Welcome
to the resource page for Veterans
There are over 100 VA-recognized, national Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and VA works most closely with the following organizations: The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, and Vietnam Veterans of America.
No two VSOs are the same but these organizations have two things in common: they help veterans navigate the VA claims and benefits system and they help veterans connect and live fulfilling lives through their local facilities and programs. All of these organizations have Washington DC offices that advocate for veterans.
The Sons of AMVETS Squadron 127 is committed to serving Veterans and their families-
this page is for you!
National Organizations
TAL is committed to promoting patriotism and supporting veterans through local community programs. They operate over 10,000 posts and, as the largest VSO, they support over 2.3 million members. They are organized by Departments (states) and local districts (posts). A list of their locations and local leadership can be found here.
VFW’s mission is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts, serve veterans, the military and our communities, and advocate on behalf of all veterans. They operate over 4,000 posts throughout the country. A list of VFW locations can be found here.
DAV supports disabled veterans of all generations and their families by empowering them to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. In addition to disability claims support and their chapters, DAV provides more than 700,000 rides for veterans attending medical appointments. You can find the local DAV chapter here.
PVA’s mission is to change lives and build brighter futures for seriously injured veterans. PVA is dedicated to veterans service, medical research and civil rights for people with disabilities. There are 72 National Service offices and 32 chapters that help empower veterans and they can be found here.
AMVETS’ mission is to enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American Veterans who have served honorably and to improve the quality of life for them, their families, and the communities where they live through leadership, advocacy and services. They have over 1,400 locations throughout the country, which can be found here.
VVA’s goals are to support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. VVA’s motto is “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.” Their locations can be found here.
National Guard Association
The National Guard Association of the United States is the Guard’s primary advocate in Washington, educating Congress on the roles, capabilities and requirements of the nation’s first military force. More information can be found here.
Wisconsin National Guard Association
The Wisconsin National Guard Association, Inc. (WINGA) is a nonpartisan organization representing over 1,700 current and former Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard officers. Learn more here.
Other Resources
Founded & Run By Veterans For Veterans
The Wisconsin Veterans Network (VetsNet) is a nonprofit organization staffed by veterans and serve veterans. VetsNet bridges a major gap in the veterans benefit system: identifying and connecting at-risk veterans and veterans in need to the benefits and programs they earned through their service to our country.
Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one?
You're not alone—the Veterans Crisis Line is here for you. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.
Free Help for Homeless Veterans
Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness—and their family members, friends and supporters—can make the call to or chat online with the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, where trained counselors are ready to talk confidentially 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Veterans Employment Services. The Department of Workforce Development (DWD), is committed to advancing employment opportunities for Wisconsin veterans through targeted business engagement and service and commitment to the veteran community.
State of Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Our mission is to work on behalf of Wisconsin's veterans community — veterans, their families and their survivors — in recognition of their service and sacrifice to our state and nation.
Hear Stories of Recovery from Veterans like You. No matter what you may be experiencing, support is available.
Reach them @ https://maketheconnection.net/ or 1-844- USA- GOV1
Our sole purpose is to address the suicide rate that exists among Veterans, First Responders, and special circumstances of PTSD.
We provide PTSD Service Dogs that enable the handler to get back into public scenarios. The dog will block, circle, and create space as well as alert you if anyone is coming up behind you. In addition, our dogs are taught direct interventions in times of emotional distress. Check us out here.
The LIFELINE FOR VETS provides a unique and much-needed service for Veterans:
-
It is non-governmental.
-
It provides a proven Vet-to-Vet service model.
-
It gives solutions for problems Veterans face.
4th quarter 2023 Veterans News
How To Spot Education Scams And Protect Your Benefits!
Now is a great time to further your education or jumpstart a new career. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits help Veterans or their loved ones pay for college, graduate school and training programs. Unfortunately, Veterans are often a target of deceptive recruiting practices by educational institutions.
Educational institutions may use predatory practices to manipulate Veterans into enrolling in misleading or fraudulent education programs that do not provide accredited degrees, transferable skills/credits and may deplete all education entitlements.
Film Highlights How VA Technologies are Benefiting Veterans
The short film, “Beyond the Uniform: Vets Driving VA Digital Experiences," gives a glimpse into how VA’s technologies are revolutionizing Veterans' digital experiences and opening doors to unparalleled access to health care and benefits. Four Veterans share their personal experiences in the film.
The Flu and Vaccines: What Everyone Needs to Know
It's flu season! Watch this series from the SITREP and learn everything you need to know about the flu, including: symptoms, how to treat, whether flu shots work, flu vs. cold, flu vs. pneumonia, flu vs. covid, flu vs. RSV, what is flu A, flu B and much more. Did you know? Veterans can get a free flu shot from a nearby VA clinic or within your community from one of nearly 70,000 in-network pharmacies or urgent care locations.
Fulfilling the Dreams
of Terminally Ill Veterans
By Dani Cordaro
PR Consultant, Dream Foundation
Dream Foundation is the only national dream-granting organization
for terminally ill adults. The organization has served more than
34,000 final Dreams since its inception in 1994, and receives no state or federal funding, relying solely on private donations. Dream Foundation created Dreams for Veterans in 2014 to tailor the Dream experience to Veterans, service members and their families. The program acknowledges these groups and honors their service by fulfilling their final Dream, providing them, their families and caregivers inspiration, comfort and closure at the end of life.
Dream recipients live in the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. They are Veterans, active service members or members of the Reserve and National Guard. They are 18 years of age or older, have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness with a life expectancy of 12 months or less, can provide proof of U.S. military service and lack the resources to fulfill a Dream themselves.
Potential recipients can apply online or download an application from www.dreamsforveterans.org. Email or mail the application directly to Dream Foundation’s office at 1528 Chapala Street, Suite 304, Santa Barbara, California 93101.
The application process is simple and can be done relatively quickly. Please read the FAQs before filling out the application because there are guidelines and exclusions. Every potential recipient must provide a photo and a letter describing the Dream, its importance and where the most help is needed to fulfill the Dream. They must also provide proof of annual income in the form of a recent tax return, SSI or a disability or bank statement, plus a completed and signed Dream agreement including medical verification to be completed by a treating physician or hospice representative, a completed and signed HIPPA form and proof of military service. Incomplete applications will be denied.
Dream Foundation receives hundreds of Dreams for Veterans requests from across the country and reviews each application as quickly as possible. It takes about three weeks to process each application before the verification process can begin. Verification can take anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the response time of the medical team/doctor. Once verified, a Dream can come together in a few days or several weeks. Please allow three weeks for air travel. Emergency Dream requests (life expectancy less than two months) are processed the day received and verified as soon as possible.
There are limitations on travel for emergency requests, and they cannot be for a celebrity interaction. Please note that Dream requests cannot be rushed for reasons other than medical necessity.
Dreams vary greatly from person to person and can be as simple as requesting an iPad to connect with loved ones from afar or as large as a family vacation to create lasting and final memories. However, Dreams that Veterans and service women and men request can be profoundly different, and many Dreams reflect aspects of their military service. Dream Foundation’s staff and the members of its Dreams for Veterans Advisory Council, who are part of the military community, work diligently to honor these special and unique Dreams. Dream Foundation and its Dreams for Veterans program is in the business of celebrating life. The end should be as beautiful as its beginning.
Applications are available in Spanish. If you have questions about Dreams for Veterans or the application process, please email info@dreamsforveterans.org or call 805-564-2131.
