Niagara County Veterans Service Agency

Niagara County Celebrates Purple Heart Day with Flag Raising at Courthouse

Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski, joined by members of the John Paul Bobo Chapter 264 – the local Purple Hear Chapter – and the county Veterans Service Agency, today celebrated national Purple Heart Day with a flag raising at the Niagara County Courthouse in Lockport. The Purple Heart is awarded to those wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. military.

In 2019, Niagara County became a Purple Heart County and maintains an official Book of Honor of all known residents who have received a Purple Heart. The book currently contains more than 400 names. In 2023, the county dedicated a Purple Heart monument and courtyard at the courthouse to honor these heroes.

“Niagara County is proud of our distinction as an official Purple Heart County as we are committed to the preserving the legacy of brave military personnel who were wounded fighting for our country,” said Jastrzemski.

Jastrzemski said any resident who has received a Purple Heart or knows of someone who has, living or deceased, should contact his office so they can be included in the book. More information on the Book of Honor, including the form for inclusion as well as the names of all Purple Heart recipients, can be found at https://www.niagaracounty.gov/departments/a-f/county_clerk/index.php

Pictured: Mike Targon, Russ Ward and Ron Krul form Chapter 264; County Clerk Jastrzemski; and Doug Kalota, Jeff Glatz and David Wohleben from the county VSA.

Look who stopped by to support the troops. Sheriff Filicetti.

Today, the VA launched their new “Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.” Similar to the old Burn Pit Registry, the purpose of this tool is to guide VA in their research to better understand the health impacts of exposure to the harmful fumes from burn pits, as well as other toxic exposures.

However, the new Burn Pit Registry contains a few key differences from the original Burn Pit Registry. In particular:

(1) Veterans and Service Members will be automatically included in the Registry if, according to Department of Defense records, they served in any of the following campaigns or theaters:

** Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn

** Somalia at any point since August 2, 1990

** Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Djibouti, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, or the waters of the Persian Gulf or the Arabian Sea at any point between August 2, 1990, and August 31, 2021

** The Southwest Asia theater of military operations and Egypt any time after August 2, 1990

** Afghanistan, Djibouti, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, or Yemen any time after September 11, 2001

** The airspace above any of the counties on this list

** Anyone stationed at a location where a burn pit was known to be used in Afghanistan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Egypt, or Syria on or after September 11, 2001.

(Yes, there are some overlapping dates and locations on this list. Not exactly the most streamlined way of listing the covered locations . . .)

(2) Stored in the Registry will be deployment locations, military personnel information, and demographic information, including but not limited to gender identity, race, and ethnicity. The data will be accessible only to a select team of VA epidemiologists and researchers, and to a select group of institutional review board-approved researchers.

(3) Trends identified by using the data in the Registry will inform policymaking decisions by VA leaders, including decisions about the addition of any additional presumptive conditions related to burn pit exposure and other toxic exposures.

(4) Veterans from any of the covered locations and campaigns described above can opt out of the automatic inclusion of their data in the Registry if they wish. To opt out, the Veteran must complete the form found at this link: https://vethome.va.gov/BurnPitRegistryOptOut/

Opting out will have no adverse impacts on the Veteran’s past, present, and/or future VA benefits and services.

If a Veteran opts out of the Registry, but later wants to opt in, they can easily do so by filling out the form available at this link: https://vethome.va.gov/inquiry

VET-HOME Inquiry  · VET-HOME Portal To schedule an environmental health registry evaluation via telehealth or to contact VET-HOME coordinators about other environmental exposure related inquiries, please fill out the form below. Additionally, you can reach us via phone using the phone number below.

Come visit the County Clerks staff at the Niagara County Fair.

County Clerk Joe Jastrzemski having some tractor fun at the Niagara County Fair!!

We are issuing Thank A Vet cards at the Niagara County Fair. Bring your DD-214 to our booth and receive your card.

Stop by the NC Fair and say hello!

Happy 4th of July!!

Our office will be closed

Johnny Cash - Ragged Old Flag (Official Audio) Official audio for "Ragged Old Flag" by Johnny CashListen to Johnny Cash: https://JohnnyCash.lnk.to/listenYDSubscribe to the official Johnny Cash YouTube cha...

Would you be interested in fostering a Veteran. The VA is launching a new program in WNY. "VA Medical Foster Home"

Annie App for Veterans at a Glance

Come visit us at the Trott building today from 10am to 1 pm.

Father's Day in the United States is on the third Sunday of June. It celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children's lives.

Happy Father’s Day!!

HAPPY FLAG DAY!!!!

Did you know that the VA has a convenient Rx APP.

