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Attention artists, graphic designers and photographers! The Veterans Day National Committee is seeking submissions for the 2008 national Veterans Day poster. The poster is distributed to more than 110,000 schools nationwide, military installations around the world, and to federal agencies in the nation’s capital. It also graces the cover of the official program booklet for the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. The committee will convene in May 2008 to review all submissions and select a finalist. The final poster must be 18×24” at 300 dots per inch, but please scale down submissions to 9×12” and submit electronic versions as jpg images or PDF files via e-mail to: vetsday@va.gov.

Alternatively, send copies of artwork or a CD with artwork files to: Department of Veterans Affairs (002C), 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20420. Please do not send originals. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2008. To view Veterans Day posters from previous years, please visit http://www.va.gov/vetsday and click on “Poster Gallery”. Submissions should include sufficient information to demonstrate that the image is the work of the artist and is not copyrighted material (i.e. photos and concepts). The committee may select a particular submission but ask the artist to make modifications to the original design. Additional changes may be required prior to printing.

Starting with the first summer term of 2008, Michigan Technological University will offer in-state tuition to out-of-state students who are the children or spouse of an active duty U.S. servicemember. Michigan Tech’s Board of Control approved the new Military Family Education Award at its December meeting.

The award is meant to recognize and thank the military men and women who are serving our country.

“Our military men and women are putting their lives on the line for us every day,” says Michigan Tech President Glenn D. Mroz. “We hope that offering this educational assistance to their families will give them one less thing to worry about.”

The innovative idea arose earlier this year, after the son of a military man stationed outside Michigan was denied in-state tuition at a public university, even though he had graduated from a Michigan high school while his father was stationed in the state. Michigan is one of only three states that don’t automatically grant in-state tuition to Michigan residents stationed elsewhere or to non-residents stationed in Michigan.

“As far as we know, Michigan Tech is the first university in the country to offer this kind of award,” says John Lehman, assistant vice president for enrollment services.

Retired Major General James A. Pocock, MOAA Michigan Council president, commented: “The Michigan Council of the Military Officers Association of America applauds Michigan Technological University’s initiative in expanding in-state tuition status to children and spouses of all active duty service members. By going above and beyond what other universities offer, Michigan Tech demonstrates its support and appreciation for the contributions of America’s servicemen and women.”

Students will be eligible for a Military Family Education Award if a parent or spouse is on active military duty at the time the student applies to Michigan Tech. If a parent or spouse goes on active duty after a student is admitted, the student will be eligible for a Military Service Award at the beginning of the next semester.

Military Family Education Award recipients will have to qualify for admission to the University. Once a student receives the award, he or she will continue to receive it until graduation, providing a satisfactory record is maintained, even if the family member’s military status changes.

Students with a parent or spouse on full-time duty with the National Guard for more than a year also will be eligible for the Military Family Education Award.

There are more than 1.3 million men and women on active military duty in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Guard and Reserve. “We welcome and encourage their children and spouses to apply to Michigan Tech,” Lehman says.

Michigan Technological University is a leading public research university, conducting research, developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering, forestry and environmental sciences, computer sciences, technology, business and economics, natural sciences, arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and Woman’s Day magazine raised more than $200,000 Operation Holiday Joy, an annual holiday food and toy drive benefiting military families in need. For four years, Woman’s Day and the ASYMCA have worked together to raise more than $850,000 from over 8,000 donors.

During the months of November and December, Woman’s Day magazine profiles a military family and their unique experiences and reaches out to readers to donate to Operation Holiday Joy. The Woman’s Day/ASYMCA holiday drive provides Americans an opportunity to honor and thank servicemen and women and help military families enjoy the holidays.

“When Operation Holiday Joy first started, we had no idea what kind of response we’d get, but our readers came through in a big way, donating over $850,000 over the four years of the program. That’s a lot of joy – and you don’t have to watch much of the news to know that that’s needed now more than ever,” said Jane Chesnutt, editor-in-chief of Woman’s Day.

This year, the campaign was able to make an even greater impact with the help of the Military Channel. Throughout the months of November and December, public service announcements about the holiday drive aired nationally to help boost awareness and encourage individuals to make a donation.

