MVA VSO’s continue to serve the LA County veteran community.

During the month of March:

• Over 1,260 veterans were served at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall (does not include MVA field offices).
• 2,209 claims were filed
• $445,225 was awarded in lump-sum amounts  (Source: Vet Pro).

MVA welcomes Ms. Josie Benford who recently joined the U.S. VETS Women Vets on Point (WVOP) program as a case manager at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall. Josie is an Army Veteran who was born in Gadsden, Alabama, but raised in South Central Los Angeles. She served 15 years in the Army, completing many deployments including two tours in Iraq.

Josie joined WVOP for the opportunity to help and support women Veterans. She hopes to accurately inform Veterans of resources that are available and to remind them that their military service is just as valuable as that of male veterans.  Josie hopes to create an environment that supports healing for all Veterans and to reassure them that they are not alone. She currently lives in Long Beach with her son Jason.

"Please join MVA in welcoming Ms. Josie Benford to Bob Hope Patriotic Hall. WVOP provides world class services and support to our growing women veteran community here in Los Angeles County and we couldn’t be more excited to have her working with veterans with us at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall!" - MVA Director, Jim Zenner.

More information about the program can be found at: https://womenvetsonpoint.org.

MVA partnered with the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative (LAVC) for a formal dinner on the night of Wednesday, March 29th, at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall  to honor the service and sacrifice made by the nearly 3 million U.S. military service members who served in Vietnam. 

With over 100 veterans and family members in attendance, several speakers shared moving accounts of their war time experience in Vietnam to include the he most profound and enduring tragedy of the disgraceful response they received upon arriving home. Speakers included USMC veteran, Stephen Peck of U.S. VETS; USAF veteran, Chief Master Sergeant Jason Young; USA veteran, Shad Meshad of the National Veterans Foundation; USN veteran, Phyllis T. Miller of the Veterans Arts Venue; USA veteran, Associate Justice Eileen Moore; and USA veteran, Tucker Smallwood, American actor, author, and vocalist.

In recognition of the thousands of American troops who served in Vietnam 50 years ago, the numerous more who suffered countless injuries, and many others who never returned, we honor these brave men and women for their efforts to keep this country safe. Such treatment must never happen to our service personnel again and as such, MVA will honor these Vietnam veterans with an annual commemorative formal dinner to perpetually recognize their outstanding service and sacrifice. 

MVA brings a sense of patriotic pride back Bob Hope Patriotic Hall by returning its flags to the exterior of the front of the building stationed just outside the fourth-floor windows.

The flags (American, California State, and County of Los Angeles) were removed prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 when the building was closed down to decrease the risk of the spread of the disease.

Building staff has taken precautions to ensure the flags will not entangle or flip around while on display. 

"We are thrilled to have the flags flown high at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall once again. May they remain a salute to all veterans for their service and sacrifice for this country." - MVA Director, Jim Zenner