Veterans Day Events at MDVA

The following events will be held at MDVA locations in observance of Veterans Day: November 11, 2018 at 10:30 am World War II Memorial, Annapolis   November 11, 2018 at 11:00 am Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, Prince Georges County Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, Anne Arundel County Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Baltimore County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Baltimore City   November 11, 2018 at 1:30pm Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery, Dorchester County   November 12, 2018 at 11:00 am Charlotte Hall Veteran Home, Saint Mary's County   No Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery in Allegeny County due to construction. MDVA Cemetery & Memorials Program   Please note: Community Veterans Day event information is listed in the Community Partner News section, for those organizations who sent information to MDVA.

As reported in the last edition of the MDVA e-newsletter, the rate for burial costs for eligible dependents will change to $780, effective Monday, October 29, 2018. Please note that veteran interments are provided at no cost.  Read More Here

MDVA Deputy Secretary Bob Finn presents Mr. Donald Carlo with a Vietnam Veteran Commemoration Pin and Certificate. Mr. Carlo was in the Navy, serving with the HS5 Squadron aboard the USS Independence.

Attorney General Frosh Urges CFPB to Protect Military Servicemembers from Financial Exploitation

BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh joined a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Acting Director Mick Mulvaney to continue protecting military servicemembers against predatory lenders under the Military Lending Act (MLA). The attorneys general urge the CFPB to reconsider its reported decision to stop examining lenders to ensure they are complying with the MLA.

“Director Mulvaney’s refusal to ensure lenders are complying with the MLA puts our military
members and their families at unnecessary financial risk,” said Attorney General Frosh. “The
CFPB should do its job and protect those who protect our country. My office will vigorously
enforce consumer protection laws, including those protecting military families from extortionist
or predatory loans.”

Read More Here

State Tree Nursery Now Accepting Orders

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting orders for shrub and tree seedlings from the John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery for the spring 2019 planting season. The nursery offers more than 50 species of shrubs and trees for large-scale plantings on private land to meet a wide variety of conservation, environmental and landscaping needs. It also offers 20 different “pollinator friendly” options. A minimum order of 25 seedlings per species is required, and supplies are limited.  Nursery customers are mostly individual landowners looking to enhance the beauty of their property as well as contribute to the environment. Shrub and tree plantings provide both economic and environmental benefits, including cleaner air, energy conservation, filtering and retaining water and essential habitat for wildlife.

Invasion Coming to Point Lookout State Park Oct. 27-28

Visitors are invited to Point Lookout State Park the weekend of Oct. 27-28 to witness a living history reenactment of American forces during the War of 1812.

Volunteers in period costumes and uniforms will interpret the life of soldiers and other Marylanders during the War of 1812, along with small arms demonstrations, drills and other events throughout the weekend. Camps at the historic fort area and on the beach at Point Lookout are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28. There will also be a Saturday evening program.

Point Lookout figured prominently in the War of 1812 due to its vantage point at the confluence of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. American soldiers on watch were able to monitor British vessels moving toward Annapolis or the nation’s capital, Washington D.C.

“Invasion! The War of 1812” is hosted in partnership with the Friends of Point Lookout Inc. More information is available by calling 301-872-5688 or emailing the Friends of Point Lookout.

Other State News

Maryland Department of Commerce Recognized for Small Business Program

Department of Labor, Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS)

The United States Department of Labor announces a campaign to promote the HIRE Vets Medallion program, which recognizes small, mid-size and large businesses who are recruiting and retaining veterans. For more info on the project: hirevets.gov

Thank you to JusticeinAging.org for this information:

The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule that went into effect on October 18, 2018. These new regulations significantly affect the VA Pension, the Aid & Attendance benefit, and other needs-based benefit programs. Advocates serving veterans who might apply for needs based benefits should be aware of these new changes so they can properly advise their clients. 

A Justice in Aging Fact Sheet provides statutory details. Advocates should be aware that the new rule impacts the following eligibility requirements: 

• Net Worth  
• Asset transfers  
• Deductible Medical Expenses 
• Income and Asset Exclusions 
• Medicaid-covered Nursing Home Care 

Justice in Aging Fact Sheet

Women's Health: Taking Time for Yourself, Health.Mil article

2018 Health Related Behaviors Survey for Active Duty and Reserves, Health.Mil article

Federal Trade Commission Report to Congress, "Protecting Older Consumers 2017-1018: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission"

National Security Agency Technology Transfer Program

Suicide Prevention, National Institutes of Health

Electronic Cigarettes, National Institutes of Health

VA Appoints New Director for DC Medical Center, Stars and Stripes article

VA Maryland Health Care System Transitioning to New Phone Extensions

Relationship Skills Workshop for Couples, Open to All Veterans and their Significant Others

VA Employment Fair, A Vocational Rehabilitation Services Event on October 30th, Baltimore

Enroll in VA Health Care for Life!

