IN THE NEWS

For Paul Blohm, a veteran of the 4th Infantry Division and the National Guard, the ninth annual Memorial Day Hike by SRQ Vets was an opportunity for veterans to join together — but it was a camaraderie with a noble purpose.

“Today is about remembering the fallen obviously, but to be able to come together and do that means even more," he said. "It almost feels like we need to get back together, because we've spread out, and now this is one of them times we get to concentrate, and heal, and remember the fallen."

It is a Department of Defense document identified by two letters and three numbers that spells delay and denial if you need yours but cannot find it.

Don Fowler, 85, has vivid memories of his time in the Army Reserves during the Vietnam War era. But he is among many veterans across Florida and the country who do not have copies of their DD-214 discharge paperwork to prove they served.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 25th St. in Newtown at 5 p.m. on Monday to celebrate the first ever veterans housing project in Sarasota.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation with the help of partners and generous donations are the ones bringing 10 rental units to help low-income veterans.

William “Bill” Sterbinsky, Esq., is a dedicated advocate for veterans and a passionate legal professional. Hailing from the sunshine state of Florida, Bill’s journey into a life of service began at the age of 18 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Over the course of four years, from 2003 to 2007, 

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — A Tampa Bay area attorney has witnessed the impact of “unwarranted reexaminations” revealed by a VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation.

Reexaminations are ordered after initial exams in some U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims cases. According to an OIG report, the second follow-up exams were often “unwarranted” and costly to taxpayers.

USMC Veteran, William Anthony (Bill Sterbinsky) of SRQ Vets is the real deal. He's a doer, not a talker. Bill talks a little bit about where he came from.

ARLINGTON, Va.— On the heels of the fifth anniversary of the VA MISSION Act being signed into law, Concerned Veterans for America Foundation (CVAF) resurrected information contained in a website shut down by the VA that explains veterans’ community care options.

A retired combat Marine who now represents veterans fighting for VA benefits called the results revealed in a federal investigation into the agency’s claims process “atrocious.” As Operation Iraqi Freedom exploded 7,000 miles from Florida, Sarasota’s Bill Sterbinsky enlisted with the Marines after the 9/11 attacks, and he fought in Iraq from 2006 to 2007.

“We want to make sure that them up there see us living down here,” said Bill Sterbinsky, co-founder of SRQ Vets.

“We don’t treat it like a depressing day. We treat it like how they would want us to treat it. That’s the reason that people give their lives is so the rest of us can continue forward," said Eddie Dorman, Commander of Post 3233.

There are many different events here on the Suncoast honoring our veterans this Memorial Day weekend. One of those events taking place was at Sarasota National Cemetery, the other taking place around the downtown Sarasota area.

U.S. Marine veteran Bill Sterbinsky was exposed to burn piles, where waste is disposed of, daily during his time in Iraq from 2006-2007. While he hasn’t experienced any symptoms, he signed up on the burn pit registry and has lost comrades to illnesses believed to be from burn pit exposure.

“I remember … seeing people jumping around and saying things and yelling. And I remember walking into a small dressing room, and this itty-bitty TV was on, and the [twin] towers were up there. One was burning, and we saw the second bird hit the second building.