2020 is the Year of the Woman in Maryland
Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed 2020 to be the Year of the Woman in Maryland.
#MarylandYOW
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, Dena Allen-Few who serves on the Maryland College Collaboration for Student Veterans Commission is featured. Dena provided the following information:
Dena Allen-Few served in the Army Reserves from 1999 to 2006, activated for a deployment to Iraq in 2002. When pursuing higher education Towson University was an obvious choice, due to the military-friendly culture on campus. Dena graduated with a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources in May 2019. She will begin pursuing her MBA at the University of Maryland Global Campus in July.
While attending Towson University as a full-time student utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Dena started her career in Higher Education. She is the Program Management Specialist/School Certifying Official within the Towson University Military and Veterans Center. Dena acts as an education liaison between Veterans Affairs and Towson University. She has been recognized across the Towson University campus for the work she does for military-affiliated students.
Dena is happily married to Troy Few for over 8 years. They have two dogs together, Paquito Allen-Few and Emma. When she is not busy with work or school, she has a wonderful social life.
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MDVA Builds Virtual Remembrance Wall In Advance of
Memorial Day
"Flanders Fields", authored by Lt. Col. John McCrae, is a poem written during some of the most fierce battles of World War I. It was written from the perspective of the fallen and directs survivors to keep living.
Because of this directive, MDVA is launching a virtual remembrance wall. The fallen tell us in the poem, “to you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high”.
MVDA is seeking stories of our fallen, reflections on their lives and narratives on what our fallen would have us know about the torch they wish us to hold high.
Remembrances will be shared on our website, in our electronic newsletter, and on social media. Please consider also sharing photos. We will include their stories in a virtual Memorial Day message at 11:00AM on May 23, 2020. Throughout the year, we will add to the wall.
If you would like to share a remembrance message about a friend or family member, please email remembrance.wall@maryland.gov and provide the following information (feel free to copy and paste the text below in to your email).
MDVA Virtual Remembrance Wall Information
Your name: (please confirm if OK to publically share your name)
Your email:
Your relation to the service member:
Service members name:
Branch of service:
Years of service:
In what era did they serve (World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War to Present, Other):
Brief narrative of their service:
What would they would want the living to know:
By sending this email, the sender agrees to have the information contained therein shared on the MDVA website and other MDVA social media channels.
Thank you for supporting the MDVA and for honoring the fallen in this manner.
Questions regarding the Remembrance Wall can be directed to remembrance.wall@maryland.gov
MDVA Cemetery Visitation Hours
Adjustments will be made to the public visitation hours at MDVA Cemeteries effective Saturday, May 9, 2020: More Information Here
Effective Saturday, May 9, 2020 all five state veteran cemeteries will be open to visitors, with adjustments to hours. Administrative buildings, shelters, and restrooms will remain closed. To locate a grave in advance of visiting, please visit the Nationwide Gravesite Locator.
If you plan to visit one of the MDVA cemeteries, please follow guidance from the CDC and Maryland Governor by wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
Cemetery Program Hours:
Visiting Monday-Friday 1:00PM - 4:45PM
Saturday-Sunday 8:00AM - 4:45PM
Burials Monday-Friday 9:00AM - 12:00PM
For more information on the cemetery program visit: MDVA Cemetery and Memorial Program
Thank you for your continued understanding during this time.
While MDVA Service offices may be closed to the public at this time, MDVA Veterans Benefits Specialists (VBS) remain available to assist veterans and dependents with filing VA Claims for benefits. Please contact your local service office to leave a message for a VBS.
What can you expect when you contact your local office? Customers will receive a call back within 48 hours after a message is left. Please leave a detailed message with your name, phone number and email, if available. Veteran Benefits Specialists continue to provide updates on pending claims and to consult on the preparation and submission of new claims.
Learn more about the MDVA Service Program here.
Learn more about State and Federal VA benefits here.
For updates on all MDVA Operations Status, please check the MDVA website:
 On Monday, May 4th - members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus and the Maryland Veterans Caucus delivered over $5,000 of toiletries and personal care items for the residents of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home (CHVH). This effort was organized by Delegate Mike Rogers of Anne Arundel County.
We have done our best to identify individuals in this photo, but with everyone wearing masks and socially distancing - please forgive any errors, as they are unintentional. From left to right: Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield, Delegate Darryl Barnes, Delegate Brian Crosby, CHVH Director of Housekeeping Julia Thomas, Delegate Mike Rogers, CHVH Administrator Russell Keogler, Delegate Pat Young, CHVH Director of Nursing Jimiere Smith, CHVH Director of Recreational Services Ashley Radano, MDVA Inventory Compliance Specialist Tom Johnson, MDVA Deputy Director Rodney Jones, CHVH Assistant Administrator Kristopher Brown, MDVA Secretary George Owings, CHVH Lifetime Volunteer John Curran. More photos of these very generous donations may be found by scrolling to the end of this newsletter.
Southern Maryland News article
Thank you to all who participated in this effort to support the residents of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home.
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