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Our Mission
To advocate with purpose and passion for Florida veterans and link them to superior services, benefits and support.
Welcome to a special Veterans Day edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter.
It is difficult to believe autumn is in the air when another Tropical Storm is threatening Florida. Please keep an eye on Tropical Storm Eta as it approaches the Florida Keys this weekend and perhaps the Gulf of Mexico at the beginning of next week. Veterans Day week could be a soggy one for many Floridians.
Tuesday is the 245th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. To my fellow Marine Corps veterans, Semper Fi!
Wednesday is Veterans Day, when all Americans honor our courageous men and women who have honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Most parades have been cancelled this year due to COVID-19, and most ceremonies have become virtual events. However, our patriotism has not diminished and we proudly honor our 1.5 million veterans who have made Florida the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.
Be on the lookout for information regarding our virtual induction ceremony for the Class of 2020 from the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame. We’ll launch the pre-taped ceremony with many prominent guest speakers on Veterans Day at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on our social media platforms and YouTube Channel.
As we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday later this month, I want to again thank our home administrators and health care professionals who have been providing loving care to our residents under the most difficult of conditions. They are making a difference in the lives of our veterans.
We continue to connect veterans and their families with earned services, benefits and support. 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.
In addition, 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.
Happy Veterans Day.
Forward March!
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FDVA Deputy Executive Director and Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James S. "Hammer " Hartsell will deliver a Veterans Day keynote address, streamed live on the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/VABayPines beginning Wednesday at 11 a.m.
TALLAHASSEE – Amendment 6, which helps spouses of older combat veterans with service connected disabilities retain their earned property tax discount upon the passing of the veteran, has passed with nearly 90 percent of the vote. More than nine million voters approved the state constitutional amendment, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2021.
From the ballot summary:
“Provides that the homestead property tax discount for certain veterans with permanent combat-related disabilities carries over to such veteran’s surviving spouse who holds legal or beneficial title to, and who permanently resides on, the homestead property, until he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. The discount may be transferred to a new homestead property of the surviving spouse under certain conditions.”
By Jeanne Casey, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Hospital Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ─ Naval Hospital Jacksonville and North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have partnered to provide inpatient care to veterans at the naval hospital.
The partnership provides an additional option for veterans and their physicians, when an overnight stay at the hospital is needed. It also makes efficient use of inpatient capacity at NH Jacksonville, and supports NH Jacksonville clinicians in maintaining their advanced skills by treating higher-acuity patients.
In the past, local veterans enrolled in VA health care traveled to Gainesville or Lake City VA Medical Centers for inpatient stays, or were admitted to private-sector hospitals in Jacksonville. Now, veterans’ physicians have the option to admit and medically transport veterans to NH Jacksonville for an overnight stay when medically appropriate and capacity exists. Click here to read more: https://bit.ly/361yqug
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Deputy Executive Director James S. “Hammer” Hartsell presents a new FDVA Challenge Coin to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie during the secretary’s visit to VA health care facilities in Tampa, Oct. 22. With 1.5 million veterans, FDVA and VA partner to connect veterans and their families with earned services, benefits and support.
The Florida Health Care Association named Reina Beck, a licensed practical nurse and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, LPN of the Year during a special Oct. 23 ZOOM meeting in her honor. Beck, an Army veteran, has been serving veterans at the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port Charlotte since 2015. Her family and colleagues joined her on the surprise call.
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All Veterans are invited to the Lake City VA Medical Center drive-through celebration. It will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. This is an opportunity for VA staff members to celebrate and recognize Veterans who represent over a century of selfless sacrifices in assuring our American way of life.
The event will take place at 619 S Marion Ave, Lake City, FL 32025. Veterans will enter the medical center on the Winn Dixie side entrance and proceed to the front of the medical center, continue on, and exit near the emergency room entrance off of Baya (South to North flow). As Veterans drive through, VA staff will welcome and thank Veterans for their service.
Veterans will briefly pause to be presented with Veterans Day pins, flags, and certificates. When driving through to receive the Veterans Day pin and gifts, we request that you wear a mask for the protection of our staff.
TALLAHASSEE – Volunteer Florida announced Oct. 30 that $60,000 in Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant funding has been awarded to three nonprofit organizations to help Florida veterans.
Volunteer Florida's VGF program, which is funded by the federal agency, AmeriCorps, helps organizations recruit skills-based volunteers to serve Florida students, families and communities.
Skills-based volunteerism expands the impact of organizations by leveraging the experience and talents of professionals, such as teachers, IT consultants, accountants and attorneys. “Skills-based volunteers are an integral part of many nonprofits as they help extend the reach and capacity of organizations to meet their missions,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram. “Since 2014, Volunteer Florida has been able to empower 50,943 skills-based volunteers to serve 746,487 hours, a value of nearly $17 million to the State of Florida, through the VGF program.”
The following organizations received VGF funding to help veterans for the 2020-2021 program year:
Big Bend Hospice Foundation, Inc. ($20,000) – Leon County
Big Bend Hospice will recruit 450 volunteers who will conduct Valor Ceremonies to honor the organization’s veteran patients.
Florida Veterans Foundation ($20,000) – Leon County
Florida Veterans Foundation will recruit 400 volunteers who will provide a variety of services to veterans and their family members throughout Florida.
Operation New Uniform ($20,000) – Duval County
Operation New Uniform will recruit 400 volunteers who will provide critical work to the veteran community in northeast Florida.
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Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
October 28, 2020
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jaguars President Mark Lamping joined Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry at a press conference today inside City Hall to announce the 2020 recipients of the Jacksonville Resource and Reintegration Center community grants. The Jaguars Foundation and the City of Jacksonville's Military Affairs and Veterans Department awarded $57,500 to military and veteran-serving organizations throughout the community.
"Today's grant recipients play a key role in keeping our nation strong by caring for its greatest defenders," said Jaguars President Mark Lamping. "The Jaguars are honored to support these organizations and their programming, be it residential services, financial assistance, mental health and even canine outreach. Their hard work is key to caring for our military, veterans and their families across the First Coast."
Grants were provided to the following nine organizations:
- Five Star Veterans Center - Provides residential services for veterans.
- Florida National Guard Foundation - Offers financial assistance for Guard members and their families.
- K9s for Warriors - Supports the expansion of warrior and service dog training program.
- Northeast Florida Women Veterans - Provides emergency services to women veterans.
- Operation New Uniform - Provides training for transitioning veterans.
- Operation Barnabas - Offers hardship fund support for veterans.
- Veterans Council of St. Johns County - Provides emergency assistance to veterans.
- United Way – Supports operating expenses for the Mission United Launch.
- Yoga 4 Change – Provides trauma-informed yoga for veterans.
Click here to read more: https://bit.ly/388HAb6
Many veteran-related events scheduled for November will be virtual. To see a list of virtual Veterans Day events click here: https://bit.ly/2GDZmaW
In addition restaurants, retail stores and businesses across America show their gratitude by providing special deals for Veterans and their families. For a list of participating organizations click here: https://bit.ly/354sNwg
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