October 2026 Edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter

Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs sent this bulletin at 10/22/2026 04:13 PM EDT

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www.FloridaVets.org

October 2026

Welcome to the October 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.

I started the month speaking to our County and State Veterans’ Service Officers at their fall training conference in Safety Harbor. We train and accredit County and State Veterans’ Service Officers to ensure they have the latest information on federal and state benefits and services our Veterans have earned as a result of their military service. By statute, these service officers are Veterans, so they’re familiar with the issues you need addressed.

State Veterans’ Service Officers are in Florida communities from Pensacola to Jacksonville to the Florida Keys. Connect with earned services, benefits and support at no cost today by finding the nearest Veterans’ Service Office by visiting https://bit.ly/46BKKBg. 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.

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin in the Florida panhandle on Oct. 9. Many of our fellow Veterans and their families were directly affected by wind-related damage from the storm. Our State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Panama City was unaffected and resumed normal operations almost immediately. Multi-Agency Resource Centers are now open in the Florida panhandle and both VA and FDVA team members are deployed to reconnect you with earned services. A link to those sites can be found at the bottom of the newsletter. I thank the VA for their outstanding outreach effort in the aftermath of the storm.

On Oct. 13, we honored the men and women of the U.S. Navy on their 251st 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.

You can 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.

We encourage you to participate in Veterans Day activities in your respective areas to honor those who have honorably and selflessly served. We also look forward to honoring five Florida Veterans from the Class of 2026 into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony in Tallahassee, Nov. 5.

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.

Veterans’ Hall of Fame Ceremony Set for Nov. 5

TALLAHASSEE – Five Florida Veterans from the Class of 2026 will be inducted into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Capitol, Nov. 5. The five Veterans comprise the 14th class of inductees and will be honored in the Cabinet Room at 10 a.m. FDVA Executive Director James S. Hartsell will preside over the event.

Class of 2026 Inductees include:

Lt. Col. (Judge) Mose L. Floyd, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret) – Jacksonville

Honorable Bill McCollum Jr. (U.S. Navy Veteran) – Longwood

Bill Wallace Merryman (U.S. Army Veteran) – Crystal River

Lesley J. (Les) Miller Jr. (U.S. Air Force Veteran) – Tampa

CAPT Elizabeth (Betsy) Nolan, U.S. Navy (Ret) – The Villages

FDVA Emergency Coordinating Officer Steve Murray visits with first responders at the Multi-Agency Resource Center on the Milton Campus of Pensacola State College, Oct. 15. He presented a challenge coin to VA Social Worker Whitney Jordan, and thanked FDVA State Veterans’ Service Officer Thurman Winkler and the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System team for serving Veterans and their families in the impacted areas immediately following landfall of Hurricane Isaias, Oct. 9.

FDVA Executive Director James S. Hartsell provides welcoming remarks at the Fall 2026 County Veteran Service Officer Training Conference, Oct.5, in Safety Harbor. FDVA trains and accredits all County Veteran Service Officers at in-person training twice annually. Presenting him a certificate of appreciation is Alnita Whitt, president of the County Veteran Service Officer Association and Orange County CVSO.

FDVA Deputy Executive Director DJ Reyes addresses a capacity crowd at the 2026 Florida Veterans Workforce Summit on Oct. 20, at the Rosen Center in Orlando. The two-day conference focused on training and sharing best practices to strengthen employment support, career development, and mentorship opportunities for Veterans in Florida. FloridaCommerce hosted the sixth annual summit.

Kay Maley smiles at the camera during her retirement ceremony at the Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Panama City, Oct. 2. Maley, a long-time FDVA employee and licensed administrator, served in the department’s Long-Term Care Division and oversaw the operations at several State Veterans’ Homes.

Veterans Florida team members Dr. Brent Sellers, Dean Stylianos and Dirk Hood (pictured left to right) recently toured three University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research facilities: Range Cattle Research and Education Center, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, and the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory. They connected with current SkillBridge and AgVets program participants gaining hands-on experience and exploring career opportunities across Florida’s agriculture industry.

From cattle and crops to aquaculture and beyond, these programs help Veterans put their military skills, leadership and experience to work in Florida’s growing agricultural sector. For more information and to apply visit veteransflorida.org.

Did you know you can display your Navy pride and support Florida Veterans simultaneously? When you buy a Florida U.S. Navy specialty license plate,100% of the proceeds directly benefit Veterans residing in our State Veterans’ Homes. More than 27,640 Floridians have one. Our residents and staff thank you for your patriotism and support. To learn more visit:http://bit.ly/4fatAyc.

VA Launches New Benefits Guide

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has released the “2026 VA Federal Benefits Guide for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers.” Don’t know what VA benefits and care are available? Not sure which you’re eligible for? The annual Federal Benefits Guide provides information on benefits and services currently available by law and regulation.

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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.

HereNOW Help is a free mental health and wellness platform for Florida Veterans, created in conjunction with the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. It offers confidential support, self-assessments, community features, wellness resources, and access to care 24/7. Click the link for your device below to download the HereNOW Connect app, then enter Florida access code 154026. HereNOW Connect App - App Store (iPhone) HereNOW Connect - Apps on Google Play (Android).