VAC does a lot for retired servicemen

As of the end of last August, the VAC made 930,605 consultation visits to solve the problems of 4,872 retired servicemen.

The VAC has also extended help to needy retired servicemen and their bereaved families. A total of 17,258 members of bereaved families (including those helped repeatedly) have been visited over the past five decades. They were given NT$93,560,200 in cash relief.

So far this year, altogether 1,866 retired servicemen have been invited to attend 22 regional meetings where problems involving their welfare were discussed. Another 23,160 took part in 386 sub-regional meetings.

Starting in 2006, the VAC set up special counters at veterans hospitals and other clinics to provide consultation services to retired servicemen. As of the end of last August, 245 counters had been set up. The servicemen benefited totaled 11,738.

The VAC also helped retired servicemen marry spouses if they were born in mainland China. There were 25,715 such marriages.

Their spouses, popularly known as Chinese brides, have been given help and service by the VAC, too. Altogether 50 seminars were organized by the VAC for mainland Chinese spouses of retired servicemen. They were given advice and helped to adapt to their life in Taiwan. The attendance totaled 12,350 spouses.

Vocational assistance was also given to those spouses who were allowed to work in Taiwan, the VAC said.

School lunch subsidies were paid by the VAC for children of needy retired servicemen. The subsidies totaled NT$1,757,850.

Assistance was made available to the re-interment of ashes of deceased retired servicemen. Altogether 1,168 remains were incinerated and their ashes reinterred in the three months ending last month.

The VAC sponsored special services held when the ashes were buried again.

An additional 401 remains were incinerated between Aug. 31 and Sept. 14. Their ashes will be reinterred shortly. Special Buddhist services will be organized by the VAC.

"We have done what we could to contribute to promoting the welfare of retired servicemen," the VAC said, adding:

"Our motto is 'The sorrows of the retired servicemen are our sorrows as well, and their happiness is ours, too.'"

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