RI Veterans: Did you know? 23.10.25 (Xander Glasses, Local Events, Resources) – John A. Cianci

by John A. Cianci, contributing writer, veterans issues

Questions From One of Our Readers

Q: – My Dad is a WWII veteran, and his hearing aids only work and provide limited hearing ability. He heard about a set of glasses that he could get from the VA, which allows him to communicate by real-time captioning of conversations.

A: – During a recent visit to VA Audiology at Eagle Square, RINEWSTODAY inquired about options for veterans eligible for hearing aids; however, VA provided that hearing aids have a limited ability to assist the veteran in hearing.

Your Dad could be eligible for XanderGlasses.

Xander Glasses are a type of smart glasses that translate speech to real-time, captioned text within the wearer’s field of vision, helping Veterans with hearing loss stay engaged. For eligible Veterans with a severe hearing disability, the VA may provide these glasses free of charge, as they can be covered as an assistive device if other solutions are not adequate. The glasses are self-contained and do not require a smartphone or internet connection to work.

https://www.va.gov/augusta-health-care/stories/pioneering-pathways-how-va-augusta-is-revolutionizing-veteran-healthcare/

At the VA Providence Health Care system, veterans can be evaluated for XanderGlasses, a type of smart captioning glasses, through the Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinic.

How to access XanderGlasses at VA Providence

The process for a veteran to obtain XanderGlasses through the VA’s Audiology department, VA Providence Audiology and Speech Pathology.  Clinic Address: Eagle Square VA Clinic, 623 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI 02909. Phone: 401-455-4949.

Step 1 – Schedule an audiology appointment: As an enrolled veteran, you must first register and schedule an evaluation with the Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinic.

Get a referral: If you are new to audiology services at the VA, your VA primary care provider may need to issue a consult or referral before your first appointment.

Receive an evaluation: An audiologist will evaluate your hearing loss to determine if XanderGlasses are a clinically appropriate option for you. The glasses are typically recommended for veterans with severe hearing disabilities who do not get sufficient assistance from hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Receive the glasses: If you are determined to be a candidate, the VA will provide the XanderGlasses at no cost to you, as they cover all devices that assist with hearing loss.

What are XanderGlasses?

XanderGlasses are augmented reality smart glasses designed to help people with hearing loss by providing real-time captions of conversations. Key features include:

Real-time captioning: The glasses transcribe spoken words into text, which is displayed in the wearer’s field of vision.

Privacy: The captions are only visible to the wearer.

Natural interaction: Unlike a phone, the glasses allow the wearer to look directly at the person speaking and maintain eye contact while reading the captions.

How Xander Glasses work for Veterans

• Real-time captions:

The glasses provide captions of in-person conversations directly in the user’s field of view.

• Improved social engagement:

This technology helps Veterans who have withdrawn from social events due to hearing loss, allowing them to understand conversations and reconnect with others.

• Caregiver support:

For couples like the one featured in the YouTube video, the glasses can significantly improve the quality of life by improving communication between the Veteran and their caregiver.

• Self-contained operation:

The glasses are self-contained and do not need to be connected to a phone or the internet to function, providing a dependable experience.

• Free for eligible Veterans:

Veterans with a severe hearing disability or handicap that cannot be properly assisted by other options, like hearing aids, may receive XanderGlasses at no cost through the VA.

More information to understand Xander Glasses from the VA Augusta website:

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Pioneering pathways: How VA Augusta is revolutionizing Veteran healthcare

By Will Martin, Chief of Public Affairs

Picture this: James Rush, a Marine Corps Veteran who has struggled with profound hearing loss for years, is now able to engage in conversations with a newfound ease thanks to a piece of innovative technology.

VA Augusta Health Care System, renowned for its forward-thinking initiatives and cutting-edge solutions, provided Rush with XanderGlasses — a groundbreaking device that displays real-time closed captioning for those hard of hearing, bringing conversations to life in ways he never imagined.

“Just putting on — the simple task of putting the glasses on — changed my quality of life instantly,” said Rush.

His wife, Janet, echoes this transformation, describing how these glasses have rekindled their communication and closeness after 40 years of marriage.

“There were times when I would say something, I’d have to repeat it three or four times… and then a conversation — we don’t have any more conversation. But we got (that) back,” she said.

Rush’s story is just one example of the transformative impact of the VA Augusta’s Innovation Program, which utilizes Veteran feedback to develop life-enhancing solutions.

VA Augusta audiologist Dr. Lisa Rogers underscored the glasses’ potential.

