Former Trump administration Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie grew up at Fort Bragg surrounded by Vietnam veterans affected by the toxic chemical Agent Orange. His father, too, was grievously wounded in Vietnam. Still, when given the chance to change policies at the Department of Veterans Affairs to help post-9/11 service members suffering from diseases related to toxic chemical exposure, critics say he chose not to.
Poverello Center names new director in veterans advocate Jill Bonny
The Poverello Center looked inward to select a new executive director, tapping its veteran services manager to head Missoulaâs largest homeless shelter.
and last updated 2021-05-07 11:00:58-04
MISSOULA â The Poverello Center looked inward to select a new executive director, tapping its veteran services manager to head Missoulaâs largest homeless shelter, it announced on Wednesday.
Jill Bonny, a longtime veterans advocate, and shelter employee replaces Amy Allison Thompson, who announced her resignation in March.
âSheâs been with the Pov for seven years, most recently as director of programs,â Jesse Jager, the shelterâs director of advocacy, said Wednesday. âSheâs been doing a great job working with our veterans program for most of that time.â
Column: Supporting our Unsung Heroes: Military Spouses (5/5/21) areawidenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from areawidenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By NIKKI WENTLING | STARS AND STRIPES Published: April 29, 2021
Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more staff and wire stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. WASHINGTON National veterans’ groups urged lawmakers Wednesday to pass legislation to help families of coronavirus victims gain access to government benefits. John Rowan, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America, said that early in the pandemic his group heard from families of deceased veterans who were having trouble securing survivor benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA was denying claims because the death certificates said the veterans died of the coronavirus, rather than underlying conditions that stemmed from military service.
WASHINGTON National veterans’ groups urged lawmakers Wednesday to pass legislation to help families of coronavirus victims gain access to government benefits.
John Rowan, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America, said that early in the pandemic his group heard from families of deceased veterans who were having trouble securing survivor benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA was denying claims because the death certificates said the veterans died of the coronavirus, rather than underlying conditions that stemmed from military service.
“We want to make sure it’s understood that, while COVID started this whole thing, the underlying conditions really killed the veteran,” Rowan said. “We want their families to get their due.”