Voluntary Tax Check-Off has Helped Program Support More Than 27,000 Military Families with Nearly $15 Million; Served as a Model for Other States

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today marked the 10-year anniversary of the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund (IMFRF) by encouraging everyone in Illinois to take advantage of the voluntary tax check-off that helps military families who are struggling financially during deployment. The initiative is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to make Illinois the most Veterans-friendly state in the nation and ensure servicemembers have the support they need when they return home. Spearheaded in 2003 by then- Lieutenant Governor Quinn, the program has helped more than 27,000 Illinois military families with nearly $15 million in grants.

"Our servicemembers and their families sacrifice so much every day, and this easy tax check-off is a convenient way to help military families in need," Governor Quinn said. "Please take minute when doing you taxes this year to check-off a few dollars on the state income tax form to help our heroes."

As Lieutenant Governor, Governor Quinn spearheaded the initiative to create the IMFRF after several military spouses - such as Mary Beth Beiersdorf of Arlington Heights and Brenda Robinzine of Oak Park -contacted him in 2001 with the idea of setting up a mechanism to aid military families with such expenses as groceries, rent or utility bills. Quinn then led a grassroots effort which featured the passage of resolutions by cities and counties for two years, after which lawmakers voted to make IMFR the law of the land.

The IMFRF has served as a national model, with more than 35 other states having since passed similar ways for taxpayers to voluntarily help those who have borne the battle. Governor Quinn was joined at today's event by Sgt. Jason Hoster - an Illinois Army National Guardsman from Chicago and recent IMFRF beneficiary. Sgt. Hoster shared his story of how the fund helped his family after two deployments in Afghanistan and Kuwait. Just before his latest deployment, his father began chemotherapy for lung cancer which had spread to his blood. Hoster received two $500 payments from the IMFRF which he used to help make his father more comfortable.

"Sergeant Hoster is a good example of an Illinois Guardsman who truly deserves and appreciates the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund," Brigadier General Richard J. Hayes, Jr., Director of the Joint Staff of the Illinois National Guard said. "His story is just one of many within the Illinois National Guard the past 10 years. Thanks to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, our Soldiers and Airmen can have an easier transition home from deployment, as they can focus more on their families and less on finances."

Donations to the fund can also be made by visiting OperationHomefront.org. Checks can be made payable to the Illinois Military Family Relief and mailed to: The Illinois Department of Military Affairs, ATTN: IMFRF, 1301 N. MacArthur Boulevard, Springfield, Illinois 62702-2399.

Governor Quinn today also noted that April is the "Month of the Military Child," and recognized Illinois' third year as a member of the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3), which helps children affected by frequent moves and deployments by aiding timely enrollment, transfer or records and student placement. He also recognized the Illinois National Guard Youth Program, which in 2012 directly supported 2,360 military children, including dozens of events helping children of deploying troops and assisting in the transition of military members back to their families after deployment. The Youth Program also assisted 68 Gold Star children of fallen servicemembers by distributing Grief Packets and providing access to professional counseling.

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An unlikely group of blind veterans from the State of Oklahoma has come together to learn how to assist their fellow veterans.  Class A-225 began training last month to use Google+ technology to learn how to become relay operators making phone calls for deaf veterans.  One veteran, Chuck Smith of Edmond OK, shares his story.

Edmond, OK (PRWEB) April 10, 2013

When class A-225 began training Chuck Smith was unsure where his path would take him but he was full of optimism.  Like many of the veterans in the class, Mr. Smith has more than a few war stories under his belt and has lived a colorful and fulfilling life.

Chuck was born in Rochester, NY and raised in the "great state of Nebraska" as a farm boy in a small town called Stamford.  When he was a young man, Chuck thought to himself "I can stay here milking cows or I can join the Marine Corps".  And join the United States Marine Corps he did.  Mr. Smith went on to serve 8 years in the Marines, served in Vietnam in '67 and '68 and was awarded the Purple Heart and other medals for his actions.  After leaving the Marines, Chuck returned to Oklahoma where he met the love of his life Nadine and has lived for 30 years in the town of Edmond.   Chuck and Nadine have been married for 19 years, have sons in Salt Lake City, UT and Georgetown, KY; and have a granddaughter that goes to Oklahoma University.

Chuck's path to training with the Veterans Workshop to be a relay operator for deaf veterans took him from helping others as an insurance adjuster/home improvement salesman to Class A-255 where he is a squad leader today.  His current adventure happened when a gentleman named John Laakman, a VIST coordinator (Visual Impairment Services Team), from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Oklahoma called him about a new program consisting of blind veterans training on Google technology to work from home training to be relay operators.  As Chuck puts it, "Being low-visioned I felt captured in my house as I cannot drive and had been looking for some time for a way to reach out and help my fellow veterans.  This relay operator program has opened a door for me that I thought had been permanently closed.  I have always enjoyed helping people and now not only am I learning how to do that from home, but I see infinite possibilities in where this can lead for both myself and the veterans we can assist with this program.  This has been a life changing experience for me.  I have become part of an amazing team and am excited to be a part of this awesome program."

Upon graduation from the program Mr. Smith is looking forward to working either as a relay operator from home making calls for deaf veterans or fine tuning his skills to be an instructor for the Veterans Workshop and leading future classes of veterans.

