Choreographed by Robin Becker, a very talented artist and now a good friend of the company, the production follows the soldiers of the army battalion the Black Lions, 61 of whom died in an ambush by North Vietnamese on October 17, 1967. In a very poignant parallel, a second piece centers on the October 18, 1967, riot at the University of Wisconsin at Madison when student protesters tried to stop Dow Chemical, the maker of napalm, from recruiting on campus.

When we sponsored a performance in New York City over the summer, it struck a strong emotional chord with our members, whom we hosted with complimentary tickets. The interest still runs deep, and the continued dialogue about feelings is therapeutic. As one member wrote after viewing the Georgetown performance, “What a powerful and emotional piece of work. Thank you for the opportunity to attend.” Thank you to choreographer Robin Becker for this extraordinary artistic achievement.

We also hope you enjoy reading this week’s Cover Story, courtesy of Pulitzer prize winner Sarah Kaufman, dance critic at the Washington Post. Sarah recently interviewed me about our sponsorship of “Into Sunlight,” and you can read the full review here.

Under the new rule, The VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA doctor confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran’s symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. Past benefit rules required a stressor related to hostile military activity.

“Just as we have a solemn responsibility to train and equip our troops before we send them into harm’s way, we have a solemn responsibility to provide our veterans and wounded warriors with the care and benefits they’ve earned when they come home,” said President Obama in his weekly radio/Internet address this past Saturday.

“That is our sacred trust with all who serve – and it doesn’t end when their tour of duty does.”

Much like the rewrite of the GI Bill last summer, we believe this is a landmark decision. According to the New York Times, the estimated cost for this necessary benefit upgrade amounts to a $5 billion program over several years. I believe it is worth it. When you think of the ease with which Vets can live and integrate into society after receiving this vital health care, I believe it’s a national investment that will serve all of us quite handsomely.

“This nation has a solemn obligation to the men and women who have honorably served this country and suffer from the often devastating emotional wounds of war,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “This final regulation goes a long way to ensure that Veterans receive the benefits and services they need.”

For additional information, go to www.va.gov or call VA’s toll free benefits number at 1-800-827-1000.

There was little thought given to this question for those who served and sacrificed in Vietnam and the results were painful and disastrous; they continue to reverberate through American society nearly 35 years after the end of that war.

Along with training and equipping our troops for wartime service, we need to focus our energies on how we train and equip them to reenter American society. The consequences of inadequate re-entry programs are disturbing and real. Read the article by Give an Hour Founder Dr. Barbara Romberg, who examines the response to the rise in suicides in the Army community. And read our HeroVet profile of Brian Delate, a talented actor and director, long active in the New York veterans community, and now making news on the national scene with an award-winning movie about the perils – and triumphs – faced by people with PTS. Clearly, we have an obligation to our brave men and women not to repeat the mistakes of Vietnam.

With an eye on your wallet (as always), we highlight this week discounts for food, computers, your upcoming tax filing, and, lastly, flea and tick medication for your pet. Our new discount program with 1800petmeds.com has everything you need to protect your pets from insect-related illnesses this spring.

As you know, your membership supports and makes possible our charitable activities. Thank you. We are rounding out our second deployment of complimentary Veterans Advantage memberships cards to those serving in and around Iraq and Afghanistan, nearly 70,000 this holiday season. That brings us to a total of 300,000 this year. See a full listing of our charitable activities here.

From all of us at Veterans Advantage, we wish you the very best of health and happiness over the holidays and throughout the New Year.

And let us not forget our colleagues who are living with experiences of WWII, Vietnam, and Korea. These conditions do not discriminate.

As we launch our PTSD Resource Center, we are featuring an article by Dr. Barbara Romberg. I hope you read it. Dr. Romberg, the founder of Give An Hour, is a leader in mental health therapy for those suffering from PTSD and TBI and their families; she’s building a remarkable organization – a nationwide network of health care providers who give one hour a week to help address these critical health issues