Any veterans' benefits?

[Rodney Mills]

Guess what? I'm receiving an unexpected veterans' benefit. Years ago I bought a baseball hat from the Merchant Navy Association. It's black with a badge on the front: a gold corded rope closed with a reef knot, encircling the MN within the bite of the rope, a crown surmounting, and Merchant Navy Association encircling all.

It's become the fashion here for elderly veterans to wear such hats with crests denoting their service; Army, Navy, Air force, Marines, or Coast Guard. Also some hats proclaim the wearer as veterans of Korea, or Viet Nam.

My wife and I were shopping in a department store and a woman came up to me, held out her hand, and said, "Thank you for your service to our country."

I shook her hand, but I really didn't have a clue what she was on about. My wife told me it was my MN hat, it led the lady to believe I was a U.S. armed service veteran.

A couple of days later it happened again, but this time at the check-out stand. We checked-out, my wife always examines the sales slip for errors. She said to the checker "What's the discount for?"

The sales clerk answered, "Ten percent discount to veterans." Well, I am a veteran of the MN, and I was on ships that took and received cargo from the U.S.. So thanks!

A week later we spent a week at the beach. We go to Myrtle Beach in January to avoid the crowds, and plus the hotel prices are dirt cheap. A suite, with a kitchen and a balcony overlooking the beach and the ocean, $225 for the week, $1250. in the summer, and additionally so we can visit the "Outlets." These are name brand stores that sell their merchandise—perhaps they are last years models or fashions—at fantastic discounted prices. We choose a particular date in January, as they really lower the prices ahead of their annual stock taking, and we buy all of our clothing and footwear for the year.

The first store I went in lowered the already low price ten percent for being a member of The American Association of Retired Persons (wrinklies). Then an additional ten per cent for being a veteran. To give an example, I purchased a pair of maroon corduroy slacks from Izzod for seven dollars, reg. fifty-eight retail. We bought a load of stuff, an extra ten percent off everything.

I looked down a list of benefits for ex-MN on the MN site, but anything I saw that could be of any benefit was limited to active serving military personnel, not retired veterans. Offers for veterans were mostly B and B discounts for a week in Southend or Blackpool in December etc. ( I'm being facetious.)

So my question is. Do Brit. former service persons get any benefits besides their pensions and what retired civilians also get? Any perks?

Cheers Rodney

P.s.. We went shopping today, nowt!

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hi Rodney.

Being over there you may know more of this ?

Bill Proposed to Repay WWII Merchant Mariners:

Congresswoman Janice Hahn (Calif.) and Congressman John Duncan Jr. (Tenn.) introduced the “Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015,” which would provide a modest benefit to surviving Merchant Marines who served during World War II. More than 200,000 Americans served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and aided military efforts in both Europe and the Pacific during World War II. Thousands of Merchant Mariners faced enemy attack and died at sea while hundreds more were captured and held as prisoners of war. Despite having the highest casualty rate of any U.S. service during the war, they were not eligible to receive veteran’s benefits.
“The veterans of the Merchant Marine risked their lives in the service of this nation, but we have never properly thanked them,” said Congresswoman Hahn. “Let us finally right this wrong and repay our debt of gratitude owed to these heroes.”

The legislation would provide a one-time lump sum of $25,000 to each of surviving WWII Merchant Marines. As many of these veterans are now well into their 90s, and fewer than five thousand Merchant Mariners who served in World War II are alive, the Congresswoman stressed the importance of passing this bill as quickly as possible. “So few of these Merchant Mariners are with us today,” noted Congresswoman Hahn. “Time is running out to thank them properly, and I encourage my colleagues to act quickly in cosponsoring and passing this important legislation.”

Congressman Duncan said, “I have helped thousands of Veterans and those on active duty and have great respect for them. The word 'hero' is tossed around too lightly today, but I think anyone who puts their life on the line for their country deserves that description. Although the Merchant Marines were not formally recognized as Veterans, they are very patriotic and brave Americans whose sacrifice for our Nation cannot be repaid.”
Source : Marinelink

Why does every government leave it too late? ….. Is it to limit the expenditure in the hope that only 1% are still alive? Probably. Also, it’s because we have not spoken with a united voice before. Now we can. Come on the UK Government “Get Your Fingers Out” & take a lead from the Yanks before we have 0% left.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Federation of Merchant Mariners has an ex servicemens agreement with various shops and holiday firms giving a discount on par with ex servicemen, but on the couple of times I have tried I have been asked 'What Regiment' and upon advising enquirer 'Merchant Navy' have been greeted with 'What's that'

[John Callon]

Hi Rodney,

The only benefit I can think of that an MN veteran can expect is that someone may actually remember that we once had a Merchant Navy here in the UK which at its height was the largest in the world.

Regards
John

[happy daze john in oz]

No such luck here in Oz Rodders, the best we can get is a seniors card which gives discount in some places. Think some service men as police ma get something but if you are a politician ad have stood for three elections then the world is your oyster!

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, wear your M.N. badge, with pride and tell everyone about the merchant navy and the wonderful job , All the seaman did in War-time.

[Rodney Mills]

Keith, re. post #2.

No Keith, I did not know about this wonderful news. Many thanks to you for bringing this to my and the sites attention.

I have shared your news with members on "Ships Nostalgia" and given you thanks and credit, using your posting pseudonym.

My MNA hat is off-to-you, as matter of fact, a tip of the hat too.

Cheers, Rodney

[Lou Barron]

We in NZ at the age of over75 we all have a gold card that gives a lot of discounts in a lot of places also in Dunedin we get free parking in all the DCC parking places .
Some of the people would not know what the MN badge means

[j.sabourn]

Keith at Tregana... Your post on the new 2 pound coin on issue re RN, wont open on my computer even though see you have put up twice. Perhaps the Royal Mint made a mistake to upgrade it from the normal shilling and are trying to blank out all info. on same Cheers JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

Keith at Tregana... Your post on the new 2 pound coin on issue re RN, wont open on my computer even though see you have put up twice. Perhaps the Royal Mint made a mistake to upgrade it from the normal shilling and are trying to blank out all info. on same Cheers JS

John the information is in another post, basically it is a coin which celebrates the RN's role in WW1 and how they transported all the troops to France, no mention is made of the MN troop ships, or the MN freighters which carried the horses and equipment, tanks etc etc or about all the MN personnel who died in such landings etc, history again writing us from the scene