National Guard association sets benefits education event

Information on obtaining DD214, family assistance and more available

All through adulthood, we accumulate documents.

For those who leave the military, that includes DD Form 214 -- discharge papers that detail what the service member did and when while in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or Merchant Marines.

It's an essential document for obtaining military-related benefits, but it's also commonly lost -- whether amid a blizzard of other documents, through moves from home to home, divorce or any one of many other reasons.

The Central Pennsylvania National Guard & Veterans Association is holding the annual event from 6 to 8 p.m. June 14 at the National Guard Readiness Center near the Meadows Intersection at which former service members can learn how to recover copies of their DD214s -- and how they, their spouses and active-duty service members can learn of benefits they have coming, how to get those benefits and even how to handle some other late-life matters.

There will be about 10 "presenters" -- experts in various categories of benefits and other issues -- including retired Command Sgt. Tim Mateer, who will be armed with applications for obtaining those DD214 copies.

It's much easier to get them through Mateer than on one's own, said Ken Hollen, association president.

Attendees can also get information on military retiree medical insurance, family assistance, writing wills, the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home, planning for one's own or a spouse's funeral and burial, obtaining service from the Van Zandt VA Medical Center and more.

A representative of Good Funeral Home and its associated Alto-Reste Park Cemetery will bring copies of the organizations' "emergency record guide," which helps for planning funerals and burials, according to George Good, community outreach director.

The guide nudges those who are willing to work through it to make numerous decisions that otherwise might need to be made on "on the worst day of your life" -- or the worst day of your spouse's life, according to Good.

Making such decisions in the peace and quiet of healthy life can prevent "emotional overspending" in the aftermath of death, when survivors may be inclined to say "only the best!" for the beloved deceased, Good said.

There are details few would think of, such as whether to hold a viewing, whether the body should be buried, placed in a mausoleum or cremated, whether the casket should be made of wood or metal, and if metal, what thickness; whether the vault should be sealed, whether the body should be dressed in a suit, whether jewelry should be left on, Good said.

Preplanning also helps prevent "dumping" responsibility for such decisions on survivors, preventing disagreements and bickering, Good said.

Instead of "Dad would want this," "Dad would want that," it's clear what Dad would want, because he wrote it down, Good said.

Preplanning also provides survivors the emotional space to grieve properly, he said.

Prepaying -- which takes place not at the June 14 event, but later, at whatever funeral home and whatever cemetery the family chooses -- locks in today's prices, which, if death occurs many years hence, can result in significant savings, Good added.

Hollidaysburg Veterans Home Admission and Marketing Director Kim Vandevander expects veterans at events like the one June 14 to say "I'm not ready" when she makes her pitch.

But she will say, "let me tell you what we have to offer,'" she said.

The home is open to veterans of any service branch and their spouses, Vandevander said.

Cost varies with the family's income.

If there's no income, there's no charge.

If the veteran is 70 percent or more service-disabled, there's also no charge.

The home offers lots of activities, Vandevander said.

Those include shopping trips to Walmart; fishing trips to Canoe Creek State Park, even for those who use wheelchairs; visits to Altoona Curve games; dinner at local restaurants; dinners at local VFWs and American Legion posts; in-house bingo; Pokeno and Texas hold'em; a summer festival for residents only and visits from military, polka and jazz bands.

"Something for everyone," Vandevander said.

Residents get one free haircut per month and free use of laundry facilities by themselves or their families.

Residents can also pay staff to do their laundry.

Spouses can live together if they wish, Vandevander said.

Physical, occupational and speech therapy are provided.

The home's newest program is short-term rehabilitation -- something frequently needed after surgery, she said.

"We'll be there when you need us," she said.

The association is holding the event this year in the evening, so those who work during the day can come, said Ken Criste, association secretary.

Last year, 70 people showed up.

He's hoping for 100 this year.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.