Art Sloane
Jesse Ramirez, a former Navy veteran, has the chance to see again because of a new invention called eSight glasses. Unfortunately, these glasses cost $14,000 which the VA will not cover. The Reverend Joseph F. Matrishion, an Air Force veteran, contacted me since he has been helping this vet for some time now. Jesse went blind because his life support was turned off by his wife after an accident and she was divorcing him. Jesse was able to try on these glasses and saw Rev. Joe for the first time. If you are interested in helping Jesse go to www.gofundme.com/sight4jesse. See more about this wonderful invention at www.esighteyewear.com or call 1-855-837-4448.
Mission: Restore Bronze is a nationwide all volunteer initiative to restore all the veterans’ markers on graves to their original luster. It is estimated there are around 1,000,000 bronze markers needing restoration, many dating back to the Civil War. This also includes places like Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix. Tom Pawlak, the founder of this effort, needs help with not only funds but if you would like to buy supplies please contact him at [email protected], call 310-890-5431 or on the Facebook or YouTube page Mission Restore Bronze Markers.
A Vietnam 50th anniversary Commemorative Observance will take place March 20-22 at the Tempe American Legion Post 2, the host of the observances, at 2125 S. Industrial Park Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282. Please contact these numbers if interested in attending and for a complete program. For reservations for dinner on March 20 call 480-941-5258. For displays and general information call 480-390-5638.
Spring training, concerts and musicals are all free to veterans by registering your DD214 with www.VetTix.org. All you pay is the postage to send the tickets to you. Venues throughout the valley have these tickets available for this great organization that started here in the Valley is now in multiple states in the U.S.
Memorial Day comes each year in May and services are held at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix. This service has grown from a few hundred to over 2,000 and expenses have also increased. Chairs need to be rented and tents put up because of the temperature. Other expenses include printing, postage and water. For this reason, the Memorial Day Committee is asking for donations. Any funds left over are donated to the National Cemetery. If you would like to help please send your contributions to Memorial Day Committee of Arizona, Attention: Mel Brody, Treasurer, 8989 N. Gainey Dr., Unit 146, Scottsdale AZ 85258.
Many residents in the Valley receive discount packets in the mail. One of them asks you to donate your car to charity. I suggest only one that I am able to refer. This one has a telephone number 1-888-979-Vets. I vouch for this one since they have sent two checks this week to Arizona StandDown and Boots for our Troops Foundation. Each check was for $10,000. You may also donate to CarsHelpingVeterans.org.
Art Sloane may be contacted at 480-802-6810 or by e-mail at [email protected].