Calling all veterans

Veterans Talk

I am asking all area veterans who are able, to participate in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Veterans’ Day parade Nov. 9. The parade will start on Brosig Street at 10:30 a.m. and travel downtown to the traffic light at Turner Pierce & Fultz Hardware. Put a homemade sign on the side of your vehicle identifying yourself and the branch of service in which you served. Let’s show the citizens just how many veterans are in this area. Immediately after the parade, the VFW will be serving a meal for $10 along with auction items, raffle tickets and if you are interested, the Military Museum will be open.

Don’t forget to get your flu shot. You can get one for free at any Veterans Affairs health care facility or any Walgreens. The flu shot is especially recommended for those who are 65 years of age or older.

The House Committee on Veterans Affairs advanced six bipartisan pieces of legislation to the full House for a vote. The six bills cover a wide range of veteran benefits and protections to include improvements for homeless veterans, student veterans, veteran-owned businesses and improved reporting transparency within the VA.

TRICARE open season will run from Nov. 11 to Dec.

9. It is important to note that new retirees have only one year to enroll in TRICARE Prime. If they forget to enroll in TRICARE Prime, individuals are no longer going to be automatically enrolled into TRICARE Select and will have to wait for the next open season enrollment period. If an individual is already enrolled, they can change their TRICARE coverage, if eligible. If you want to stay in your current TRICARE plan, you do not need to do anything.

Military and U.S. Postal Service officials have issued suggested mailing deadlines for holiday packages and letters to military locations overseas in time for Christmas. To get them there in time for Hanukkah, which starts Dec. 22, this year, subtract three days from the deadlines. The deadlines for most APO/FPO/DPO ZIP codes are Dec. 14 for ground shipping and Dec. 20 for First Class and Priority mail and First-class packages up to 15.99 ounces. Shipping earlier than recommended is always better.

I thank you for your service to our country. Until next time, may God bless Texas and the USA!

Carl Dry is a Korean War veteran, a former Grimes County Veterans Service Officer and the current VFW Post 4006 Commander.