OUR WELCOME to ALL RETURNING VETERANS, YOUR FAMILIES and SUPPORTERS
Are you a veteran of the Global War on Terror?
Join Lone Star Veterans Association Today!
Veterans of OEF/OIF share a common bond that will connect us for the rest of our lives. To help us stay connected, the Lone Star Veterans Association has been established as the social networking group to support our community of veterans and their families. Lone Star's mission is to help connect our generation of veterans into a united organization of those who have served in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, at home or abroad.
Lone Star Veterans Association will provide an accessible support system and social outlet for the service members transitioning back into civilian life. If you have been out of the service for years or simply a few weeks, we invite you to join us to ensure our efforts succeed as we help our brothers- and sisters-in-arms translate experience and skills from the battlefield into successful civilian lives.
To join us and stay connected to other veterans of your generation, simply email LoneStarVeterans@gmail.com with your updated contact information and we will make sure you are kept informed of social events, employment networking opportunities, updates in VA benefits and ways you and your family can get involved in helping other transitioning veterans be successful after they leave the service. The membership for Lone Star VA is FREE to OEF/OIF generation veterans and their families because we paid our dues by serving our great country.
It is our ultimate goal is to not only ensure that our veterans are successful upon leaving the Armed Forces, but to ensure that Houston continues to be the best place for returning veterans in the United States of America.
Thank you for your service, and we're looking forward to starting this organization together.
NAVIGATING THE ROAD TO SERVICES FOR RETURNING VETERANS We have created a 58-page .pdf booklet "road map" as a service to all of the men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces. CLICK HERE to download the booklet.
UPCOMING EVENTS
AMERICAN SPIRIT BOAT PARADE - JUNE 28
The American Spirit Boat Parade on Clear Lake will be hosted by the Military Order of Purple Heart Chapter 723 on Sunday, June 28th. The Military Order of Purple Heart Chapter 723 honors those killed or wounded in combat while serving in the United States Armed Services since George Washington used a purple cloth to help alleviate the suffering of his wounded troops at Valley Forge in 1776. This cloth was the first purple heart badge.
Parade participants will gather at the Nassau Bay Yacht Club at 18250 Nassau Bay Drive, Nassau Bay, Texas 77058. The Nassau Bay Homeowners' Association has again generously offered this facility for pre parade and post parade activities. Boaters will depart the marina at 2:40 and move to a staging area on Clear Creek. The parade will travel east toward the Kemah Boardwalk, then out into Galveston Bay, and return to the Nassau Bay Yacht Club at 5:30 pm for barbeque, swimming, fellowship and awards presentation. Awards will be given to the best patriotically decorated boat. Prizes will also be given to the best patriotic attire.
This event is a fundraiser for the Military Order of Purple Heart Chapter 723( MOPH723), according to Jim Stoa, event organizer. The money raised will support the mission of MOPH723, a tax exempt organization. Their mission, as mandated in their national charter, is to meet the needs of wounded veterans from all current and past conflicts.
Each boat registration fee is $15.00 which includes one meal, a boat parade gift. and an invitation to the skippers meeting on Saturday, June 27th. Registration will be online at www.moph723.org.
The general public can order barbeque meals online or at Murphy's Deli- Nasa Rd 1, Nassau Bay. The $8.00 meal includes sliced beef brisket, slow smoked chicken, potato salad, southern style baked beans, pickles, onions, jalapenos, bread, and cookie. The $5.00 meal includes chopped beef bbq sandwich, chips, pickles, onions, jalapenos. Pre-ordered meals will be available for pick up at the marina. Those wanting to eat at the marina are welcome to do so.
To support the boat parade the US Coast Guard will bring a The 87' cutter for tours that will be open to the public for tours.
For sponsorship information or volunteer opportunities, contact Jim Stoa jstoa@comcast.net
For more information, access www.moph723.org.
