Congress Passes HEART Act Giving Tax Breaks to Military Personnel

The U.S. Congress has overwhelming passed the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act of 2008 which provides tax breaks to military service personnel and their families. Some of the provisions include a tax credit for small businesses that pay a salary differential to employees called up for active duty and an exemption for reservists from the “use it or lose it” rule for unused health care flexible spending account balances.

The law would also would modify the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA) to allow the day prior to the date of a service person’s death to be treated as the date the employee returned to work for purposes of triggering payment of benefits under a qualified retirement plan. It would permit an employer to make certain contributions to a qualified pension plan on behalf of an employee who is killed or becomes disabled in combat. The law would also make permanent the special rules that permit penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans.

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Silver Star Families of America is dedicated to supporting and assisting the wounded and their families of ALL branches of Service and ALL Wars. Their goal is to recognize the blood sacrifice of our wounded and injuries or illness that originated in a war zone, including, Purple Heart recipients, victims of friendly fire, those who suffer from PTSD, Agent Orange effects and Gulf War syndrome.syndrome.

SSFOA recently asked 5,000 cities and towns across the nation (100 per state) to sigh a proclamation to observe May 1, 2009 as Silver Star Banner Day, honoring wounded and ill servicemembers from all wars. A Silver Star Families of America committee contacts city clerks and mayors to inform them of the event and to ask for their participation. When they agree, they receive a proclamation letter to sign. To date, nearly 60 cities in 18 states have signed on to observe Silver Star Banner Day in 2009 and thereafter.

If you want to ensure that your community has the opportunity to participate, please visit The Silver Star Families of America website.

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Military Entertaining
by HHC member Nicole
former airman and current Air Force wife

I remember being a young airman, away from my family for the first holiday. It was Thanksgiving. My First Sergeant invited a bunch of us “newbie’s” over for a large holiday dinner. His wife not only cooked an amazing meal, but she presented it beautifully and provided a comfortable and welcoming environment. As a military wife myself now, I know how important entertaining is in the military environment.

There are so many reasons to entertain; promotions, retirements, holidays, support groups, or just to be together as a military family. Entertaining can be a casual or extravagant. Whatever the reason, or to what extent, military entertaining requires some simple protocol to be followed.

Invitations: Mail or deliver all invitations. Include information such as if spouses/children are invited, bring a dish to pass, or BYOB. Tea parties not need an invitation, a simple phone call is appropriate.

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I don’t exactly have a green thumb. Really, it is not my fault. Over the past ten years our family has moved in and out of base housing, never giving me the opportunity to establish a garden. I always envied the beautiful flowers some people would plant, but I never desired to spend the money on gardening when I knew we would not stay long. Recently, I have learned of a creative way to use containers to create a cozy garden-like atmosphere that is easily transported.

Any type of container that will hold soil and can be drained well could serve as an eye-catching, decorative planter. Think of the endless possibilities: watering cans, wooden crates, hollow logs, metal coffee pots, flower baskets, picnic baskets, decorative wall baskets, bird cages, wishing wells, your husband’s old combat boots, American flag decorated popcorn tins, or even a water trough. There are no limitations!

Here is what you will need to start your own planter:

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