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Our Mission
To advocate with purpose and passion for Florida veterans and link them to superior services, benefits and support.
From Deputy Executive Director Maj. Gen. James S. “Hammer” Hartsell:
Welcome to the September 2020 edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter
September was an eventful month. Hurricane Sally surprised many of us by its strength in the Florida Panhandle. Fortunately, our veteran community did well and all VA Outpatient Clinics and teleworking FDVA Veterans’ Claims Examiners are open again for business.
We celebrated the 73rd birthday of the U.S. Air Force, commemorated POW/MIA Recognition Day, and welcomed 20 new inductees into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame. We also spent the month focused with others on veteran suicide prevention efforts during Florida Veteran Suicide Prevention Month.
At home, the men and women of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs continue to connect veterans and their families with earned services, benefits and support. In addition to around-the-clock skilled nursing operations at our seven state veterans’ homes, our teleworking outreach specialists are helping veterans at no charge with both routine and complex requests for assistance.
If you need help, please send an email to VSO@fdva.state.fl.us or call (727) 319-7440 and our team will return your call within 24 hours. We’re here for you.
Our long-awaited reunion of family members and veterans’ home residents took place this month as more than 120 essential caregivers in several of our state veterans’ homes were reunited following more than six months of visit restrictions imposed on Florida’s nursing home community by COVID-19.
Our veterans’ home administrators and health care professionals have been working diligently behind the scenes to help make these visits a reality and I’m proud of their efforts. More visits are scheduled in the coming days and weeks.
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest information on how we’re preventing the spread of COVID-19. Please share with your friends and family.
I’ll close by reminding everyone that Sunday is Gold Star Family Day in Florida. Never forget!
Forward March!
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Florida joins President’s Roadmap to Combat Veteran Suicides
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has lent his signature to the Florida Veteran Suicide Prevention Month Proclamation, highlighting the state’s involvement with the nation’s comprehensive suicide prevention effort known as PREVENTS. For more information, click on the news release: https://bit.ly/3icNGt8
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott applauded the Senate passage of legislation to name a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in St. Johns County after Private First Class Leo C. Chase, Jr., the first man from St. Johns County to be killed in the Vietnam War.
This new VA outpatient clinic is located at 207 Stratton Road, St. Augustine, Florida, and, if signed by the President, would be designated as the “Leo C. Chase, Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.’’ Rubio introduced this legislation in May 2019 alongside Representatives John Rutherford and Michael Waltz, who introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives, which was passed earlier this week. The bill now heads to President Trump for signature.
Army Private First Class Leo C. Chase, Jr. was killed on Nov. 15, 1965 in the Ia Drang battle dramatized in the book and film, We Were Soldiers.
Chase was a rifleman in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry. He flew into landing zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley of South Vietnam, near the Cambodian border. The helicopter troops were immediately attacked by thousands of soldiers of the 320th, 33rd, and 66th regiments of the North Vietnamese Army in a battle that lasted four days. Outnumbered nearly ten to one, Chase and the other members of his platoon bravely repulsed many massive ground assaults from the Viet Cong, all the while taking fire from enemy snipers.
In the end, Chase and many other members of his platoon lost their lives, but not without accomplishing their objective. The American lines held because of the courage and sheer determination of the Seventh Cavalry.
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The incoming class of 2020 was unanimously approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet. View the list of inductees at https://bit.ly/3kAVkhR. |
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VA supports Veterans at risk of suicide due to homelessness
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it recently awarded $1.3 million in grants to eleven regional homelessness nonprofit organizations to suicide prevention services for Veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. For more information, click on the news release: https://bit.ly/2ROv7jk
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Get your Flu Shot Today
During flu season, protecting your health with a flu shot is easier than ever. To read more on locations to receive the flu shot, click here: https://bit.ly/35VRrjx
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VA to prevent and end Veteran homelessness in North Florida
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will award five community organizations totaling approximately $4.5 million under the Grant Per Diem (GPD) program. To view the community organizations, click here: https://bit.ly/32N1a9O
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TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a proclamation commemorating Sept. 27, 2020 as Gold Star Family Day in Florida. Florida owes a lasting debt of gratitude to those who gave their lives in service to our nation.
The Honor and Remember Flag is flown on Gold Star Family Day in Florida to embody the respect and gratitude we have for our fallen heroes and Gold Star Families. View the proclamation at https://bit.ly/2FXE2MM.
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The VA Sunshine Healthcare Network has made the implementation of Whole Health a major strategic priority over the last two years with the investment of millions of dollars to hire staff, deliver standardized training, and ultimately change the way care is delivered within the Patient Aligned Care Team model. To view the video click here. https://bit.ly/3mMCdmV |
Veterans Florida, a non-profit created by the State of Florida to help military veterans transition to civilian life and promote Florida’s status as the nation’s most veteran-friendly state, has partnered with St. Pete-based JULO Strategy to facilitate the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program. Click here to read their strategy: https://www.julostrategy.com/ceo-mindset/
Active-duty military family members, retirees and their family members will get new ID cards as they renew or replace their IDs over the next five years. It will be similar to the common access card used by military personnel and DOD civilian personnel, without the chip. Unless your ID card is about to expire, there is no need to rush to get the new card, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read more.
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The COVID-19 Veterans Legal Clinic provides free legal services to veterans on civil matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the areas of housing, consumer, stimulus check assistance, unemployment compensation benefits and SNAP benefits. Click here to read more on their services: https://fla.st/3mAwb8R.
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State Senator Tom A. Wright was recently awarded the Maj. Gen. Ronald O. Harrison Distinguished Service Award from the National Guard Association of Florida. The award is presented annually to an individual who has offered exceptionally outstanding service and contributions over an extended period of time to the Florida Army or Air National Guard. The award was created in 2003 to honor Maj. Gen. Ronald O. Harrison, who served as Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard from 1992 to 2001.
Dr. Richard Davidson has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Davidson has also agreed to forfeit $2,472,087 to the United States, which represents the proceeds he obtained through the commission of the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Click here to read more: https://rb.gy/zxxgfg
OCALA, Fla. – Miller Wilson Jr., his daughter, Myoshi Wilson, and Erica Wilson have each pleaded guilty for their roles in a scheme to defraud U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care benefits.
Miller Wilson Jr. pleaded guilty Aug. 26 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and solicitation and receipt of a health care kickback. He faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy charge, and up to 10 years in federal prison for the kickback offense. On March 5, 2020, Erica Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. She faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment. Myoshi Wilson had pleaded guilty on Feb. 18, 2020, to making false statements to law enforcement. She faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment. All three defendants will be sentenced on Oct. 6, 2020. Find more information on this story, by click the following link: https://bit.ly/3hW39wF
Chief U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday sentenced Samuel Friedman of Land O lakes to four years in federal prison for health care fraud. The court also ordered Friedman to forfeit his interests in real property as well as a bank account containing nearly $475,000, which were traceable to proceeds of the offense. Restitution was ordered in the amount of $3.42 million. Click here to read more: https://rb.gy/qz8o6g.
Many veteran-related events scheduled for October have been cancelled or postponed. Consult your local news for specific closures and announcements.
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