U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CMV - News Update

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Samuel Tom Holiday.  Samuel served during World War II. [From VAntage Point]

We honor his service.

This June, VA joins the nation in recognizing Men’s Health Month–a time to spread awareness of preventable health issues and encourage early detection of disease among men and boys.  Activities including screenings, media appearances, health fairs and other educational and outreach events will be held to teach men how to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. [From VAntage Point]

VA, in collaboration with PsychArmor Institute, a national nonprofit that provides online education and support to Americans who work with, live with or care for military service members, Veterans and their families, recently launched an online suicide-prevention training video, titled “SAVE,” which is designed to equip anyone who interacts with Veterans to demonstrate care, support and compassion when talking with a Veteran who could be at risk for suicide.

SAVE which stands for “Signs, Ask, Validate, Encourage and Expedite,” offers simple steps anyone – whether a treatment provider, clinician, friend or family member – can take when talking with Veterans at risk for suicide. [From VAntage Point]

There was a Marine visiting family on Guam for five days during the little free time he had before returning to fight a bloody battle in Vietnam.  But the same day he reunited with his unit, he became a casualty of the hotly contested war. [From The Guam Daily Post]

We congratulate the Filipino Community of Guam on celebrating the 120th anniversary of Filipino Independence from Spain.  The special day was marked Tuesday with a flag-raising ceremony at the Reef Hotel in Tumon, and the annual Philippine Independence Day Ball will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the University of Guam Calvo Field House. [From Pacific Daily News]

If you didn’t have to worry about a down payment, what would your dream home look like?  From first time homebuyers to seasoned homeowners, Veterans of all ages may qualify for a VA home loan, a benefit that can be reused. [From VAntage Point]

Veterans face two separate challenges to the VA that have come to a boil this week – one from Trump, one from the Republican House.  One concerns Trump and the makeup of a commission focused on closing VA facilities.  The other concerns transferring funding of Veterans’ healthcare from VA facilities to private entities. [From Forbes]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Marc Ortiz.  Marc served from 1999 to 2005. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Marc!

Years before Will and Grace became a groundbreaking hit TV show and even before comedian Ellen DeGeneres came out, Ralphy Lozano was standing up for the LGBTQ community.  In popular hangout spots, such as bars and restaurants, around his traditionalist town, the teen and his high school-aged friends gathered and refused to hide their true selves, essentially disrupting the status quo. [From REMEZCLA]

The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project hosted a World War II Filipino Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Presentation May 6 at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort. [From MidWeek]

A Filipina American is running for a Congress seat to represent the 23rd district in Texas in November.  Gina Ortiz Jones, 37, who won the Democratic primary runoff, is a former Army intelligence officer who served in Iraq. [From GMA News Online]

Women of color are making history this year, winning key primary election races in Texas and across the country.  Here in Texas, Lupe Valdez became the first Latina to win a major party nomination for governor, and in Georgia, Stacey Abrams is the first African American woman to win a major party’s nomination for governor. [From TribTalk]