REUNIONS, NOTICES & ITEMS OF INTEREST CONNECTING WITH VA By Drew Craig, Department of Veteran Affairs’ Veteran Experience Office <strong>The</strong> Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to increasing access to earned benefits for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. VA’s Veteran Experience Office is working to improve the overall experience for all VA customers by providing designated “front doors” for various communications channels. MyVA411 is the VA’s telephonic front door. Veterans can speak with a VA representative 24-hours a day, seven days a week by calling (800) 698-2411. MyVA411 call center agents can answer many frequently asked questions, or these agents can connect customers with a subject matter expert within the Department for further assistance. Va.gov is VA’s digital front door. This Va.gov site contains links to a wealth of information to assist VA customers in applying for access to all VA benefits and services. Veterans can search for specific information related to a single benefit or explore all the various benefits available, to include health care, disability compensation, education, career and employment, life insurance, housing assistance, and much more. VA also developed and deployed VAMobile, VA’s app for use on smartphones or tablets. <strong>The</strong> app can be used to schedule, cancel, or change appointments, chat with VA healthcare providers, and many other purposes. VAMobile features links to numerous mental health and general fitness sites, as well. <strong>The</strong> app can be downloaded from your device’s app store or by navigating to mobile.va.gov/Appstore Additionally, the VA Welcome Kit was created to assist customers in directly connecting via phone, internet, mail, or in-person to access the benefits and services earned through service to our country. <strong>The</strong> VA Welcome Kit can be accessed online at va.gov/ welcome-kit However you choose to reach out to your VA, the Department is ready to assist. GRAND HAVEN COAST GUARD FESTIVAL: CELEBRATING A CENTURY Greetings from Coast Guard City, U.S.A.! Each year, during the annual Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, we make it a point to celebrate our Coast Guard Retirees who have served proudly in the Nation's greatest (and the oldest) continuous seagoing service, the United States Coast Guard! Please join us for dinner and this year's Festival theme, Celebrating a Century. To find out more about the <strong>2024</strong> Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival and National Memorial Service, please visit our website www.coastguardfest.org or call the office at 616-846-5940. You are cordially invited to join us at the Retirees Reunion Dinner, July 31, <strong>2024</strong>. 18 SPRING <strong>2024</strong> THE LONG BLUE LINE
THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING <strong>2024</strong> 19
- Page 1 and 2: SPRING 2024 ACTION NEEDED TO CONTIN
- Page 3 and 4: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 3
- Page 5 and 6: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 5
- Page 7 and 8: I have said time and again, as we p
- Page 9 and 10: MCPO LLOYD PIERCE: Spring has sprun
- Page 11 and 12: I’m joined by RADM Merrie Austin,
- Page 13 and 14: GLACIER REUNION SAVE THE DATE LOCAT
- Page 15 and 16: USCGC STORIS U.S. COAST GUARD VETER
- Page 17: NEVER TOO LATE: A CASE OF MISTAKEN
- Page 21 and 22: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 21
- Page 23 and 24: Somehow, someway the placard was re
- Page 25 and 26: How does the Coast Guard celebrate
- Page 27 and 28: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 27
- Page 29 and 30: Get Your NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEU
- Page 31 and 32: This is what we are known for. This
- Page 33 and 34: We are prototyping unmanned systems
- Page 35 and 36: the Polar Security Cutter. This is
- Page 37 and 38: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 37
- Page 39 and 40: A FAMILY AFFAIR By Beau Bridges In
- Page 41 and 42: shared many of his experiences with
- Page 43 and 44: HONOR. ENGAGE. EDUCATE. INSPIRE. JO
- Page 45 and 46: Festivals held in Grand Haven, Mich
- Page 47 and 48: Prior to opening his highly recogni
- Page 49 and 50: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 49
- Page 51 and 52: AUXILIARY Auxiliarists who possess
- Page 53 and 54: The Coast Guard and Coast Guard Aux
- Page 55 and 56: Because of this, there are now more
- Page 57 and 58: hands-on training by certified AUXC
- Page 59 and 60: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 59
- Page 61 and 62: Meanwhile, the two leading ships of
- Page 63 and 64: In 1961, the Raymond Loewy and Will
- Page 65 and 66: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 65
- Page 67 and 68: In the military, and in the Coast G
- Page 69 and 70:
Petty Officer 2nd Class Van Alstyne
- Page 71 and 72:
eassured Van Alstyne. He told her i
- Page 73 and 74:
RESERVE Chief Warrant Officer Antho
- Page 75 and 76:
! FERNANDEZ HIDALGO, CARLOS FIKE, B
- Page 77 and 78:
TINSTMAN, LAWRENCE TISCHER, JACE TO
- Page 79 and 80:
THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 79
- Page 81 and 82:
BOYLE, DAVID SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH CDR
- Page 83 and 84:
FRIER, WALTER GARLAND, TX YNC RET.
- Page 85 and 86:
MIZELLE, TIMOTHY COLERAIN, NC SKCS
- Page 87 and 88:
TAPS TURNER, THERON DEPTFORD, NJ CW
- Page 89 and 90:
NOAA TAPS ALDERMAN, RICHARD TUCSON,
- Page 91 and 92:
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER EMBRACE EVERY SEA
- Page 93 and 94:
NEW USCG RETIREE MENTORING & TRANSI
- Page 95 and 96:
COAST GUARD LEGAL ASSISTANCE Coast
- Page 97 and 98:
CG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER, RETIREE
- Page 99 and 100:
All other inquiries: osgli.osgli@pr