MVA TODAY
The Monthly Newsletter for
LA County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
MVA by the Numbers/ Patriotic Hall Event Schedule
MVA VSO’s continue to serve the LA County veteran community. During the month of February:
- Over 1,052 veterans were served at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall (does not include MVA field offices).
- 1,844 claims were filed
- $358,915 was awarded in lump-sum amounts (Source: Vet Pro).
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Employee Spotlight - Chris Cortes
Recently, Richard C. McManus, a 93 year-old Korean Veteran, visited Bob Hope Patriotic Hall with his daughter, Kim Garber. McManus spoke with MVA Staff Chris Cortes to check on any possible benefits that might be available for the veteran. Chris assisted in filling out forms, but Mr. McManus’s military records had been lost in a fire—in 1973, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, destroyed the records held for Veterans who were discharged from the Army and Air Force during certain periods of time.
McManus decided not to go forward with a claim, but Ms. Garber noted that “the real magic” was the interaction between McManus and Cortes—she’d never heard her father talk about his service before meeting with Cortes.
Garber said, “I don’t know why, but for the first time in my father’s life, he opened up about his active war experiences. I sat quietly in shock, while he poured out his heart out. I found out things he never shared before with any of the family.
I’m thinking this was really a cathartic experience for him. He freed his mind by unlocking trauma he has kept inside since the Korean War. I’m sure many men and women from any war experience this. Plus, in his generation, no man worth his salt would ever admit feeling ANYTHING when they got back. They just moved on …”
Garber continued, “Listening skills, empathy and kindness cannot be taught in any book. You either have it, or not. Your superiors were wise to choose you (Cortes) for this position. I will always be grateful to you for being the man you are.”
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MVA and the Veterans Collaborative Thank Veterans on the 50th Anniversary of the End of the Vietnam War
On Wednesday, March 29th, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) and the Los Angeles Veteran Collaborative (LAVC) will host a formal dinner to honor the service and sacrifice made by the nearly 3 million U.S. military service members who served in Vietnam.
American troops departed Vietnam fifty years ago on March 29, 1973. With more than 58,000 Americans killed overseas, and thousands more wounded, injured, or determined missing, the most profound and enduring tragedy is the less-than-honorable response troops received when returning home. These brave and noble men and women were shunned, neglected, and treated in a manner unbefitting of their service and sacrifice by those they fought to protect. Such treatment must never happen to our service personnel again. As such, MVA and LAVC will honor Vietnam-era veterans on Wednesday evening.
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Commissioner's Corner
The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as a member of the Veterans and Community Oversight and Engagement Board for the VA West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, CA , for the 2023 membership cycle. For more information, click here.
Legislative News
Veteran Designation on Driver’s Licenses (SB 837, Umberg) -This law eliminates the $5 fee for obtaining a military “VETERAN” designation on a driver’s license or identification (ID) card.
Toll Exemptions for Certain Veterans (AB 2949, Lee) - This law exempts vehicles registered to veterans displaying specialized license plates from paying tolls on roads, bridges, highways, vehicular crossings, or other toll facilities. The exemption applies only to vehicles with license plates that are issued to a disabled veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor, prisoner of war or to veterans who have received distinctions such as the Purple Heart or the Congressional Medal of Honor.
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The LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) provides assistance to LA County veterans, active service members, national guard, reserves and their families with resources, programs, services and state and federal benefits, including: compensation and pension claims, burial benefits and services, medical and mental health referral, education and vocational rehabilitation, home loans and grants applications, employment and job placement assistance, DMV veteran designation, legal service referrals, appeal processes, incarcerated veterans and aid and attendance.
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