SBP Inadequacy

I just celebrated my 61st birthday and realized that the SBP [Survivor Benefit Plan] set-aside would become a reality for me in just 12 months.

When my husband retired after 24 years as an Air Force scientist, our 60s seemed so far away. Fortunately, we didn't know that 10 years later Chuck would be diagnosed with cancer. ... My husband prepared for all eventualities, however, and continued to show his concern for me by signing up and regularly paying for SBP.

I've been able to continue to live in our home since he died at the age of 59. However, the SBP set-aside is just $65 less than my current house payment, and there is a very real possibility that I will be forced to sell our home because my income will change so much.

If Chuck were still alive, he would receive his complete retirement pay as well as his Social Security. Why does the government refuse to honor the life that he gave?

Martha Kaye Vesely
Albuquerque, N.M.

I would like to correct, and worsen, a figure that Carolyn Epling quoted in her letter [regarding sbp, "Your Views," January 2002]. [From] 55 percent to 35 percent is a [36] percent decrease, not 20 percent. You are right, it is grossly unfair.

Lt. Col. Alan Glaubinger, AUS-Ret.
Louisville, Ky.

Editor's note: Thanks for checking the math. You're right; the decrease is 20 percentage points, or 36 percent. Survivors are shortchanged either way, and TROA is pushing to fix that.

Scholarship Thank-You

I enjoyed your December 2001 issue article on the TROA Scholarship [Fund]. One thing I would like to highlight is the interest-free loans offered through the scholarship program. Our family had two children attending the University of California, Berkeley, at the same time, and the TROA interest-free loans they [each] received made a huge difference in our ability to pay college bills that year.

Like many Americans, we were neither poor enough to qualify for financial assistance nor rich enough not to need some assistance. The TROA interest-free [loan] program is a perfect fit and allows our repayments to help others in the future.

Our son graduated in June with a degree in computer engineering, and our daughter is now a sophomore. They may be the only two ... brother and sister TROA recipients to ever attend the University of California, Berkeley [simultaneously]. Thank you, TROA.

Lt. Col. Joe H. Hall, USAR-Ret.
Santa Cruz, Calif.

More TFL Gratitude

Here is another big thank-you to parties concerned [with] achieving TRICARE For Life [TFL]. I may have been the first retired officer in the country to take advantage of TFL. In the Eastern time zone my medical appointment was at 9:40 a.m. on Oct. 1, after having terminated my hmo membership as of Sept. 30.

Col. William Larson, USMC-Ret.
Delmar, N.Y.

I received our first tricare For Life eob [explanation of benefits] Nov. 30 and the Medicare eob at the same time.

The TFL system works, and I hope I speak for all retired officers when I say TROA is the greatest organization going. Thank you for all your hard work. ... I can't imagine any retired officer not being a member.

TFL is now certainly a very important addition to the recruiting system and a great incentive for a person to consider a military career.

Thank all of you again.

Lt. Col. James C. Dean, USA-Ret.
via e-mail

If We Can Write Thank-You Notes, Why Can't DoD?

I am very, very disappointed in the administration and my lifelong affiliation with the party it represents for stonewalling concurrent receipt. My attitude further extends to all those phony [representatives] who want credit for supporting concurrent receipt yet refuse to pass a clean bill - they aren't fooling anyone and will be remembered come election time.

As I am now almost 77 and virtually incapacitated, whether Congress acts or not no longer means much in my plans, but I still hope for all those who could benefit.

Hindsight being 20/20, I should have accepted that civil service flying job with the Navy when I retired in 1968 instead of the satisfying but monetarily fruitless self-employment. In that case, I could have salvaged a good part of the [more than] $343,000 (in today's money) of my earned retirement "donated" to the Department of Defense (DoD).

Since I - and all those other retirees with service-connected disabilities - have contributed so many millions (billions?) of our earned retirement to DoD, it should designate units in each service as wholly supported by named service-connected disabled retirees.

Maj. James Scudder, AUS-Ret.
via e-mail

Long May She Wave

I am a life member of TROA and read ["Star-Spangled Manners," January 2002] concerning showing a little respect for the American flag, including the proper way to display the flag. The article states that the flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform. Yet, Old Navy sells flags and clothing made from the American flag design, such as bathing suits and athletic pants.

These articles also are sold in almost every store in Washington, D.C. People buying them and wearing them think that they are patriotic, and they are. There are probably millions of Americans wearing these articles. In fact, my daughters bought me a bathing suit from Old Navy with the American flag. I didn't wear it for a year, and when I did, [I] received many compliments. I agree with your article, but I guess it's too late since millions of Americans are wearing the flag.

Since Sept. 11, I doubt if we need an amendment not to burn the flag. I feel sorry for anyone who is dumb enough to desecrate our flag at this time of our history.

Col. Lawrence Nessman, USAR-Ret.
Wayne, N.J.

["Star-Spangled Manners"] was needed and timely. It also raises a question that has bothered me since shortly following Sept. 11:

With all the patriotic fervor [that] swept the nation, it would appear that those in the Senate who opposed the flag amendment would reconsider their vote if the issue could be brought to the floor before the current national love of the flag fades.

Are members of The Military Coalition who favored the amendment in the beginning pressing to get it on the floor while this great opportunity exists?

Lt. Col. Philip Shriver, USAF-Ret.
Foster, Ore.

I enjoyed ["Star-Spangled Manners"] very much, but you neglected to mention anything about how we should dispose of an old, tattered, dirty flag. Perhaps [an] oversight?

Ray Schrecengost
via e-mail

Editor's note: In the event it becomes necessary to dispose of an American flag that is no longer serviceable, the U.S. Flag Code offers this guidance: "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."