American Indian Vets reach settlement with Tax and Rev

American Indian veterans should begin receiving long-overdue reimbursements of tax dollars unlawfully withheld from their military paychecks.

An estimated 9,000 American Indian veterans live in New Mexico, and those who can prove state income tax was unjustly withheld from their military paychecks can collect a piece of a settlement fund.

New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department Secretary Rick Homans told veterans in Shiprock Thursday that checks should begin showing up in mail boxes early next year.

State legislators dropped $1 million into a fund created last year to reimburse veterans whose primary addresses were on tribal land during their military service and whose military income was unjustly taxed by the state.

Veterans' outreach impacted by state budget cuts

A delegation of New Mexicans places a memorial wreath to honor NM Soldiers at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider (below righ) at Arlington National Cemetery (above) last month -Photos by: Peter St. Cyr

New Mexico Secretary of Veterans' Services John Garcia, an Army veteran who served in Viet Nam himself, says he doesn't want across the board budget cuts to state agencies "laid on the back of my veterans."

We filmed this video with the Secretary on a recent "Boss Lift" trip to the nation's capitol, which was sponsored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.



Veterans "have served the country to defend the free-enterprise system," Garcia said.

He believes cutting back on outreach to homeless vets and reducing veteran business development is a disservice to the more than 200,000 veterans who live in the state.

Garcia told us that when he took over the department, which was elevated to a cabinet level post in February, 2004, and has 17 field offices, its budget was less than $2 million dollars. After administrative expenses, including salaries for 20 accredited and certified veteran service officer, there was only $200,000 left for veterans, or $1 per vet. That budget as quadrupled, but still only provides $4 per veteran.

"With the recent war in Iraq and Afghanistan I've got an influx of new veterans - a new generation of veterans - and it's tough to find them," Garcia said. "Veterans just don't walk into our office and say 'I want my benefits.' We've got to find them. I don't want them to wait thirty years, like I did and many Viet Nam Vets did. We have to be very proactive and do our outreach of services."

Garcia says after meeting with Governor Bill Richardson, shortly after the special session, that both men are disappointed that the agency was marked for cuts similar to other agencies.

"It' difficult when you're talking about a budget cut and my veterans are on the firing line between the legislative body and the executive," Garcia said.

Garcia says after all veterans "give us the freedoms we enjoy!

Statewide Veterans Day celebrations planned

A host of ceremonies are planned across New Mexico today.

A parade at Bullhead Memorial Park gets underway at 9:30 in Albuquerque. It will travel down San Pedro, up Gibson and end at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial. Ceremonies there begin at 11.

Another event is planned at the Veterans Memorial Park in Santa Fe on Pinetree Road. A parade in the capital city gets underway, at Bishops Lodge at 10am.

Keep in mind, City, County, State and Federal offices are closed for the holiday. So are most courts, banks and the post office.

Editor's note:

On Veterans Day 2009 we've decided to add the New Mexico Veterans websiteto our blog roll. Please check out Floyd Vasquez' posts regularly to see what's happening, for veterans across the state, and to see how you can volunteer to help or participate in important events benefiting our state's honored veterans.

UPDATE: 9:26

The chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico Javier Gonzales has issued a written statement honoring veterans.

New Mexicans have a proud history of serving their country as members of the United States’ Armed Forces. The Democratic Party of New Mexico remembers and honors all New Mexicans who have served, are serving or have paid the ultimate price to our great Nation.

To read the rest of Gonzales' comments read his blog post at the state party's blog here.

Heinrich Honors New Mexican Vets; Condemns North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Test.

Duty, Honor & Country. New Mexicans Pay Tribute to Fallen Soldiers.

After a weekend of rain, sunshine filled the NM Veteran's Memorial Park just in time for Monday's Memorial Day ceremonies. Hundreds of people filled the grandstands. They saluted a giant American Flag (flying at half staff), bowed their heads during an invocation, and listened to dignitaries honor veterans and their families.

Lest we forget, a wall with thousands of New Mexican's names surrounds the entrance to the park. The bricks display the names of those individuals who heard the call to duty and are either still missing in action, tragically died in combat, or served in captivity, from WWI through the War on Terror.

Represenative Martin Heinrich, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, was a featured speaker at this morning's event. Other VIP's attending included Lt. Governor Diane Denish, ABQ Mayor Martin J. Chavez, Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Brasher, and City Councilor Dan Harris.

He tells us the first piece of legislation he introduced in Congress was for veterans.

It will help communications between the Department of Veterans Affairs, our State V.A. Directorships and returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. We often lose track of those folks because we only keep track of their physical address which typically changes a lot when they return. One of things we’re trying to do is make sure they start keeping track of emails for all those returning veterans so we can make sure they get the services they’ve earned.

We caught up with him before the ceremony began and talked to him about North Korea's nuclear weapon test underground early Monday.

Heinrich told 770KKOB, that he's concerned North Korea is becoming increasingly isolated from the world community.

I think we need to work in concert with our allies to make sure that North Korea does not pose a threat to the United States or the stability of the entire pacific region.

Heinrich said the NM Veterans Memorial Park use to be in his city council district and that it has a close place in his heart.