“People think about audiology as hearing, but what we really want to give our Veterans is communication,” said Rogers. “This amazing new technology provides a new pathway to communication for patients whose auditory systems are damaged.”

The XanderGlasses, a collaboration between VA Augusta and Xander through the VHA’s Innovators Network Greenhouse Initiative, epitomize VA Augusta’s dedication to enhancing Veterans’ lives through advanced technology. However, the commitment to innovation doesn’t stop there.

Enter Ebony Dillard, a physical therapy assistant whose first week on the job was nothing short of remarkable. Recognizing a critical need among patients with limited lower extremity strength, Dillard conceived a device designed to reduce falls — aptly named the Device for gait, Efficiency, and Balance, or DEB. The name also honors Dillard’s mother, Debbie

“There is currently nothing to assist patients in keeping their feet apart while building lower extremity strength,” said Dillard. “I am who I am because of how my mom raised me and I wanted to make sure she was a part of it.”

With support from VA Augusta’s local innovation program, Dillard and the physical therapy team created and refined multiple prototypes. Using human-centered design — a methodology that prioritizes human needs and feedback — they measured various aspects of Veterans’ walks, continually improving the prototype.

“Human-centered design is a methodology we use to solve problems by focusing on human needs first,” said Kelsey Shull, who leads VA Augusta’s Innovation team.

Their efforts paid off. The DEB significantly improved walking distances for Veterans who tested the device. Recognizing its potential impact, the VA Southeast Network (VISN 7) named Dillard’s work a top innovation project in the region and the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded the DEB a provisional patent, which Dillard hopes will enable DEB to spread nationwide.

Underpinning these efforts is Shull, who in addition to being named VHA’s Innovation Specialist of the Year in 2023 was also selected as a 2025 VHA Innovation Ecosystem (IE) Senior Innovation Fellow. Shull, who started her career at VA Augusta in 2012, has been instrumental in driving the health care system’s innovation program. She is joined by Chris Ndeti, another VA Augusta innovation specialist whose background in music and recreational therapy brings a unique perspective to the team.

“Chris’s work has extended our reach beyond the walls of the Augusta campuses to connect with Veteran entrepreneurs and community partners to build a coalition for transforming Veteran healthcare,” said Shull.

Together, Shull and Ndeti, along with dedicated VA Augusta professionals like Dillard and Rogers, continue to champion solutions that not only meet the medical needs of Veterans but also enhance their quality of life. As VA Augusta paves the way for future healthcare innovations, one thing is clear: they are more than just a healthcare system — they are a beacon of hope, nurturing a community where Veterans can thrive.

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Nine New Honorees to be Recognized on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025

Click here for more details & to buy tickets.

The Annual RI Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will recognize its 23^rd group of honorees on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2025

Guest of Honor

Lt. Col. Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse, USAF (Ret), is one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, the famed Black combat flying unit from WWII. He was a finance officer with the 332nd Fighter Group. Woodhouse later graduated from Yale and Boston University School of Law and became a strong advocate for veterans. He will be 99 in January.

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The 2025 Honorees

Raymond W. Barnes (1915-1992)

Barnes was a radioman/gunner whose B-17 was shot down over Germany in November, 1943. Seven crew members perished and three survived as POWs, including Barnes, who lost an eye during the fight. He was liberated in June 1945. His son Ron will go to Germany in 2026 to dedicate a memorial at the crash site.

SGT Edwin Lee Bowers, Jr., USMC (1936-

Bowers, who served in Marine Aviation as an enlisted navigator from 1956 to 1961, is the recipient of this year’s President’s Award, for his contribution is to the furtherance of the Hall of Fame itself. He has been an active and hard-working volunteer on our ship projects for more than 25 years, and has helped with the RIAHOF honors event since its inception in 2003.

CW4 Michael J. Carpenter, USA (Ret.) (1944- 

Carpenter earned seven Air Medals flying light observation aircraft in Vietnam. He joined the RI Army National Guard in 1969, serving for the next 35 years. By retirement he had flown some 3700 flight hours, 800 of which were combat hours. His lifetime of service to Army Aviation resulted in the award of the order of St. Michael.

Robert G. Danis (1936-2009)

Danis soloed on his 16th birthday and went on to accrue more than 20,000 flying hours. He flew with the Civil Air Patrol and as a private charter pilot before spending 30 years with USAir. After retirement he launched Lincoln Flight Center in Smithfield. Bob was designated Pilot of the Year by the Ri Pilots Association, and received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA.

