Two Valley Patriots team up for
disabled vets
Sue Piazza, DAV
 Recently a Committee
Chairman of Chapter 2’s gave me a
newspaper article put out by King
Features, titled “Veterans
Post” (title appears next to a
picture of the waving flag); the headline
accompanying the article was
“Problems With VA”? This
article appeared useful for those dealing
with the Veterans Administration. And it
is, just not in the way one normally
thinks.
A website for the Veterans Affairs Office
of the Inspector General, and a hotline
were listed. The newspaper piece stated
that this hotline was set up to
“either solve your problem, get the
VA to respond to you, or direct you to a
specific source of assistance.”
It sounded really good, but there are
some issues, as you will see. First I
tried, unsuccessfully, to access the
website, my internet provider informed me
that the address may not be legal, and
that the address/website may be trying to
trick me. I called the telephone number
on the article.
The telephone number on the article
exists, and the woman answered the
telephone “Office of the Inspector
General.” When asked about the
website she explained that I had an
incorrect address and she gave me another
web address - but, I had problems with
this loading as well. So far I have not
been able to access their website. This
makes me uncomfortable, and should make
anyone trying to access an unfamiliar
address uncomfortable.
There is also another issue with this
article - its misleading tenor.
It appears that this telephone number,
website, and office are each designed to
act as a resource for whistleblowers. The
telephone number’s recorded
information states that this office is
designed for fraud, waste, abuse,
mismanagement, criminal activities, etc.
dealing with contractors doing VA work,
VA employees not doing their job, etc.
Those needing basic benefits information
will not profit from the information in
this article.
To access timely accurate information
regarding the Veterans Administration
and/or benefits one should still go to
the VA’s official website at www.va.gov or
contact one’s local veteran’s
agent.
This article does serve a purpose though
- as a warning. If you find that you are
having problems with a website, or that
you call a person listed in an article
and find that they are not who you
thought they should be, be wary. Many
people, especially in difficult economic
times, try all kinds of innovative ways
of accessing people’s personal
information.
I am not saying that this is what
happened here, but what I am saying is
that we must all be vigilant about
information, what we think we are
reading, hearing and/or seeing.
So, when in doubt, go to trusted
officials. All our local veterans agents
are insightful, dedicated people who are
up to date on the latest benefit changes.
Or alternatively, if the computer is more
your speed, the government’s website
(above), or one of the many veteran
organization’s websites (be it DAV,
Am Legion, AMVETS, VFW, etc.) will help
you.
Until next month I remain respectfully
yours.
Susan Piazza is the past Commander,
Chapter 2, Queen City, DAV and was the
first female comman-der of the DAV in 75
years. She has been involved with the DAV
for over twenty five years. You can email
Susan at WithMara@aol.com
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All
pictures and material are
(C) copyright, Valley Patriot, Inc., 2008
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