The parade, which starts at noon, will take place on Jan. 28. The mile-long route will start at Kiener Plaza and end at Union Station. The organizers have also set up a Veterans Resource Village inside Union Station. The resource center will be open from 11 am to 5 pm.

“We encourage St. Louis to turn out in droves in the same way we turned out for the World Series Champion Cardinals Victory Parade,” event organizer Craig Schneider said. “We understand this is quite an undertaking, but the entire St. Louis community, including our youngest residents, are coming together to help make this parade an amazing success.”

Veterans who are interested in walking in the parade can find an application at the organization’s website. There is also additional information available at the event’s Facebook page.

It has long been tradition for troops coming home from war to be greeted with parades in the nation’s major cities. But troops who returned home from Iraq just before Christmas weren’t met with ticker tape and cheering crowds. At the moment, the governments of major American cities like New York City and Washington, D.C., have no plans to stage parades as they have in the past.

While some, citing the fact that troops are still fighting in Afghanistan, think such a welcome home celebration would be premature, in St. Louis, our troops will be receiving the welcome home they deserve.

Schneider discussed the parade and why he started the grassroots effort on the Rachel Maddow Show.

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Illinois Veterans do not need to be first-time home purchasers to qualify for the program, although they must qualify for the mortgage loan.

“We are compensating and rewarding veterans for putting themselves in harm’s way, ultimately offering the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms,” said State Sen. Bill Brady. “So it’s a way to pay them back for what they’ve given to us.”

The channel, right now called Veterans Special Programs American National Network or V-Spann for short, would be devoted to helping Illinois Veterans. It would air programs and shows that specifically relate to Veterans and their experiences.

The station may also serve as an outlet for Veterans struggling with the adjustment to civilian life. The idea is that Veterans who are suffering from depression or thoughts of suicide might see something on this channel that urges them to seek help.

Although partial funding would be expected to come from the government, other sources of financial backing are still being investigated.

The 60,000-square-foot area will be a mega-clinic that would provide primary care, physical therapy and other health-related services to Veterans in the Will County area.  This facility will not be a hospital, but will provide many services that the Hines Veterans Hospital provide and save many Veterans the drive to Hine VAMC.

The Veterans Administration will not be taking over the entire facility when Silver Cross Hospital relocates, so the rest of the facility will be subdivided in a way to keep the clinic separate from other tenants.

The new clinic has been long in the process as Veterans advocacy groups, Congress members and others have strived to expand Veterans health services in the area.

Each Veteran entering school is paired with a peer mentor in order to make the transition easier. Many of the Veterans haven’t been in school for years and can find the switch from military to civilian life difficult.

Marine Corps Veteran Ryan Roebuck said, “It was difficult to adjust to civilian culture at first. I got out of the Marine Corps on a Friday and started school on Monday morning.”

The center currently helps more than 1,300 Veterans as well as their families. In addition, all their employees are student Veterans. As a further way to offer support to one another, the Veterans often plan group outings, such as lunches or hunting trips.

An informational meeting is held once a month to better help Veterans understand the programs and benefits offered to them through the Veteran Success Center.

Charitable organizations are doing what they can to make sure that all our nation's Veterans are able to celebrate Thanksgiving with the traditional meal.: Photo by Ben Franske.

Across the nation, organizations are making sure that Veterans who have been hit hard by the weak economy are able to celebrate Thanksgiving. This is a list of just some of the resources Veterans can take advantage of to ensure their families enjoy the traditional holiday meal.

In Orange County, California, homeless veterans will have the opportunity to receive a Thanksgiving meal on Tuesday November 22 at the VeteransFirstServiceCenter: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/18/4064365/veterans-first-and-bascom-group.html

In Southern California, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and other organizations are distributing turkeys to veterans: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/morongo-tribe-gives-9000-thanksgiving-turkeys-to-needy.html

In Sandusky County, Ohio, veterans may register for Thanksgiving dinner (or carry-out for the elderly or disabled) on Thursday November 24 and transportation to the VFW hall: http://www.thenews-messenger.com/article/20111119/NEWS01/111190316/Community-Thanksgiving-Dinner-Thursday

In Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania, Thanksgiving dinners and checks for needy veterans will be distributed: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/bucksinq/134050663.html

In New Bedford and Falls River, Massachusetts, the Rent-A-Center stores have been collecting canned food for needy veterans, which is expected to be delivered today or tomorrow: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111120/NEWS/111200348/-1/NEWSMAP

In Conway, New Hampshire, the American Legion is offering a free meal to veterans on Thursday November 24: http://www.conwaydailysun.com/node/478518/18672

In New Jersey, unemployed veterans may be eligible to obtain gift cards for Thanksgiving items: http://wyckoff.patch.com/articles/unemployed-bergen-county-veterans-eligible-for-thanksgiving-gift-card-d4587121

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes and the American Legion have teamed up to provide checks to disabled veterans nationwide so that they may be able to celebrate Thanksgiving: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/16/4059721/csah-and-legion-team-up-to-help.html

Donations are needed to bring Christmas cheer to Veterans at the Zablocki VA Medical Center.: Photo by Flickr user Kris de Curtis

Wisconsin Veterans who will be spending the holidays at the Zablocki VA Hospital in Milwaukee, Wis., will be able to celebrate thanks to the efforts of Veteran Jeff “Doc” Dentice and his coalition of dedicated volunteers.

Christmas with the Hospitalized Vets was started by Dentice and fellow Veteran Mike Lango in 1988 to bring some Christmas cheer to disabled Veterans receiving long-term care at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical facility.

In order to ensure the event continues to be a success, donations are needed.

For a list of needed items and information on how to donate, please visit www.war-veterans.org/christmas.htm.

The original project was to provide 32 quilts for the homeless women Veterans who will take up residence at the job training center. However, quilters have now doubled that estimate and are continuing to quilt smaller sizes for children’s beds. Up to 28 women and 18 children will live at the center once it is in full operation.

Along with the residential program for women in Belle Fourche, the center will also arrange job training and continuing education programs for both male and female Veterans in the region.

For more information on Veterans’ benefits, please visit: www.vetlawyers.com

VA released the organizations that would receive the grants.

View Facilities Receiving VA Grants in a larger map

These grants, which will amount to several hundred thousand dollars for twenty-six regional VA centers across the country, will bolster housing and service centers for Veterans in those areas, many of whom are seriously or terminally ill.

In a press release, Shinseki emphasized the importance of local efforts in the ongoing fight to house Veterans.

He affirmed VA’s commitment to providing crucial services to former service members saying, “VA is proud to partner with the community organizations that share our dedication to serving those who served this Nation. They are pulling Veterans out of homelessness and setting them on the path to independence.”

To learn more about services available for homeless Veterans click here.

Many Vietnam Veterans were not issued photo IDs upon discharge and do not have a Veterans ID card for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If approved, the card would cost no more than $10, and the Veteran would be required to provide a photo ID and a copy of their Certification of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

These Veteran ID cards would be recognized on a voluntary basis by businesses and, though not a substitute for an official military ID card, would provide proof of military service to receive discounts, ranging from free meals to percentages off at retailers.

Counties across the nation offer similar Veteran identification cards. Last month, the Veteran’s ID Card Act, which would create a standardized ID card for proof of Veteran status, was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives.

For information on Veterans’ benefits, please visit: www.vetlawyers.com