Naval Station Newport salutes summer with concert, fireworks display

Display location: Dewey Field
City:Newport
State:RI
Date:Aug 30

Details: Naval Station Newport is the place to be on Sunday, beginning at 5 p.m., when the base hosts its annual Salute to Summer concert and fireworks extravaganza on Dewey Field, featuring the Navy Band Northeast concert band.

The concert will begin with music by the 10-piece funk, soul and R&B dance band Wayz and Means, which specializes in high-energy dance music from the ’70s to today’s modern artists. Navy Band Northeast will take the stage around 7:15 p.m. and will perform patriotic and swing music as well as recognizable American classics.

Fireworks should begin shortly after 9 p.m. The concert is free and the public is invited as guests of the Naval Station’s commanding officer. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Due to increased security measures, no coolers, backpacks, glass bottles, outside food or drink or pets will be allowed.

Enter Naval Station Newport through Gate One, the main entrance near the officers’ club, beginning at 5 p.m. when music, concession sales and kids’ games at Dewey Field will begin. The Naval War College Museum will remain open that evening for visitors.

Agent Orange linked to many ailments

A new report from the Institute of Medicine finds that exposure to Agent Orange may raise the risk of heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. The findings add to a growing list of conditions that could be linked to Agent Orange exposure, including leukemia, prostate cancer, type II diabetes and birth defects in the children of the veterans exposed.

The report “Veterans and Agent Orange” is available on the National Academies Press Web site at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12662.

U.S. Senate reviews disability system

Witnesses testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs recently agreed on the need to reform the veterans’ disability compensation system. Chairman Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii, heard from representatives of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, Disabled American Veterans, and a law professor to discuss disability claims processing.

The Government Accountability Office presented previously unpublished findings (on the Web at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09910t.pdf) on claims processing from an ongoing review of disability compensation. The hearing is the latest in a series on veterans’ disability compensation.

Records of earlier hearings are available at the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Web site at http://veterans.senate.gov.

Web site features jobs for disabled veterans

With more than 3,000 job openings, a new Web portal is hoping to attract disabled veterans seeking employment. “Our current project is to spread the word that we are here,” said Diana Corso, executive director of disABLEDperson Inc., a nonprofit group aiming to reduce the unemployment rate of disabled veterans. The Web site at http://www.greatamericans.com/videos/3ccfc45cda/job-opportunities-for-disabled-american-veterans-from-disabledpersons lists jobs from employers across the United States, but not that many resumés from interested vets. More applicants are needed. The site is free for disabled veterans to post their resumés and employers to post their jobs.

•Military Order of Foreign Wars Rhode Island Commandery will have an executive and past Commanders’ meeting on Wednesday at Pelly’s 19th Hole Restaurant, 615 Callahan Rd., North Kingstown; reserve by calling William Henry at (401) 275-4205 or send e-mail to william.j.henry1@us.army.mil.

•American Legion Balfour-Cole Post 64, 170 Pleasant View Ave., Smithfield, will meet Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m.; Post 11 will meet Thursday at the Warren Senior Center in the Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m.

•Italian American War Veterans of the U.S. Department monthly meeting will occur on Wednesday at the VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave., Providence, at 7:30 p.m. in classroom 3. New officers recently elected include: state commander, Joseph Fratus; senior vice commander, Joseph Sauro; junior vice commander, Angelo Lauro; quartermaster, John Paesano; judge advocate, Frank Ciccone II; chaplain, Ralph Paparella; day officer, Romano Del Rossi; rehabilitation service officer, Louis Alfano; U.V.C. delegate, Richard Enos; and U.V.C. alternate delegate, Oscar Tassone.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars Gatchell Post 306 hosts an Italian fundraiser dinner on at the post home, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket, from 4 to 7 p.m., with $7 tickets sold at the door.

•43d Infantry Division Rhode Island Winged Victory Division will meet on Saturday , at 1 p.m., at the Arsenal, 176 Benefit St., Providence.

Send veterans’ meeting and news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or write to The Veterans Journal Column at The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902. Veterans’ meeting and feature items can be read and posted for free at http://projothebeat.com/.