In addition to honoring the fallen over the last year I just want to thank the people who show up here every single year. You see their faces again and again if you’ve been to the park. They come every spring. They don’t spend their memorial day at the reservoir or off on a three-day vacation. They come here to recognize and pay tribute to our fallen veterans.

Heinrich also told us he'll be hosting a veteran's town hall meeting on Wednesday at the park, near Kirtland A.F.B., from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish told the crowd, "Because of their [veterans] valor and their commitment, freedom is alive in the world today."

The Word Is: Udall Rallies for Vet Support this Fall.

(Saturday, June 7th) - Not even a week after the state's primary, Rep. Tom Udall was out on the campaign trail working a crowd of American Veterans who are disappointed in President George Bush's handling of veteran affairs and the president's threatened veto of a new G.I. Bill.

Geronimo Fragua, 83, from Jemez Pueblo, a WWII and Korean War Vet attended the event with his friend Joe Sando. Fragua fought with the 20th Armory/27 Tank Batallion and helped liberate the Dachau concentration camp.

Nearly 200 people decided to stand with the Democrat US Senate candidate, who served eight years as a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs committee, as he signed this letter to President Bush. Udall wrote the letter urging the Commander in Chief to support a new G.I. Bill. The legislation provides the same education benefits to this generation of warriors that was previously provided to other returning troops.

Udall also encouraged others to sign the letter on his campaign's website.

During the noon-time rally at the Bataan Memorial Park Udall told the crowd that enhancing the bill is the right thing to do for soldiers returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I believe we can start doing what’s right for our veterans by ensuring victims of post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury get the care they need care,” said Udall. “We have a sacred responsibility to do what’s right by those who wear our nation’s uniform and those who they leave behind.”

Jim Buhaug a wheel-chair bound vet and First Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County, introduced Udall to the crowd. Bauhug told photo journalist Mark Bralley in this AUDIO INTERVIEW it would be a mistake for the President to veto the bill.

“After World War II Congress passed legislation that helped veterans like my father get an education,” Udall said. “By investing in veterans, America built the strongest economy our country has ever known. Sixty years later, with American troops once again returning from war, it’s time for us to invest in our veterans again.”

There are nearly 200,000 Veterans in New Mexico.

Jessie Anzuras, an Army medic in Vietnam agrees with Buhaug and Fragua. In this AUDIO INTERVIEW Anazuras says the Bush administration has done a poor job handling veterans affairs. He says he knows how soldiers returning from the Middle East feel because he had similar problems after returning from Vietnam.

Udall, who talked with 770KKOB reporter Craig Kennedy on Tuesday night, traveled to the the veteran rally from Alamogordo's Holloman Air Force Base. On Friday, he joined the rest of NM's Congressional Delegation as they welcomed a new squadron of Raptor F22A jets to the 149th Fighter Wing.

Udall is a co-sponsor and strong advocate for enacting a New G.I. Bill into law. This bill would extend educational benefits on par with those provided to veterans of the World War II era to the 1.7 million troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Udall-backed G.I. Bill would extend veterans the benefits to cover the costs of a four-year education up to the level of the most expensive in-state public school. It would include a stipend for housing, books and other expenses. Currently, veterans ' education benefits cover only about 60 percent of the cost of a public-school education.

Under the legislation, any service member who has served three months active duty since September 11, 2001, is eligible for benefits, and any service member who has served at least three years will receive the full benefit package. Those who end their service before three years due to an injury may also qualify for full benefits. All branches of the military would be eligible, including members of the National Guard and Reserve.

For additional information on current benefits call the NM GI Rights Hotline or visit their website. The site also includes important statistics and the number of psychological casualties, traumatic brain injuries, service member deaths, and increasing number of veteran suicides per week which at last report was more than 125.

Earlier Saturday morning, Sen. Pete Domenici and other members of the congressional delegation attended a ceremony to rename the Albuquerque VA Medical Center in honor of Raymond G. “Jerry” Murphy, a Medal of Honor recipient, Korean War veteran, and long-time VA employee and hospital volunteer.

Jerry Murphy dedicated over 20 years of his life, following his military service, to work at the Albuquerque VA Medical Center. He passed away on April 6, 2007. Wilson introduced the House version of the bill to rename the VA Medical Center in his honor and led the effort in the U.S. House to rename the hospital in her district.

“Jerry Murphy was a hero for his actions in Korea, but the way he chose to spend the rest of his life is what makes him so special to New Mexico's veterans,” said Rep. HeatherWilson , who was defeated by Steve Pearce in her Senatorial bid.

“Renaming the Albuquerque VA Medical Center in honor of Mr. Murphy will ensure that his life’s work is never forgotten. Jerry Murphy wasn’t buried in his Marine dress uniform. He was buried in his VA volunteer smock. That’s just the way Jerry was, and today, we honor him as he honored veterans with the way he lived his life.”

During the Korean War as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marines, Murphy led a mission to rescue wounded Marines pinned down by enemy fire on Ungok Hill. He was wounded in the engagement, and refused treatment until all the Marines were accounted for and treated. He also earned a Silver Star for bravery in 1952.

When he returned from Korea, Murphy went to work for the VA and served as manager for the regional office in New Mexico for 23 years. He continued to volunteer at the medical center after he retired.

Mark Bralley contributed photos and audio to this report.