President Barack Obama applauds Sgt. Dakota Meyer after presenting him with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Meyer is expected to attend the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's convention.: Official White House photo by Pete Souza

The 2011 Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention is taking place in Louisville, Kentucky from September 28 to October 2.

Every year, the society holds a convention in a host city for those living, distinguished service members who have received this prestigious award. The convention comes as the nation marks the 150th anniversary of the award.

Among those attending is the newest Medal of Honor recipient, and Kentucky native, Sgt. Dakota Meyer (U.S. Marine Corp, Afghanistan) who received his medal Sept. 15, 2011.

The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious military award bestowed upon an individual serving in the U.S. military. It is awarded in the name of Congress by the President to a person who distinguishes him or herself by gallantry and valor at the risk of their own life going above and beyond the call of duty.

More than 3,465 medals have been awarded since it was first authorized in 1861.

Veterans and active-duty military personnel who show official proof of their status will be given free admission to Expo New Mexico Sept. 22. Gates open at 10am.

In addition to free admission, there will be exhibits by the New Mexico Air National Guard, the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Army. The racecar sponsored by the U.S. Army will also be on display.

The victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks will also be honored at the fair. NMDVS Secretary Timothy Hale and New Mexico National Guard Brigadier General Paul Pena will lead a tribute
commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the attacks. The names of the New Mexicans killed in military action since the attacks will also be read.

Eldon Miller, a Vietnam Veteran who helped create the National Veterans TEE Tournament, tees off during the event.: Photo by U.S Department of Veterans Affairs.

Disabled Veterans from around the country will concluded the 17^th  Annual National Veterans TEE Tournament Thursday. The tournament, which began in 1994 as local effort by the Iowa City VA Medical Center to bring together blind Veterans, now hosts Veterans who are wheelchair-bound, amputees or living with other disabilities, for four days of therapeutic sports and camaraderie.

Eldon Miller, an Army Veteran of the Vietnam War who now lives in Iowa, was instrumental in getting the program off the ground.  Legally blinded in a training accident in 1974, his love of outdoor recreation compelled him to seek out opportunities to maintain his active lifestyle.  In 1987, this drove him to the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, an event aimed at therapy and rehabilitation through skiing and other winter activities. It has since become an annual event.

He and a small group of other Iowa Veterans quickly got together to create an event of their own, hoping to create further opportunities to bring disabled Veterans together.  The result was what is now known as the TEE (Training, Exposure and Experience) Tournament, which has grown in size nearly every year since its inception.

Originally no golfer himself, Miller now works on his game constantly.  “Don’t ever say you can’t do something unless you try it first,” he said.

Despite the program’s humble beginnings, this year’s tournament drew 238 attendees (well up from last year’s 175), who participated in a golf tournament, as well as horseshoes, kayaking and bowling events.  It is clear that such events will continue to play a vital role in the ongoing rehabilitation of the nation’s Veterans.

Learn more about other VA-sponsored national rehabilitation events here.

The volunteer effort was begun by “The Mission Continues,” which empowers Veterans who still want to serve their country, but are no longer deemed fit to serve in the military.

“We find projects and we find people we can work hand-in-hand with,” Aimee Haas, an Air Force Veteran for 13 years until she was medically retired last April, told a local news radio station.

The Home Depot Foundation is in the midst of a two-month long campaign called a “Celebration of Service,” which is designed to improve the lives of military Veterans with a combined 200 volunteer projects around the nation.

Blake Hall and Matt Thompson, two Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, are the co-founders of Troopswap, a daily online coupon site designed for members of the military that aims to mimic the success of other online coupon sites like Groupon.

The service, which is currently only available in Hampton Roads, Virgina, will expand to Washington, DC and San Diego in September and other military markets in the following months. Troopswap’s ambition is to become the “eBay meets Craigslist” for the military. Membership is free for service members, Veterans, and their family members. Site members will receive discounts from businesses who are specifically interested in targeting Veterans and service members and, like Groupon, the offerings vary from products, experiences, services, and dining options.

For more on Troopswap, click here or visit their website at www.troopswap.com.

There’s a vast crowd swaying, there’s a wild band playing,
The streets are full of marching men, or tramping cavalry.
Alive and young and straight again, they ride to greet a mate again-
The gallant souls, the great souls that live eternally!

A handful of old men walking down the highways?
Nay, we look on heroes that march among their peers,
The great, glad Companions have swung from heaven’s byways
And come to join their own again across the dusty years.

There are strong hands meeting, there are staunch hearts greeting-
A crying of remembered names, of deeds that shall not die.
A handful of old men?-Nay, my heart, look well again;
The spirit of America today is marching by!

To view a preview of the documentary, go to:  http://www.pbs.org/programs/hallowed-grounds/

 One major improvement in the new online form is a live chat function.  Now, if Veterans have questions while completing their Application for Health Benefits, they can receive real-time assistance.  The form also includes improvements to some of the questions in the application.  For example, VA has simplified questions related to military service during the Vietnam and Gulf wars.  Hopefully, these improvements will reduce mistakes and the time it takes to complete and receive health benefits. 

 The ever-improving online form has been available for use by Veterans since 2000, and VA is planning even more improvements in the future.  Such improvements include easing the process for updating personal information and creating a 10-10EZ form uniquely for demobilizing military service members.

 The new form can be found on the VA website, at www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110118006920/en/VA-Adds-Chat-Feature-Online-Application-Health

 http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2033

Iunker broke his back and suffered severe injuries to his chest and face.  Nearly three years later, he is a success story for a program called Operation Welcome Home.

The program seeks to link the 30,000 servicemembers who return to California each year with veterans who can help them readjust to civilian life.  More than 300 veterans have been hired thus far as part of the $20 million program.  Click here for the story:  http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/31/2927135/california-soldier-is-success.html#ixzz0vIErUtLo