19 Mar 2025

Jim Taylor honored with a Quilt of Valor

Jim Taylor, a United States Navy veteran and esteemed member of the Manson American Legion Post 108, was recently honored with a Quilt of Valor during a ceremony held at the Lake Chelan Winery on March 8, 2025. The quilt, a symbol of gratitude for his service, was presented by Doug Marsh, a fellow American Legion member, and Jean Horner, representing the Quilts of Valor Foundation, Chelan Group. Doug Marsh, a retired United States Navy 1st Class Aviation Structural Mechanic ...

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11 Mar 2025

Columbia Basin Veterans Hub (FOB Columbia) now open!

Introducing a new local resource center focused on providing our veterans with the tools they need to better navigate life after service. At FOB Columbia, we are dedicated to empowering veterans and their families by providing comprehensive social services programs tailored to meet their unique needs. Our mission is to bridge the gap between veterans and essential resources, ensuring they have access to the support necessary for successful reintegration into civilian life. We focus on advocacy, collaboration, and community engagement ...

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29 Dec 2024

Equine Therapy provides veterans healing and growth

Have you heard about this emerging option, equine therapy? It is specifically geared toward veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, or other issues adjusting to civilian life. Equine-assisted therapy has been around for nearly 60 years has been shown to have a significant positive impact on various types of psychotherapy patients (reference). There are different variations, but in most cases, no riding is involved. Rather the veteran is spending time with the horse, connecting with the animal and ...

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21 Dec 2024

You may still be eligible for PACT Act benefits!

Even though the deadline to receive retroactive benefits from the Honoring Our PACT Act has passed, veterans and survivors are still eligible to submit a VA disability claim related to the landmark legislation. Visit this official VFW site for more information and to determine eligibility. The PACT Act is estimated to affect about 500,000 Vietnam War veterans with hypertension related to Agent Orange exposure, as well as thousands of additional veterans in more recent operations including Operation Desert Storm, Operation ...

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16 Dec 2024

The stories behind the Poppies

On the World War I battlefields of Belgium, poppies grew wild amid the ravaged landscape. A surgeon with Canada’s First Brigade Artillery, Col. McCrae expressed his grief over “row on row” of soldiers’ graves who had died on Flanders battlefields. The poem he wrote became a rallying cry to all who fought in that war. In Flanders field the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row. That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce ...

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10 Dec 2024

WA Veteran Owned Business certifications

The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs certifies businesses owned by Veterans, and there are some valuable potential benefits for pursuing the process. Being certified may increase your marketability, not only in the larger business community, but also to local and state governments, to contractors who are hired by the government and offer subcontracting opportunities, and to agencies and prime contractors who search for certified firms in centralized databases. State and local agencies set participation goals to utilize certified veteran-owned ...

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05 Dec 2024

Fallen Heroes Banners, an Apple Blossom Tradition

“Each year at [the Wenatchee] Apple Blossom [Festival], you may see an entry in the Grand Parade with an outpouring of community volunteers carrying banners with the face of a soldier, marine, sailor, airman, or guardian on them. These are the Washington State Fallen Heroes Banners – each one memorializes a post-9/11 service member from Washington state (and the PNW) who has fallen. The Washington State Fallen Heroes Project started in 2007 when Spokane resident Kim Cole’s son, Marine Corporal Darrel Morris, ...

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03 Dec 2024

Prepare for VA’s secure sign-in changes

In 2025, you’ll need to start using a Login.gov or ID.me account to sign in. In 2025, you’ll have 2 secure sign-in account options (Login.gov and ID.me) for all VA websites and apps. The My HealtheVet option will be removed January 31, 2025, and the DS Logon option will be removed September 30, 2025. You’ll still be able to use your My HealtheVet health portal—you’ll just need to sign in to it with a Login.gov or ID.me account. The VA ...

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26 Nov 2024

Darren Perri receives Quilt of Valor

Hometown boy, Darren Perri was recently honored for his service to our country with a Quilt of Valor, presented by Gail Shaw, representing the Quilts of Valor Chelan group. The event took place during a Chelan Valley Republican Women meeting at Radiance Winery in Manson. “This quit is meant to comfort. We consider it a privilege to honor you as we will never know the extent of your sacrifices and service to protect and defend the United State of American. ...

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22 Nov 2024

Don’t eat alone this Thanksgiving

It can be easy to retreat into our homes this time of year, but for some that can be extremely lonely. Luckily communities like to come together to care for their own. From churches to service organizations, there’s almost always someone willing to make a meal for someone else. Here are just a few opportunities we’ve heard about that may interest you if you’re not attending a large family gathering this year. Let us know if you’ve heard of more ...

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20 Nov 2024

What happened to the Weekly Brief?

You may have noticed that the brief roundup of news, events, and tidbits that was posted here on a weekly basis seems to have disappeared, a while ago actually. Apologies for that and for my extended absence in posting content at NCW Veterans Info. Over the course of the past few years, with COVID directly affecting how events were hosted, how people networked, and how we now live our lives, the format of that weekly post doesn’t seem to hold ...

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18 Nov 2024

2024 Veterans Day Recap

As usual, there was no shortage of activities for and by Veterans around the annual holiday. As I find more articles and stories about what took place, I’ll add them below.   (Okanogan county) Local veterans honored in Quilts of Valor ceremonies, NCW News   Cashmere students honor local veterans, NCW News   (Leavenworth) Cascade High School honors those who served, NCW News   Community reflects during Wenatchee’s Veterans Day Parade, NCW Life (Linked article includes a video)   If ...

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