Outside The Wire

08/30/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DXj49wrm1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Save the date and mark your calendars! National Wreaths Across America Day 2026 will take place on Saturday, December 19!

08/27/2026

Agent Orange/Okinawa

Today's Okinawa Times is running an article regarding investigation into the surge in veterans winning service connection for exposure to Agent Orange in Okinawa.

These are some of the alarming details from the testimonies of 70 US service members stationed in Okinawa during the Vietnam War era, when the island was a primary US staging post. The Board of Veterans' Appeals, a federal tribunal, has accepted each of their accounts as credible evidence that they were exposed to military herbicides on the island – and has granted them compensation for the illnesses linked to that exposure.

Main bases where US veterans have won BVA compensation for Agent Orange exposure in Okinawa.

08/26/2026

https://www.military.com/va-veterans-denied-benefits-1973-records-fire-easier-refile

Veterans denied VA benefits because their military records were destroyed in the 1973 fire are being urged to file again under a simpler process.

08/23/2026

For the upcoming retreat this September 25-27!

08/13/2026

I am in need of 3-5 volunteers for this weekend (Saturday) to help with a concert at Kansas Crossing Casino from 5 PM to approximately 9:30 PM. If anyone is interested in volunteering, please let me know.

08/08/2026

💜 Kansas is officially a Purple Heart State! 💜

Yesterday, August 7, 2026, marked a special moment for Purple Heart recipients and our families across Kansas as we celebrated the first Purple Heart Day in Kansas following the designation of Kansas as a Purple Heart State.

Earlier this year, Governor Laura Kelly signed HB 2274, formally recognizing Kansas as a Purple Heart State and August 7 as Purple Heart Day.

The Purple Heart is one of the highest and oldest military awards that represents sacrifice, service, and the men and women who were wounded or gave their lives while serving our country.

As a purple heart recipient myself, I am incredibly proud to call Kansas home and grateful to see our state honor Purple Heart veterans and their families in such a meaningful way.

To my fellow Purple Heart recipients—yesterday was for you. 💜🇺🇸

Dr. Carol Meza

08/07/2026

We got this letter the other day for our donation to outside the wire organization that helps veterans and it means a lot to us. We don’t need letters but it helps show us that what we do does matter and is appreciated we love helping out our community as much as we can and doing things like this for our local veterans as well. Love what we do! WSFFWS🖤💛🖤💛

08/02/2026

Here is a list of presumptives related to the burn pits. Make sure that if you are seeing a civilian provider, they are educated about these medical issues.

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.