A landmark 450-page report issued in October by a federal panel of scientific experts and veterans concludes that at least one in four of the nearly 700,000 military personnel who served in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War have complex health problems linked to the toxins to which they were exposed.

The report by the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, which was commissioned by Congress, concludes that there is a multi-symptom disease, which it called Gulf War Illness, caused by unique exposures and that it is not a stress-related or trauma condition.

The full report is available at www.military.com/news/article/researchers-claim-proof-of-gulf-war-syndrome.html.

The Department of Veterans Affairs forwarded the report to the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine for review and recommendations.

Naval War College Museum to play host to art show

The Newport War College Museum is reviving what had been an annual tradition, the Navy-Newport Artists and Art Exhibit. The exhibit will open Friday in conjunction with the museum’s Christmas open house.

The exhibit is a juried show with prizes, and participation includes local artists. The theme of this year’s exhibit is Art on Slate. Topics will range from the Naval Station to other historic Aquidneck Island landmarks. The exhibit is scheduled to continue through January.

The Naval War College Museum is on Coasters Harbor Island and is accessible to the general public through Gate 1 of the Newport Naval Station. Visitor passes are available by checking in with the Pass & ID office before entering the base. Admission is free and museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Wreaths motorcade nears

Wreaths Across America is making its 17th-annual road trip from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery, bearing 10,000 wreaths donated by the Worcester Wreath Co., of Harrington Maine, for placement on graves this Saturday.

The motorcade will make its only Rhode Island stop at about noon tomorrow, with a brief ceremony at the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park in North Kingstown.

This is the third year that Wreaths Across America is providing remembrance wreaths to veterans cemeteries throughout the nation. A wreath-laying ceremony featuring a number of local organizations will be held at noon Saturday at Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, in Exeter.

To learn more about Wreaths Across America and how you can get involved, visit www.wreaths-across-america.org/index.html.

DAV service officers schedule area sessions

Disabled American Veterans national service officers Rick Vaccari and Justin Hart will be available to help veterans file claims for VA compensation at several outreach locations this month. They include the Warwick Vet Center, at 2038 Warwick Ave., on Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; the Hyannis, Mass., Outpatient Clinic, at 233 Stevens Rd., on Dec. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and, at the New Bedford Vet Center, 468 North St., on Dec. 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments are not necessary.

•House advisory panel

The Rhode Island House of Representatives Veterans Affairs Permanent Advisory Council meets at 10 this morning in room 135 of the State House.

•Eighth Air Force Historical Society

The Rhode Island chapter will hold its annual Christmas party at 11:30 this morning at Bickford’s restaurant, 1802 Post Rd., Warwick. Admission is $20 admission at the door.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars

Washington County Post 916, 155 High St., Wakefield, will meet tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. An adjutant and quartermaster seminar will be held Saturday at Kelley Gazzerro Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston, from 9 to 11 a.m.; call (401) 751-8200 for reservations. Kelley-Gazzerro Post will meet Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

•Korean War Veterans Association

Northern R.I. Chapter 3 will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Chepachet senior center, 1210 Putnam Pike, Glocester. West Bay Chapter 2 will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in VFW Post 449, 197 Providence St., West Warwick.

•American Legion

Post 39 will meet Thursday at 7 p.m., at 1958 Kingstown Rd., Peace Dale.

•Disabled American Veterans

Mount Pleasant Chapter 21 will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in VFW Post 10011, 354 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence.

•Reserve Officers Association

The Rhode Island Department’s executive committee will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Harwood Army Reserve Center, 385 Niagara St., Providence.

•Military Officers Association of America

Narragansett Bay Chapter will have its annual Christmas gala at 6 p.m. Friday at the Quonset O Club, in North Kingstown; reservations must be made by today by calling Bob at (401) 294-4824. Members are asked to support Fisher House with donations at the party.

•Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge

Rhode Island Chapter 24 will commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge at noon on Saturday in Barrington’s American Legion hall, on Legion Way. The public is invited to join the group for a pasta-and-meatball luncheon following the ceremony; $7 tickets are available by calling (401) 253-7369.

•Retired Enlisted Association

Narragansett Bay Chapter 79 will hold a luncheon meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Atlantic Beach Club, 53 Purgatory Rd., Middletown.

Send meeting notices and veterans news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or write to The Veterans’ Journal Column at The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.