Support Services

Why do we have an Honor Guard?

No one serves his or her country like a member of a Military Funeral Honor Guard. A member of the Military Funeral Honor Guard is charged with a leadership role like

no other in the world. The title Military Funeral Honor Guard carries responsibilities above their peers and above what is to be normally expected of a service member to

have untiring dedication in providing solemn reverent, and dignified military bearing. Our primary purpose of the Volunteer State Veterans Honor Guard is to maintain the

Constitution and Laws of the United States of America. Honor all East Tennessee veterans who have served their country with honor in the U.S. Armed Forces. To that end,

seven primary goals have been established: To provide full Military Funeral Honors to all of East Tennessee's area honorably discharged veterans without regard to rank,

sex, race, color, creed, national origin, or social status. To provide assistance to the deceased veteran's next of kin in funeral arrangements, provide counseling in the area

of veterans' benefits - local, state and national. Allow committees, organizations, and groups who share the same ideals and beliefs of the Volunteer State Veterans Honor

Guard to become Ancillary Units within the Volunteer State Veterans Honor Guard organization. Volunteers in the Honor Guard are serving a 19 county area of East

Tennessee, providing Military Funeral Honors upon request. We honor the patriotic Americans who have answered the call to arms in defense of our freedom and liberties.

 The war era veterans' sacrifices must stay alive in our minds for generation after generation for historical, educational and patriotic reasons. What these men and women

gave for America holds an important message that must never leave our thoughts. Freedom is not Free!  We provide Pall Bearers, Chaplain, Rifle Salute, Taps, Folding and

Presentation of the American Flag to next of kin. When requested, Honor Guard volunteers visit area schools, nursing homes and churches to perform a patriotic flag

ceremonial program, which teaches Americanism and Patriotism, to acquaint our citizens and children with the numerous contributions and sacrifices of our veterans; their

grandfathers, fathers, brothers, uncles, grandmothers, mothers, aunts and sisters. We serve the general public, survivors of deceased veterans, pupils, teachers in our area

schools and approximately 40 thousand living Knox County veterans.

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Support Services for Veterans

Veteran’s Mental Health Care Guide

Millions of veterans seek mental health treatment each year, which is why we created this piece. The medically-reviewed resource covers:

• Common mental health issues faced by veterans such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression

• Treatment options available to veterans associated with these issues

• Signs of mental illness for veterans and their loved ones to look for

• Tips on a healthy transition back to civilian life

• Additional mental health resources 

Mental health care for veterans

Thank You

Sarah Breckon

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My name is Carlos Hernandez and I'm a member of the Outreach Department for The Pleural Mesothelioma Center.

Countless veterans are currently suffering from life-threatening illnesses that are a result of exposure to asbestos, a

material that was commonly used in hundreds of military applications, products, and ships because of its resistance to fire.

I believe our in depth guides would be a valuable addition to your page by proving veterans with important information like:

- Types of Pleural Mesothelioma and Benefits for Veterans
- Who Is Most at Risk?
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
- VA Health Care
- Eligibility for VA Benefits and more

Please take a look:
 
pleuralmesothelioma.com/cancer/
pleuralmesothelioma.com/veterans/

Thank You Carlos Hernandez

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Public Outreach Department for The Mesothelioma Center.

asbestos.com/treatment/

Thank You David Sides

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Employment and Social Reintegration For Vets After Service

May be of interest for those veterans that are investigating this site

for useful information

Cadet Ryan Cirbo, United States Army, ROTC, University of Tennessee

A great tool for planning on how much financing your business will take and the best ways to go about funding.

A “how-to” guide for Vets on getting everything started in their entrepreneurial adventure.

Thank You Cadet Ryan Cirbo

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Veterans Sleep Disorders

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Grief resources for loved ones mourning from afar

Reference:

elderimpact.org

Dealing with Death at a Distance - 5 Tips for Saying Goodbye

Funeral Planning from Afar: A Guide for Long-Distance Caregivers

How to Help a Grieving Friend Long-Distance

How to Cope with the Loss of a Loved One While Overseas

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Addiction Resource

https://addictionresource.com/addiction/veterans-and-substance-abuse/

Consequences of tobacco use within the Veteran community

https://vapingdaily.com/support/smoking-among-veterans/

Thank You Judith Bennett

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Estate Planning Guide

An estate plan offers peace-of-mind and can even help mitigate potential family conflicts after a loved one passes, yet only 45 percent of people actually have one.

We break down why they're so important, the elements of a well-rounded estate plan, and when one should be modified to fit your changing needs.

You can view our resource here: https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/why-everyone-needs-an-estate-plan/

Thank You Blake Hughes

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Online Substance Abuse Resource for Veterans

Our website, www.AddictionCenter.com/Addiction/Veterans, provides support to military members seeking substance abuse recovery.