Staff Sergeant Anthony J De Fusco (1923-1944) MIA, China

By 1944 DeFusco was a radio operator / gunner on a B-25 based in China. On August 23, 1944, his plane took off on a combat mission; they were not seen nor heard from again. He was one of six sons of Pasquale and Eileen De Fusco; five of whom served on active duty during WWII (of whom three were Army Air Forces veterans.). Anthony was the only one who did not return.

CW4 Alton L. Maurais, USA (Ret.) (1937-

Maurais flew helicopter gunships in Vietnam in 1966-67. He accrued 440 combat hours flying with an innovative aerial rocket artillery unit. Having served as a mechanic after enlisting in 1956, he reenlisted in order to fly. After Vietnam he worked as a commercial helicopter pilot and joined the RI Army National Guard. When he retired in 1997 he had accrued more than 11,000 flight hours, combining military and commercial time.

Eugene F. McSweeney (1921-2015)

Navy fighter pilot McSweeney was sworn in at exercises during the Army-Chicago Bears football game at Boston on September 20, 1942. He flew 79 Hellcat sorties off the carrier USS Bataan in 1945, accruing 305 combat hours. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals. At war’s end his final missions involved dropping food and supplies to POW camps in Japan.

RADM Darryl L. Walker USN (1963-

Admiral Walker, a Naval Aviator, is President of U.S. Naval War College. Walker enlisted in the Air Force in 1985 as an Air Traffic Controller and earned a BS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1990. He was commissioned through Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1992. He has accrued some 3900 flight hours and 696 carrier-arrested landings. He earned his MA from the Naval War College in 2002.

LTCOL Herbert “Herb” Woodcock, USAF (Ret.) (1928-2023)

Woodcock joined the Air Force and was commissioned as a navigator. He deployed to Okinawa during the Korean War; his units supported B-29 bombing missions. In January 1954 he survived a jet crash into the South China Sea. In Vietnam he was assigned to the 12th Air Commando Squadron, flying dangerous defoliation missions. He earned the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and eight Air Medals, as well as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

Click here for more details & to buy tickets.

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Cocktail Reception @ 5:30 pm

cash bar & light hors d’oeuvres

Dinner @ 6:30 pm with Ceremony to follow

buffet dinner (meat and vegetarian options), coffee / tea & dessert

Dress Code

Cocktail/Semi-Formal Attire; Black Tie Optional

Military Dress Blues; Mess Dress Optional

Tickets:

$65 per person

$480 – Table of 8

$600 – Table of 10

We are returning to The Scottish Rite Center, 2115 Broad St, Cranston, RI 02905 (at the entrance to Rhodes on the Pawtuxet)

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Prefer to mail in a check?

Please make payable to RIAHOF, and send along with your name, email, phone, and guest’s names (if applicable), to:

RIAHOF, PO Box 28581, Providence, RI 02908

You will receive a confirmation via email (or phone if email not provided).

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Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame (RIAHOF) is a volunteer driven non-profit group dedicated to identifying, honoring and perpetuating the memory of those individuals who have contributed to Rhode Island’s rich aviation history.

Over more than two decades, we have inducted nearly 100 individuals and one entire family (the Allen family of balloonists/aeronauts). We have also given special recognition awards to 40 individuals along with the four WWII WASP (Women Air Service Pilots) from RI and the 20 or so Tuskegee Airmen hailing from this state.

Few people know just how rich and varied our aviation history is, and just how many wonderfully skilled and talented contributors to the aerial age have been born in Rhode Island, were educated here, lived here for a portion of their lives or performed some great aviation-related act or service here.

Help us perpetuate this message!

Click here for more details & to buy tickets.

Can’t attend? Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today!

Please note: Inductees (or their family representative) will be provided a separate coupon code for their complimentary tickets. Please contact us for more information.

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Rep. Magaziner Accepting Applications for U.S. Military Academies

As a member of Congress, Rep. Magaziner can nominate eligible candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY.

The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

Please feel free to share this opportunity with any young men and women you think may be interested in this opportunity who live in the second Congressional district of Rhode Island.

The deadline for applications is November 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST.

