Here are the top stories for the week of Nov. 30, 2020, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:

VA to Outsource All Compensation, Pension Exams

Veterans Affairs compensation and pension exams will be completely outsourced, according to Military Times. The exams are “a key part of the process for veterans to receive disability benefits.” The Under Secretary for Benefits, Paul Lawrence, told Military Times, “Right now, contractors are already doing the bulk of them. We think the value of having contractors available to do them is flexibility and the ability to surge.” Some lawmakers have voiced concerns over this move, despite the VA’s belief that it will be a service improvement for veterans.

National Parks Free for Veterans, Gold Star Families

“The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that military veterans and Gold Star families will be granted a lifetime access to national parks, wildlife refuges, and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior,” according to NPR.org. An annual pass typically costs $80 and will grant access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. In order to qualify, veterans must provide documentation showing that they served in the military, to include the National Guard and Reserves.

Naval Ship Named After Medal of Honor Recipient

The U.S. Navy announced that Expeditionary Sea Base-6, also referred to as ESB-6, will be renamed after Medal of Honor Recipient, Marine Corps Sergeant Major (Retired) John L. Canley. Canley served during Vietnam where, when his commanding officer was wounded, he led his company to Hue City, which included multiple attacks against enemy-fortified positions, being wounded himself, and carrying wounded Marines to safety. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and courage in 2018, and now, the naval ship will be named in his honor.

“ESP vessels will deploy Marines of the future carrying the name of Marines of the past,” said Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite. “They are leaders who truly embody our core values of honor, courage, and commitment, and the future crew of USS John L. Canley, both sailors and Marines, will carry on his legacy, character, and professionalism throughout the lifespan of this vessel.”

This Week in History

On the evening of Dec. 1, 1955, seamstress Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. A 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system followed and led to a Supreme Court ruling, banning segregation on public transportation. Rosa Parks is considered the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” and following the boycott, Rosa and her husband, Raymond, moved to Detroit where she worked for Congressman John Conyers for more than 20 years. Rosa Parks was awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom in 1996 and the Rosa Parks Peace Prize in 1994.