Veterans from the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Alabama and members of a local VFW Post joined together on Thanksgiving to share a meal and some camaraderie.

Some patients from the medical center were released to partake in the holiday festivities. According to the Tuscaloosa News, the event was managed by post members and another auxiliary group who spent the day preparing and hosting the event.

Veterans from the hospital said they were “happy to spend the holiday at the VFW.” VFW members enjoyed serving their fellow comrades in arms and the fellowship the event provided.

Questionnaires completed by “tens of thousands” of troops are missing according to a recent article by the AP.  Approximately 20% of the surveys for a specific period identified by the Government Accountability Office are missing.

The surveys were completed by troops returning from combat 3 to 6 months after they came home, and are part of a program designed to measure the mental and physical health of our troops. Servicemembers fill out the forms electronically and can request to see a counselor during the questionnaire process.

While the loss of these forms is alarming, troops in need of counseling may soon have another opportunity to get connected to mental health professionals. President Obama recently signed legislation that will require a face-to-face screening of every service member returning from war.

If you are a disabled veteran suffering from PTSD, depression, or a TBI, contact LaVan and Neidenberg – a disability rights law firm based in Florida and Georgia.

Senator Benjamin Cardin (D- Md.) is leading the discussion on the prescription of anti-depressants to our troops in the field. Senator Cardin has ordered the Department of Defense to compile a report on the estimated number and percentage of troops who have been prescribed antidepressants since June 2005.

There is a fear that antidepressants are being prescribed to help troops cope with multiple deployments and stress with little medical supervision. Such medical supervision may not be available to those who are on the move in a combat zone.

The suicide rate for the troops has been climbing since the wars began. A statement from Senator Cardin’s website reads, “We can take steps to limit multiple deployments and extended separations, but we also must work to remedy the strains and deteriorating mental health of so many of our combat troops.”

If you are a veteran and you are suffering from PTSD and fighting the VA to get disability compensation, contact the veteran rights law firm of LaVan and Neidenberg.

The veterans non-profit organization, Honor Flight, held an open house yesterday for more than 800 people to gather and reminisce.

The organization, which regularly flies WWII veterans to DC to visit the WWII memorial, was founded in 2005. That year, they sent 137 veterans on the trip. Honor Flight has enjoyed so much support from the public, as well as widespread publicity, and last year they sent 18,000 veterans on the journey to see the memorial.

The event gave veterans who have been on an Honor Flight a chance to meet each other and reminisce about their WWII experiences. They also enjoyed a ceremony which included members of the Springfield Air National Guard Base.

Learn more about the Honor Flight Network.

An apartment complex in New Orleans is scheduled to be demolished to make room for a $30 million development project. The complex had been vacant since Hurricane Katrina and was an eyesore. The 12 new buildings that will be built in its place will contain 284 units and 25% of them will be used to provide veterans with free housing.

Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that helps troops, is partnering with Love Outreach Fellowship on the project. The development will be called West Point and will be located on Westbend Parkway in Algiers.

Phil Gibson, the director of Love Outreach Fellowship told a local news station that the facility will provide marriage counseling, budgetary counseling and educational guidance for veterans returning from the war.

Certain housing benefits are available to disabled veterans which may be based on your disability rating. If you are a disabled veteran who is fighting the VA to receive disability compensation, contact the veterans disability rights law firm of LaVan & Neidenberg.