The class that Chuck is in, A-225, adapted a quote from Emerson and Mr. Smith completely sees the resemblance to his life now and where it will go - "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

About the Veterans Workshop: With offices in Rhode Island and Washington, DC, the Veterans Workshop has developed unique training programs for a subset of the disabled veterans community to include blind, deaf and paralyzed veterans. Training for blind veterans is underway, with training for deaf and paralyzed veterans expected in early fall.

April 7 Ceremony to Recognize Soldiers in Galesburg Army National Guard Unit

GALESBURG, IL (04/03/2013)(readMedia)-- Approximately 115 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers will be recognized April 7 by the National Guard Bureau Freedom Salute Campaign for their sacrifice and service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The ceremony for the 444th Chemical Company will be at 10 a.m. at the Galesburg National Guard Armory, 362 N. Linwood Road in Galesburg.

The Soldiers were mobilized in February 2012 and briefly trained at Camp Shelby, Miss., before deploying to Kuwait. They returned home Dec. 22.

Stationed at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, the unit operated as a base command cell supporting units stationed at the base and operations in the region.

The 444th saved more than $500,000 in government contracts and increased the billeting capability of Camp Virginia by more than 4,000 Soldiers. The 444th was instrumental in transitioning Camp Virginia from a short-term stop for Soldiers heading into Kuwait or Afghanistan into a long-term billeting area.

The 444th also conducted more than 3,000 patrols and secured 71 unexploded ordnances without loss of life or equipment.

The Freedom Salute Campaign program is a small way to show these patriotic citizen-Soldiers, their families and employers how much their sacrifice is appreciated. On behalf of the National Guard Bureau, the Illinois Army National Guard will present each eligible Soldier with an encased American flag, as well as a sequentially-numbered commemorative coin, certificate of appreciation and lapel pin. Families will also receive items recognizing their support and sacrifice. The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. It is designed to publicly acknowledge Army National Guard Soldiers and those who supported them while deployed.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (03/29/2013)(readMedia)-- Each March, Women's History Month celebrations highlight the accomplishments of women everywhere. Women have served in the active component since World War II, however women were not allowed to enlist in the Army National Guard with no prior service until 1972. Sgt. 1st Class Wendy Bartlett of Bloomington, Ill., is one of the few remaining women who served in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) and still serves in the Illinois Army National Guard today. The WAC was a part of the active Army, though a separate Corps until 1978.

Bartlett, an Officer Candidate School instructor with the 3rd Battalion, 129th Regional Training Institute (RTI) in Springfield, enlisted in 1975 and attended basic training in 1976, followed by advanced individual training as a personnel actions specialist. She said this was one of the only jobs females were allowed to hold at that time.

"We were an all-female basic training unit," Bartlett said. "We learned how to wear our uniforms, put make-up on, do our hair, shoot our weapons, throw hand grenades, go through the tear gas chamber, do (physical training) in combat boots, uniform pants and t-shirts, learn self-defense, and other classes."

Bartlett recalled having a slight disadvantage during her initial training because of her size.

"I remember that in basic training I needed to carry a milk crate strapped to my backpack one time, so that I could use it to get in and out of a foxhole for grenade training," she said.

Despite this, Bartlett also remembered benefiting from a rare skill during her basic training.

"(Instructors) were asking if anyone could drive a stick-shift vehicle, which at that time most women did not," Bartlett said. "I was one of three in our whole battalion who could drive a stick shift. I ended up being the battalion driver, which gave me driver duty often, affording me some time off from the strenuous training."

After training, Bartlett served with the 123rd Infantry out of Bloomington, Ill. Following her initial enlistment, she transferred to the Army Reserve in Peoria, Ill., before taking a 14-year break in service.

"After about 14 years of being out, I reenlisted into the Army Reserve, as I wanted to be an instructor and they had a position open for me," said Bartlett, a middle school teacher with Tri-Valley Middle School in Downs, Ill. "I found that I liked the Guard unit in Springfield, the 129th RTI, so I transferred to that unit."

Bartlett said she had good memories and experiences from her time in the service.

"My life is full of great stories," Bartlett said. "A few years ago I was in charge of a unit of instructors sent to Poland to teach a Senior Leadership Course to the Polish Army. It was a course that I had a major part in writing. It was the last year that we went to teach it and it was an honor being the one in charge of it."

Women in the Illinois National Guard, like Bartlett, as well as the rest of the military, now have an opportunity to further broaden their experiences, following the recent ending of the direct ground combat exclusion rule for women in the military Jan. 24, 2013. Because of this, female servicemembers can now serve in occupations and units, which place them directly in combat roles.

"Women have always played a significant role in our wars," said Adriana Schroeder of Springfield, the Illinois National Guard command historian. "At least three women in Illinois units dressed and fought as men during the Civil War. In addition to those who donned the uniform, every woman who ever put a bandage on a Soldier, sent a care package or took care of things at home during deployment has played a role."

Bartlett said she found her career to be a rewarding experience and would tell any woman, or man, thinking of joining the military to go for it.

"My life has changed from my experiences," Bartlett said, "and I don't regret any moment of it."