Contacting Former POWs

Contacting Former POWs (NAPSA)—Do you knowa former prisoner of war? If so, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs your help in making sure that former POWs know about the benefits they earned. Call Toll-freea 1-800-827-1000 VA estimates that more than 30,000 former prisonersof war are alive today. However, about 10,000 are not receiving any VA benefits. The government’s effort to inform former POWs about improvements in benefits faces a particular hurdle with older veter- ans, many from WWII, who may not have been in touch with VA for decades. Recently, the federal government expanded benefits to all former POWswith strokes and certain common heart diseases. More than a dozen other diseases are already covered. If you know a former POW, please ask him or her to contact VA at 1-800-827-1000 or go to VA’s Web site at www.vba.va.gov/bln/ 21/Benefits/POW/index.htm. It is now our nation’s turn to serve them!