Smyrna times., 1926-11-03
VETERANS NEED RED CROSS
Aid to Disabled Men Increases as
Problems Bring Complications

Problems Bring Complications
Eight years after the World War
finds service to disabled veterans still
q major responsibility of the Ameri-
can Red Cross.
This situation is due to the increas-
ing problems involved and the com
plex character of veteran legislation.
There is also an increase in numbers
Of death cases" handled, as com
pared with claims for living veterans,
though the work for the latter re-
mains heavy. About 10000 ex-serYice
men are dying each year, a consider
able percentage of these having serv.
ice-connected disabilities.
In a majority of cases, Red Cross
Chapters find their assistance is need.
ed in helping dependents present
their claims for death compensation,
insurance payments, bonus, burial al
lowances, and other government ben
ef1ts due them. An episode of the
past year illustrates the difficulties
frequently encountered by the Red
Cross experts in rendering such as
sistance. A veteran dying from serv-
ice-connected disease, was trying from
his bedside to establish at that late
time his claim for Government aid to
his family, and the necessary proofs
were in a physicians records across
the continent from him. To obtain
the needed af1davits before it was TOO
late, a cross-continent airplane flight
was necessary, then a Red Cross
Chapter in Pennsylvania hurried the
back to the veteran and his Red
Cross helpers in Oregon, by air-mail.
1t reached there III time.
Another discovery in Red Cross as
sistance to veterans and their fami
lies is that many dependents of these
men unquestionably entitled to Gov
ernment aid, have struggled along,
ignorant of their rights.
approximately 1855 Red Cross Chap
ters carry on Home Service work, in
assistance to veterans and their dam
lilies. The Chapters also conduct
campaign among veterans for rein
statement and conversion of their
term insurance. Among it's other du-
ties, the Red Cross assumed at the
request OF the Canadian Government
the administration of fund allotted
to the care of Canadian disabled vet
Grams living in the United States.
In the United States the Red Cross
assisted an average of about $4,000
disabled veterans and their families
every month in the past fiscal year.
Indicating the size of this undertake
ing, National Headquarters of the
Red Cross expended $1,641,178.18 on
disabled veterans alone, and $685.
451.72 on assistance to men on active
duty with the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps, while Red Cross local Chap
ters expended a total of 81 1887, 900.
Red Cross assistance to service men
oVershadowed every other phase of
it's program, even its disaster relief,
until the Florida hurricane
Help for veterans covers many de-
mands, from temporary aid until Gov
eEumcul CldILlS dI6 duJuSIeu OF uuLIl
the ex-soldier is properly hospitalized,
to extending capital loans to rehabili-
tated veterans endeavoring to become
self-supporting in business. Several
such capital loans we're to blind vet
Grams.
Contact with veterans in hospitals
is maintained by Red Cross personnel
which doctors agree influences the
veterans welfare and Improvement
The Veterans Bureau was planned
to carry on social work in its hospi-
tails for mental cases, and in many
cases the Government and the Red
Cross are cooperating for the welfare
of the men suffering war disabilities.
The public is invited to assist this
work by joining the Red Cross during
the Annual Roll Coll, November IL
to 25.