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Welcome to the July 2025 edition of the Forward March Veterans’ Newsletter. We appreciate the 66,000 subscribers who look to us for the latest news impacting our State’s nearly 1.4 million Veterans, their families and survivors. Serving 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 you’ll see in our lead article, Governor DeSantis signed the Florida Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget into law. It’s another great year, and on behalf of all Florida Veterans and their families, I want to thank the Governor and Legislature for their steadfast commitment to the health and wellbeing of our State’s Veterans.
I also commend the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for including our proposed Collier County State Veterans’ Nursing Home on their recent funded priority list for future construction. The campus in Naples is scheduled to feature 120 skilled-nursing beds, a state-funded adult day health care facility, outpatient therapy for eligible Veterans and a community wellness center. My team and I are excited to put this together for Veterans in southwest Florida as it will serve as a model for other Veterans’ healthcare campuses across the Nation.
I want to congratulate my friend John Knapp for being named the new superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. John, who’s a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, had been the Deputy Director of Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell and the Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg. He brings a wealth of experience to his new post and I’m extremely proud of his accomplishments.
I was very proud to attend the Florida Health Care Association’s annual conference in Orlando, and join my fellow FDVA senior leaders as we picked up several awards recognizing the amazing and talented people we have serving our State’s Veterans. Lucille Bowers, our administrator at the 150-bed Robert F. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home in Lake City, was honored by FHCA as the Assisted Living Facility Administrator of the Year for the State of Florida. Top honors and they’re well-deserved. I salute Lucille and all the men and women across our long-term care program who providing critical and loving care to our resident Veterans.
For no-cost counseling regarding Veterans’ issues, please contact one of our State Veterans’ Service Officers 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 one of our Hope Navigators today at HopeNavigators@fdva.fl.gov or call (833) GET-HOPE.
You can also learn more about 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.
I appreciate all Floridians for making the Sunshine State the most Veteran-friendly, appreciated, and sought after State in the Nation. Remember that Aug. 7 is Florida Purple Heart Day, and we look forward to saluting and honoring our Purple Heart recipients.
Please share this newsletter with others. We are honored to serve you.
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 WILDWOOD, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026 on June 30, totaling $117.4 billion after $567 million in line-item vetoes. This budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. The budget passed by the Legislature totaled $117.9 billion, and following line-item and other vetoes, this budget is only roughly $10 million above the Governor’s Recommended budget from February. This marks the second consecutive year of a year-over-year reduction in state spending.
To ensure the continued support of Florida’s Veteran community, the budget invests:
- An additional $20.8 million to support capital improvements for the State Veterans’ Nursing Homes.
- A continued funding of $1 million to provide for a Veterans’ Dental Care Grant Program to enable deserving qualified Florida Veterans to receive no-cost dental care to improve their general health.
- A continued $2 million investment to assist Veterans in securing meaningful skills-based employment, provide employers a skilled talent pipeline, and to assist veterans in creating and operating a small business.
“Once again, Florida is spending less than the previous year,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Since I took office in 2019, we have also tripled Florida’s Rainy-Day Fund. With this year’s additional commitment, the fund is maxed out. Additionally, under my administration, this year we will have repaid almost 50% of Florida’s historic debt—and we’re now requiring a repayment of $250 million in all future budgets. This year’s budget continues our commitment to repaying our debts ahead of schedule, saving money for Floridians, and delivering tax relief for Florida families.”
For budget details and veto information, click here.
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 VA Deputy Secretary Dr. Paul Lawrence addresses a crowd of Veterans in Tallahassee, June 24, as part of a two-day series of Veteran Town Hall meetings in the Florida capital. FDVA Executive Director James S. Hartsell, seated right, accompanied the deputy secretary during his Florida visit.
 NAPLES, Fla. -- A proposed 120-bed Collier County State Veterans’ Nursing Home is one step closer to reality as the multi-year construction project appeared funded on the fiscal 2025 VA State Home Construction Grants Priority List. “We’re delighted to see the Collier County project on the recent VA State Home Construction Grant Priority List, with federal funding of more than $74 million for design and construction. State matching funds have come from the citizens of Collier County, and we are grateful for their generous contributions to this planned Veterans’ health care campus,” said FDVA Communications and External Affairs Director Steve Murray. An adult day health care facility on the same campus is planned using state funding. Groundbreaking would be scheduled for later in 2026.
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TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Health Care Association, the state’s first and largest advocacy organization representing over 700 Florida long-term care facilities, including FDVA’s network of nine State Veterans’ Homes, has announced Bob Asztalos, FDVA Deputy Executive Director, as the Region IV Vice President for 2025-2026. Asztalos is a retired Navy Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force) and was appointed as FDVA Deputy Executive Director in July 2021. |
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The Florida Health Care Association honored Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home Administrator Lucille Bowers with the Assisted Living Facility Administrator of the Year Award and Jenkins’ Utilities and Maintenance Supervisor Alan Turner with the Plant Operations Impact Award (upper left), Baldomero Lopez State Veterans' Nursing Home Administrator Marlies Sarrett accepted the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living Bronze Quality Award (upper right), and State Veterans’ Home administrators and FDVA senior staff gathered for a group photo during FHCA’s annual conference in Orlando, July 15.
 State Veteran leaders from the southeast United States share best practices and identify gaps in service during a meeting of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs’ Southeast District in Nashville, Tennessee, June 24. FDVA Communications and External Affairs Director Steve Murray, far right, represented the Sunshine State during the two-day conference.
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Katiria Perry Huff, administrator of the Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Orlando, left, accepts from Adrienne Bolton one of three life stations donated by the American Red Cross to the home, June 28. Residents of the 120-bed skilled-nursing home enjoy the use of the life stations as a source of comfort and stimulation. |
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The Veterans Florida Expo is the state's official annual economic opportunity event for the military and Veteran community. The expo focused on easing military transitions, accessing benefits, and launching or growing businesses. To view a quick recap video, click here. To learn more about the resources and opportunities that make Florida the nation's top state for Veterans and their families, visit https://www.veteransflorida.org. |
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Seven new Certified Nursing Assistants graduated July 8 and reported for duty, following completion of a training course at the 120-bed Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans’ Nursing Home in St. Augustine. |
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Veterans who receive their care at VA Tampa brought home medals and memories from the 39th National Veterans Golden Age Games, which took place this year in Memphis, Tenn. Team Tampa’s medal tally included 10 gold, six silver and four bronze as they participated in games including shuffleboard, basketball free throw, shot put, javelin, discus, air rifle, billiards, swimming, horseshoes and cornhole. |
 Did you know? Proceeds from the sale of the U.S. Army license plate go into a trust fund for the operation and maintenance of Florida’s nine State Veterans’ Homes. More than 39,000 Floridians have one. Help us break the 40,000 mark. Other Veteran-related plates will be featured each month. Our residents and staff thank you for your patriotism and support. To learn more visit: http://bit.ly/4fatAyc.
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To contact a State Veterans’ Service Officer from anywhere in Florida, 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. |
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 Operating as the premier point of entry for Florida’s nearly 1.4 million Veterans, FDVA operates a network of State Veterans’ Homes and provides statewide outreach to connect Veterans with earned services, benefits and support. Click on the graphic (above) to join our award winning team by visiting bit.ly/48g5lLy.
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