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AUSA dinner
The Association of the U.S. Army Veterans Day dinner speaker on Nov. 8 is Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry, the retired adjutant general of Nevada.
A social hour begins at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The cost is $58 per person. The dinner will be held at the Tamarack Casino, 13101 S. Virginia St., Reno.
For information, contact David Sousa, 775-544-8786 or vfwsousa@gmail.com
RSVP online at https://www.ausa-westmoreland.org. Deadline is Nov. 1.
VVA 989 Camos to Classroom
The annual Camos to Classroom scholarship program event is Nov. 16 at the Renaissance Hotel Ball Room, 1 S. Lake St., in Reno. The evening includes no-host cocktail hour, silent auction, live entertainment by the University of Nevada, Reno jazz ensemble, dinner, program and presentation of scholarships.
The featured speaker is Nevada’s newest adjutant general, Brig. Gen. D. Rodger “Dan” Waters.
General seating is $140, and there’s assigned seating. Sponsor opportunities are also available.
For questions, call Brigitte Stafford at 650-888-2564.
This is a nonpolitical event sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Nevada chapter 989 Veterans Benefit Foundation.
To order online, go to vvaReno989.org.
VFW speech contests deadline Oct. 31
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is accepting entries for its 78th annual Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship competitions.
This year’s themes ask America’s high school students “Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?” while middle school students will contemplate, “My Voice in America's Democracy.”
The VFW’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions help encourage a better understanding and appreciation for America and work to foster patriotism among today’s youth.
The Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is open to high school students in ninth-12th grades, with the national first place prize scholarship totaling $35,000. The department (state) winners receive a special Parade of Winners trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Twisted X, where they compete for more than $170,000 in national scholarship awards. Nearly 22,000 high school students worldwide compete in the competition each year.
Open to middle school students in sixth through eighth grade, nearly 55,800 students participate annually in the Patriot’s Pen essay competition.
Student entries may be submitted (along with a completed entry form) to their local participating VFW Post. The deadline for both contests is Oct. 31.
Read more about the contests, or submit your essay and entry form at your local participating VFW Post.
Veterans Day
Veterans will be treated to a free breakfast on Nov. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Fallon Convention Center.
The event begins with opening ceremonies and then breakfast for the first 500 veterans.
New Millennium is the sponsor.
The Veterans Day parade in Virginia City begins at 11 a.m. on C Street, while the Reno parade begins at 11:11 a.. on Virginia Street.
Veterans Upward Bound
Veterans Upward Bound at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno can help with academic advisement, college applications, educational benefits, academic review and referrals to community resources.
Veterans Upward Bound is a U.S. Department of Education program. For information call 775-829-9007 or email vub@TMCC.edu. The website is vub.tmcc.edu.
Nevada Guard retiree monthly meetings
• The Nevada Air Guard’s monthly breakfast is on the second Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Reno Elks Club.
• The Nevada Army Guard’s breakfast is on the second Monday of the month at 8 a.m. at the Carson City Elks Club. (November will be on the 18th. )The group would really like to increase participation. Currently, the group has about 20-25 regulars.
Remember there is no charge from the Elks for the breakfast.
Each meeting normally features a guest speaker. Guests are welcome.
Nevada Veterans Coalition
Oct 24: 3-3:30 p.m. — Unaccompanied service at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley (14 Veterans Way).
Nov. 11 at 12 p.m.- Barbecue for Veterans Day at Vet Mech Arms. This is a fundraiser for the Nevada Veterans Coalition and other veterans organizations. Stop by their shop or call to learn more about this event at 775-294-5458.
Veterans Parents Act
The Education Flexibility for Veteran Parents Act will allow veterans with children to access full housing benefits provided through the G.I. Bill regardless of whether that program is in person or online.
The G.I. Bill is an essential tool for many veterans to advance their education. Currently, veterans who are parents and pursuing their education online are only eligible for half of the G.I. Bill’s available housing benefits. This requirement often forces parents to choose between attending in-person classes to receive full benefits or staying at home with their children.
DEERS station opens in Carson City
A Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System station has opened in Carson City with access to the Department of Defense’s database that includes information for each uniformed service member, DOD civilians, and other personnel.
The new station is located within the Office of the Adjutant General, 2460 Fairview Drive. Reno retains a DEERS station at the Nevada Air National Guard Base, 1776 National Guard Way.
To make an appointment, go to https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/ (use the location “AG HQ Nevada.”) Walk-in appointments are not possible.
To request an appointment at the Reno DEERS station, go to: https://airbasescheduler.com/fss/ or call 775-788-4523.
For information about identification card processing at Naval Air Station Fallon, call 775-426-2808.
Vet Tix has discount tickets to events
Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) is a national nonprofit that provides free tickets to sporting events, concerts, performing arts, and family activities to currently serving military members, veterans of all eras, and immediate family of those killed in action.
Visit VetTix.org and 1stTix.org to learn more.
Veterans Guest House needs supplies
The Veterans Guest House, a nonprofit that provides free lodging for veterans and their families when they come to Reno/Sparks for medical care, houses more than 30 veterans at a time.
The high number of guests has complicated the nonprofit’s supply of perishables, non-perishables and pantry supplies. Any assistance in sharing about this need would be greatly appreciated. In particular, the nonprofit is asking for canned meats (e.g. Spam, Vienna sausages, chicken, tuna, salmon, etc.), canned fruits and soups, bottled water, cereals, individually wrapped chips, mac’n’cheese, TV dinners low in sodium, and gas and gift cards.
Military articles and news briefs are compiled by the Nevada News Group. Questions may be directed to SNMGmilitaryeditor@gmail.com.