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Veterans
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- Written by: Editor
“The California Interagency Council on Veterans gives everyone a seat at the table and ensures we’re working collaboratively to address the needs of the 30,000 servicemen and women who return to California each year,” Brown said. “We owe our veterans the best and when they come home, we must serve them the same way they so bravely served us.”
Governor Brown’s executive order directs the secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs to establish the council, which will be tasked with identifying and prioritizing the needs of California's veterans and coordinating the activities at all levels of government in addressing those needs.
“With so many combat veterans returning to California every year it is imperative that state agencies and departments coordinate our efforts to ensure these young men and women are connected to the services and benefits they need to successfully transition home,” said California Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Peter J. Gravett.
This order is based on AB 557, authored by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez with Assemblymembers Paul Cook, Richard Pan, and Henry T. Perea.
“I'm very pleased the governor has created the Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs because one of our most important duties is to keep faith with the men and women who have served the United States in uniform,” said Speaker Pérez. “I introduced legislation to create the Council early this session because we need to do more with less, and by creating this Council, we will bring new focus and new efficiency to provide needed services to California's veterans. I'm very pleased the Governor has taken the proactive step of creating this Council by Executive Order so that it can begin its vital work immediately."
Under the order, Speaker Pérez and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg are each expected to appoint a member to the Council from their respective houses.
These appointees will join secretaries and department heads of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, California Volunteers, Business Transportation and Housing Agency, Health and Human Services Agency, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Military Department, Employment Development Department, Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation and Department of Housing and Community Development.
Additionally, the governor’s order requests that the chief justice of California, president of the University of California, chancellor of California State University and chancellor of California Community Colleges each appoint a member to the council.
The secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs also will coordinate with federal partners and external stakeholders to ensure both groups are active participants on the council.
California’s veterans face many challenges as they transition back to civilian life, including:
The unemployment rate for Gulf War II veterans is 42 percent higher than it is for non-veterans.
Approximately 25 percent of Gulf War II veterans have a disability that is connected to their military service, compared with approximately 13 percent of all veterans.
Recent tests of returning troops show that 20 percent of infantry and 10 percent of other troops suffer from at least mild brain injury.
Over 35 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, who have sought health care through the Veterans Administration, have been diagnosed with mental disorders.
California has the largest number of homeless veterans in the nation and 62 percent of all homeless veterans have been diagnosed with both substance abuse issues and serious mental health problems.
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- Written by: Claire Grieve
LAKEPORT, Calif. – In Courthouse Square in downtown Lakeport, next to the Veterans' Building, there is a flower garden with the Blue Star Memorial sign.
Members of the Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club provide and plant these flowers.
Thanks to the city of Lakeport, which makes sure the flowers are watered.
Nora Gerrard and Rena Clifton were busy planting new flowering plants this week. The garden club is proud to honor veterans in this garden display.
Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of each month, September through May, at Scotts Valley Women's Club House, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.
For more information, call President Helen Turley, 707-262-1721 or www.clttgc.org.
Members, guests and all interested are most welcome.
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The team renders military honors at veteran funerals. The all-volunteer honors team is comprised of veterans from all branches of the military. Team members currently include those who have served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The moving ceremonies that are final tributes to those who proudly served the nation include the traditional rifle volleys, folding of the flag and playing of taps. To date, more than 750 local veterans have been honored.
Some of the ongoing costs for the honors team include uniforms, ammunition, rifle maintenance, insurance, bus maintenance and fuel. The team provides honors at no charge to veterans’ families and relies on donations and fundraising.
Community support is needed to ensure the team’s continued existence. The Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County is proud to serve their community and to honor their departed comrades.
Advance tickets may be purchased from any team member. For further information call Larry at 707-272-5615.
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Gonzales, 28, of Bakersfield, died Aug. 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Gonzales was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
The governor and first lady extended their deepest condolences to Gonzales' family and friends.
In memorial, Gov. Brown ordered that flags be flown at half-staff over the State Capitol on Tuesday.
Sgt. Gonzales’ family will receive a letter of condolence from the governor.
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“VA is committed to providing veterans and their family members with a transparent accounting of the quality and safety of its health care system,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “In collaborating with CMS, we show our determination to be open and accountable to veterans and their families.”
Release of outcomes data to the public is not new for VA. Mortality and readmission results were first posted in 2010 on the VA Hospital Compare Web site (www.hospitalcompare.va.gov/) using a similar method limited to only VA patients.
VA results posted on VA's site are updated quarterly and will not match the results on CMS Hospital Compare, which are only updated annually and lag about year.
CMS is reporting 30-day measures for three common and high-cost conditions: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), and pneumonia to the public through its Web site, www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/.
