August 2024 Edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter

Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs sent this bulletin at 08/23/2024 04:28 PM EDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

www.FloridaVets.org

August 2024

Welcome to the August edition of the Forward March Veterans’ Newsletter. ‎‎We ‎‎appreciate the 60,000 subscribers who look to us each month for the latest news ‎impacting Florida’s more than 1.4 million Veterans, their families and survivors.‎

Operating as the premier point of entry for Florida Veterans, the ‎Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs ‎‎operates a ‎‎network of nine State Veterans’ ‎Homes and provides statewide outreach to connect our ‎‎Veterans ‎‎with their earned ‎services, benefits and support.

At the beginning of the month, I was pleased to provide the keynote address to 44 new members of the Florida Highway Patrol during their graduation ceremony. Thirteen of the graduates were military Veterans and I was proud to present the Class President with our Agency’s challenge coin.

We transitioned into hurricane mode shorty thereafter when Hurricane Debby came ashore in Taylor County on Aug. 5, near the impact area of last year’s Hurricane Idalia. This hurricane was primarily a rain and flooding event, and our State and County Veterans’ Service Officers are still taking calls from impacted Veterans and their families to help connect them with services. I appreciate their leadership in working throughout the State providing much needed information and counseling.

On Aug. 13, I had the honor of welcoming more than 200 delegates to the 2024 Summer Conference of the National Association of State Veterans Homes in Orlando and reading a welcome letter from Gov. Ron DeSantis. FDVA is a proud member of the association and our nine State Veterans’ Homes were well represented by FDVA Long-Term Care Management Director Connie Tolley and FDVA Communications and External Affairs Director Steve Murray.

The following week, Steve Murray and I represented Florida at the annual training conference of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis. NASDVA was formed after World War II to bring together the State Directors from all 50 States, territories and the District of Columbia to promote and encourage communication, share best practices and provide earned services and benefits for our Nation’s 20 million Veterans. We were proud to represent Florida and demonstrate why our State is the most Veteran sought after and appreciated State in the Nation. The senior leadership of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was also there in force and reinforced Florida’s passion and purpose for serving our more than 1.4 million Veterans, their families and survivors.

If you seek no-cost advice or counseling regarding Veterans issues, please contact a State Veterans’ Service Officer ‎at (727) ‎‎‎319-‎‎7440 or via email at FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV. Our team of Hope Navigators is also hard at work connecting Veterans and their families with information and resources to improve their quality of life. Contact them via email at HopeNavigators@fdva.fl.gov or call (850) 300-HOPE.

‎You can learn more about statewide Veterans’ issues by following us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and LinkedIn. A free Mobile App is also available by visiting https://app.floridavets.org.

We are honored to serve you. Please share this newsletter with others and thanks for your support.

Governor DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis Announce Emergency Response Hope Florida Expansion

SARASOTA, Fla.— Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced “Activate Hope,” an expansion of Hope Florida to serve Floridians recovering from the impacts of disasters. Serving as the emergency response arm for the Hope Florida initiative, Activate Hope pulls together the private sector, nonprofits, and government resources to help Floridians get back on their feet following disaster. Activate Hope helps connect Floridians with outside resources to provide food, household goods, home repairs, and more.

Read more

State Directors' of Veterans Affairs from each State, Territory and the District of Columbia pause for a group photo with VA Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher during the Annual Training Conference of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Aug. 21 in Indianapolis, Ind. FDVA Executive Director James S. Hartsell is a past president of the association.

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez visits with residents at the Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home in Lake City, Aug. 13. Residents shared stories and received special desserts from the lieutenant governor as part of her ‘LG on Mission’ initiative to connect Veterans and their families with earned services, benefits and support.

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez presents a $10,000 check to Home Front Executive Director Lisa McFadden and Project Manager Tim Griffith during ceremonies in Tallahassee, Aug. 12. The proceeds from her February 2024 Race for Our Heroes 5K in Tallahassee will help Home Front with roof repairs following a tornado touchdown near the Veterans housing community on May 10.

FDVA Executive Director James S. Hartsell welcomes delegates from around the Nation during opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Training Conference of the National Association of State Veterans' Homes, Aug. 13 in Orlando.

Florida Highway Patrol Celebrates Graduation of 153rd Basic Recruit Class

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) celebrated the graduation of 44 recruits from the 153rd basic recruit class. FDVA Executive Director James S. Hartsell served as keynote speaker during the Aug. 2 ceremony.

Graduates have undergone a rigorous 29 weeks of training, equivalent to 770 hours. This comprehensive training began on Jan. 15, 2024. It included high liability classes, defensive tactics, firearms, vehicle operations, and first aid, ensuring that our new troopers are well-prepared for the challenges they will face in their duties.

Of the 44 recruits who graduated in today’s ceremony, six come from proud law enforcement families, eight have family members in the FHP, four moved to Florida from other states (New York, Maryland, and Alabama), and 13 have military experience (Army, U.S. Coast Guard, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard).

Read more

We salute FDVA Leadership, Hope Florida and Care Portal Florida for working together in assisting U.S. Navy Veteran Fred Clotfelter with a couch, table and chairs, and kitchen items for his new apartment in Beverly Hills, Fla. Donations were made by Corner Stone Baptist Church on Aug 14.

The 2024 edition of the Florida Veterans’ Benefits Guide is now available for shipping. Order your individual or bulk copies today! For details, visit:https://floridavets.org/resources/va-benefits-guide/