The honor of attending a military service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

To apply, visit: http://magaziner.house.gov/…/military-academy-nominations

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Available Assistance For Veterans Impacted By Government Shutdown

Interest-Free Loans For Members of Navy Federal and USAA

Navy Federal Credit Union offers eligible members 0% APR (no interest) loans to help with financial disruption during a government shutdown, a program specifically for military service members, federal employees, and government contractors. To be eligible, members typically must have a direct deposit of their federal pay into a Navy Federal account. The loan amount is based on the most recent direct deposit, and the funds are automatically deducted once pay resumes. If you have a foreign address, please contact us at 1-888-842-6328 (toll-free, domestic) or 1-703-255-8837 (collect, international) to confirm your eligibility.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Government Shutdown Loan Program, you generally must meet the following criteria:

• Be a military servicemember, federal employee, or government contractor paid directly by the federal government.
• Have had your regular federal paycheck deposited into an active Navy Federal account recently.
• Have a regular direct deposit of at least $250.
• Have repaid any prior Government Shutdown loans that overdrew your account(s).

How the Program Works

• 0% APR Loan:  The loan is offered with zero interest and no fees.

• Loan Amount: The amount of the loan is based on your most recent direct deposit, with limits up to $6,000.

• Automatic Repayment:  Once the government reopens and your pay is resumed, the loan amount is automatically deducted from your account as repayment.
• Enrollment: You must register for the program in advance of your scheduled payday to ensure timely disbursement.

USAA Bank

As the possibility of a government shutdown looms, USAA is offering a helping hand to members.

“USAA has your back during a government shutdown,” the company said in a social media post.

According to USAA, the loan needs to be repaid within three months. The payment will also need to be split into two equal installments, the first due in about 60 days and the second in about 90 days.

To apply, individuals must be:

• A member employed by an impacted federal agency who direct deposits their government paycheck or pay
• An account holder on the impacted USAA Bank account

Qualified applicants must:

• Have direct deposit set up for a USAA Bank checking or savings account as of the federal payment disruption date
• Receive at least one qualifying direct deposit‍ ‍ to that same account within 30 days before the start of the disruption
• Have a U.S. physical address or an APO, DPO, or FPO address
• Get a credit approval from USAA Bank

“Stability plays an important role in the financial security of our members — and empowering that security is our mission,” a statement on the company’s website says. “Members impacted by a government shutdown can count on USAA and may be eligible to apply for a no-interest loan and other payment relief options across our banking and insurance products.”

USAA will launch the program “when its members are impacted by a government shutdown.” The program will be available at the discretion of the company, according to USAA.

Additional assistance for impacted members includes auto and property insurance, banking, life and health insurance and aid for active servicemembers

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Operation Holiday Cheer

November 15-16

Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos hosted the kick-off event for the 23^rd annual Operation Holiday Cheer at the state house. Numerous organizations, including the Rhode Island Blue Star Moms and the Rhode Island National Guard joined Matos.

Former Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Charles Fogarty started Operation Holiday Cheer in 2002. The initiative was created to send care packages to Rhode Island service members stationed away from home during the holidays.  Fogarty started the program to show appreciation for the troops, but it quickly grew into an annual tradition.

Operation Holiday Cheer is an annual care package initiative for Rhode Island service members who will be stationed away from home during the holidays. It is organized by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office in partnership with the Rhode Island National Guard Family Assistance Center, the United States Postal Service, the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Rhode Island Blue Star Moms, and Operation Stand Down Rhode Island.

The program relies entirely on the generosity of individuals and corporate and community sponsors who provide in-kind or financial contributions. Contributions are collected from across the state and volunteers help assemble the packages for shipment during a single weekend. This year, an estimated 300 care packages will be assembled and shipped during the weekend of November 15-16.

How to Participate:

DONATE GOODS

The gift packages are very well received, and we hope that you will consider contributing items from the troops’ wish list:

Snacks: beef jerky (NO pork), Celsius packets (any flavor with caffeine), chewing gum, granola bars, individual powdered drink mixes, nuts, peanut butter (16oz limit), protein bars, sunflower seeds, trail mix

Miscellaneous: playing cards/card games, long socks (cotton), sanitizer wipes (pouch packaging)

Due to USPS shipping restrictions, the following items cannot be included in the care packages:

Prohibited: aerosol, books, boxed games, bulk items, canned foods, chocolate, glass, hand sanitizer, items over 16oz, knives, religious items, sports equipment

To schedule a product delivery, contact Grace Sneesby at (401) 222-1445 or Grace.Sneesby@ltgov.ri.gov.

DONATE FUNDS

Should you wish to donate funds, please submit a check using the following details:

Payable To: American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter
Memo Line: Operation Holiday Cheer

Checks can be mailed to:
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
c/o Grace Sneesby
State House Room 116
82 Smith Street
Providence, RI 02903

Gifts are tax deductible. Please be advised that checks missing the above Memo Line details CANNOT be processed.