This year CMS is reporting results for patients treated in VA's health care system. The inclusion of VA data on CMS Hospital Compare is indicative of VA's commitment to transparency, accountability and quality.
Annual reporting on these measures furthers the goal of measuring and rewarding quality as a strategy for improving health care outcomes for veterans and for patients overall.
Results of VA medical centers' risk-adjusted mortality and readmission are available to the public on the CMS Hospital Compare Web site starting Aug. 5.
Veterans, stakeholders and the general public will be able to directly compare the mortality rates and readmission rates at individual VA medical centers against non-VA hospitals for AMI, HF and pneumonia.
The cases reported are from July 2007 through June 2010 for approximately 4,530 non-federal U.S. acute care hospitals (including critical access hospitals) and Indian Health Services hospitals.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Operation Tango Mike will host the Suds-4-Soldiers car wash on Saturday, Aug. 6.
The event will be held at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St., Lakeport from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For a suggested donation of $7, vehicles will be hand washed and dried.
Proceeds will assist in sending monthly care packages to troops in combat zones.
The public is invited to bring items to be included in care packages, stop by and ask questions, add a loved one to the care package recipient list or volunteer.
Further information may be obtained by calling 707-349-2838 or by sending an e-mail to
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“We very are pleased with Governor Brown’s choice of appointees,” said CalVet Secretary Peter Gravett. “The combination of military service and teaching experience both Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Albertson bring to their positions will undoubtedly enhance CalVet’s efforts to reach and assist California veterans of every era.”
Gonzales, of Laguna Niguel, is a retired colonel with more than 38 years of enlisted and commissioned service in the United States Marine Corps and is a combat veteran of Desert Storm.
He served on the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee from 2003 to 2009 and as director of the Equal Opportunity Branch for the United States Marine Corps from 2002 to 2003.
He also held multiple positions in the Los Angeles Unified School District from 1968 to 2000, including the position of principal at three elementary schools from 1982 to 2000.
Albertson is a captain with more than nine years of commissioned service in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve.
He has served as an intelligence officer since 2010, and was director of public affairs from 2009 to 2010, in the Air Force Reserves’ 713th Combat Operation Squadron.
Albertson also served on the staff of Headquarters US Strategic Command from 2007 to 2009 and held multiple positions in the 11th Mission Support Squadron from 2002 to 2004.
He was an adjunct professor at Yuba College from 2010 to 2011, a teaching assistant at the University of California, Merced from 2006 to 2009 and an assistant professor at the United States Air Force Academy from 2004 to 2006.
Albertson was a University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation Dissertation Fellow and served on the staff of Congressman Dennis Cardoza from 2008 to 2010.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKEPORT – The June packing party for Operation Tango Mike brought many special treats.
Dan Felperin of Fresh Energy Systems donated several VegHedge products for the troops. The packages contained everything necessary for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to grow a little garden of their own.
The unique design is drought resistant and requires very little attention or water. Everyone is anxiously awaiting responses from the troops and hoping for reports of little American gardens growing.
A very special visit came when US Army Specialist Kevin Lange arrived in uniform, expressing his thanks to all who supported him during his deployment.
SPC Lange took time to attend the packing party, stating he wanted to personally meet and thank the supporters of Operation Tango Mike.
Lange spoke of the tremendous morale boost he experienced every time he received a care package. He even remarked of the smile it brought to his face to see the notes, stickers and decorations adorning each care package, knowing that children had taken the time to make his box special.
Lange also presented a flag that had been flown in honor of Operation Tango Mike at a forward operating base in the combat zone. The flag an accompanying certificate of authenticity were presented as a representation of the soldier’s gratitude.
Supporting the troops since March 2003, Operation Tango Mike is sending 80-100 care packages every month.
This effort is sustained through the generous donations of citizens and the good works of volunteers. Monthly shipping costs exceed $1,000. In that regard, fundraising is vital to sustaining this all-volunteer troop support.
Monthly packing parties continue to be held the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m., at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St., Lakeport. Everyone is welcome.
If you wish to support Operation Tango Mike, you may place items in various “Drop Zone” barrels at businesses throughout Lake County.
Donations may also be sent to 5216 Piner Court, Kelseyville, CA 95451 or Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St., Lakeport, CA 95453.
If you have any questions or wish to add a loved one to the care package recipient list, please call 707-349-2838 or e-mail
Boxer lauds decision on issuing condolence letters to families of service members who die by suicide
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On May 25, Sen. Boxer led a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama calling for the policy change.
“I am pleased that President Obama has reversed this long-standing policy and will begin sending presidential condolence letters to the families of our troops who die by suicide,” Boxer said. “This will honor the sacrifice of our nation’s service men and women and their families and do a great deal to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health treatment that prevents so many from seeking the care they need.”