Bi-partisan support at Operation Stand Down RI & a personal story – John A. Cianci

by John A. Cianci, Department Veterans Service Officer, Italian American War Veterans (ITAM)

Operation Stand Down Rhode Island completed its 31st annual Veteran Assistance Event over the last two days at OSDRI’s Veteran Service Center in Johnston.

Photo, above: Lunch time brings out our legislative/state leaders to serve: Seth Magaziner, candidate for Congress, District 2; Allan Fung, candidate for Congress, District 2; Joseph Polisena, Mayor of Johnston; Larry Connell, Director of the Providence VA Healthcare System; and Governor Dan McKee, Governor of RI, and candidate for re-election.

Since its inception in 1993, the annual event has provided thousands of veterans with access to important services including health, dental, and substance abuse care, as well as employment, legal, and housing services.

It was well attended event. I brought a veteran in his mid-60s who is battling cancer. His medication costs, out of pocket, $2,500 a month. He is a veteran that has one of the cancers recognized as a result of his service at Camp Lejeune. Sadly he was unaware he was entitled to the VA benefits until he read my weekly column in RINewsToday.com and stopped by to talk to me at one of the coffee houses.

The VA initiated his paperwork to get him his disability two weeks ago. However, they didn’t tell him or help him sign up for VA Medical which would get him his prescription that he’s been paying out of pocket, and was looking at not being able to afford for the next week. We went to the VA yesterday to hand deliver his paperwork for medical, however, he didn’t have his DD-214. So, two two stops at the VA medical facility on Chalkstone Ave resulted in not being able to get in the system so he could get the prescription.

At that point I told him I was going to take him to Operation Stand Down‘s event and we will get the paperwork taken taking care of. After registering him for the event I knew that the key people were there from the VA to get him a copy of his DD-214, which they did within 30 minutes. From there we went across to another tent and he was able to register for VA Medical and they are scheduled him for an appointment for next week to review his medical files so they can provide the prescriptions that he needs – instead of paying $2,000 a month for a cancer that is directly linked to a service at Camp Lejeune while he was in active duty in the mid 70s.

Can’t say enough about the services that happen regularly at OSDRI’s Veterans Assistance weekends – from social services, to military records issues, to legal matters, including expungements done on the spot with RI Public Defenders and a judge right on site – don’t miss the next one – come for the info, have lunch with officials and stay for the camaraderie.

As I said to my publisher of RI News Today who initiated a Veterans column from the beginning of publication, “You should smile and take pride that the opportunity to do a column every week is impacting veterans’ lives. Simply put, I know six veterans in the last year that the quality of life has changed from information in the column and reaching out to me.”

RI Veterans: Did you know? is featured every Thursday – I’ve written it on my phone, at home, when I’ve traveled to other countries, and while moving people (and myself) – and even from a parade route. We have a banner, and we can come to Veterans’ events in Rhode Island, given availability. There’s always a will – and we really do find a way to have a presence.

Saying that – see you today and tomorrow (Saturday-September 17 (9AM to 5PM) & Sunday-September 18th (9AM to 3PM), at the 20th Annual Military Vehicle Show, Canonicus Camp and Conference Center, 54 Exeter Rd. Exeter RI. The show is sponsored by the Rhode Island Military Vehicle Collectors Club.

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If you are a retailer and or a veteran aware of a business not listed above, please forward to:[email protected]:  the business’s name , location, and military and veteran discount offered.

If you have an event, meeting, other pertinent veteran information, or email questions or help needed, contact the Italian American War Veteran Service Officer, John A Cianci, [email protected], ITAM Office 1-(401)677-9VET(9838)

To read all columns in this series go to: https://rinewstoday.com/john-a-cianci/

John A. Cianci is a Veteran Service Officer. Retired, U.S. Army MSgt., Persian Gulf War and Iraq War combat theater.

Cianci, a combat disabled Veteran, served in Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards include Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Good Conduct, and others.

Cianci belongs to numerous veterans organizations – Italian American War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, United Veterans Council of Rhode Island, and many more organizations. He is an active volunteer assisting veterans to navigate federal and state benefits they have earned. He is Department of Rhode Island Department Commander Italian American War Veterans and Veteran Service Officer.

He is a graduate of Roger Williams University (BS Finance), UCONN business school* (Entrepreneur Bootcamp For Veterans), Solar Energy International Residential, Commercial and Battery Based Photovoltaic Systems certificate programs, numerous certificates from the Department of Defense renewable energy programs, including graduate of the Solar Ready Vets Program.