VA Resource Fair on November 15th at Ft. Meade Post Exchange,

VA National Cemetery Lodges Video

New, re-designed webpage for the National Center for PTSD

For Your Information

The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs does not endorse the organizations sponsoring these events, and we do not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.  The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of MDVA.  The information provided is intended for your general knowledge only, and serves solely as a MDVA community outreach effort.

Community News

VETMotorsports seeks participants for Oct. 28th event in Landover

Commissioning of the USS Sioux City on November 17th in Annapolis

Free Friday & Saturday Yoga for Veterans and Military Families, Silver Spring

SANS Cyber Workforce Academy, Application

Cyber Security Training for Veterans, Baltimore

October 26th - TODAY: Bulls-Eyes® Beer Launch Party & Coat Drive. 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  A collaboration between Monument City Brewing & Goetze's Candy Co., Inc. with proceeds benefiting MCVET {Maryland Center for Veterans Education & Training}. Coat Donations will be accepted at the door. Location: Monument City Brewing, 1 N Haven Street, Suite A, Baltimore, MD 21224 Flier

For Employers: Organizations recognize the immeasurable value Veterans bring to the workplace. Take your Veteran recruitment program to the next level by adding a focus on retention and appreciation.  Friday, November 9, 2018, 8:00 am to 11:00 am at Adventist Health Care, 820 West Diamond Avenue, Suite 600, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.  Register

The Mission Continues, Mass Deployment 2019: Operation Charm City Charge, Baltimore, June 20-27, 2019.  On June 20-27, 2019, we’re deploying 85 veteran leaders to Baltimore for our fourth Mass Deployment, Operation Charm City Charge (OC3). Together with our community partners, we select areas of need as project sites for our veteran-led operation. Veterans are a powerful force when called upon to serve. Since leaving the military, tens of thousands have continued to serve in their local communities. They bring hard-earned leadership, exemplary training and a mission-focused work ethic that is in short supply today. They do not do not “quit.”  Read More Here

World War I Centenary Film Series, Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library 

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War I, join us for this series of four of the best films ever made about the conflict. Local cinemaphile Ann Glenn will introduce each movie. Screenings begin promptly at 1:30 pm and will be followed by a Q&A session. Dates are 11/2, 11/9, 11/16 and 11/30.  Find More Info at Anne Arundel County Public Library - Events for Adults

Community Calendar

October 27, 2018

Veterans Housing Summit, Annapolis

Veterans Benefits Seminar, Ft. Washington

The Western Front Association, East Coast Branch - Spirit of 1918 Symposium, Gettysburg

Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon, Women Veterans United Committee, Inc., Bowie

October 28, 2018

Hero Dogs Puppy Program Orientation

October 30, 2018

VA Employment Fair, Vocational Rehabilitation Services Event, Baltimore

November 1, 2018

Military Mental Health First Aid Training, Silver Spring

November 3, 2018

4th Annual Veterans Stand Down, La Plata

Prince George's County Expungement Fair, Landover

Free Health Fair, Columbia

November 7, 2018

Veterans Resource Day, California

November 8, 2018

Veterans Day at the Myerberg Center, Baltimore

November 10, 2018

The Mission Continues, Volunteer for Veterans Day Project, Baltimore

Veteran Information Fair, Hagerstown

Veterans Resource Fair, Bel Air

Veterans Day Concert, Baltimore

Veterans Appreciation Day Service, Baltimore

Hero Day, Salisbury

VFW Murder Mystery Dinner and Dance to Benefit VFW National Home for Children, Morningside (Use Password "VFW")

November 11, 2018

Free Sandwich for Veterans on Veterans Day at Mission BBQ

November 15, 2018

VA Resource Fair, Ft. Meade Post Exchange

Ready, Set, Grow Procurement Fair, for small, minority, women and veteran business owners, Frederick

November 17, 2018

Wills for Heroes, Free Wills, Health Care Directives and Financial Powers of Attorney, Greenbelt

November 16, 2018

Women Who Serve, Women Who Lead Program, with Senator Chris Van Hollen, Cheverly

November 18, 2018

AARP Maryland and Heritage United Church of Christ Host Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration, Baltimore

Community Veterans Day Events

November 11, 2018

War Memorial Building, Baltimore City

Memorial Circle, Main & Compromise Streets, Annapolis

Howard County Veterans Day Parade

3:30pm Jewish War Veterans Post 692 will hold a ceremony at the American Jewish Veterans Memorial, 6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville. The short program, commemorating the end of World War I, will feature music by Voices of Vets, Inc., keynote address on American Jews in WWI by Lt. Col. Sheldon Goldberg, Ph.D., USAF (Ret), Docent at the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, and greetings by local VIPs. Refreshments will be served following the program.