ASYMCA operates more than 150 program centers in 15 States, Puerto Rico and Okinawa The ASYMCA, an affiliate of the YMCA of the USA, is headquartered in Alexandria, Va. For more information, please visit www.asymca.org.

Soldiers eligible for, or who want to determine if they are eligible for payments under Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, now have a new ally in Soldier Family Support Specialists.

SFSSs are subject-matter experts on the TSGLI program. Now available at 10 military treatment facilities across the country, these specialists provide advice and assistance to soldiers and family members so they can file claims for traumatic injuries, said Col. John F. Sackett, Human Resources Command, TSGLI Branch.

“These specialists work closely with the Warrior Transition Units and the Soldier Family Assistance Centers at treatment facilities to provide their services,” Col. Sackett said. “They act as vital liaisons between the soldier and medical community, to help ensure the timely and accurate submission and processing of TSGLI claims.”

The SFSSs perform a variety of duties, including claims form and medical documentation assistance; payment information; and issue escalation to TSGLI staff headquarters. Support specialists also provide guidance in helping severely injured, disabled soldiers relearn how to do simple daily-living activities like eating, bathing, dressing, and using the restroom.

“Through this new initiative, we are demonstrating our ongoing and ever increasing commitment to help traumatically wounded or injured Soldiers and their Families in their time of need,” he said.

SFSSs currently are located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, Texas; Darnall Army Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas; Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Schofield Army Medical Center, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Ky.; Guthrie Ambulatory Army Medical Center, Fort Drum, N.Y.; Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga.

While SFSSs operate at these set locations, they will also provide assistance at other treatment facilities throughout the country. In addition, other facilities are now being identified for future SFSS deployments.

For more information about the SFSS program, TSGLI, or TSGLI eligibility requirements and claim submission instructions, contact the U.S. Army TSGLI service center at 1-800-237-1336 or email TSGLI@conus.army.mil. Information is also available on the Web site at www.tsgli.army.mil.

All active duty, activated or drilling reservists, and National Guardsman can receive free admission to amusement parks across the country through the Here’s to the Heroes program.

The free admission is valid for one complimentary single-day admission per servicemember, per year, to one of the following Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks: SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg; Sesame Place; Water Country USA; and Adventure Island.

As many as three direct dependents of the servicemember also are entitled to free admission. Dependents may take advantage of the offer without their servicemember, though an adult must accompany minor dependents, and dependents ages 10 and older must present valid dependent ID.

To register, visit http://commerce.4adventure.com/store/os_application.asp or show a DoD photo ID at the entrance plaza of any of the participating amusement parks.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg, SeaWorld San Antonio, and Sesame Place are seasonal operations that will not open until spring 2008, so check park schedules before visiting.

For more information about this program, visit www.herosalute.com.

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation announced that BrightScore®, an online credit management tool, will be offered free of charge to active duty military personnel and their spouses to help them manage their credit wisely. BrightScore — a new offering of the FINRA Foundation’s multifaceted SaveAndInvest.org Military Financial Education Program — is presented in partnership with the InCharge Institute of America.

BrightScore is a comprehensive credit management resource that will empower military personnel and their spouses by giving them the information they need to better understand their credit score and credit report. A detailed analysis of the credit report shows which aspects of a user’s credit history are positively or negatively affecting their credit score and the impact that their credit score has on being able to secure favorable rates on loans or other lines of credit. BrightScore also provides a personalized action plan to help improve a user’s creditworthiness and access to live, professional counselors.

“The Foundation’s Military Financial Education Program is designed to help military service members and their spouses take control of their finances. Managing and improving your credit is one way that service members can achieve their financial goals,” said Mary Schapiro FINRA CEO and Chairman of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.

Service members can obtain free access by visiting their on-base personal financial manager (PFM), attending one of our free financial forums http://www.saveandinvest.org/Military or sending an email to credit@finra.org.

BrightScore is just one aspect of a comprehensive program to help members of the military and their families manage their money with confidence. The FINRA Foundation launched the Military Financial Education Program in 2006 and, since then, has conducted educational seminars at more than thirty-three military installations, reaching more than 8,000 service members and their families.

Members of the 173d Airborne Brigade National Memorial Foundation are raising money for a memorial to honor the more than 1,800 Sky Soldiers who died while serving with the 173d Airborne in the Republic of South Vietnam.

