October 2023 Edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter

Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs sent this bulletin at 10/20/2023 04:30 PM EDT

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www.FloridaVets.org

October 2023

Welcome to the October edition of the Forward March Veterans’ Newsletter. ‎We ‎‎appreciate the more than 52,000 subscribers who look to us for the latest news ‎impacting our State’s 1.5 million Veterans, their families and survivors.‎

On Oct. 13, we honored the men and women of the U.S. Navy on their 248th birthday. From Pensacola to Key West, Florida is rich in naval heritage, and we honor our Veterans who proudly commemorate their service. Happy Birthday Navy Veteran Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In Jacksonville, we’ll join our Veterans Florida counterparts on Oct. 21-22 at the Jacksonville Sea & Sky Airshow. We hope some of our Jacksonville-area Veterans and their families will come by and visit with us.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit with our State’s County Veteran Service Officers during their training conference in Safety Harbor. FDVA is responsible for their annual training and accreditation so they can serve you in the local community. At the conference, they received information on the latest in Federal and State benefits our Veterans have earned as a result of their military service. Their services are provided at no cost to the Veteran. For a listing of available County Veteran Service Offices, visit https://www.floridavets.org/locations/.

For advice or counsel regarding earned services, benefits and support, ‎you may also ‎‎contact one of our Veterans’ Claims Examiners ‎at (727) ‎‎‎319-‎‎7440 or via email at FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV. ‎All services are also at no charge. ‎

In our network of nine State Veterans’ Homes, our seven legacy facilities now have a resident census of 95 percent and climbing. Our efforts to attract more direct care staff are slowly paying off and with additional health care providers comes the ability to offer more opportunities for our aging Veterans. We continue to admit residents into our two new Veterans’ Homes in Port St. Lucie and Orlando. I greatly appreciate our team for the loving care they provide to our Nation’s heroes. For more information on these Veterans’ Homes, visit https://www.floridavets.org/locations/state-veterans-nursing-homes/. If you want to serve our Veterans and are looking for meaningful employment, see our advertisement at the bottom of this newsletter.

We continue during the legislative interim committee weeks to gear up for the 2024 Florida Legislative Session, which begins Jan 9. Several Veteran-related bills have been introduced with others in the pipeline. You can follow the status of Veteran-related legislation on our website at www.FloridaVets.org.

It’s a busy time of year as we gear up for Veterans Day and the month of activities surrounding this annual day of honoring our Nation’s Veterans. Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez is launching her LG On Mission initiative, which begins Oct. 20 with a Veteran Roundtable discussion in Tampa highlighting Governor DeSantis’ recent and ongoing investments to support military servicemembers and Veterans in Florida. I look forward to joining her at the event and will talk more about feedback from the event in next month’s issue.

I encourage you to participate in Veterans Day activities in your respective areas to honor those who have honorably and selflessly served. We also look forward to honoring 20 Florida Veterans from the Class of 2023 into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony in Tallahassee, Nov. 14.

You can learn more about earned services, benefits and support by following us on our many social media platforms such as Twitter (X), Facebook and LinkedIn. You may also download our Mobile App by visiting https://floridavets.org/download-the-fdva-app/.

Please share this newsletter with others and thanks for your support.

Lieutenant Governor Launches Initiative to recognize Florida's Military and Veterans

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez is launching her LG On Mission initiative with a kickoff Military and Veterans Roundtable with key leaders including FDVA Executive Director James S. "Hammer" Hartsell in Tampa, Oct. 20. For more information on the initiative to support Florida's military and Veteran population, view her video by clicking here.

FDVA Executive Director James S. "Hammer" Hartsell provides an agency update to the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security at the Capitol, Oct. 10. FDVA operates a network of nine State Veterans' Homes and provides statewide outreach to connect Veterans with their earned services, benefits and support.

FDVA Chief Information Officer Dr. Teresa Stillwell, right, represents Florida's Veterans' community in discussions on expanding broadband internet services statewide during the 2023 FloridaCommerce Broadband Summit in Orlando, Sept. 22.

2023 Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Inductees

Twenty Florida Veterans have been selected to be inducted as the Class of 2023 into the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame. An induction ceremony is planned for the inductees next month. For details on the 20 Veterans, click here.

Miami Dolphins players Jason Sanders and Blake Ferguson greet residents and staff at the Alexander "Sandy" Nininger State Veterans' Nursing Home in Pembroke Pines, Oct. 10. Residents shared stories with the two players and autographs were exchanged during the visit.

The Florida Veterans Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to those who have contributed to supporting Florida Veterans by purchasing a Gadsden Flag license plate. Through the sales of these distinctive plates, the foundation raises funds that help provide essential programs, services, and outreach materials. With each purchase, supporters display their solidarity with Veterans and actively participate in improving their well-being and honoring their sacrifices. Get your plate today at: https://www.helpflvets.org/gadsden-plate.

Veterans’ Claims Examiners from FDVA stand ready to support Florida Veterans and their families. Connect with us today by calling 727-319-7440 or via email at FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV.

Serve our nation’s heroes by joining our team today. With a recent pay raise for all state employees and a new competitive pay structure with sign-on bonuses for our direct care staff, working in one of Florida’s nine state veterans’ homes can be rewarding. Click on the graphic above to visit our position openings or visit https://bit.ly/3AuWCED.

Many 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.