Dear Sgt. Shaft:

Education benefits for military personnel and veterans have long been a top priority for the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA). While our members welcome the news that their Montgomery GI Bill benefits may be transferable to family members, there are also concerns.

In the rush to fund and implement President Bush's proposal allowing family members access to service members' Montgomery GI Bill benefits, Congress must also remember the thousands of men and women currently serving who are not eligible for this important benefit. These deserving service members were offered enrollment in the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP), which many military advisers did not promote because of its limited benefits. Later, VEAP was replaced by the more generous Montgomery GI Bill. Unfortunately, those who had not enrolled in VEAP were unable to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill.

FRA has consistently advocated additional enrollment opportunities for this segment of the military population, most recently in Feb. 7 testimony before the House Armed Services subcommittee on military personnel. We strongly support House Resolution 4130 introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg, Michigan Republican, to offer these service members another chance to enroll. The association also supports efforts to increase Montgomery GI Bill benefits to more accurately reflect the costs of a four-year college education and enhance benefits for those in the reserves.

These requests have made little progress in recent years, largely because of cost concerns. It is ironic that legislative wheels are already in motion to make the benefit transferable before cost analysis is complete.

FRA strongly urges Congress to remember currently serving VEAP-era personnel who are not authorized to enroll in the Montgomery GI Bill as they debate proposals to transfer these important benefits to spouses and children. We also invite your readers to visit the Action Center at www.fra.org, where they can send letters of support for H.R. 4130.

Sincerely,
Joseph L. Barnes

Dear Joe:

I agree with you that the administration and Congress should ensure "that no vet should be left behind." It is also important that Congress investigate our federal- and state-funded nonprofit academic institutions, especially in light of their escalating rates of tuition as their endowments blossom.

Shaft notes:

I am proud to announce that my grandson, Ben, will be part of the Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers, which will tour the District in July as part of the Pueri Cantores American Festival and will perform at places of national and historical interest in addition to local churches. Pending venues include the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, St. Bernadette Church in Silver Spring and Holy Redeemer Church in Kensington.

The group will participate in an unprecedented gathering of parish and school choirs for a grand celebration on the Fourth of July weekend. The Pueri Cantores American Festival will bring together Catholic youth choirs from across the country on the Mall for a patriotic July Fourth concert.

The dates of the tour are June 28 to July 7. For more information about the tour, to schedule a performance or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Ashish Vazirani, board member and tour coordinator, at 301/351-1856 or avazirani@ market-bridge.com; or Steven Meyer, music director, at 510/887-4311 or ggbcbr@aol.com.

The Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers gives school-age boys in the San Francisco Bay Area an outstanding opportunity to develop their talent and general music-appreciation skills through a graduated and thorough course of musical study.

It teaches a wide repertoire, vocal skills and knowledge of music theory. Members learn teamwork, independence, leadership and cultural appreciation.

• Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax 301/622-3330; call 202/257-5446; or e-mail sgtshaft@bavf.org.