The 173d Memorial, which will be built in Columbus/Fort Benning, Ga., also will include the names of the Auzzies from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and the Kiwis of the 161st Field Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, who died while serving with the 173d Airborne in 1965-66, and the names of the Sky Soldiers who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So far, the foundation has raised more than 75 percent of the $650,000 needed to build the memorial.

For more information about the 173d Memorial or to make a donation, visit http://www.173dairbornememorial.org, or call Ken Smith, president of the memorial foundation, at (252) 478-9359.

The Pew Charitable Trusts and Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF) announced new Web-based voter services to help the more than six million Americans — servicemembers and civilians living overseas — take the steps necessary to vote in upcoming elections.

A recent government report revealed between two-thirds and one-half of the ballots mailed to overseas voters were not returned in time to be counted for the 2006 election. New research from electionline.org, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts, finds that states have adopted inconsistent processes and requirements for overseas voters, making it difficult for them to participate in the electoral process.

“Those who serve their country deserve a voice in its future. Unfortunately, when military personnel and other citizens overseas try to vote, there is a good chance that their votes won’t get counted,” says Michael Caudell- Feagan, project director of Make Voting Work, an initiative of Pew’s Center on the States. “Americans living abroad deserve a system that allows each voter to confidently register and submit his/her ballot.”

This partnership with OVF is part of a larger effort by Make Voting Work. This multi-million dollar, multi-year project seeks to help modernize elections by advancing policies, practices and technologies that make voting convenient for eligible voters without compromising accuracy.

OVF’s integrated voter services applications are available at www.overseasvotefoundation.org. The site is a user-friendly system to automate the complex process facing servicemembers and civilian overseas voters attempting to register to vote and request absentee ballots. In addition, OVF provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date listing of local U.S. election office contact information available today through its Election Official Directory.

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires states to allow absent uniformed servicemembers and overseas citizens to participate in absentee voting processes and vote absentee in general, primary, runoff, and special elections to federal office. It also allows the use of a federal write-in absentee ballot (FWAB) in general elections for uniformed service and overseas voters who do not receive their absentee ballot in time to cast and return it. The law applies to spouses and dependents of uniformed service members. The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates there are about six million eligible UOCAVA voters.

In the 2006 general election, almost 27 percent of all UOCAVA ballots came from domestic military voters, followed by almost 20 percent from overseas civilians and almost 17 percent from overseas military voters. About 5 percent were write-in (FWAB) ballots. The remaining one-third was uncategorized.

The first corporate donor to support Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit outreach effort that sends holiday care packages to troops, Alacer Corp., maker of Emergen-C vitamin-enriched fizzy drink mix, announced in December 2007 that its donation of the health and energy supplement topped 700,000 packets in that year. Over the last five years the company has made bi-yearly contributions to the cause.

“It’s a real honor to be supporting our troops in a way that communicates Alacer Corp.’s ‘Feel the Good’ message,” said Fugate. “We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with Operation Gratitude.”

Carolyn Blashek, Founder of Operation Gratitude, noted, “The physical conditions our troops endure on their missions overseas can really take a toll on their health. Emergen-C packets help them re-hydrate and are a great supplement to go along with all the water they have to drink.”

Avid fans of Emergen-C, military personnel stationed across the globe
frequently send cards and letters to the Alacer team singing the praises of the energy-boosting product. While many pilots are restricted from consuming certain energy drinks and supplements, flight surgeons across the board have approved Emergen-C for flying.

When a parent is deployed, children often end up suffering from anxiety and bad dreams that can make going to bed a scary time. That’s why a retired Navy officer invented a product to help military children cope.

The DreamCap was invented by CPO James Ramey, USN-Ret., after his four children suffered from bad dreams every time he was gone for an extended period of time.

DreamCap is a creative approach to eliminating bad dreams for young
children. The DreamCap package comes with a CD of soothing lullabies that promote relaxation, Ben’s DreamCap book, a wonderful story for children, and the actual DreamCap, which when explained by a parent or caregiver, “blocks” out bad dreams.

Ramey says he has received an amazing response from military families who are using DreamCap with much success. He also has great personal insight into the struggles of families coping with deployment. For more information, visit www.stopbaddreams.com.