October 2024 Edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter

Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs sent this bulletin at 10/18/2024 04:18 PM EDT

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www.FloridaVets.org

October 2024

Welcome to the October 2024 special hurricane edition of the Forward March Veterans’ Newsletter. ‎We ‎‎appreciate the more than 60,000 subscribers who look to us for the latest news ‎impacting our State’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.

In the span of less than two weeks, two powerful hurricanes made landfall in Florida. Hurricane Helene made landfall in rural Taylor County on Sept. 26, while Hurricane Milton made landfall in populated Sarasota County on Oct. 9. Many of our fellow Veterans and their families were directly affected by flooding, storm surge and wind-related damage from the storms. Several of our employees also face long recovery periods while their homes are rebuilt.

Our network of State Veterans’ Homes did exceptionally well, as residents and staff sheltered in place for both hurricanes in their hardened facilities. Just a handful were on generator power until utility power was quickly restored. We also temporarily hosted at our State Veterans’ Home in Port St. Lucie nearly 30 non-Veteran residents of a Punta Gorda assisted living facility that lost utility and generator power. They were successfully repatriated once power was restored.

FDVA’s State Veterans’ Service Officers and staff volunteers deployed to many State-led Multi-Agency Resource Centers and Points of Distribution in the impacted areas. Our Hope Navigators were also in the field connecting Floridians with much needed supplies in the days following landfall. Many are still in the field as I write this, and I sincerely appreciate their time and effort to make the situation better for those experiencing trauma and loss.

On Oct. 13, we honored the men and women of the U.S. Navy on their 249th birthday. Florida is rich in naval heritage and tradition, and we honor our Veterans who proudly commemorate their service. We also salute Navy Veteran Gov. Ron DeSantis for his service to our Nation.

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.

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. I encourage you to participate in Veterans Day activities in your respective areas to honor those who have honorably and selflessly served.

Let us know if we can be of service. Please share this newsletter with others and have a Happy Veterans Day.

Governor and First Lady Award Florida Disaster Funds to Hope Florida Partners Helping Floridians Recover From Storms

SARASOTA, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis visited Tampa Bay Oct. 17, to highlight Hope Florida and award $1,000,000 through the Florida Disaster Fund to support Hope Florida partners helping Floridians recover from the storms. These funds will be utilized by nonprofit organizations doing good work in storm-impacted communities.

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State Veterans’ Service Officers are deployed in support of Hurricane Milton relief efforts in several Florida counties, helping to reconnect Veterans and their families with earned services, benefits and support. To contact FDVA from anywhere in the State, call (727) 319-7440 or send an email to FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV. A reminder that all services provided by the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs are free to the client.

FDVA Hope Navigators have been deployed in hurricane impacted areas helping to bring normalcy to those in need. 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.

Not sure what help is out there? Then call the State Assistance Information Line. The hotline is running 24/7 with English, Spanish and Haitian Creole speakers available to answer questions for residents impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Four Florida Communities Honored by Veterans Day National Committee

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Day National Committee hosts the annual Veterans Day observance each year on Nov. 11 at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:11 a.m. ET with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The VDNC encourages communities and non-profit organizations to host VA-approved Veterans Day observances in their local communities. Four Florida locations were selected this year and received a supply of Veterans Day posters, military ceremonial support from the Department of Defense, and a certificate from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for inclusion in their event programs. To view the Florida locations, click here.

FDVA State Veterans' Service Officer Mike Funkhouser assists Veterans with earned services and benefits on Constituent Services Day in Escambia County, Oct 11. The event was hosted by State Rep. Michelle Salzman in Pensacola.

The Florida Veterans’ Benefits Guide is a hot commodity at Biketoberfest 2024 in Daytona Beach. Staff from Quest Corporation of America are distributing the guides produced by the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs to participating military veterans as part of its Florida Motorcycle Safety Program. You can find an online version of the guide at https://floridavets.org/resources/va-benefits-guide/

Serving our nation’s heroes in one of Florida’s nine state veterans’ homes can be very rewarding. Click on the graphic above to visit specific position openings in health care or support services or visit bit.ly/48g5lLy