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PENNSYLVANIA STATE COUNCIL
The Columbus Chapel at Boal Mansion Museum in Boalsburg Pennsylvania -- the most important and
historical Columbus site in the United States of America -- will be
featured in a 25 minute program aired by the Pennsylvania Cable Network on
Sunday, October 4, 2009, at 7:30 pm.
The Columbus Chapel is America’s
Columbus connection. It contains an Admiral’s Desk that belonged to the world’s
most famous explorer, fine European religious paintings and statues dating back
to the fifteenth century and two pieces of the True Cross of Jesus given to the
Columbus family in 1817 by the Bishop of Leon
from the Monastery of St. Toribius in Spain.
The Columbus Chapel was brought to
America from Spain 100 years ago by Boal descendants of Christopher Columbus. It
is located at the Boal Mansion in Boalsburg, the family home of the Boals since
1789 and now a museum open to the public. For details about the museum, access
the museum web site at http://boalmuseum.com
Previously, BBC-TV filmed the Columbus
Chapel and broadcast its story throughout the United Kingdom, and more recently
Belgian National Public TV filmed it and broadcast the story to one million
viewers throughout Europe. Many residents of
Pennsylvania are unaware of this unique historical asset in their home
state.
 The Columbus Chapel in Boalsdburg Pennsylvania, with the Admiral's
Desk of Christopher Columbus on the right.
Secretary Shinseki Announces Ability to
Sign Up for Emergency Education Benefit Payments on VA Web-Site this Friday
Vans to Help Veteran-Students
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki
today announced further outreach to Veteran-students eligible for a special
emergency payment of their education benefits. Veterans can now apply online
beginning Oct. 2. Veteran-students can also request courtesy transportation to
VA regional benefits offices.
“Our Veterans went the extra mile for their country,” Shinseki
said. “One of our top priorities in transforming VA is to be, first and
foremost, the advocate for Veterans.”
Last week Shinseki announced that on Friday, Oct. 2, VA’s
57 regional benefits offices will begin providing on-the-spot emergency
payments up to $3,000 to students who have applied for their education benefits
but who have not yet received a government payment.
Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to
apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply
online at www.va.gov, starting Oct. 2. The online application will guide Veterans
through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their
emergency payments through the mail after processing.
“VA is adapting to meet the financial needs of our
Veteran-students who are on campus,” Shinseki said. “They should be focusing on
their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties.”
Students without their own transportation can also request
free van service, provided by volunteers, to carry them to the nearest benefits
office. To obtain this service,
Veterans would have to call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the
“Volunteer Transportation Coordinator.”
Transportation will be on a first-come, first-served, space-available
basis. Veterans can find a map and list of medical centers at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1.
Whether traveling by personal vehicle or volunteer van, VA
officials suggest students check their mail boxes and banking accounts before
leaving home, since some Veterans will find their checks have already arrived. VA would like to recognize the volunteers and
Veterans Service Organizations for partnering with the Department to ensure
that Veterans’ needs are met.
The emergency checks are an advance on each student’s education
benefits, and the amount will be deducted from future benefits payments. Checks will be written at the regional
offices for Veterans who bring a photo ID and evidence of their enrollment. VA officials emphasize that $3,000 is the
maximum payment, with many Veterans receiving smaller payments based upon their
likely monthly education benefits.
A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices
is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3.
The most updated information regarding
VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting Oct. 1.
Applications from approximately 25,000 Veterans are
currently being processed for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit payments to
students or schools.
VA Staffs Office for Survivors of Vets,
Service Members
Shinseki: “Voice of
Survivors” Will Strengthen Existing Programs
WASHINGTON -- To strengthen the
programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the survivors of the
nation’s Veterans and military personnel, the Department has staffed an office
to serve as their advocate, with a charter that includes creating or modifying
programs, benefits and services.
“Taking care of survivors is as
essential as taking care of our Veterans and military personnel,” Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “By taking care of survivors, we are
honoring a commitment made to our Veterans and military members.”
The office serves as the primary
advisor to the secretary on all issues affecting the survivors and dependents
of deceased Veterans and service members.
It will monitor VA’s delivery of benefits to survivors, make appropriate
referrals to VA offices for survivors seeking benefits and explore innovative
ways of reaching survivors who are not receiving the VA benefits for which they
are eligible.
VA benefits for eligible
survivors include educational assistance, home loan guaranties, health care
insurance and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, a monthly payment to the
survivors of some people who die on active duty and some seriously disabled Veterans.
More than 554,000 spouses,
dependents and other survivors of Veterans are receiving VA benefits. That figure includes nearly 5,000 spouses of
World War I Veterans, 90 spouses and 94 children of Spanish-American War Veterans,
and two children of Civil War Veterans.
The establishment of this office was authorized in the
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008.
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