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Welcome to the Team
 Savana Townsend, Administrative Specialist
As a native of Colorado and Larimer County, Savana has a love for the local community and serving its residents. A background in customer service cultivated her desire to help every person feel heard, respected, and connected in our post-covid world. Savana’s free time is spent enjoying the foothills and mountains with her dog, reading mystery novels, and writing.
The VA Pension/Social Security Debt Trap!
If you, or a veteran you know, is receiving VA pension AND Social Security benefits, it is important to be aware that the Veterans Administration counts Social Security benefits as reportable income.
Our office is seeing an increase in the number of veterans who fail to report Social Security benefits to the VA as income. This can result in an overpayment of VA pension benefits. By the time veterans contact our office, that overpayment can be substantial, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. And the VA will consider that a debt to be repaid by the veteran.
If a veteran discovers that they have incurred a debt as a result of a failure to report Social Security benefits (or any other income), and the VA is attempting to collect on that overpayment, it is important to contact our office immediately. We’ll assist you with finding a workable resolution with the VA.
If you are receiving VA pension benefits, it is important to notify the VA immediately if there is ANY change in income, net worth, marital status, or status of dependents. Do NOT wait. If you have any questions about how to report or whether a change in your circumstances is reportable, please do not hesitate to give our office a call.
DV License Plates
 A gentle reminder that Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates DO NOT entitle the registered owner to park in handicapped parking places. The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles issues a Disabled Veteran Handicapped plate to veterans who qualify for the DV plates AND have a physical impairment verified in writing by a Colorado licensed physician, an advanced practice nurse, or a Commissioned Medical Officer. Owners of Disable Veteran Handicapped plates do not need to display hang tags or placards to utilized handicapped parking.
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The Window is Closing on Mileage Reimbursement
For the past three years, during the Covid Pandemic Emergency, the 30-day Beneficiary Travel Claims rule was relaxed to allow veterans to submit beneficiary travel claims well after the normal 30 days of the medical appointment date. Beginning June 9, veterans claiming beneficiary travel will have to do so within 30 days of their appointment date. Veterans now have until June 8 to file ANY outstanding travel claims for appointments that have occurred since March 20, 2020. Starting June 9, 2023, claims NOT filed within the 30 days of their appointment will be denied.
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Colorado Veterans: Want to Teach?
Veterans can continue to serve and lead as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructor. Unlike other teaching pathways for veterans to become an educator that could take up to four years of college, the CTE instructor pathway validates the veteran's occupational experience and training (MOS) to provide teaching authorization in one of six career-related fields. For more information email Jordan Whittington at Colorado Community College System (CCCS).
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On June 13, 1944, an Army Air Forces B-17 flying a training mission out of Rapid City, South Dakota, went off course and slammed into a snow-covered mountainside a quarter mile from the Flowers Trail in the Comanche Peaks Wilderness, killing four of 10 on board.
Seventy-nine years later, the wreckage remains – a haunting display of crumpled metal, rusting engine blocks and severed wing tips strewn over a remote talus field 30 miles west of Fort Collins. Known as the Crown Point B-17 crash site, it’s become a pilgrimage spot, sought out by World War II buffs, aviation enthusiasts and hikers seeking a sense of adventure and a visceral tie to history.
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Honoring Charles Campion
 Charles Campion served 20 years in the Navy. In addition to serving aboard a variety of ships, Charles served with the Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) and served at several base hospitals. He also completed three tours of duty in Vietnam as a corpsman with the Marine Corps. He was awarded the Silver Star. The Marine Corps wanted to put him in for the Medal of Honor, but he declined the request saying he was just doing his job.
Remember and Honor, an organization dedicated to the preservation of veterans' stories, has recorded interviews with approximately 600 northern Colorado veterans since 2006. Many of these can now be viewed on their YouTube channel. Subscribe, watch and share.
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If your veteran-related non-profit or service organization has an upcoming event you’d like mentioned here, send us the details. Email: lco...@larimer.org
- Saturday, May 20, 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. The Northern Colorado VA Clinic's one-year anniversary celebration and resource fair. 4575 Byrd Drive, Loveland. In addition, the VA will host a job fair at the Clinic from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
- Saturday, May 20, 4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. War Eagle Garage presents: "Salute to Veterans!" Veterans Resource Fair and BBQ Dinner Fundraiser at the historic Colorado National Speedway, 4281 Speedway Blvd, Dacono.
- Sunday, May 21, 8:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Healing Warriors Program hosts their 2nd Annual 5K Fun Run at Spring Canyon Park, 3156 S Overland Trail Fort Collins.
- Monday, May 22, 6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. Berthoud VFW and American Legion will host the Larimer County Veteran Service Office for an in-person question-and-answer open forum for ALL veterans and family members about VA benefits. Also attending will be representatives from the Cheyenne VA Medical Center to field healthcare and resource questions. New Freedom Outreach Center, 250 Mountain Ave, Berthoud.
- Friday, May 26 - Monday, May 29. Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado will be hosting their annual Memorial Day weekend event. This year the traveling Vietnam Memorial wall will be featured. Setup will be on Friday, and it will be open to the public until it is taken down on Tuesday. Veteran organization booths and food trucks will be at the Plaza on Sunday, May 28, 10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M., with the official ceremony at noon.
- Tuesday, May 30 - Sunday, May 4, Flying Legends of Victory Tour at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport. Not everyone can visit the Airbase Arizona Museum for an up-close and personal inspection of their historic warbirds. So, in the summer, they take their World War II B-17 Flying fortress and B-25 Mitchell to the public to fulfill their mission of educating generations about the role of aviation in combat history. Details and tickets available here.
- Saturday, June 17, 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Health4Heroes hosts the 2nd Annual Guardian Games at Loveland Sports Park, 950 N Boyd Lake Ave, Loveland. This is a large-scale, high energy, fitness event and vendor expo designed to engage the community in healthy competition, activities, games, and social interaction while showcasing support for our local military and first responders. See the Health4Heroes website for details.
- Friday, August 11, 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Healing Warriors Program 3rd annual Swing4Vets Charity Golf Tournament. Mariana Butte Golf Course, 701 Clubhouse Dr., Loveland.
- Saturday, August 19, 4:00 P.M. Stillwater Ranch hosts the Stillwater Derby, their annual fundraising gala event. This year it will be at the FNBO Building at The Ranch Events Center, 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland. Details available on the Stillwater Ranch website.
Recurring Events
Pathways Hospice in Fort Collins is seeking volunteers, particularly from among our newest generation of veterans. Please contact Deb Hayman, Volunteer Coordinator, at (970) 690-8316 for details.
- Mondays, 7:30 A.M. Veteran Breakfast Club at IHOP, 5450 Stone Creek Circle, Loveland.
- Saturdays, 8:00 A.M. PAMVET Breakfast Club at Golden Corral, 1360 Sculptor Drive, Loveland. A gathering of veterans that started in Loveland in 2008 with two veterans, it has grown to 130-150 veterans every week. Enjoy a buffet breakfast for about $11.00 plus tip. Hang out with AWESOME people.
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External Link Disclaimer: This site contains links that may take you outside of the Larimer County website. Larimer County does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development is an equal opportunity agency and supports veterans priority of service. Qualified persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations with seven business days' notice by emailing lcew...@larimer.org or calling 970.498.6600 or Relay Colorado 711. Accommodation requests will be honored when possible but may be unavailable if advance notice is not provided.
Copyright © 2020 Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development, All rights reserved.
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larimer.org/veterans | 970.498.7390
Our Location
200 West Oak Street, Suite 5000
Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521
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