September 2024 Edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter

Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs sent this bulletin at 09/24/2024 04:56 PM EDT

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www.FloridaVets.org

September 2024

Welcome to the September edition of the Forward March Veterans’ Newsletter. ‎‎We ‎‎appreciate the more than 60,000 subscribers who look to us each month for the latest news ‎impacting Florida’s 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.

As I write this the State of Florida is preparing for landfall later this week of a potential major hurricane coming from the Gulf of Mexico. Our home administrators are busy preparing their State Veterans’ Homes to keep our residents and staff safe. For useful preparedness tips and up-to-date information on the storm, visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management at www.FloridaDisaster.org.

September 11 was Patriot Day and a time to reflect on the 23rd anniversary of 9/11. I had the honor of participating in 9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies in Tampa and Land O’ Lakes. Thank you for remembering and honoring the victims, first responders, and families impacted on that fateful day.

Constitution Day was commemorated on Sept. 17. Along with the Bill of Rights and later amendments, our Constitution defines our form of government and the rights guaranteed to us as citizens. For me, this day harkens back to when I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1981 and took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Florida’s 1.4 million Veterans took the same oath and share the pride we all feel as American citizens.

The following day we saluted the men and women of the U.S. Air Force as they observed their 77th anniversary. President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act on Sept. 18, 1947, creating a separate service and signaling the birth of our modern Air Force.

Sept. 20 was POW/MIA Recognition Day in Florida. We fly the POW/MIA flag daily at the Capitol, Florida’s Interstate Rest Areas and State Parks, and Florida’s network of State Veterans’ Homes to honor POW/MIAs and their selfless service & sacrifice. Never forget.

In one of the last outreach events this week before storm preparations, I traveled to the Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona to participate in a ceremony where the Florida Veterans Foundation donated a van to Disabled American Veterans to help transport local area Veterans to their VA appointments. I appreciate both the Foundation and DAV for their superb support of our State’s Veterans.

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 (833) GET-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.

Remember that September is Florida Veteran Suicide Prevention Month. For 24-hour counsel, call the National Veteran Crisis Hotline at 988, then press 1. You may also call 211 in Florida for confidential help. Visit http://SaveFLVets.org for more resources available to Veterans, their families and friends.

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

Operation Outdoor Freedom Invites Wounded Veterans to Register for Events

TALLAHASSEE - Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson invited wounded veterans to apply for upcoming Operation Outdoor Freedom fishing and hunting trips. Led by the Florida Forest Service, Operation Outdoor Freedom provides recreational and rehabilitative opportunities to wounded veterans on state forests, agricultural lands, and private lands throughout Florida at no cost.

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FloridaCommerce Launches Spousal License Reciprocity Matrix to Support Military Spouses

TALLAHASSEE - FloridaCommerce launched the Spousal License Reciprocity Matrix, a one-stop reference source for helping military spouses transfer, renew, or reissue professional licenses they need for work after relocating to Florida. To find the Spousal License Reciprocity Matrix, click here.

Orlando VA Healthcare System Receives 5-Stars in Nationwide Health Care Quality Review

The Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS) announced that it received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. OVACHS also received 5 stars from CMS’ quarterly patient satisfaction review, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (HCAHPS). This marks the second occasion that VA hospitals, including the OVAHCS, were included in the CMS Star Ratings.

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The St. Augustine City Commission honors retired Air Force Lt. Col. William “Bill” Dudley with the Order of La Florida Award during ceremonies in his honor, Sept. 9. Nominated by Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, Dudley exemplifies the qualifications of being nominated for the award, unselfishly devoting himself, his time, and his talent to the welfare and betterment of St. Augustine citizens and contributing extraordinary services to the community, in particular his work with the military and our Veterans.

FDVA Deputy Executive Director Bob Asztalos provides an agency update to the Legislative Budget Commission meeting in Tallahassee, Sept. 6.

Alan Turner, Utilities Maintenance Superintendent at the Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home in Lake City, was honored by the Florida Health Care Association for his 35 years of faithful and dedicated service at the 150-bed Veterans’ Home. The recognition took place during National Assisted Living Week, Sept. 8-14.

State Veterans' Service Officer Andrea Casseus connects a local Veteran with earned services and benefits at the Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona during a Suicide Prevention Awareness Event, Sept 11. September is Florida Veteran Suicide Prevention Month.

Florida’s Aviation and Space Industry was the recent topic of a webinar hosted by Veterans Florida, the non-profit created by the State of Florida to help military members transition to civilian life and promote Florida’s status as the nation’s most Veteran-friendly state. To view the webinar, click here.

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.

Hope Florida brings together the vast resources of our community to create a seamless network of support. When you call (833) GET HOPE, you’ll be connected to a caring Hope Navigator, ready to guide you on an individualized pathway to achieve prosperity, economic self-sufficiency and hope. Hope Florida serves our state’s Veterans among many others.