Thousands of patriotic citizens from around the country will honor the service and sacrifice of our nation's fallen heroes at VA national cemeteries on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012. Ceremonies can vary from cemetery to cemetery, and may include parades, speeches, music performances, rifle volleys, bugle calls and wreath layings. Veterans Service Organizations will participate as well as active duty military members, scout groups, government officials and regular citizens who wish to pay their respects to those who sacrificed so much for their country.
Some cemeteries hold their observances prior to May 28. View a complete list of 2012 Memorial Day Events at VA National Cemeteries.
VA recently introduced a new application form specific to the medallion. Previously, the public ordered the medallion using form 40-1330, the same application used to order VA headstones and markers. The new form is labeled 40-1330M and can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330M.pdf.
The medallion is furnished in lieu of a traditional government headstone or grave marker to those Veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inches and 1-1/2 inches. Each medallion is inscribed with the word "VETERAN" across the top and the branch of service at the bottom. Once a claim for a medallion is received and approved, VA will mail the medallion along with a kit that will allow the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the device to a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or columbarium niche cover.
Under a spectacular Louisiana sky, VA officially dedicated the Louisiana National Cemetery before an audience of 350 military personnel, Veterans and citizens. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Eric K. Shinseki delivered the keynote address.
"The America we know today would not be possible were it not for the men and women we honor in our national cemeteries," said Secretary Shinseki. "Louisiana has been blessed with an abundance of such men and women."
Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, U.S. Army (Ret.), Louisiana's "Category 5 General," served as master of ceremonies. Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve L. Muro, Louisiana National Cemetery Director Rex Kern and Louisiana Secretary of Veterans Affairs Lane Carson were among the speakers.
Left to right in photo: Memorial Network Service II Director Frank Kawulich; Deputy Under Secretary for Field Programs Glenn Powers; Under Secretary Muro; Secretary Shinseki; Cemetery director Kern; and Louisiana Secretary of Veterans Affairs Carson.
The National Veterans Small Business Conference, the government's premier event for Veteran-owned small businesses, is coming to Detroit's Cobo Center June 25-29. "VA for Vets" Hiring Fair will be held during the conference for Veterans looking for careers in the public and private sectors. The conference is expected to attract thousands of Veterans, business owners and federal employees, and bring an estimated $3 million in direct spending to the city.
The hiring fair will provide Veterans with on-the-spot job opportunities and interviews, while also offering career search classes and one-on-one counseling. The Detroit hiring fair builds upon VA's success Jan. 18 in Washington at which a partnership of federal agencies and private industry attracted over 4,100 Veterans and resulted in over 2,600 on-the-spot interviews and more than 500 tentative job offers.
Last year's National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo in New Orleans drew almost 5,000 attendees, and more than 6,000 participants are expected this year.
