New England bulletin., 1949-04-16
SOUND OFF The Dept. For Vets and CTS
 By Glenn Douglass

Ing off, week after week, advising you vets to take advantage of your privileges under the CT Bill of Rights. We'll, along comes an item from the Veterans Administration, Hartford Regional Office, which should be of vast encouragement to those cynics who believe that there's a lot of red tape connected According to Hartfordss VA, dur ing the five-month period ending January 31, 1949, immediate ap- proval was granted to approximate ly 80 percent of veterans requests for CT Bill training, reviewed to determine whether training bene- fits could be made available under legislation banning vocational or recreationa1 courses.
 Eighty percent, you will agree, is a great deal better than an average percentage. It is getting tougher by the day for people who are lacking in training and skills to find profitable employment. Anyone who weathered World War II ought to have sense enough to know the advantage of good, thorough education. Our dads would have given a great deal to be able to enjoy such benefits, practically handed to them on a silver plate.
 Contact your local Veterans Ad- ministration and get some advice about your particular situation. Don't be a dope all your life.
 Wake Up, Chaplains
 We attended military services re- Ivy l. T L overseas and whose remains were returned for re-buria1 at the re- quest Of his family. Services atthe funeral Parlor were very impress siye and so was the service which followed at the National Cemetery where the ex-GI was buried. There was only one thing which, in our minds, marred the entire proceed ings.
 Out at the cemetery a holy serv- ice is conducted by an Army chap lain. The chaplain supplied on this occasion was major. The major ran through the service in a tone less, absolutely uninspired manner exactly as though he were reciting rote.
 Naturally. one would not expect as much feeling and sympathy from civilian clergyman who had known the honored dead and could inject some personality and verve into his performance. It seems, however, that a chaplain assigned to administer this final solace to families of the dead could exert themselves just a tiny bit to do a sincere job which will reflect some recognition of the fact that here lies man who died for his coun- try and whose beloved will always retain in their memories the scenes, words and actions connect ed with his being laid in his final resting place.
 We certainly don't feel that the majority of chaplains are emulat- ing the good major we saw the other day. We hope not. If they are, we say, chaplains, wake up.
 Check Bonus Rights
 Are you the heir of a veteran who was killed in the early phase of the war, even as far back as Pearl Harbor?
 Are you career veteran - one who had retired from the armed forces and was called from the re- serve list to active duty?
 Are you the parent of a de- ceased veteran who has been un- able to collect his bonus money be- cause the other parent has not been heard from over number of years.
 Check your bonus rights.
 Did you know that the General Assembly has passed legislation li- beralizing bonus regulations.
 If you are in one of the above categories, up until now, you have been unable to collect bonus money. Now you can.
 Here are some of the provisions of the new legislation.
 Heirs of vets killed early in the war, back to and including the Pearl Harbor holocaust are now eligible. The old rule that a vet must have served at least 90 days is now passe.
 Reservists who were called to ac- tive duty when the war broke out are now eligible.
 The time within which bonus money may be claimed has been extended from July 1, 1949 to July 1, 1851.
 Veterans now have 90 days to fi1o Ior,.o