What should Veterans do if they think they have COVID-19?
Before visiting local VA medical facilities, community providers, urgent care centers, or emergency departments in their communities, Veterans experiencing COVID-19 symptoms—such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath—are encouraged to call their VA medical facility or call MyVA311(844-698-2311, press #3 to be connected). 

Veterans can also send secure messages to their health care providers via MyhealtheVet, VA’s online patient portal. VA clinicians will evaluate Veterans’ symptoms and direct them to the most appropriate providers for further evaluation and treatment. This may include referral to state or local health departments for COVID-19 testing.

​What about routine appointments and previously scheduled procedures?
VA is encouraging all Veterans to call their VA facility before seeking any care—even previously scheduled medical visits, mental health appointments, or surgical procedures. Veterans can also send secure messages to their health care providers via MyhealtheVet and find out whether they should still come in for their scheduled appointments. VA providers may arrange to convert appointments to video visits, where possible.

Can visitors still access VA medical facilities? 
Many VA medical facilities have canceled public events for the time being, and VA is urging all visitors who do not feel well to postpone their visits to local VA medical facilities. Facilities have also been directed to limit the number of entrances through which visitors can enter. Upon arrival, all patients, visitors, and employees will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and possible exposure.

What about VA nursing homes and spinal cord injury units?
On March 10, 2020, VA announced that its 134 nursing homes (also called VA community living centers) and 24 spinal cord injury and disorder centers would be closed to all outside visitors. All clinical staff will be screened for COVID-19 daily before entering the nursing home or spinal cord injury units, and staff will work only within those units to limit possible transmission of the virus. Exceptions to the visitor policy will only be made for cases when veterans are in their last stages of life on hospice units or inpatient spinal cord injury units.

Saginaw VA Medical Center
Veterans who utilize the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw, are encouraged to visit www.saginaw.va.gov for the latest information and updates. Additionally, all activities/events at the VA have been canceled for 30 days or until further notice. Admissions to our Community Living Center or Palliative Care Unit are restricted at this time. Certain criteria will need to be met to be admitted to assure the Veteran is free of the Coronavirus before admission. 

The VA is not allowing visitors to their Community Living Center, and there are restrictions on the number of visitors on the Palliative Care (end of life) Unit. 
 
Iron Mountain VA Medical Center
Veterans who utilize the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain are encouraged to visit www.ironmountain.va.gov for the latest information. For the safety of patients, visitors and staff, the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center is changing its visitation policy for all its health care facilities in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin to help to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. Effective at noon CST, March 16th, the VA medical center and its seven community-based VA clinics are not allowing visitors for most patients and staff until further notice.

Visitors will be prohibited from entering the medical center unless it is necessary for providing medical care, supporting patient care activities, or visiting under exigent circumstances, such as grave illness or imminent death of a family member under care in the facility.

In Conclusion
The VA has implemented an aggressive public health response to protect and care for Veterans in the face of this emerging health risk. We are working directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners to monitor the outbreak of the virus.
VA has administered over 100 COVID-19 tests nationwide while taking aggressive steps to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
These measures include outreach to Veterans and staff, clinical screening at VA health care facilities, and protective procedures for patients admitted to community living centers and spinal cord injury units.  To learn more, click HERE.

We'd like to thank everyone that turned out tonight (Monday, March 16th) to donate blood. We had an awesome turnout. By 5:00 p.m. the Red Cross Volunteers only had 3 bags left in their supply kit to be filled. Thank you all for thinking of the needs of our community during this uncertain time.

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is a national initiative aimed at getting motorists and motorcyclists to “Share the Road."​ Help make the road safe for all motorists. Review the following safety tips from The National Highway Traffic Administration.

• Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway.
• Allow the motorcyclist a full lane width. Although it may seem as though there is enough room in the traffic lane for an automobile and a motorcycle, remember the motorcycle needs the room to maneuver safely. Do not share the lane.
• Motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see. Motorcycles have a much smaller profile than vehicles, which can make it more difficult to judge the speed and distance of an approaching motorcycle.
• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic. This allows the motorcyclist to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position.
• Remember that motorcyclists are often hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot or missed in a quick look due to their smaller size. Always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
• Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle – motorcycle signals usually are not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed.
• Remember that road conditions that are minor annoyances to motorists can pose major hazards to motorcyclists. Motorcyclists may change speed or adjust their position within a lane suddenly in reaction to road and traffic conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings, and grooved pavement.
• Allow more following distance, three or four seconds, following a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. In dry conditions motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars. 

​The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides information & free marketing materials reminding all to Share The Road With Motorcycles!

Each year our Post places an American flag on every Veteran's grave in Chapel Gardens, New Haven Township & Riverside Cemeteries. Unfortunately, not all of our Comrade's grave sites indicate their service to our nation. It is our goal to ensure all Veterans receive proper acknowledgment for their service, especially our fallen Comrades. All deceased Veterans discharged under honorable conditions who served in the Armed Forces after April 6, 1917 are eligible to receive a grave medallion regardless of their date of death.

If you are interested in applying for a medallion for your loved one, please read on for more information & watch the two Youtube videos listed below. A link to Form 40-1330M with instructions is also listed below so you can easily download & print the application form.

Once you have obtained a medallion, our VFW Post Members would be happy to place the medallion for you should you need assistance. Please stop by VFW Post 1454 or contact us for more information.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a medallion, by request, to be affixed to an existing, privately purchased headstone or marker to signify the deceased's status as a Veteran.

This device is furnished in lieu of a traditional Government headstone or grave marker for those Veterans who served on or after Apr. 6, 1917 and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

Why choose a medallion: Bronze medallions are durable and can be easily affixed to privately purchased headstones by anyone, avoiding headstone or marker setting fees. The medallion also offers a way to identify the grave as that of a Veteran when a cemetery only allows one headstone per grave, preventing the use of a standard VA marker as a footstone.

Sizes: The medallion is available in three sizes: Large (6-3/8”W x 4-3/4”H x 1/2”D), Medium (3-3/4”W x 2-7/8”H x 1/4"D) and Small (2”W x 1-1/2”H x 1/3”D). 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.

Important: This benefit is only applicable if the grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. In these instances, eligible Veterans are entitled to either a traditional Government-furnished headstone or marker, or the new medallion, but not both.

For family members of eligible Veterans interested in submitting a claim for the medallion, instructions on how to apply for a medallion are available. Please use: VA Form 40-1330M, Claim for Government Medallion for Placement in a Private Cemetery

This Information provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  For more information visit www.va.gov