55°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

Survivors’ Handbook helping Pahrump veterans and their families

The moment when a loved one passes away is the last in which residents will want to struggle to gather all of the information and documentation necessary to deal with the death.

However, for those who do not prepare beforehand, this is an unfortunate reality. When the loved one was a U.S. veteran, matters can become even more complicated.

For this reason, military members have come together to provide veteran families with a valuable tool that can help ease the strife following a loss. The Survivors’ Handbook is available absolutely free of charge to anyone wishing to brace themselves for the inevitable, preventing the compounding of grief that can be caused by a lack of preparedness.

The Survivors’ Handbook was produced by the Veterans Transition Resource Center North Las Vegas and compiled by Richard D. Keirn, a veteran, and members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #730 out of Henderson. Through his connections with valley veteran Dr. Tom Waters and others in the Pahrump community, Keirn is helping make this handbook available to local residents.

“They are grieving at that time, they are already in an emotional tailspin and then to have to try to figure, what do I do? This is the reason that we try to encourage veterans to put it together before anything happens, so their family doesn’t have to worry about that,” Waters said in an interview. “And it’s not to say people can’t use this after a death, because there are some families that have. But the ones who take care of it, their families are much better off when the time comes.”

The Survivors Handbook contains comprehensive information and is comprised of 16 separate sections outlining topics such as key documents to keep on hand, death notification checklist, VA death benefits and service, what to do when a veteran passes away and much more.

Waters detailed his own preparations, noting that his Survivors’ Handbook has been filled out, with his driver’s license, social security number, discharge and DD214 paperwork attached, his service information, such as years of service and even household information such as bank account numbers and a list of the monthly bills.

“It’s got anything that my wife will need to know and anything the service officer will need to put everything together for her,” Waters said. “It helps these family members obtain benefits and provides contact numbers for all those entities they need to contact after a death.”

Copies of the pamphlet can be obtained in a variety of ways. Veterans and their families can stop by the Pahrump VA Clinic to pick up a handbook and for veterans organizations wishing to distribute the pamphlets themselves, digital copies can be requested via email at richard.keirn@yahoo.com.

Hard copies can be requested over the phone at 702-419-6869 or via U.S. mail at 34 Tanglewood Drive, Henderson, NV, 89012. Once a copy has been received, the handbook can be reproduced for distribution.

The cost to print the Survivors’ Handbooks that are being handed out in the Pahrump area was covered by the generous contribution of local residents Nye County Commissioner John Koenig, Nevada Assemblyman James Oscarson and former Nye County Commissioner Frank Carbone.

“We have quite a few available and as soon as we get low on them, I’ll be working to get more of them printed. I definitely want to recognize those three for helping with this,” Waters stated.

Contact reporter Robin Hebrock at rhebrock@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Beatty Clinic gets tons of help with new a/c

BEATTY — The Beatty Foundation, an affiliate of AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA), did tons of good at the Beatty Clinic on March 22. Nine tons, exactly.

11th Annual Chili Cook-Off brings tempting tastings and festival fun

The 11th Annual International Chili Society and Silver State Chili Cook-Off took over Petrack Park this past weekend for three days filled with savory tastings, fun and activities and of course, some intense culinary competition.

Pahrump homeschoolers dance the night away

Pahrump Valley’s homeschool youth were whisked away into the Enchanted Forest this month, with local Moose Lodge #808 hosting a night of dancing and revelry in honor of an age-old adolescent right-of-passage, prom.

Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.