READERS'VIEWS: Desert Storm vets eligible for special benefits

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Editor,

    In April 2008, Pennsylvania began offering a special one-time payment to honor the service and sacrifice of its veterans who served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations from Aug. 2, 1990 – Aug. 31, 1991.

    More than half of the 20,000 veterans believed to be eligible have yet to apply for this benefit, which pays $75 per month of qualifying active-duty service (up to a $525 maximum).

    For personnel who died through illness or injury received in the line of duty, an additional payment of $5,000 is available to their surviving family. Service members who were declared prisoners of war may also be eligible for an additional payment of $5,000.  

    To learn more, visit the program’s Web site at www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us, or call toll-free, 1-866-458-9182, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

    By sharing this information with friends or family members who may be eligible, you can help to ensure that every Persian Gulf War veteran from Pennsylvania receives this well-deserved benefit.

Brig. Gen. (Pa.) Scott Wagner
Deputy Adjutant General – Veterans Affairs
Pennsylvania Department
of Military and Veterans Affairs


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