July 2026 Edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter

Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs sent this bulletin at 07/20/2026 04:01 PM EDT

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www.FloridaVets.org

July 2026

Welcome to the July 2026 edition of the Forward March Veterans’ Newsletter. We ‎‎appreciate our 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 newsletter, Governor DeSantis signed the Florida Fiscal Year 2026-2027 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.

The groundbreaking ceremony for our 10th State Veterans’ Home was held in Collier County on July 10, and I enjoyed speaking with many of you who attended our event. We were honored to have Lt. Gov. Jay Collins provide our keynote remarks and join us for a photo opportunity with hardhats and shovels. You’ll see the magic moment later in this edition.

We appreciate the many participants and their families who came to Florida in late June and early July to compete in more than 20 events during the National Veterans Golden Age Games in Tampa. The competition was an inspiration to us all.

I’m headed to Orlando at the end of the month to the Florida Health Care Association Annual Conference and Trade Show, where we’ll honor our administrators and staff who care for our nearly 1,100 residents each and every day in our network of State Veterans’ Homes. I’m proud to be part of such a dedicated team of loving health care professionals.

If you seek 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.

Remember that Aug. 7 is Florida Purple Heart Day, and we look forward to saluting and honoring our Purple Heart recipients. Many local communities and organizations are sponsoring events, so be on the lookout for observances in your area.

I appreciate all Floridians for making the Sunshine State the most Veteran-friendly, appreciated, and sought after State in the Nation. Please share this newsletter with others. We are honored to serve you.

Federal, state and local leaders break ground July 10, 2026, on the new 120-bed Collier County State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Naples, Fla. Construction is scheduled to begin in early fall 2026 and take approximately two years. Included in the nearly 23-acre campus is a state-funded Veterans’ Adult Day Health Care Center, outpatient therapy and a community wellness center. Once completed, the facility will become Florida’s 10th State Veterans’ Home.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the Floridians First Budget for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 into law on June 29, 2026, which reaffirms Florida's commitment to its nearly 1.4 million Veterans. The investment strengthens the ability of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs to enhance Veterans' quality of life through infrastructure improvements in its network of State Veterans' Homes and expands services and benefits that Veterans and their families have earned. Other highlights of the budget include a $500,000 expansion of the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program for eligible Veterans and $1.4 million to fund an Occupational License Reciprocity system to help Veterans, their spouses, active-duty personnel, and their spouses move to Florida by getting approval on their occupational licenses before they move. For details on the budget, visit bit.ly/4vCP2SZ.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 253, the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program, into law on June 26, 2026. The bill expands Florida’s ability to provide needed dental care to eligible Veterans who lack access to basic care. For more information, contact a State Veterans’ Service Officer or visit https://www.helpflvets.org/.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Home Administrator Donna Rogers honor resident Calvin Heathman at the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie, July 10. Heathman, a World War II Veteran, produced several pieces of artwork for the Veterans’ Home as part of the America 250 Celebration.

Veterans Florida is bridging the gap between military service and cultivating new careers in agriculture. On July 9, Elizabeth Marino visited the University of Florida Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade. Partnering with 16 University of Florida agriculture research facilities statewide, Veterans Florida sponsors Department of War SkillBridge participants and Veterans for six-month agricultural internships. These roles provide a hands-on learning environment designed to prepare participants for careers in the agriculture industry.

FHCA Awards Scholarships to Help Direct Care Staff Advance Careers in Long-Term Care

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Health Care Association announced that 88 individuals across Florida, including seven from the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, have been awarded $300,000 in scholarships to help advance their careers in long-term care.

This year’s recipients include four FDVA caregivers who each received a $5,000 Bruce Taylor Scholarship to further their nursing careers and three FDVA long-term care employees who each received a $2,500 Career Climb Scholarship.

2026 Bruce Taylor Scholarship recipients include:

Erica Barfield, Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Panama City
Nalton France, Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port Charlotte
Jonnine Lee, Alexander "Sandy" Nininger State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Pembroke Pines
Alyssa Shelley, Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Panama City

2026 Career Climb Scholarship recipients include:

Larry Hunt, Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Panama City
Lainey Ulrich, Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port Charlotte
Trena Whitley, Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Panama City

FDVA Deputy Executive Director D.J. Reyes honored Bureau Chief of Benefits and Assistance Sherrel Pinson with a retirement shadowbox in recognition of her outstanding service. Ms. Pinson dedicated more than 12 years to FDVA, providing exceptional support and advocacy for Florida's Veterans and their family members. Her commitment, professionalism, and lasting impact have made a meaningful difference in the lives of those she served. We thank Ms. Pinson for her years of dedicated service and wish her all the best in her retirement.

Following World War II, the State of Florida in 1945 recognized the need to provide services to returning service members and created a division within state government to connect veterans with their earned benefits. By the 1980s, the number of veterans and their families coming to Florida overwhelmed the available infrastructure to serve them. To address the needs of a growing Veteran population, Florida voters in 1988 overwhelmingly approved a Constitutional Amendment to create a Cabinet Agency to “Honor Those Who Served U.S.” The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs was officially established on July 1, 1989, with executive offices in Largo, Tallahassee, and Bay Pines. In addition to connecting Veterans with earned services, benefits and support, Florida opened the first of nine State Veterans’ Homes in 1990. Learn more about FDVA at www.FloridaVets.org.

Contact a State Veterans’ Service Officer by calling (727) 319-7440 or via email at FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV. All services provided by the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs are free to the client.

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The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs ‎‎operates a ‎‎network of State Veterans’ Homes and ‎provides statewide outreach to connect ‎‎Veterans ‎‎with earned services, benefits ‎and support. In addition, we offer various bonuses to eligible direct-care staff. ‎Click on the graphic (above) to join our award-winning team by visiting bit.ly/48g5lLy.

The Mac Parkman Foundation is sponsoring the 3rd Annual International Repetitive Brain Trauma Summit in Tampa, Sept. 16-17. The summit convenes leading researchers, clinicians, policymakers, Veteran advocates, youth sports leaders, and families working to address the long-term consequences of repetitive brain injury. Keynote Speaker is retired Army Gen. Bryan P. Fenton, former commanding officer of U.S. Special Operations Command. Register at https://subconcussivesummit.com/.

HereNOW Help is a free mental health platform for Florida Veterans, created in conjunction with the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. It offers confidential support through 24/7 helplines, self-assessments, community features, and wellness resources. Veterans can download the app and enter access code 154026 to get started.