thedrifter
08-25-06, 07:11 AM
Military Order of the Purple Heart wants more tuitions waived
Active-duty Purple Heart recipients' children not eligible for funds, group says
Published Thursday August 24 2006
By CHUCK CRUMBO
The State
Local members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart want the Legislature to change a law providing college-bound children of some medal recipients free tuition at state-supported colleges and technical schools.
The law, said Tom McAndrews of Chapter 402 in Columbia, does not cover children of all veterans who have received the world's oldest military decoration.
The benefit, McAndrews said, is offered to the children of recipients who have either been discharged or retired from military service, but does not cover those who still are on active duty. The benefit also applies only to wartime veterans. While the veterans group is working on getting the law changed, it also has launched a campaign to inform medal recipients and their children of the benefit, McAndrews said.
"We're taking this on as a crusade," said McAndrews, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran.
Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, said he will try in next year's session of the Legislature to make the changes in the law. "We're trying to rework it to be beneficial for the children of people who are on active duty," said Knotts, a longtime veterans advocate.
Phil Butler, director of the State Office of Veterans Affairs, said the program is a tuition waiver, not a scholarship, and is not based on financial need.
The waiver is offered to medal recipients' children up to age 26. The student must be in "good standing" with the school and pursuing any type of undergraduate degree.
Also covered are children of military members who were killed or missing in action, a prisoner of war, permanently disabled, and a Medal of Honor recipient.
The Purple Heart is awarded to service members wounded "by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy" or posthumously to the next of kin of those killed in action. About 30,000 South Carolinians have received the medal, said William Bacon, national adjutant of the military group.
Ellie
Active-duty Purple Heart recipients' children not eligible for funds, group says
Published Thursday August 24 2006
By CHUCK CRUMBO
The State
Local members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart want the Legislature to change a law providing college-bound children of some medal recipients free tuition at state-supported colleges and technical schools.
The law, said Tom McAndrews of Chapter 402 in Columbia, does not cover children of all veterans who have received the world's oldest military decoration.
The benefit, McAndrews said, is offered to the children of recipients who have either been discharged or retired from military service, but does not cover those who still are on active duty. The benefit also applies only to wartime veterans. While the veterans group is working on getting the law changed, it also has launched a campaign to inform medal recipients and their children of the benefit, McAndrews said.
"We're taking this on as a crusade," said McAndrews, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran.
Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, said he will try in next year's session of the Legislature to make the changes in the law. "We're trying to rework it to be beneficial for the children of people who are on active duty," said Knotts, a longtime veterans advocate.
Phil Butler, director of the State Office of Veterans Affairs, said the program is a tuition waiver, not a scholarship, and is not based on financial need.
The waiver is offered to medal recipients' children up to age 26. The student must be in "good standing" with the school and pursuing any type of undergraduate degree.
Also covered are children of military members who were killed or missing in action, a prisoner of war, permanently disabled, and a Medal of Honor recipient.
The Purple Heart is awarded to service members wounded "by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy" or posthumously to the next of kin of those killed in action. About 30,000 South Carolinians have received the medal, said William Bacon, national adjutant of the military group.
Ellie