VOLUNTEER

They rely on volunteers to help assemble care packages for shipment. If you would like to get involved, contact Grace Sneesby at Grace.Sneesby@ltgov.ri.gov or (401) 222-1445.

Do you have a loved one serving in the military? Are they originally from Rhode Island? Would you like them to receive a care package this holiday season?

If so, please submit the below information to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office at ltgov@ltgov.ri.gov by November 9, 2025:

• Service member’s full name, rank & unit, and mailing address
• Your full name, e-mail address, and phone number

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EVENTS

Saturday, Oct. 25, 5 to 7 pm – Trick or Suite with Rhode Island Football Club, Centreville Bank Stadium, 11 Tidewater St., Pawtucket. VA Providence is joining Rhode Island FC and community partners for a Halloween celebration built for veterans, families and neighbors. Come for trick-or-treating in a fun, safe, family-friendly space, and also get to meet some team members. Tickets are free. If you are reading this online, reserve yours at seatgeek.com/rhode-island-fc-tickets/usl/2025-10-25-5-pm/17739266. Otherwise, go to the seatgeek.com website and search for Trick or Suite for tickets.

October 25, 2025 – Rucking for Roofs

 

Saturday, Nov. 1, 11 am to 2 pm, and 2 to 5 pm; Military Service Members and Veterans Family Fun Day – RI Indoor Karting and Entertainment Center, 100 Higginson Ave., Lincoln. Operation Stand Down RI is hosting this event, which features Karting, Time Mission Games, axe bar, darts, Mission Box, arcade and more. The event is free for veterans and their immediate families. You must register and provide proof of veteran status at the event. To register, go to osdri.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/23478. Otherwise, call Caitlyn Brochu at (401) 383-4730 x100, or email cbrochu@osdri.org

November 3,  2025, Monday, 9:00 to 11:00 – Federal Hill Veteran Coffee House sponsored by the Italian-American War Veterans of the US. Free to all veterans and guests. Refreshments include ROMA’s Italian Toast, pastries, calzones, and pizza. For more information, contact ITAM at (401) 677-9838 or email itamri4vets@gmail.com

Saturday, Nov. 8, 8:30 am to 3 pm, RI Model Rocketry Association and URI invite veterans and serving military to participate in a Free Rocket Launch at the URI Peckham Farm Field in West Kingston. Rockets provided for veterans, or you can bring a rocket you built yourself. Just show your veterans or military ID. Veterans will have access to the low-power pads (A-D motors). For access to mid-power and high-power pads, veterans will need to be NAR members (nar.org/join-nar). To register, email Lucy DiMase : lucy.dimase@va.gov. The general public may watch the launch at no charge.

November 10, 2025, Monday, 9^th – Annual Veteran Breakfast, 8 AM to 11 AM, St Joesph’s Veterans Association, 99 Louise Street, Woonsocket RI

November 10, 2025, Monday, Veteran Breakfast,  8:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick, 801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick, RI 02886. Representative Seth Magaziner invites you to his 2nd Annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast & Award Ceremony on Monday, November 10, 2025. This special event honors those who have served our country and recognizes their invaluable contributions to communities across the statff. Please RSVP by October 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM using the following link to confirm your attendance: RSVP for Rep. Magaziner’s Veterans Appreciation Breakfast.  If you have any questions or need further information, please contact our Warwick office at (401) 244-1201.

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 9 am to 5 pm, Free Haircuts for veterans at Frankenfades Barbershop, 1086 Willet Ave, East Providence. Proprietor Susan Pereira Buckley’s husband, his father and son all served in the Army, and she is looking to give back. No appointments will be taken. First-come, first served, but Susan promises to stay as late as necessary to make sure everyone gets a haircut. Her number is 401-527-1730.

November 22, 2025 – Henri’s Heroes – Woonsocket, RI:

January 17, 2026 35^th  Desert Storm Reunion, Tri-City Elks, West Shore Road, Warwick, RI – 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 pm Veteran Social. All Desert Shield/Storm veterans invited.  5:00 p.m. Memorial service . More information and tickets go to https://35desertstorm.org

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Bow Hunters & Archery

Veterans, caregivers and families are invited to join the Narragansett Bow Hunters for free archery instruction every Monday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at the Narragansett Bow Hunters Indoor Range, 1531 Ten Rod Road, North Kingstown. This event is open to the public and provides a great opportunity to learn a new skill and connect with the community. Instruction is available for adults and children ages 7 and older. The range is indoors, so this is a rain-or-shine event. Questions? Reach out to Edward.Smith6@va.gov or call 401-226-3092.

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VA EVENTS/NEWS

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