2020 is the Year of the Woman in Maryland

Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed 2020 to be the Year of the Woman in Maryland. MDVA will be highlighting the dedicated women in Maryland who volunteer to serve on state commissions which support Maryland Veterans in this and future editions of the e-newsletter. To continue this series, Commissioner Karen Calvert who serves on the Maryland Veterans Commission is featured.  Karen provided the following information: Commissioner Karen Calvert represents the 5th Maryland Congressional District for the Maryland Veterans Commission.  She was initially appointed in February 2010 by then Governor Martin O'Malley and has been re-appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to continue to serve on the Commission.  She was also appointed to serve on the Maryland Commission for the Establishment of Women in Military Service Monument in September 2014.  A native of St. Louis, MO, she enlisted in the US Air Force on June 27, 1969 immediately following her graduation from Pattonville High School.  While on active duty, she became a Field Representative for the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation encouraging service women to register and become a part of the living history for women veterans.  She retired after 24 and 1/2 years of service, holding the rank of Senior Master Sergeant to take a full time position with the Memorial Foundation and she served from just before Groundbreaking until shortly after Dedication of the Memorial, which stands at the entrance to Arlington Cemetery.  Karen then went to work for the Department of Defense and ended her working career as a Protocol Officer with Bolling AFB, later re-designated as Joint Base Anacostia Bolling. She retired this time as a civilian in December 2013.  She is an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Grand Matron, Grand Chapter of Maryland, 2018-2019, overseeing the "121st Stars and Stripes Forever; Let Freedom Ring!" Session in Ocean City, MD in May 2019.  She has 3 children; son, Tim King, TSgt, USAF (Retired), married to Virginia; and daughters, Kristie Heiston married to Aaron, and Briane Larkin, married to Jon - both Air Force veterans.  They have blessed her with 8 wonderful and loving grandchildren.

Recent recognition for MDVA Cemetery & Memorials Employees:  Mr. Dan Harper (left) and Mr. Jimmy Lamb (right), who both began working for MDVA in 1988 (32 years) were recognized recently by Russ Ware, Director of the MDVA Cemetery and Memorial Program (center).  Mr. Ware presented Mr. Harper and Mr. Lamb with a cold weather jacket and service pins for their years of service.

Mr. Ware made two more presentations to Mr. Mike McCormick on the left for five years of service and to Mr. Brandon Marryman (right) for 24 years of service.

MDVA appreciates all of the dedicated Cemetery and Memorials staff for the work they do in all weather conditions to honor and serve Maryland Veterans.

MDVA Secretary George Owings, Maryland Delegate Mike Rogers and MDVA Deputy Secretary Robert Finn attended the NABVETS Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Banquet held at Morgan State University.

Spotlight on Education: University of Baltimore

New Bob Parsons Scholarship Fund Supports UB Scholarships for Transfer Students, Veterans   The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will fund scholarships for hundreds of full-time University of Baltimore students who transfer to UB primarily from community colleges, including current or former members of the military. These need-based scholarships, totaling up to $5 million over five years, will help students close the financial gap between their federal Pell Grants and the cost of tuition and fees for their final two years of undergraduate education.  Read More Here

University of Baltimore President, Kurt Schmoke announces the new Bob Parsons Scholarship Fund which will aid Veterans and others seeking four year degrees.  From left to right in this photo are: University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman, Baltimore City Mayor Bernard "Jack" Young, UB President Kurt Schmoke and Maryland Secretary of Higher Education James Fielder

Maryland Launches Senior Call Check

Maryland is the first state in the country to start a free, opt-in, telephonic service to check on Maryland’s older residents, all across the state.​ HOW DOES IT WORK? Every day a telephone call will be placed to a participant at a regularly scheduled time. These calls will take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. as close as possible to the one-hour time block pre-selected by the participant. If the participant does not answer their first call, they will be tried two more times. If those calls go unanswered, additional calls will be made to notify an alternative person who is selected by the participant during program enrollment. This could be an adult child, a neighbor, or another loved one. The alternate will then be encouraged to check on the older adult program participant. The failure of the participant and alternate to answer may result in a Welfare Check by local law enforcement. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Any Maryland resident who is 65 years of age or older who has a landline phone or cell phone (TTY is available). The participant and alternates should not have automated call blocking technology (or they should disable that phone feature for this program). Read More Here

Three World War II veterans were recently honored by the Maryland Senate.  From left to right: Mr. John Walker, Mr. Wayne Clark and Mr. Charles "Chuck" Roydhouse shown on the Maryland Senate floor.  For many years, Mr. Roydhouse has worked with us at MDVA coordinating Boy Scout Troops who place flags on the graves at the MDVA Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville for Memorial Day.

