An aggressive push to ensure female veterans receive the highest quality of care in Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities was pledged by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake at a recent VA National Summit on Women Veterans’ Issues.

Although the VA already has services for female patients equal to those men receive, Peake told the audience of more than 400 female-veteran advocates, “We are reinventing ourselves by expanding our women-centric focus to initiate new programs that meet the needs of women veterans.”

Citing the demographic shift that brings increasing numbers of women to the VA for care and the need for changes, Peake announced the formation of a work group to focus on women’s needs in prosthetics and rehabilitation, hiring women’s advocates in VA medical centers, developing quality measurements specifically for female patients, purchasing more state-of-the-art, specialized women’s health-care equipment and expanding medical education in women’s health for VA care providers.

Summit attendees also learned that the VA recently established a work group whose goal is to ensure every female veteran enrolled in VA care has a women’s health primary care provider, especially to meet gender-specific needs. The June 20-22 conference in Washington, D.C., was the fourth women’s summit, which the VA holds every four years.

Cost estimates of vets’ benefits change

Two provisions of the 2007 Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act cost more than original estimates, and Congress will have to come up with more money this year for the programs to continue.

The price tag for providing disabled veterans with more money to purchase automobiles or for other modes of transportation that are adapted to their special needs would double from its original $11,000 amount, the Congressional Budget Office told Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in a June 26 letter.

The CBO also stated that an accounting oversight underestimated the costs necessary to pay pensions to surviving spouses of Filipino veterans. According to initial CBO estimates, it would cost $59 million to pay pensions to 4,000 spouses between 2008 and 2017; the new figures are $160 million for 11,200 surviving spouses during the same 10-year span.

R.I. veteran plate choices available through DMV

The design for the old war veteran license plates has been changed by the Rhode Island General Assembly. And the term “veteran” is now defined as any person who has served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The term “veteran” also includes members of the National Guard and Reserves called to active duty authorized by the president of the United States or the secretary of defense, or those who have 20 years of service with a letter and record of separation of service.

Legislative action taken this past session by the Assembly created a special decal for war veterans to be used on veterans’ license plates. A decal sticker may now be affixed to the upper right corner of the plate designating the veterans’ branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines) or if the holder is a gold star parent. Decals for new plates are only available at the Providence State House’s Veterans’ Affairs office, in Room 136, between 9 a.m. and noon on Mondays.

Current war veteran plate holders who want to switch to the new plate can visit any local DMV branch and complete a simple transfer form or do it online at www.ri.gov/DMV/veteran.

There is no charge for this service for current war veteran plate holders. Original plates must be turned in when you pick up your new plates.

For first-time veteran plate applicants, the enabling legislation requires payment of a service charge of $20 and a transfer charge of $5 for each plate ordered.

Purple Heart plates are also available to veterans through the DMV and applicants must present their DD-214 form or other paperwork showing the Purple Heart award. It costs nothing to order this plate and yearly registration fees are also waived. Plates may be transferred upon death of the holder to the surviving spouse for his or her lifetime or until he or she remarries.

National Guard plates will be issued if you present a letter from your commanding officer stating that you are a member of the R.I. National Guard. A one-time $21.50 fee is collected with the plate order and normal registration fees apply.

Rhode Island drivers wishing to show their patriotism on their plates may purchase flag decals at any DMV or AAA office for $5 per decal, with proceeds benefiting the R.I. Military Family Relief Fund.

Veterans remember Korean War cease fire

The R.I. House Veterans Affairs Advisory Council and the Korean War Veterans Association invite all Rhode Island veterans and family members to attend the 55th anniversary of the Korean War cease-fire ceremony on Sunday at 11 a.m., at the Korean War Memorial in downtown Providence at the corner of South Main Street and College Hill to pay tribute to fallen comrades.

“The Forgotten War” saw 200,000 wounded, 38,000 dead and more than 2,000 still missing in action.

The two Korean War Veterans Association chapters in Rhode Island listed here are looking to shore up their membership. Anyone who served from June 1950 to July 1955 is considered a Korean War veteran no matter where military service occurred. From 1955 to the present, anyone who served on the Korean Peninsula is considered a Korean Service Veteran.

KWVA West Bay Chapter 2 generally meets on the second Wednesday of the month, at 7:30 p.m., at VFW Post 449, 197 Providence St., West Warwick. KWVA Northern R.I. Chapter 3 usually meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the Chepachet Senior Center, 1210 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, at 7 p.m. Chapter 2 commander Robert Hartley can be reached by e-mail at cpicano33@msn.com, and Chapter 3 commander John Ramieri is available at (401) 231-7849.

Gatherings of interest to veterans

•The state-wide R.I. Independent Living Council will celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on Saturday at the Corliss Institute, 290 Main St., Warren, from noon to 3 p.m. All veterans are welcome to attend the speaking program. For more information, call (401) 253-8949 or send an e-mail to lrockwood@risilc.org.

•The second annual Ron Gill Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Aug. 9 at the Exeter Country Club at 320 Ten Rod Rd., with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. and a steak fry immediately following. Proceeds will be used for scholarships given in Gill’s name. Coast Guardsman PS3 Gill, a Cranston native, lost his life while on active duty assigned to the first Maritime Safety & Security Unit formed after the Sept. 11 attacks. The cost is $125 per golfer ($50 dinner only) and includes golf, cart, dinner, auction, raffles and prizes. Call (401) 942-4799 or send an e-mail to artisgill32150@yahoo.com.

•The 33rd reunion of the 5th, 11th and 14th World War II Defense Battalions as well as ZMQ3 Battalion will be held at Quantico, Va., from Aug. 27 to 29. For more information call Bill Brennan in Westerly at (401) 322-0340 or send an e-mail to jimbetrem@comcast.net.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary, Gatchell Post 306 and Auxiliary units meet today at the post home, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket, at 7 p.m.

•American Legion Post 12 will meet at the Saratoga headquarters, 6854 Post Rd., North Kingstown, tonight at 7:30 p.m., for officer elections and a 2009 budget review.

•Italian American War Veterans of the U.S. will meet on Wednesday at the VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave., Providence, at 7:30 p.m. in conference room 1.

•43d Infantry Division Veterans Association, the Rhode Island Winged Victory Division meeting will be held Saturday at 1 p.m., at the Arsenal, 176 Benefit St., Providence.

•The Coventry Veterans Council recently elected new officers: president, Douglas Gamage; vice president, Joseph Munier; secretary, Joseph Guthrie; treasurer, Joseph Perry; and, chaplain, Cy Geary.

George W. Reilly can be reached at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I.