The Rx Refill mobile application (app) allows Veterans to request refills of their refillable VA-dispensed prescriptions, scan their VA prescriptions to access prescription information, track VA prescription deliveries, view VA prescription history from the convenience of their mobile device. The app provides a native mobile interface for the Rx Refill feature found within My HealtheVet. Refill requests submitted through the app or the My HealtheVet website that are dispensed by a VA Mail Order Pharmacy are easily tracked using the app’s “Track Delivery” feature.

To add the app to your phone, click on the link below

Rx Refill Request VA prescription refills, track delivery, view prescription history, and more.

More Flag History

Navy Marine Club takes over Lockport's Hometown Heroes program

The Navy Marine Club, 37 Park Ave., is now headquarters for Lockport’s Hometown Heroes banner program, Navy Ship Auxiliary 110 announced.

The banner program is a living tribute to Lockport residents and their family members who are serving in the U.S. armed forces, veterans, and first responders in the police force and fire company.

Banners are displayed from May through Veterans Day each year. Each banner is 24 inches wide, 48 inches long, double sided and features a color photo of the honoree, their name, branch of service, and era of military service (World War I era, World War II era, Korean Conflict era, Vietnam era, Cold War, Persian Gulf or Global War on Terror) plus the name of the sponsor who purchased the banner.

A banner costs $175. At the end of the season, the sponsor may claim the banner or pay a one-time $40 storage fee so that the banner can be hung again the following season. Placement of banners is on a first-come, first-served basis; sponsors cannot request specific locations.

For an order form, call Teresa at 716-438-8075 or Amy at 716-807-9456, or email [email protected]. Note, honorees must sign their permission to have their photo used in the program.

A little flag history as we approach Flag Day

THE HISTORY OF THE STARS AND STRIPES
The Stars and Stripes originated as a result of a resolution adopted by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia on June 14, 1777. The resolution read: "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation."

The resolution gave no instruction as to how many points the stars should have, nor how the stars should be arranged on the blue union. Consequently, some flags had stars scattered on the blue field without any specific design, some arranged the stars in rows, and some in a circle. The first Navy Stars and Stripes had the stars arranged in staggered formation in alternate rows of threes and twos on a blue field. Other Stars and Stripes flags had stars arranged in alternate rows of four, five and four. Some stars had six points while others had eight.

Strong evidence indicates that Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was responsible for the stars in the U.S. flag. At the time that the flag resolution was adopted, Hopkinson was the Chairman of the Continental Navy Board's Middle Department. Hopkinson also helped design other devices for the Government including the Great Seal of the United States. For his services, Hopkinson submitted a letter to the Continental Admiralty Board asking "whether a Quarter Cask of the public Wine will not be a proper & reasonable Reward for these Labours of Fancy and a suitable Encouragement to future Exertions of a like Nature." His request was turned down since the Congress regarded him as a public servant.

Veteran Services has an outreach program which allows us to provide services across the county. Every Thursday, from 9:00am to 12:00pm we are remote at Niagara Falls AFB. We have an office in Building 314. We are also remote at The North Tonawanda Senior Center from 9:00am to 3:00pm the second Tuesday of every month. Please call our office at 438-4090 to make an appointment for these locations.

North Tonawanda Senior Citizen
110 Goundry St, North Tonawanda, NY 14120

VA updates home loan benefits, helping Veterans remain competitive in the housing market

VA updates home loan benefits, helping Veterans remain competitive in the housing market - VA News VA has announced an update to the home loan guaranty, helping to ensure that Veterans remain competitive buyers.

With Flag Day quickly approaching, here is a reminder on flag etiquette.

On August 23rd and 30th, 9:00am-4:00pm, Niagara County Veterans Services will be issuing "Thank A Vet Cards" at the Town of Lockport municipal building (6560 Dysinger Rd). Please bring you DD-214, members copy 4 proof of honorable service and your license for proof of Niagara County residency. Cards can also be obtained from our office, Monday through Friday 9:00am-4:00pm.

This program is a way for our county to recognize the service and sacrifices made by our returning veterans. Under the “THANK A VET” Discount Program, eligible veterans will receive a photo I.D. card, identifying them as an honorably discharged veteran. Participating county merchants will agree to honor the card by providing holders with a discount on purchases or services.
Each merchant’s name, logo, address and discount particulars will be displayed on the Niagara County website. Additionally, each participating business will receive a decal to proudly show their support of our Niagara County veterans.

Firearm Safety for Su***de Prevention Workshop

The New York State Division of Veterans Services and the New York State Department of Labor presents a Veterans Services Fair for the month of June