photgraph to view in larger format
Click on the photgraph to view in larger format
Click on the photgraph to view in larger format
Click on the photgraph to view in larger format
Click on the photgraph to view in larger format
Click on the photgraph to view in larger format
National Resource Directory The National Resource Directory (NRD) is an online resource for wounded, ill and injured Service Members, Veterans, their families and those who support them.
The NRD provides information on, and access to, medical and non–medical services and resources across the country which
will help them reach their personal and professional goals as they successfully transition from recovery to community living.
The NRD is an online partnership of the Department of Defense, Department of Labor and Department of Veterans Affairs, as
well as numerous Veteran service and benefit organizations; non–profit community–based and faith–based organizations;
academic institutions, professional associations and philanthropic organizations.
The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, (FDVA) will have a Veterans Claims Representative at the new VA Lakeland Clinic, 1 day a week, on Tuesday’s beginning on
or about August 4, 2009.
Click on the picture to view a slideshow
Click on the picture to view a slide show
Those in the group shot (l-r) are:
Judie Serode, Johnnie Betterly, Jamie Brown, Cyd Deathe, Polk County Public Safety Director Jim Bell (Colonel, USAF, Retired
Fighter Pilot with 217 combat missions in Vietnam), Marine Cpl. Corey Suttle and girlfriend Samantha, dad Ken and mom Susan,
Charlene Tributino.
Operation Care and Cheer
At yesterday’s
Board Meeting, the Board agreed to participate in a special project concerning 142 soldiers that serve in Afghanistan and
Iraq with the Lake Wales Unit, this project is called “Operation Care and Cheer”. The program is designed
to let the soldiers know we support them by sending care packages to them and their families. The Veterans Services
Office is coordinating this effort and needs our help by donating items and placing them in one of the collection boxes.
The drop-off sites and cheer care package list of suggested items are attached for your information.
Thank you and I wish you and your family a happy holiday season.
·Dr. E. Cherry will introduce John Hopkins Polk County Veteran Services (1 Minute)
·JohnHopkins will present
brief overview of Veteran Services to include questions from BoCC, then recognize Polk County Veterans Council. (5 Minutes)
·BoCC Chairman will present plaque to Gary
Clark, Colonel, USAF Retired, Chairman of Polk County Veterans Council in recognition of the Veteran’s Council’s
extraordinary efforts to Veterans in our County. (2 Minutes)
·Photo Opportunity with BoCC and recipient. (2 Minutes)
I'd like to get the word out to all our veteran partnership
organizations, as well as, the coalition about this transportation for the disadvantaged meeting scheduled for next
week at Cypress Lakes in North Lakeland. The meeting is open to all interested persons who are willing to attend
and the agenda is below.
Transportation for our disabled veterans, as well as, citizens of our County constitutes
an ongoing issue as we are all aware. This meeting is an opportunity for those of interest to get
involved in working in partnership towards a solution regarding transportation access for the disabled and disadvantaged
within the County.
Any
assistance you can provide would be sincerely appreciated. Cypress Lakes has graciously allowed us to use their
facility, however, seating is limited. For those who wish to attend, please contact Theola Perkins of Veteran Services
at 863-534-5220 or Ivan Maldonado of Polk County Transit Services at 863-534-5500.
Thank you for your continued support of our veterans
here in Polk County!
Notice To Veterans
Administration Pension Recipients __________________
Anyone receiving Non Service
Connected (NSC) Pension or Widow's/Death Pension from the VA who receives the Eligibility Verification Report (EVR) is
required to complete and return the EVR to the Pension Management Center in Philadelphia, PA. before,
March 1, 2008
This is also
the time to file for reimbursement for out of pocket medical expenses incurred during 2007.
If
Assistance is needed Call Polk County Veterans Services for an appointment 863.534.5220
Polk County Veteran Services welcomes and is proud to serve all Polk County Citizens. We serve all former, present,
and future members of the Armed Forces of the Unites States and their dependents.
Our focus is to strive
to provide information concerning veterans benefits as they relate to compensation; pension; vocational rehabilitation; medical;
education; home loan guarantees; insurance; burial and survival benefits to name a few.
All services are
provided and rendered without charge to the citizens of Florida under Florida Statute FS 292.05.
If you are thinking how to go about getting veterans benefits or filing a claim, or perhaps you need
more information about VA programs and services; Polk County Veteran Service Officers are available to provide veterans and
their dependent with free veterans administration related assistance.
Outreach services are available to
veterans and their dependents who are permanently and totally disabled and non-ambulatory.
A Veteran - whether Active Duty, National Guard, or Reserve, is someone who at
some point in their lives, wrote a blank check made payable to "The People of the United States of America" for
an amount of "up to and including my life".
The Polk County Veterans Council
endeavors to unite all of Polk County's Veterans Organizations to better serve the
Men and Women whom have served our country so valiantly.
The Polk County Veterans Council is - Veterans helping Veterans.
