When Freedom Sounds Different: a service member in camouflage holding his head near a lit sparkler, over an American flag

Supporting Veterans Through the Fourth of July For many Americans, the Fourth of July means backyard barbeques, parades, and fireworks lighting up the night sky. But for some Veterans, those same sights and sounds can bring back memories they never asked to revisit. The loud booms, flashes, smoke, and unpredictability of fireworks can serve as…

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2026 Cost of Living Adjustment, by Tamara Rowland, Head of Client Care: senior couple smiling at a laptop together

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Veterans and surviving spouses who receive VA pension benefits, including Pension with Aid and Attendance, is an annual increase intended to help benefits keep pace with inflation. The adjustment is based on changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), specifically the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage…

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Veteran of the Month July 2024: James "Bob" Laizure, in Navy uniform as a young man and in a recent Purple Heart cap photo

James Robert Laizure was born on his family’s farm in Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1924. Laizure, who went by Bob his entire life, is the oldest of seven siblings, all born in their home. Laizure explained that whenever a new sibling was going to arrive, the children were sent to wait in the barn while…

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