The Kaua’i Veterans Center is under new management. Individuals are asked to confirm or cancel any reservation made prior to this month. Advance reservations can be made up to and including calendar year 2009. The center is available to the
The Kaua’i Veterans Center is under new management. Individuals are asked to confirm or cancel any reservation made prior to this month.
Advance reservations can be made up to and including calendar year 2009. The center is available to the community for rentals of the hall or conference rooms for smaller size meetings. The proceeds are used to subsidize veteran activities sponsored by the Kaua’i Veterans Council, a non profit organization. The office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. For more information, call Aida Padilla-Cruz or Adam Britto at 246-1135.
Documentary of a returning soldier
The Kauai Community College student government will be showing “Empty Streets,” an approximately 20-minute film of a soldier’s life on return from the present war. lthough this will be on parent night, the public is invited to attend and watch the film starting at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 11 at the back of the Performing Arts center at KCC. A small donation is requested and proceeds will go to the Kaua’i Veterans Council. For information, contact Crystal Cruz at 651-3705.
Honoring our veterans
In recognition of our veterans, the Kaua’i Pow Wow Council, Circle of Friends and Relatives of First Americans, have chosen the theme “Honoring Our Veterans” for their ninth annual Intertribal Pow Wow at the Kapa’a Beach Park.
The three-day event will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with an educational outreach at the Lydgate Pavilion as a part of the fifth grade student’s Native American Indian curriculum.
A Cherokee Stomp Dance is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. that evening starting at the Kapa‘a Beach Park. The celebration continues at the ball park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 13 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 14.
An educational program for the keiki will run concurrently with the event. For information, call Dale Jacobs at 828-1294 or visit their Web site at www.kauaipowwow.com.
Veterans Day celebration, services
The Kaua’i Veterans Council is accepting applications from organizations desiring to participate in the Veterans Day parade which starts at 10 a.m., Nov. 10 in Kapa’a. Organizations or individuals desiring an application form may call Rob at 639-7472.
Applications are being accepted for Miss Kaua’i Veteran 2007-08. Applicants must be a senior in high school. The winner will be crowned on Veterans Day and awarded a $1,000 stipend. For information, call Dr. Belles at 822-3677.
The drawing for the council’s fundraiser will be held following the parade. For a donation of 10 dollars, the individual will be eligible to win one of 20 prizes to include a grand prize of a 2007 Mazda pick up truck.
Veterans are available every weekend until Veterans Day soliciting donations at the Kmart parking area.
The memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery.
Update on columbarium
A contract has been awarded to Kaua‘i Builders with a notice to proceed with construction on Aug. 15 and completion by Oct. 15.
The vendor at Washington State have been contacted regarding delivery of the precast concrete columbarium niche units to the Veterans Cemetery.
Military pay
Have you ever wondered what the basic pay is for individuals entering military services? The starting pay for an individual in pay grade E-1 is $1,204 dollars a month. The pay increases to $1,301 after four months of service.
Taxing of retirement benefits
States are prohibited from taxing benefits of military retirees if they exempt the pensions of state and local government retirees.
Hawai‘i is one of 10 states that exclude all federal, state and local pension income from taxation. Hawai‘i is also one of 26 states that provide full exclusion for Social Security benefits.
Retired ID card replacement
Retirees and their dependents will need to provide a primary photo form and a secondary non-photo form of identification when applying to renew their military ID card. A primary photo ID card can be the valid military ID card, driver’s license, passport or other government issued identifications with a photograph. The non-photo form may be a social security card, voter registration card, birth certificate or a U.S. citizen ID card.
The retiree ID card does not need replacement unless it has been lost, stolen, damaged or if the retiree undergoes a change in status. A family member, age 75 or older, may receive a permanent ID card.
Transfer of home
loan to spouse
A VA home loan guaranty may be available to an unmarried spouse of a veteran or service member who died as a result of service connected disabilities. The loan may is also available to a surviving spouse who remarries after age 57 or to a spouse of a service member officially listed as Missing in Action.
For more information, contact a veteran’s benefits advisor.
Purple Heart stamp
In recognition of the 225th anniversary of the Purple Heart, the U.S. Postal Service has released the third issue of the Purple Heart stamp.
The stamp recognizes those who were awarded the Purple Heart Medal commemorating the service members’ sense of duty, dedication to service, spirit of valor and willingness to sacrifice.
For more information about the medal, including educational materials for students, visit the Web site of the Military Order of Purple Hearts.
Club 100
Memorial Service
The memorial services sponsored by the veterans and families of the famed 100th Infantry Battalion will be held today starting at 9:20 a.m. at the Hanapepe Veterans cemetery.
• Johnny Rabasa, a Hanama‘ulu resident and Kaua‘i High School graduate, served for 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a command sergeant major. He served in Vietnam. He also retired from the U.S. Postal Service, was postmaster at the Kaumakani post office, and worked at the Lihu‘e post office. He writes this monthly column exclusively for The Garden Island.