Photo Credit: Kristian Jaime  HeraldMailMedia.com Article

2020 Session of the Maryland General Assembly has Convened

The Maryland General Assembly is currently meeting in Annapolis for the 2020 Legislative Session.  As a service to the veteran community, information on proposed legislation of possible interest to veterans is provided below:

2020 Legislative Information

You may check the status of proposed legislation by visiting the:

Maryland General Assembly Website

Free Seedlings for Kent, Queen Anne’s County

‘Backyard Buffers’ Available to Riparian Homeowners

Landowners in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream, or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free tree seedlings through the department’s Backyard Buffer program. Reservation deadline is March 20, and pickup will be scheduled in early April. Read more.

Federal News

VA Health Services for Women Leaving the Military

Census Jobs for Veterans

2020 National Veterans Day Poster Contest

Registration Opens March 2nd for National Veterans Golden Age Games

Community Organizations May Apply for Adaptive Sports Grants to Aid Veterans

Registration Open for 2020 for National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic

VA Coronavirus and Flu Update

Friends of the Historic Baltimore National Cemetery Complex:

Anne Arundel County Fire Department will host a Memorial Ceremony at 10am on Sunday, March 8, 2020 at Baltimore National Cemetery to remember Firefighter and World War II Navy veteran Douglas Whitehead on the 51st anniversary of his passing while in the line of duty.

Baltimore National Cemetery is located at 5501 Frederick Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228. There is parking at the cemetery. Please follow the directions of the cemetery staff when you drive onto the facility. For more information, contact the cemetery staff at 410-644-9696.

Please note it is the same day Daylight Savings Time begins so don't forget to set your clocks to arrive at the ceremony on time.

We have also posted this event on our Facebook page (@NatCemBaltimore) at https://www.facebook.com/events/2276130676020545/

vr

Mike Brophy

Michael D. Brophy

Director

Historic Baltimore National Cemetery Complex

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

Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance: Brochure and Information

Veteran Volunteers Needed to help with Youth Fishing Rodeo on May 16, 2020 in Clarksburg - to Celebrate Armed Forces Day  Flier and Registration

The Fort Meade Garrison and the General George G. Meade Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars invite your organization to participate in a Memorial Day Ceremony and Thirty-Fourth Annual Massing of the Colors: More Information

Scholarship: From the Military to Mercy College to Math Teacher - More Information

Save the Date for Melwood Events:

Community Calendar

February 29, 2019

34th Consecutive NABVETS African American Patriots Day, War Memorial Building, Baltimore

March 4, 2020

2nd Annual Women Veterans Day, Annapolis  Information and Registration

Project Opportunity Orientation Class, Largo

March 9, 2020

Maryland Veterans Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Ceremony, Annapolis, Flier and More Information

March 14, 2020

Introduction to Hero Dogs, Brookeville

March 18, 2020

Project Opportunity - Free Entrepreneur Training for Veterans, Largo (10 week course)

TechExpo Top Secret Hiring & Networking Event, Columbia

March 19, 2020

Veterans Claims Clinic & Resource Fair, Westminster

Multi-Department Hiring Event, Town of Ocean City

March 22, 2020

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration, sponsored by Gilchrist, Baltimore

March 27, 2020

Howard Community College Spring Job Fair, Columbia

March 29, 2020

Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran Commemoration, Triangle, VA

March 30, 2020

Hope and Healing for Heroes. A Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans, sponsored by Hospice of the Chesapeake, Edgewater

April 1, 2020

Free Dental Clinic, Baltimore

Photos from Around the State

Correction from previous edition of MDVA e-newsletter: American Legion Stallings-Williams Post 206 makes a $10,000 donation to Fisher House located at Joint Base Andrews. From Right to left: MDVA Secretary George Owings (a Post 206 member), Suzanne Curren, President of JB Andrews Fisher House Inc., AlTraveese Young, Assistant Manager for JB Andrews Fisher House, Post 206 Commander Les Griffith, Lt. Colonel Veronica Harris, USAF (ret) and Manager JB Andrews Fisher House, and former Post 206 Commander Pat McCoy, who now serves as Post 206 Executive Committeewoman/National Executive Committeewoman.  This donation presentation was held on Feb. 2, 2020 at Post 206 in Chesapeake Beach.