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MVAO offers help on veterans’ claims
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Posted on Nov 08 2006
The CNMI Military Veterans Affairs Office will be strengthening the way it addresses the healthcare benefits of veterans.
MVAO executive officer Martin Sablan disclosed this during the Rotary Club of Saipan weekly meeting at Giovanni’s Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Saipan.
Sablan said his office has been assisting more and more Gulf War veterans claiming their benefits as of late. He said his office would do what it can to further help CNMI war veterans in claiming their benefits.
“We need to take care of our veterans and we have to make sure that these individuals are taken care of,” he said.
In the CNMI, the MVAO is the only office that can assist war veterans in claiming their benefits, said Sablan. Other agencies that provide assistance to war veterans are the Northern Marianas Housing Authority for home loans and the Northern Marianas College for Education Loan.
Sablan issued these statements in time for the celebration of this year’s Veterans’ Day and the opening of the first Veteran’s Cemetery in Marpi.
Sablan invited business leaders and Rotary members to witness the ceremonial opening of the Veterans Cemetery this Saturday in Marpi. He acknowledged MVAO deputy executive officer Ruth Coleman for her perseverance in pushing through with this project for war veterans in the CNMI.
Coleman said the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday would coincide with Veterans Day ceremony to be held also at the cemetery at the 11th hour on the 11th of this month. Pacific Winds Concert Band will provide music while Coleman will host the ceremony.
Coleman said the keynote speaker would be Capt. Janice M. Wynn, Chief of Staff, Navy Region Marianas, while Department of Veterans Affairs-Cemetery Grants Program director Scott Gebhardtsbauer would also provide brief remarks.
The new CNMI Veterans Cemetery has a total of 216 gravesites and an interment building.
“Now the family of veterans have a resting area for their brave,” Sablan said, adding that families of veterans have options whether to take their loved ones to the cemetery.
