Veteran benefits highlighted at presentation

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Lt. Col. Roderick Hosler (left), president of the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MSVS-MOAA) presented a Chapter Flag Set to guest speaker Sean Baumgartner, director of Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery located in Rittman..

Sean Baumgartner, director of Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, recently gave a presentation on one of the newest and fastest growing of 131 national cemeteries with 273 acres of ground. The Ohio Western Reserve National Cementary was established in 2000, providing casketed and cremated burials and columbaria niches for approximately 106,000 eligible veterans and dependents. The presentation to the dinner meeting at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna highlighted the free burial benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for all members of the armed forces and veterans who have met minimum active duty requirements, including their spouse, minor children, and certain unmarried adult children with disabilities, even if they predecease the veteran. In all cases, having proper documentation and discharge papers readily available is what is most important for the VA to expeditiously provide, at no cost to the veteran’s family, a burial plot, headstone or marker with inscription, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, U.S. flag, government liner, perpetual care of the grave site, and the opening and closing of the grave.

A follow up presentation at the Chapter’s April 24 dinner meeting will feature a representative from the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission and a discussion of MOAA’s Personal Affairs Action Guide. The MSVC-MOAA meets at 6:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS), located at 3976 King Graves Road in Vienna. Membership Chairman is Capt. Nick Spano, who can be reached at 330-503-0403. Reservations and more information about MSVC-MOAA can be obtained by contacting Lt. Col. Rod Hosler at 330-788-3270 or Janet Oglesby at 330-568-4456.