Veterans have access to a huge amount of support through publications, Internet sites, phone contacts, veterans service groups, and Veterans Administration representatives. You will never know when or how much help you are going to need in the future, so don’t write anything off just yet. You will need a copy of your DD-214\separation paper before you can begin processing into any of the Veterans’ programs or services. That having been done, here are a few benefits to consider.

Living quarters in a VA clinic: Quarters for veterans through the VA are on a somewhat limited availability. We are more fortunate in that we now have access to the Trinka Davis Veterans Clinic and Community Living Center here in Carrollton. Although it is not yet up and going, the Living Center has been partially staffed, and more furnishings have been added to the rooms and areas since the opening of the clinic. The process to determine eligibility to use this benefit begins with the veteran’s primary care doctor writing a referral for the veteran to go to the geriatric unit at Decatur for evaluation. Decatur then decides whether or not the veteran should go onto the list, and an application turned in. The veteran is then evaluated against the others on the list, and his or her position in line is decided based on grading criteria from the VA.

Military honors burial: When the arrangements for a qualifying veteran’s funeral are being made through the funeral director, the family should request military honors at the funeral or memorial. The funeral director in turn will contact the group co-coordinator of the honor guard at either the appropriate military branch unit, or one of the veterans organizations that has a military-certified honor guard team. The honors are done in accordance to the military records of the deceased veteran’s eligibility. Depending on the veteran’s military experience, the honors can be part of, or all of, bugler, flag folding and presentation to next of kin, color guard, firing yeam.

Death pension/dependency and indemnity compensation: It is what is says, and it begins with an information sheet from your VA representative. There is a listing of documents on this form that must be in hand and used to fill out the form making the actual request.

Tax-filing service: The IRS is offering a free preparation and filing for people who qualify under the terms of this website: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers.

This service is pretty much the same as any other tax services, and there are must have documents listed in the information on the website. By all means, start at the website and go from there. It is free; someone helps fill it out with you, but is only for the federal taxes. This still leaves the state forms to be done by some other method.

Something to watch for: The VA has issued a warning for those who search the Internet sites for veteran information and news. If you open any sites that show “Veterans Affairs Services” as a service provider, be aware that this is not the VA. It is not affiliated with the Veterans Administration in any way. Do not reply with any confidential information thinking you are dealing with the VA.

Want to put your name on the wall or buy a brick at the Veterans Memorial Park? Contact Credentials Chairman Norris Garrett at 770-836-1111. Plaques are $300, and bricks are $50.

“Rock of the Marne”

Robinson, a Vietnam veteran and member of American Legion Post 143 in Carrollton, writes a weekly column on veterans issues.