Sunday morning: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Nassau Bay will honor our military veterans with special focus on the WW II Vet's. Various military related organizations will participate Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, 36th Infantry National Guard and the 36 ID Band will playing in the Life Center go to www.gdlc.org
LONE STAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION'S PEER MENTOR TRAINING COURSE – JULY 18
The Wounded Warrior Project will be hosting a FREE peer mentor training course for Iraq and Afghanistan era veterans who are interested in volunteering to serve those tranisitioning service members in the Greater Houston Area.
For more information or to sign-up as a participant, contact John Boerstler at 832-393-0992 or by e-mail at John.Boerstler@cityofhouston.net
CHAPTER 33, POST 9/11 GI BILL SEMINAR - JULY 29
The University of St. Thomas will host a seminar for veterans who wish to learn more about the new Post 9-11 GI Bill Education benefits and how it applies to private colleges.
The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at the University of St. Thomas' Jones Hall, located at 3910 Yoakum Blvd. Houston, TX 77006.
For more information contact the University of St. Thomas Director of Veteran Services at 713-942-3409.
The Mission of the Houston Marine Networking Luncheon is twofold: (1) connect transitioning Marines moving back to Houston with the local Marine network, and (2) promote camaraderie and networking among Marines, business professionals and leaders in the Greater Houston area.
The luncheon will be held on at Masraff's on Post Oak Lane, 1025 South Post Oak Lane, Houston, Texas 77056. The networking will start at 1130 with lunch at 1200. The Cost is $25 (includes a choice between two entrees, a dessert, iced tea, soda, coffee, and gratuity) Please RSVP to Captain Kistler at Houston@m4l.usmc.mil by Monday preceding event to reserve a seat. The Marines For Life web site is www.M4L.usmc.mil
The University of Houston has partnered with the Library of Congress to participate in the Veterans History Project. The purpose of the project is to collect and preserve stories of wartime service. The Veterans History Project was created in 2000 and is made possible by the United States Congress.
The primary focus is on U.S. veterans from the following wars: World War I (1914-1920) World War II (1939-1946) Korean War (1950-1955) Vietnam War (1961-1975) Persian Gulf War (1990-1995) Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present)
In addition, those U.S. civilian citizens who were actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable stories.
Whether you were on the frontline fighting or back on the home front supporting the war effort, Veterans History Project wants to hear your story. If you, or anyone you know, would like to be interviewed and have a story preserved in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., please feel free to contact the University of Houston Veterans' Services Office.
Veterans' Services Office University of Houston 268 University Center Houston, TX 77204 (713) 743-5490 vets@mail.uh.edu
A Quick Look at HoustonReturningVets.org
This site will connect all of our returning service members in the Houston area and serve their needs by assisting with housing, employment, mental health, education and VA healthcare issues
Refer to the 'Contact Us' link where you can find all of our office information
In the'Resources' section, you can look atjob postings, local events, contact information for the DeBakey VA Medical Center and it's Community Based Outpatient Clinics and look up various non-profit organizationssetup to assist returning veterans
Click on the 'Volunteer' link to learn about waysyou canhelp out your fellow veterans and ensure their transition from military to civilian life is smooth and fun
Check out the 'Your Stories' button to review press releases and news stories that affect OEF and OIF-era veterans like you. Staying informed about the various VA benefit changes is important for you and your family to know
The 'Links' section is also a good place to find out about the local, state and national non-profit veteran service organizations and governmental entities that are designed to cater to you and your comrades who are transitioning out of the Armed Forces and back to civilian life here in the Greater Houston Area and elsewhere so check some of them out to see which organization is best for you!
updates in VA benefits and ways you and your family can get involved in helping other transitioning veterans be successful after they leave the service. The membership for Lone Star VA is FREE to OEF/OIF generation veterans and their families because we paid our dues by serving our great country. 
It is our ultimate goal is to not only ensure that our veterans are successful upon leaving the Armed Forces, but to ensure that Houston continues to be the best place for returning veterans in the United States of America. 
