THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 5, 1995 TAG: 9507050057
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICHARD GRIMES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Q. My husband, a retired Marine, died in 1991. Someone told me that military retiree widows can purchase homes using their husband's VA eligibility certificates. Is this true? How would I go about having my husband's certificate transferred to me?
A. As a rule, the widows of retirees are not eligible to transfer their husband's VA eligibility certificates.
In some cases, however, it is possible. If your husband died ``as a result of an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by service in the line of duty,'' then you may be eligible to make that transfer. For more information, call the VA hot line at 1-800-827-1000.
Q. In your last column, you stated that the wives of Wasp sailors were allowed to attend a Tiger cruise on June 16 and 17. As a Wasp wife, I know that's not true. The wives of the Whidbey Island sailors were invited on a Tiger cruise, but we were not. Where did you get your information?
A. Permission was given to the Wasp, Whidbey Island and Shreveport to hold a guest cruise on June 15. Faced with the short notice, the Wasp decided that two days would not be enough time to organize the cruise and did not extend an invitation to its family members.
Why did the Wasp balk while the other two ships went ahead? Officials point out that the Wasp has about 1,100 crew members while the Whidbey Island and the Shreveport have about 450 and 300, respectively.
Logistically, the Wasp would have needed to prepare for twice as many people - a daunting task with less than two days' notice.
If you're interested in more information about these cruises, contact your command ombudsman.
Q. Why does it stink on Shore Drive next to Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base? Is it something on the base?
A. Nope. That robust aroma comes to us courtesy of the Chesapeake-Elizabeth Wastewater Treatment Plant, one of several plants the Hampton Roads Sanitation District manages.
In its defense, the plant has been located there for about 25 years. People moved next to it, not the other way around. Still, the plant has spent a great deal of money to contain the smell and has yet another smell-containment plan on the drawing board.
Sometimes it's a tough odor to deal with, but you have to look at it this way: They don't make the wastewater - we do.
If you have any questions you can contact the Hampton Roads Sanitation District at 464-6448. MEMO: Hot Line runs every other week. To submit your questions, see the
INFOLINE box at left.
by CNB