TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet voted unanimously to induct 10 Veterans into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame. The names for the Class of 2022 were presented for a formal vote during the Aug. 23 Cabinet Meeting by FDVA Executive Director James S. “Hammer” Hartsell.
The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those military Veterans who, through their works and lives during or after military service, have made a significant contribution to the State of Florida through civic, business, public service or other pursuits. The hall of fame focuses on post-military contributions to the State of Florida.
“It was my honor to endorse and submit the names of these 10 distinguished Veterans for inclusion in the Hall of Fame,” said Hartsell, a retired Marine Corps Major General. “These former service members join nine previous classes in representing the best of our Veteran community and we look forward to honoring them in person later this year. Honoring our distinguished inductees each year helps reinforce Florida as the most veteran sought after state in the nation.”
The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council met earlier this year to review and select nominees submitted from the general public. Following a formal report and audit, the results were transmitted to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which submits the nominations to the Governor and Cabinet. The Aug. 23 vote formally approves the selection.
The Class of 2022 is the 10th class to enter the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame.
Inductees include:
Mike Bousher, U.S. Army Veteran - Palm Harbor
Jeffery Cathey, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret) – Tampa
Anthony D’Aleo, U.S. Army Veteran - Jacksonville
John Gionet, Sergeant Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret) - Orlando
Greg Holder, Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Ret) - Tampa
Don Lanman, U.S. Army Veteran - Rivera Beach
John Leslie, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret) - St. Augustine
Gordon Lightfoot, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran - Tallahassee
Maxine Reyes, Captain, U.S. Army (Ret) – Tampa
Glenn Sutphin, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret) - Tallahassee
TALLAHASSEE - Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Executive Director James S. “Hammer” Hartsell was elected senior vice president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA) during their annual training conference, Aug. 15.
NASDVA was founded in 1946 to bring together the state directors of veterans’ affairs from all 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia to promote and encourage communication, discussion, as well as action to effectively provide the best services and benefits for America’s more than 18 million Veterans.
In his new role, Executive Director Hartsell will support the newly elected president of NASDVA in providing executive leadership to the 76-year-old association during 2022-2023. He is scheduled to assume the presidency of the association during the 2023 annual training conference in August 2023.
FDVA State Women Veterans’ Coordinator Vanessa Thomas was elected vice president of the National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators during their annual conference, Aug. 22-25 in Alexandria, Va. The association advocates for women Veterans, identifies barriers to successful transition of women Veterans and military women to the civilian community, and recommends solutions through legislative, programmatic and outreach activities.
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The 2022 Veterans Florida Expo held June 17-18 featured 28 speakers, 37 career fair employers, 15 exhibitors, and awarded $17.5 thousand to Veteran entrepreneurs in its largest-ever statewide Battle of the Pitches. Catch the highlights, view the expert panels, and see which Veteran-owned business came out on top by viewing their series of YouTube videos here.
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TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Aug. 11 the launch of a new webpage to help recruit qualified military Veterans to join schools across the state. The State Board of Education passed a rule Aug. 17 to formally implement a program for veterans to receive a five-year temporary education certificate while they finish their bachelor’s degree, provided they meet certain criteria. The rule implements SB 896, which Governor DeSantis signed earlier this year after it received unanimous bipartisan support throughout the 2022 Session.
“Florida is the most Veteran- and military friendly state in the nation,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “We also know that our Veterans have talents and skills that they can offer our students. This new opportunity expands Florida’s existing programs that help our Veterans take their talents to our schools, and it will help Florida remain a national leader in education.”
To learn more about the program, visit www.fldoe.org/veterans. To watch a video of Governor DeSantis discussing the program, click here.
Military Veterans Certification Pathway
The State Board of Education rule allows military Veterans to obtain a 5-year temporary teaching certificate without a bachelor’s degree, providing the following criteria are met:
- Minimum of 48 months of military service with an honorable/medical discharge;
- Minimum of 60 college credits with a 2.5 grade point average;
- Passing score on a Florida subject area examination;
- Employment in a Florida school district, including charter schools; and
- Cleared background screening.
Per SB 896 (2022), which unanimously passed the Florida House and Senate, Veterans who successfully obtain their 5-year temporary teaching certificate will be assigned a mentor teacher for a minimum of two years to support their classroom teaching endeavors. They must also earn their bachelor’s degree during the 5-year period to be eligible for a full professional certificate. Veterans utilizing this temporary certificate may not teach subject areas that require a master’s degree.
