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

U.S. Lawmakers say they intend to honor America's forgotten heroes through new legislation introduced Thursday. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt introduced the World War I Valor Medals Review Act. The bill would require the Department of Defense to undertake a review of valor medals awarded to minority Veterans during WWI to determine whether any should receive the Medal of Honor. [From WRDE]

A pair of soldiers who risked their lives to save another during a medical evacuation for a 75th Ranger Regiment unit in Afghanistan last summer received the Silver Star on Tuesday, according to an Army release. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, a career aviator, presented Sgt. Armando Yanez and Sgt. Emmanuel Bynum with their awards at the Army Aviation Association of America Summit in Nashville, Tenn., the release said. [From Army Times]

On Tuesday, April 16, local Veteran communities and organizations spoke directly to representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs who will be arriving on island in the coming weeks to assess the state of Veterans affairs on Guam. The town hall teleconference took place at 8:00 a.m. and was sponsored by the Office of Senator Regine Biscoe-Lee in an effort to allow the Veterans themselves to explain the challenges they face. [From PNC News First]

Danny Chung is an example of a Veteran who found a way to give back to the transitioning active-duty community. During a recent trip down memory lane with me at the Defense Information School, we talked about his new role and how that it is having an impact on military installations around the country. [From VAntage Point]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Jackie Robinson. Jackie served during World War II and made a historic impact on desegregation in the United States. [From VAntage Point]

We honor his service.

Today, VA announced that its National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is partnering with Carry the Load a nonprofit organization that provides active ways to connect Americans to the sacrifices made daily by the U.S. military, Veterans, first responders and their families. NCA will participate in Carry The Load’s Memorial May awareness campaign, which covers 40 states, leading up to Memorial Day 2019. [From VAntage Point]