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Week of April 12, 2010

As of April 1, 2010, Medicare and TRICARE payments to physicians were cut by 21 percent. TRICARE is currently continuing to process claims without applying the reimbursement reduction. When Medicare declares new reimbursement rates, TRICARE will take 30 to 60 days to change business systems to align, as required by law, with the new Medicare rates. The reduced payment rate may result in fewer doctors being willing to accept TRICARE, which could leave millions of seniors and military beneficiaries without a primary care provider.

Organizations like the Military Officers Association of America are urging the Senate to pass H.R. 4851 which would extend the current payment rate until May 1, 2010. The Senate is considering taking action on H.R. 4851 but it is being delayed over technical  budget details.

Let your Senator know how you feel about this situation!

FEATURE ARTICLE ON A VIRGIN ISLAND SERVICEMAN  STAFF SGT, STAPELTON J. DUBERRY

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - After an unexpected knock at the front door or a phone call, for the family and friends of service members who pay the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country, the painful process of grieving begins.
For the son of a St. Thomas woman, the painful task of identifying the remains, scanning for unexploded ordnances, performing an autopsy, and preparing each service member for burial in a casket chosen by the family for the final trip home begins.
Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. Stephon J. Duberry, son of Glancina Duberry of St. Thomas, and the other civilian and military members who work at the 70,000-square-foot, Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, are tasked with making sure that the remains of every service member is treated with dignity, honor, and respect.
Duberry is deployed to the mortuary as a dress and wrap specialist.
"When the remains arrive here, I make sure that the service member's information is properly processed in the computer system," said Duberry, who is normally assigned to the 349th Memorial Affairs Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
"I also dress and wrap the soldiers, making sure that they look good in their uniforms.  I put on the proper uniform with their ribbons, medals, and name tag."
Before the remains are taken to the mortuary for preparation for their final resting place, they are honored for giving their lives in the service of our country by what is called a dignified transfer.
The dignified transfer begins when the fallen military member is returned to Dover, usually within 24 to 36 hours after their death.  It is here, along the flightline and out of the sight of the media, where family members are allowed to witness the transfer.
The dignified transfer is a solemn, precision movement of the transfer case by a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member's respective service.  Always conducted the same, a senior ranking officer of the fallen member's service oversees each transfer.  The transfers are conducted for every U.S. military member who dies in the theater of operation while in the service of their country.
"It is a very important job dealing with soldiers that have paid the ultimate price for their country.  We make sure that we show honor, dignity, and respect in everything that we do," said Duberry, who graduated in 1997 from Hallandale High School, Fla.  "We try and make sure that the family's needs and requests are catered to."
Beginning with the Persian Gulf War in 1991, a moratorium was placed on media access to cover dignified transfers.  The policy was reissued in 2001 when Operation Enduring Freedom began, and again in 2003 for all military operations.  Since 2001, more than 4,000 dignified transfers have taken place.
Because of the moratorium, few people are aware that Mortuary Affairs exists, and what their role is in preparing the remains of a fallen hero before being returned to their loved ones.
"Our unit's mission is to make sure that our heroes are treated with dignity, honor, and respect," said Duberry, who has been in the military for 11 years.  "We make sure that the family's needs are met and try to help them get through the loss of a loved one."
Duberry and his fellow team members continue to make sure that each military member receives the utmost dignity, honor, and respect that they deserve.

	Air Force Airman Robert S. Richardson Jr. graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.      The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.      Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.      He is the brother of Shereeka Edmeade of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.      Richardson is a 2009 graduate of St. Peter and Paul High School, St. Thomas.
	. Air National Guard Airman Vanessa Ayala graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Ayala is the daughter of Bonnie and stepdaughter of Roy Canton of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. She is a 2006 graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex, Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands.`
	Air Force Airman Sheniece J. Griffin graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. She is the daughter of Kirthley Griffin of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Griffin is a 2009 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas.

 Shinseki Says VA’s Home Loan Program a “Continued Success” - Despite problems in the nation’s housing market, mortgage loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs had a lower foreclosure rate than any other type of home loan in the industry, as of the end of the last fiscal year. (12/7/09)

 VA To Survey Veteran Households - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a national survey of Veterans, active duty service members, activated National Guard and reserve members, and family members and survivors to learn if they are aware of VA services.  (12/3/09)

THE AMERICAN LEGION is an organization of military veterans and is best described by its Preamble.

For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

• To Uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;
• To maintain law and order;
• To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;
• To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the great wars;
• To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;
• To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;
• To make right the master of might;
• To promote peace and good-will on earth;
• To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy;  
• To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

There is a post near you. Please make a call and join us. Remember your service to country and community. A listing of legionaire posts, and how you can reach them is provided for you.    
   

Patric U. George, Post No, 90 P.O. Box 306663 Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands, 00803 Telephone Nos. 340-776-0581 / 776-3519 American Post Legion No. 131 P.O. Box 944 Cruz Bay, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands 00831 000000 Telephone No. 340-776-2332

Myron G. Danielson, Post No. 85 P.O. Box 1001 kingshill, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands 00851 Telephone No. 340-773-0345 Bromley Berkley, Post No. 133 P.O. Box 183 Frederiksted, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands 00841 Telephone No. 340-772-3139

Enrique Romero Nieves, Post No.102 P.O. Box 5769 Sunny Isle Christiansted, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands 00823 Telephone No. 340-773-7529 Cell: 340-642-8617

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