Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs banner

25 October MDVA News and Announcements

Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs sent this bulletin at 10/25/2019 08:00 AM EDT

News and Announcements - October 25, 2019

MDVA News

MDVA Opens New Service & Benefits Office

On Wednesday, October 23rd MDVA opened the newest Service & Benefits office - located at the Motor Vehicle Administration Headquarters in Glen Burnie. The office is located on the ground floor, and is staffed by Veterans Benefits Specialist, James Wilkes. This is the first MDVA Service & Benefits office located in Anne Arundel County and there is ample, free parking at this site.

Immediately after the ceremonial ribbon was cut, the first veteran walked through the door seeking assistance with filing a claim for benefits. Mr. Cornelius Robinson, Jr., a Vietnam Veteran who served in the United States Army, was the first veteran to seek claims assistance at the newest MDVA office, and several more veterans visited opening day requesting information and claims help.

If you have questions or concerns about your eligibility for benefits or need help with your application for benefits, please call or stop by any of the MDVA Service & Benefits offices.

WMAR2News video

The MDVA office in Glen Burnie is officially open.

Veteran's Day Ceremonies at MDVA Sites Around the State

All Ceremonies will be held on Monday, November 11, 2019 and are open to everyone.

10:30 am - World War II Memorial, Annapolis

11:00 am - Vietnam Veteran Memorial, South Baltimore

11:00 am - Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, Prince Georges County

11:00 am - Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, Anne Arundel County

11:00 am - Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Baltimore County

1:30 pm - Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery, Dorchester County

2:00 pm - Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery, Allegany County

For more information on locations: Cemetery & Memorials Program

A Veteran's Day Ceremony will also be held at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home at 11:00 am

Mr. Paul Faulkner, the Grounds Supervisor at the MDVA Eastern Shore cemetery, has retired after serving with MDVA for over 39 years. The Administration Building at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery has been dedicated to Mr. Faulkner, and he is shown here in the center of this photo holding the plaque that will be placed on the building honoring him.

Charlotte Hall Veterans Home celebrated the 244^th Navy Birthday with volunteers and residents. Special visitors from American Legion Post 206, in Chesapeake Beach included Post Commander Les Griffith, and serving on the American Legion National Executive Committee, Patricia McCoy who presented Charlotte Hall Veterans Home with $5,000 in Amazon Gift Cards. The gift cards will be used to purchase resident items such as shoes, clothing, winter coats and personal care items. Also on the right in this photo is: LCDR A. C. Nelson-Williams, USN who attended to support residents who served in the Navy.

Chairman Fred Shinbur, Chair of the Maryland Veterans Commission attended the celebration for Mr. Robert Mauck, a World War II veteran who recently turned 100 years old. The ceremony was held in Williamsport, MD and Chairman Shinbur presented a Governor's Citation to Mr. Mauck recognizing his service.

CSM William Dade, USA (retired) is the owner of Our Happy Hill Coffee in Charlotte Hall, MD. Carole Lewis, Director of Marketing at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, met with CSM Dade recently to inquire about the cafe catering an event at Charlotte Hall. Carole discovered he was eligible for the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin and Proclamation, and presented it while he was at the Veterans Home.

Carole also attended the Fifth Annual Veterans Stand Down at American Legion Post 82 in LaPlata. While there, she presented Mr. Maurice Scott (USA) on the left and Mr. Emory Baldwin (USA) on the right with the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin.

State Partner News

Federal Partner News

New VA Publication: Military Exposures and Your Health

VA Center for Women Veterans invites you to the 25th Anniversary Commemoration, Invitation

Free Video Games for Veterans and their Families

VA Winter Sports Clinic - VA Video

How to Help Homeless Veterans - VA Video

VA Tips for Identity Theft Prevention

The Benefits of a Vegetarian Meal

More Limitations for Arlington Burial Possible, FEDweek article

Census is Hiring Video

Veteran Focused Training: GSA's Global Supply Network

Community Partner News

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

Travis Manion Foundation - Operation Legacy in November. Baltimore, Rockville and other locations

Looking for physical and social activities with other veterans? Check Out Team Red, White and Blue. There are several Chapters in Maryland.

Article provided by TALMAR:

Veterans Reap the Benefits of Training and Behavioral Care

The name TALMAR has been synonymous with therapeutic gardening in the Baltimore area for more than 20 years. When the Veterans Affairs Health Care System of Maryland was selected for a groundbreaking new program that supports veterans developing job skills while being treated for a service-related illness, a partnership between the VA and TALMAR was born.

TALMAR is honored to be one of only 10 host sites for the the Veterans Affairs Farming and Recovery Mental Health Services (VA FARMS) project in the United States. In 2019, we worked closely with the Baltimore and Perry Point VA Medical Centers to provide the VA Farms program to 30 local veterans. In 2020, TALMAR's program will expand to include more veterans and more learning opportunities.

The program combines classroom instruction and hands-on activities with the goal of providing participants with new vocational skills, community relationships, and healthy ways of coping with mental health challenges.

“Even when I am having a bad day, I look forward to heading out to the farm,” says one participant. “There’s something about having my hands in the dirt and face in the sun that makes me happy. And I didn’t even know I’d like it when I signed up!”

In addition to group instruction each veteran completes an independent project over the course of the season. 2019 projects include building season-extending cold frames, calculating cover crops, and building permaculture beds.

The cohort of veterans who’ve been engaged with the program for nine months will graduate next month. When they graduate from the program veterans leave with a working knowledge of farming, from planning to harvest to distribution. They also take away business planning and grant writing skills to help them move forward into the future.

We're so proud of all that our program participants have accomplished in the past nine months and we are so excited to bring this experience and opportunity to more people.