February 2007
Activity
report
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February 2007 |
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Status Report Date: February 1st '07
WW2 Vets Wheel Chair Status
At this time we're waiting on plans from Clay Tumlin.
Once we have
them we have to submit them to the City of Knoxville for approval
Once we know
what materials will be required
we can see
what we can do as far as acquiring them,
hopefully we
will be able to get them donated.
Once that
happens we will be able to assess whether or not we have the capability
of making this
happen within the Chapters capabilities or whether we are going to
have to go outside
the chapter
and seek the help of a construction company.
On
Hold
See
March's
Report for any on going progress
Helping a
Viet Nam Vet in need
Veterans
Affairs Officer Bruce McElhaney is helping
this Viet Nam
Vet and his family find out what help we can procure for him.
This is the
beginning of the month report for the month of February, 2007
for Rolling
Thunder Chapter 3 Veterans Services Officer Bruce McElhaney.
On January 24,
2007, I was contacted by a family member of a Viet Nam Veteran that
was diagnosed with lung cancer and shortly after surgery to take care
of the lung cancer, it relapsed as brain cancer. (I can not
release the Veteran's name due to HIPAA and Privacy Reasons) but his
family and friends lovingly know him as Rabbit. He is now
terminally ill from cancer. The family first contacted Scott
Golden who in turn gave the family my contact information. The
family requested assistance with anything that we could help them
with. I met with Rabbit and members of his family for about 2
hours on January 25, 2007 to discuss with them what their needs are
and how Rolling Thunder TN3 could help them. We discussed
pensions, comfort of the Veteran and at his passing, he request to
have an Honor Guard made up of representatives of the 82nd Airborne
Division and the 101st Airborne Division. If anyone in Rolling
Thunder TN3 served with either unit I would ask that they volunteer
as Honor Guard members when the time comes. Rabbit served with
both units during his long, distinguished and decorated Army
Career. I contacted Mike Smith from the Vet Center and Jack
Everhart, the Rolling Thunder TN4 Chapter Veterans Services Officer
to get some information on documents that needed to be filed with the
VA so that they could determine that the cancer was a service
connected disability due to the fact that Rabbit was exposed to Agent
Orange in Viet Nam. I obtained VA forms 21-526 that determines
a Service Connected Disability and also a form for Aid and Attendance
which is another kind of pension that we are helping Rabbit
obtain. Based on the VA findings Rabbit will receive a 2417.00
per month pension and approximately $300-400 per month for Aid and
Attendance pension in addition to the Service connected disability
pension. I delivered the above forms to Rabbit and his family
on January 26, 2007 at the Hospice Center where he resides.
This started the process of putting together all of his medical
records, bank account information, amount of income, Net Worth,
Social Security Disability letters, his DD-214 and much more
information that the VA requires to determine Pension eligibility. On
January 31, 2007, I contacted Rabbit's cousin by phone, which is in
charge of Rabbit's legal affairs and has a power of attorney to do so
pertaining to how the process was going in obtaining all of the
necessary documents to get them filed with the VA. I was told
that he was obtaining all of the documents and would get back to me
soon. On Saturday, February 03, 2007, I visited Rabbit and
about a dozen of his family members and friends for about 2 hours at
the Hospice Center. Wow, what a wonderful family! I was
told that he will have all of the documents on Monday, February 5,
2007 and then I and Mike Smith from the Vet Center are going to meet
with Rabbit and his family so that we can make sure all the forms are
completed correctly so there will be no delays and then Mike and I
will hand carry the forms to the Tennessee Department of Veterans
Affairs for expedited processing because of the nature of his
situation. I will update my report as the process develops.
Filed on
February 3, 2007.
Submitted
by Bruce McElhaney, Veterans Services Officer, Rolling Thunder TN 3
see March's Report for any on going progress
February
6th 07
Informal
meeting to set up our Calander of events for 2007
was held on
2/6/07 at the Clinton Hwy. Shoneys restaurant.
February 13th 07
Rolling
Thunder TN3 Meeting
February 13,
2007, 7:00 pm
Quaker Steak
& Lube, 5616 Merchants Center Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37912
February
20, 21st 07
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Hugh L. "Rabbit" Snow Sr. SNOW, "RABBIT" HUGH L., SR. - age 61 of Knoxville, passed away February 13, 2007 at St. Mary's Residential Hospice.
He was a
retired Sgt. 1st Class from the U.S. Army serving in Viet Nam. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's Residential Hospice.
There was a celebration of Rabbit's life from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at Weaver Funeral Home.
Family and
friends met at Weaver's at 12:30 pm Wednesday,
Arrangements
were made by Weaver Funeral Home.
Here is all of
the information that I can provide for you pertaining to a mission
that is near and dear to my heart. They are all important but
this one is very special because I have a personal connection with
this family and I was there with Rabbit the day that he was taken to
the Big Rally in the sky where all the streets are gold and his knees
will always be in the breeze. I ask kindly and urge that each
Rolling Thunder TN3 member will make that extra effort to attend both
on Tuesday evening for the Celebration of Life and ride in the
procession on Wednesday for his funeral even if they have to take a
half a day off, etc. He deserves it & I will be forever
grateful to each of you!
Tennessee
State Veterans Cemetery |
