From left, Camptown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1941 Commander Penny Register, at large Councilwoman October Hudley, Mayor Tony Vauss, Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Newark Regional Office Change Management agent and analyst and Public Affairs officer Jennifer Myers, Municipal Council Vice President and at large Councilwoman Renee Burgess, VFW District Commander Cheryl Turner and U.S. Army veteran James Odom stand together on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Claims Clinic organized by the members in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Newark Regional Office.
IRVINGTON, NJ — Members and volunteers of Camptown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1941 hosted a Claims Clinic, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Newark Regional Office, at the Chestnut Street headquarters on Saturday, Nov. 18. The event doubled as a town hall meeting, although it focused on veterans rights`.
“I don’t talk that much, but I’m glad that everyone came out today for the Claims Clinic and the town hall meeting and it’s an honor to have Mayor (Tony) Vauss here today,” said Camptown VFW Post 1941 Commander Penny Register on Saturday, Nov. 18. “The Claims Clinic is when veterans have problems with their claims and stuff and we have the claims people from Washington Street in Newark come here and assist the veterans, to make sure their paperwork is correct and that they’re on the right track. Any veterans, they can come here, every branch — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. All of them, and the Coast Guard, too.”
Congressman Donald Payne Jr. and Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker were among the elected officials who came to the event, which also included Vauss; Renee Burgess, the Municipal Council vice President and at large councilwoman; at large Councilwoman October Hudley, and VFW District Commander Cheryl Turner.
“It’s always important that we have town hall meetings like this, so we can have people come out and explain to you just how to go about getting your benefits, because when you call our offices, we only have to refer you to them,” said Tucker on Saturday, Nov. 18. “The first place is Washington Street and the VA Office, to make sure that they can be your first line of service. We’re just glad that we can work with them and, on the state level, I’m glad that I’m able to do things to assist you, such as getting legislation passed that will help everybody.”
Tucker announced she would be going to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 29, to meet with the Veterans Administration and state and local leaders to discuss local veterans issues.
“Maybe that will help us get the legislation passed that a vet is a vet, because our state definition of a vet is different from the federal definition of a vet. So that’s why a lot of you might not be able to get certain benefits here in the state, because the definition of veteran is different on the state level than it is on the federal level. I’m working to get a new bill passed in the state and, hopefully, since we’ve got a new governor, it will get passed, so we can get all of the things entitled to you passed. This bill is saying that, if you served, then you’re entitled.”
Payne agreed with Tucker that more needs to be done to help veterans who put their lives on the line to serve.
“In my capacity as a member of the United States House of Representatives, I can say ‘thank you’ from a grateful nation for your service,” said Payne on Saturday, Nov. 18. “I have a really great staff, including Samantha Washington, a 10-year vet of the Navy, and Clark Donald, who’s been with me since he was 13 years old. If there is something that we can do or you feel there is something that is not being addressed, that’s when you contact me and I inquire on your behalf on why this is or what it isn’t. Now, sometimes, you might not like the answer, but the answer is the answer and we’ll do the best of our ability to get to the bottom of your situation. We try to be results-oriented in my office.”
Turner is a former Camptown VFW Post 1941 commander; she said the clinics and town hall meetings exist because they fill a vital need. Vauss said he attended the event on Saturday, Nov. 18, to support Register and Turner.
“The current commander and former commander, both of them have done an excellent job here in the township of Irvington and this is what it’s all about — creating a place and a space for veterans to come to and get the assistance that they so well-deserve,” said Vauss on Saturday, Nov. 18.
“That’s why I’m here, to support these dynamic women and keep the hope alive in Irvington and New Jersey. If you want to be empowered as a man, come here and join with these dynamic women.”
For more information about the Camptown VFW Post 194 Claims Clinic or future town hall meetings, call 973-351-0600.
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