The temporary certificate cannot be renewed once it expires, nor does it apply to military spouses or families.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Aug. 16 three proposals for the 2023 Legislative Session that will help support and grow Florida’s teaching workforce and leverage the talents of Florida’s retired Veterans and first responders. The proposals include a recruitment initiative targeted to bring retired first responders and retired Veterans to the classroom through fee waivers and bonuses; an apprenticeship program that provides bonuses to teachers for mentoring aspiring teachers with an associate’s degree to gain hands-on teaching experience; and a scholarship program for K-12 teachers interested in teaching dual enrollment courses on high school campuses. To read more on the new initiatives click here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Biden signed into law Aug. 10 new legislation that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. Known as the PACT Act, the legislation empowers the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide much-needed benefits and care to millions of Veterans who were exposed to toxic substances and other military environmental hazards while fighting for our country.
“The PACT Act is a historic new law that will help VA deliver for millions of Veterans — and their survivors — by empowering us to presumptively provide care and benefits to Vets suffering from more than 20 toxic exposure-related conditions,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “It will also bring generations of Veterans into VA health care, which will improve Veteran health outcomes across the board. As President Biden announced at the bill signing, we are making all 23 presumptive conditions in the PACT Act eligible for benefits effective today, Aug. 10.”
The PACT Act will:
- Empower VA to deliver benefits to Veterans living with more than 20 toxic exposure-related conditions and to their survivors;
- Make generations of Veterans eligible for VA health care, while increasing care for many more;
- Ensure that every enrolled Veteran receives an initial toxic exposure screening at VA and follow-up screening at least every five years;
- Increase VA research on toxic exposure;
- Give VA tools to hire and retain employees and modernize over 30 facilities; and
- Solidify VA’s new, expedited process for establishing presumptions of service connection for toxic exposure-related conditions.
Learn more about the PACT Act by visiting www.VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-411.
TALLAHASSEE - Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried named Samantha DeArmond as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Veteran of the Month for August 2022. Commissioner Fried recognized DeArmond in absentia, who served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic in Afghanistan, during the Aug. 23 meeting of the Florida Cabinet, which she was unable to attend in person as she began classes that week at the University of South Florida. To read more on the Veteran of the Month, click here.
TAMPA, Fla. - James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Clinics (JAHVH) is celebrating 50 years of serving Veterans in the greater Tampa Bay area. Tampa VA Medical Center opened in August 1972 with the goal to become an integral part of the Tampa community. The hospital was renamed in 1978 in honor of 12-term Congressman and World War I Army Veteran James A. Haley.
Today, JAHVH is one of the largest and most complex hospitals in the VA Health Administration network. JAHVH, which has one of five Polytrauma Centers within the VA system, provides care for nearly 125,000 Veterans in Citrus, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Polk counties. The 6,400 employees facilitate 2.1 million outpatient visits annually.
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is now admitting residents to the Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans' Nursing Home in Orlando. Here's FDVA Executive Director James S. “Hammer” Hartsell and members of his leadership team with the first resident, a Marine Corps Veteran. For admission information, click here.
Administrators from Florida’s nine state veterans’ homes were in Orlando earlier this month as part of the annual conference and trade show of the Florida Health Care Association, where they shared best practices and honored health care heroes. At the conference, the Emerald Coast Rotary Club was honored for their work with the residents and staff of the Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Panama City.
World War II U.S. Navy Veteran Stephen A. Nemeth, seen here about to cut his celebratory cake at American Legion Post 10 in Kissimmee, was honored July 28 by Consul General Vincent Floreani with the French Legion of Honor. Nemeth supported the D-Day invasion and subsequent operations during the war. France, through the Consulate General of France in Miami, has recognized more than 1,600 American World War II Veterans in Florida and Puerto Rico since 2008.
The Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie is the recipient of the Engineering News-Record Southeast’s Best Project, Government/Public Building award for 2022. The award, announced Aug. 8, recognizes construction projects that stood out for challenges they faced and how those were overcome, and for innovative ideas and outstanding quality of work.
The Florida Veterans Foundation announces that Mrs. Chuck Yeager will serve in person as the honorary chair of the Leatherneck Scramble Golf Tournament on Nov. 14 at the Southwood Golf Club in Tallahassee. The annual tournament, which honors heroes and supports Veterans in need, will also celebrate the 75th Anniversary of General Yeager’s breaking of the sound barrier as part of this year’s activities.
Participation packages are available on www.BirdiesforVeterans.com. If you cannot play, you can still make a difference and donate. For more information, and to donate auction or raffle items, contact Tournament Director Lew Wilson at (850) 590-3830 or email Lew@HelpFLVets.org. Proceeds support the Florida Veterans Foundation, General Chuck Yeager Legacy Foundation and the Tallahassee Marine Corps League.
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The free App is a quick and easy way to access earned benefit information, look for available jobs, and connect yourself to the latest veterans’ news. Download by visiting https://app.floridavets.org
We’re looking for you! With a 5.38 percent pay raise for all state employees effective July 2022 and a new competitive pay structure with sign-on bonuses for our health care professionals, working in one of Florida’s nine state veterans’ homes can be rewarding. Serve our nation’s heroes by joining our team today. Click on the graphic above to visit our position openings or visit https://bit.ly/3AuWCED.
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