Welcome 2025 (MMXXV), the year of the dragon if you follow the Chinese zodiac or 1735689600 – 1767225599 if you are a computer using Unix time (number of non-leap seconds since 01/01/1970). Regardless of how you track time, may your year be filled with unity and kindness. My first article of the new year contains random but important topics.
If you are a first-time reader, then this will be news to you. Everyone else will roll their eyes, as I share this nugget of knowledge, again. After January 31, 2025, Veterans will not be able to sign into My HealtheVet with a user ID and password, they will need to use a Login.gov or ID.me.
It is against federal law for non-government individuals or entities to make photocopies of images from DOD issued ID cards. Businesses will not be able to make photocopies of DOD ID Cards to substantiate the 100% Disabled Veteran exemptions. The Veteran will need to provide a different eligibility document such as a Veterans Administration (VA) initial decision/award letter or the annual letter disabled Veterans receive from VA.
Most Veterans Service Officers believe their work extends beyond a job or a career. Despite our belief that it is a calling, we are still compensated. Personally, I expect nothing more other than my own sense of accomplishment for assisting Veterans and their families. Minnesota-nice often includes more than a thank you. While well-intentioned and appreciated, CVSOs cannot and will not accept gifts. We are legally and ethically bound, as are other elected and appointed officials. Any gifts received will be returned, distributed to the public, or discarded.
My CVSO to the north, Karen Christianson, pitched an idea to write articles about each of the military branches. She even provided me with a starter article. Likely a year or more has passed, and I am finally getting around to using her idea. I will be running a series of articles about the U.S. military branches of service. I plan to have eight consecutive articles starting next week. Please exercise patience and understanding as I have limited space and do not intend to provide anything more than a brief overview of each. Should you require more, I encourage you to visit your local library.
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end”. Seneca
Happy New Year!
Brad Anderson and Melissa Crandall are the Lake County Veterans Service Officers and can be reached at 218.834.8326 or cvso@co.lake.mn.us
Karen Christianson is the Cook County Veterans Service Officer and can be reached at 218.387.3639, or karen.christianson@co.cook.mn.us