Thank You Jordan Knight

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 Community Outreach

Our website, Common Substance Use Disorder is dedicated to help individuals

 suffering from substance abuse and prevent new cases through credible information

 and spreading awareness to as many as we can reach. Every fact-based piece of content

is written by  journalists or medical  professionals.

Thank You Sarah Thomas

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Alcohol Rehab Help

Our website https://alcoholrehabhelp.org/blog/types-of-alcohol/

Alcohol Rehab Help is an informational web guide created for people struggling

with alcohol use disorders (AUD) and co-occurring mental health disorders. Not

only do we offer information on Alcohol Use Disorder, but we also have

comprehensive information regarding treatment options. 

Thank You Michelle Taylor
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A War on Home Soil - Veteran and Service Member Addiction

 Veteran Substance Abuse - A War on Home Soil.

Thank You Jo Ryan

Volunteer State Veterans Honor Guard

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Freedom is not free …

 By Susan Watson (Knoxville, Tennessee News Sentinel)

Over the years, 1.3 million Americans have given their lives in service of their country. Over 1.4 million veterans have been wounded in combat and have lived with the

consequences. The Volunteer State Veterans Honor Guard was established, in part, to ensure that these veterans are never forgotten. Founded in 1987, the purpose of

the Honor Guard is to honor all East Tennessee honorably discharged veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Services. It is a nonprofit t volunteer member

organization which operates through public support and private donations. There are currently over 75,000 veterans who live in the Knoxville area. The Honor Guard serves

Knox, Blount, Anderson, and Sevier counties. The 34 members of the Guard represent all service branches. They are distinguished veterans from every war since and

including WWII. The Guard presides at more than 200 military funerals and 15 flag ceremonies each year. They also serve at memorial services and provide counseling

through the local office of Veterans Affairs. By law, all honorably discharged veterans are entitled to a folded flag and the playing of Taps at their funeral services. The

volunteers of the Honor Guard provide much more at no charge to the veteran’s family. The Guard can be called upon by families of veterans of any branch of service,

of any rank, regardless of their length of service or whether they served during war or peacetime. A military funeral with honors can take place at the Tennessee State

Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville or at other locations in the counties served. It is led by a presiding chaplain of the Honor Guard who begins each service with remarks

to the family and an explanation to those present of the  significance of each part of the service to come. A rifle salute, the highest honor possible for a veteran, follows.

Taps is then played, and the service concludes with the folding of the flag and its presentation to the family. All members of the Volunteer Veterans Honor Guard agree

that it is a privilege to assist the loved ones left behind and pay tribute to their fallen brothers and sisters. They feel is the best way to give back to those who have served

 in the past and maintain important traditions for those who will serve in the future. The best reward Guard members can receive is for a family member to approach them

after the service and say, “It feels like all of you really knew him.” There is a bond shared by all veterans and the goal of the Honor Guard members is to both honor their

fellow veteran and to share that special bond with his or her family. Read more at www.milhonors.com. To schedule military funeral honors, call 865-659-4811.

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We have just recently created a national directory on TRICARE and drug rehab facilities that accept it, and was thinking it’d be a good addition to the awesome roundup

you have on your list. We even went a step ahead, and again included a locator for active personal in the military.  Tricare currently has roughly 9.6 million beneficiaries,

however many centers do not accept TRICARE, so we are excited to get this information out there.  The last few years have been stressful for everyone, and we are proud

to get this directory out for veterans.

https://drugrehabus.org/rehabs/treatment/tricare/

Thank You Randy Palmer

Drug Rehab USA - Public Relations

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Below are web-sites that provide information on Veterans benefits and how to file/ask for them. Accordingly, there are many sites that explain how to obtain books,

military/medical records, information and how to appeal a denied claim with the VA.  Please pass this information on to every Veteran you know.  Nearly 100% of this

information is free and available for all veterans. Some websites may have been discontinued.

The Ultimate Guide to Veterans Benefits

https://www.moneysavingpro.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-veterans-benefits/

This website includes job searching, resume writing, networking, interview tips,

career advice for injured veterans and other helpful sources: 

career-resource-for-veterans

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VA Forms

https://www.va.gov/vaforms/Default.asp?CurrentPage=11&orderby=

Note: There are 11 pages of VA Forms

You can download software at: Free Adobe Reader Download. (Note: By clicking on Free Adobe Reader Download Link), you will leave the Department

of Veterans Affairs Website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked website Forms on this site are available in several formats.

Fallible PDF can be filled on-line, printed, saved and edited. XFT forms can be filled on-line, printed, and saved  to your pc but cannot be edited later

 (TURN OFF YOUR POP-UP BLOCKER TO USE XFT). Some PDF are printable blank forms.

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