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District 2 VFW Memorial | Together We Served | Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act
District 2 Florida Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars
Monument Dedication Ceremony
Tallahassee National Cemetery
Dedication Ceremony
Program Agenda
December 16, 2024,
10:30 to 11:30 A.M.
Welcome and Introductions
-Sean Golder Commander VFW FL District 2
Post Colors
-Leon County Sheriff's Honor Guard
Invocation
-John Folsom VFW Post 3308 Chaplain
Pledge of Allegiance
-Sean Golder Commander VFW FL District 2
National Anthem
-Patriot Tower
Introduction Keynote Speaker
-Frank Roycraft Commander VFW Post 3308
Keynote Address
-Dr. Norman Thagard
Dedication and Unveiling of Monument with Special Music from Patriot Tower
Benediction
-Rich Monroe VFW FL Department Chaplain
Retire Colors
-Leon County Sheriff's Honor Guard
Dr. Norman Thagard
Dr. Thagard flew 166 combat missions as a Marine Corps pilot in Vietnam and received eleven Air Medals, a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm for performance in combat. Dr. Thagard then became an Astronaut and was the first American to go into space with the Russians to the International Space Station. He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame for his achievements.
Dr. Thagard received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Florida. He became a University professor and FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Associate Dean and became Co-founder and Executive Director of FAMU-FSU's Challenger Learning Center. In one more tribute, the FSU Student Health facility was named Norman E. Thagard Student Health Center in his honor.
Dr. Thagard is the proud husband of Kirby and father of three sons.
Special Recognition
The seven VFW Posts of Florida District 2 are proud to have come together to honor their brothers and sisters who will rest here. This monument project began at a district meeting over six years ago. After working through many starts and stops and a lot of hard work by the officers and comrades from Monticello Post 251, Tallahassee Post 3308, Crawfordville Post 4538, Jasper Post 8095, Perry Post 9225, Bristol Post 12010 and Quincy Post 12054 we are honored to present our gift to the Tallahassee National Cemetery.
Special thanks go to District Commanders Eric King, Durwood "Woody" Stuart, James Slone and Sean Golder and to Frank Roycraft and Gordon Lightfoot for the vision and execution.
The National Cemetery Administration
In 1862, in the midst of the Civil War, President Lincoln signed into law the establishment of national cemeteries "...for the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country." Fourteen cemeteries were established pursuant to this original legislation.
In 1873 eligibility for burial in a national cemetery was extended to "honorable discharged soldiers, sailors or marines" who served during the Civil War. In 1973, Public Law 93-43 authorized the transfer of 82 national cemeteries from the Department of the Army to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA system now maintains 158 national cemeteries and 34 other cemetery installations, preserving them as national shrines, in addition to providing burial services for all eligible veterans and family members.
Tallahassee National Cemetery
The relatively new 250-acre cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida, will serve the burial needs of more than 83,000 veterans and their spouses in the cemetery's service area over the next 100 years. The Department of Veterans Affairs purchased the land in Leon County in August 2012 for $6.8 million.
The intial phase of construction provided for 6,000 gravesites and accommodates both casket and cremain interments. In addition to gravesites, the cemetery includes other features such as an administration building, a maintenance building, a flag pole assembly area, a memorial walkway, committal shelters, and a public information center with electronic gravesite locator and restrooms. Other infrastructure features includes roads, landscaping, utilities, and irrigation and now a Patriot Bell Tower and Carillon.
We also have the distinction of having one of the more active support organizations for our Cemetery in the Nation, The Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc., a 501(c)3 that provides an Honor Guard for services on request and a beautification committee that works with the Tallahassee community planting trees and flower gardens throughout the Cemetery, along with other services in support of the Tallahassee National Cemetery.
Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act
Call on Congress to take immediate action to help the thousands of homeless veterans across this nation. Passing the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act is an essential first step to help address this issue.
With its broad bipartisan support, this bill would exempt veterans' disability benefits from counting towards their income when determining their eligibility for housing assistance through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Disability compensation is counted as income when determining eligibility for housing assistance programs through HUD.
As a result, many disabled veterans are priced out of these programs because of their disability benefits.
It is long overdue for federal agencies to treat VA disability payments like other federal agencies such as the I.R.S. For years, the I.R.S. has instructed veterans not to include disability compensation in their gross income. The Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act would significantly improve the lives of many disabled veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, by expanding their accessibility to HUD's housing programs.
Congress can make a profound difference in the lives of many of our fellow Veterans most at risk this holiday season.
We ask that you contact your member of Congress on H.R. 8340.
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