February 29, 2008 New Clinton County, NY exemption covers those who served during Cold War County grants veterans tax exemption.
Clinton County legislators have approved a tax exemption for Cold War veterans. Cold War veterans are defined as those who served in the U.S. military from 1945 to 1991. The local law will give them a 10-percent exemption off their property assessment for 10 years. It
applies to county taxes on primary residences only. The maximum
exemption will not exceed $8,000. The law was offered to cover
veterans who are not eligible for war-time-veteran tax exemptions.
Clinton County Veterans Services Agency
Director Steven Bowman said the state offered the Cold War exemption so
all veterans will be covered. Legislators unanimously approved the
exemption. The exemption will help Cold War veterans, many of whom are
now older and living on fixed incomes. Municipalities throughout the
county have the option of approving the Cold War exemption for local
taxes.
Veterans wishing to apply
for the Cold War exemption can visit the Veterans Services Agency
office in the County Government Building on Margaret Street,
Plattsburgh, NY.
Copies of their property deed and discharge papers are needed.
U.S. and China Sign POW and MIA Arrangement
U.S. and Chinese officials signed a document Friday morning in
Shanghai, China to formalize research in Chinese archives on Korean War
POW/MIA matters.
Ambassador Charles A. Ray, deputy assistant secretary
of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs, signed the arrangement
with Maj. Gen. Qian Li Hua, of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense.
The arrangement outlines expected cooperation between
the U.S. and China in researching the archives, which may shed light on
Americans who were missing in action or held as prisoners of war in
camps managed by the Chinese.
In seeking to account for the approximately 8,100
servicemen missing from the Korean War, the Defense POW/Missing
Personnel Office has sought access to these archives for more than a
decade.
The cooperation of the Chinese people and government
has led to the recovery of the remains of Americans lost in the Vietnam
War, the Cold War, the Korean War and World War II. This joint archival
effort is expected to open more avenues of research to enable U.S.
analysts to narrow their searches for the specific locations where
American remains may be buried.
The signing ceremony took place in the same Shanghai
hotel where President Richard Nixon and Premier Cho En-lai signed their
historic communiqué in 1972.
The American's Creed
William Tyler Page
“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the
people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived
from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a
sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and
inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality,
justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their
lives and fortunes.“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to
love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its
flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Written by Francis Bellemy
Serviceman's Prayer " Lord, I may not believe in everything my government has asked me to fight for.
But, they asked me to do it! I am here for the honor of my Country! I pray for my family, my safety and most of all, for the U.S.A.!
See me through another night to fight another day! Amen "
POW MIA Prayer
"Father Your own Son was a Prisoner. Condemned, He died for us, Victorious,
He returned to bring us the gift of life everlasting. Comfort us now in our
longing for the return of the Prisoners Of War and those Missing In Action.
Help Us Father, inspire us to remove the obstacles. Give courage to those
who know the truth to speak out. Grant wisdom to the negotiators, and compassion
to the jailors. Inspire the media to speak out as loudly as they have in
the past. Protect those who seek in secret and help them to succeed, Show
us the tools to do your will, Guard and bless those in captivity, their families,
and those who work for their release. Let them come home soon.
Thank You Father." AMEN
In
1971, Mrs. Mary Hoff, an MIA wife and member of the National League of
American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, recognized the need
for a symbol of our POW/MIAs. The flag is black, bearing in the center,
in black and white, the emblem of the League. The emblem is a white disk
bearing in black silhouette the bust of a man, watch tower with a guard
holding a rifle, and a strand of barbed wire; above the disk are the
white letters POW and MIA framing a white 5-pointed star; below the disk
is a black and white wreath above the white motto:
YOU
ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
The
flag has been altered many times; the colors have been switched from
black with white - to red, white and blue, - to white with black; the
POW/MIA has at times been revised to MIA/POW.
On
March 9,1989, a POW/MIA Flag, which flew over the White House on the
1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day, was installed in the United
States Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly
during the 100th session of Congress. The leadership of both Houses
hosted the installation ceremony in a demonstration of bipartisan
congressional support. This POW/MIA Flag, the only flag displayed in the
United States Capitol Rotunda, stands as a powerful symbol of our
national commitment to our POW/MIAs until the fullest possible
accounting for Americans still missing in Southeast Asia has been
achieved.
On
August 10,1990, the 101st Congress passes U.S. Public Law 101-355,
recognizing the National League of Families POW/MIA Flag and designating
it "as a symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving
as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and
unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. Thus ending the uncertainty for their
families and the Nation." Beyond Southeast Asia, it has been a
symbol for POW/MIAs from all American Wars.
With
the passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act during
the first term of the 105th Congress, the..... 'POW/MIA Flag' will fly
each year on:
Armed
Forces Day - Third Saturday in May
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Flag Day - June 14
Independence Day - July 4
National POW/MIA Recognition Day - Third Friday in September
Veterans Day - November 11
The
POW/MIA Flag will be flown on the grounds or the public lobbies of major
military installations as designated by the Secretary of Defense, all
Federal National Cemeteries, the National Korean War Veterans Memorial,
the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House, the United
States Post Offices and at official offices of the Secretaries of State,
Defense and Veteran's Affairs, and Director of the Selective Service
System. Civilians are free to fly the POW/MIA Flag whenever
they wish.
The
Robert A LaFountain Chapter 179, Disabled American Veterans of
Plattsburgh dedicated the Plattsburgh Barracks Veterans Park on
September 8th. The park is located on the U.S. Oval and displays a flag
for all Military Branches and Veterans Organizations (13 flags). The
Park is a tribute to all veterans who served this nation from the
Battles of the Revolutionary War to Present.
On each side of
a large stone there are Memorial Walls and on the walls, engraved
bricks will be placed in memory of veterans. The bricks will have 3
lines of print with up to 13 characters per line, and we are asking for
a donation of $50.00 for each brick. This money will be used to
purchase trees, shrubs, flowers and the remaining funds will be in
escrow to maintain the Memorial Park.
Anyone who desires a commemorative brick may email the commander or contact Steve Bowman at 518-565-4720. Commander@DAVchapter.com
Serviceman's Prayer