MDVA holds Dedication Ceremony at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery

Governor Larry Hogan joined the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) for the official dedication of a new administration building at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, which is the result of a federal-state partnership.  The cemetery received two grants totaling $15.9 million from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration’s Veteran Cemetery Grants Program to move forward with a number of major expansion efforts. The project includes a new 3,000 square foot administration building, the addition of 8,200 burial sites, as well as major renovations of the maintenance building, vehicle storage building, and bulk storage building. Read More Here   More Photos

Photo courtesy of the Executive Office of the Governor

MDVA Website

A ceremony was held at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery for five unaccompanied Veterans.  In the photo above, the Members of the National Guard Honor Guard from Maryland's Eastern Shore folded the American flag during the ceremony.

An estimated 250 members of the public attended the ceremony, including Gold Star Mothers, Active Duty Service Members, Scout Troops, Veterans Service Organization members and many others.

Charlotte Hall Veterans Home has a new dedicated ambulance to serve the residents.  The ambulance and EMS staff will be stationed at the Veterans Home and St. Mary's County will be providing the personnel and other needed equipment to support the ambulance. There are so many state, county and community partners to thank, that if we began to list them we would risk missing someone, so we are going to send out a heartfelt thanks to all who helped support and move this project along.  The Charlotte Hall Veterans Home residents are safer for your efforts and we cannot thank you enough!

Mr. Cole Romberger standing next to Gus (the horse) of Expedition Orange visited with the residents of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home on July 28^th. The residents adored Gus and appreciated the Orange Bandana Salute.  Expedition Orange also donated $4,675.00 to the Veterans Assistance Fund for Vietnam Veterans living at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home.  Expedition Orange is a cross country horseback ride to raise awareness for Vietnam Veterans suffering from conditions related to Agent Orange exposure.  https://expeditionorange.org/

Charlotte Hall Veterans Home has published the August Newsletter.

MDVA Service and Benefits Program Benefits Specialists will be onsite at this event.

NOTICE: The MDVA Newsletter will not be published on Friday, August 26th. The next edition of the MDVA newsletter will be sent out on Friday, September 9, 2022.

Governor's Office of Small, Minority and Women Owned Business Affairs

Stay connected to the many opportunities for training, networking, and business development that are taking place across Maryland and on virtual platforms. Here is a highlight of some of the events coming up this month.  08/15/2022 - Understanding Financial Statements 08/16/2022 - Let's Talk Funding with MCE 08/18/2022 - Convincing a Prime to Put You on Their Team 08/19/2022 - Elements of a Commercial Lease 08/23/2022 - Writing a Business Plan to Access Capital & Maximize Growth 08/25/2022 - Subcontracting in Maryland's Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program 09/06/2022 - MBE Application Assistance Workshop Check out the full listing of small business events online at goMDsmallbiz.maryland.gov.

August Message from Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio:

I know we are not supposed to have favorites, but one of my favorite programs at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is our conservation corps. These important programs provide workforce and leadership training to youth and veterans, which is important not just for our department, but for the future of our state.

For returning veterans, the Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC) empowers and engages them in conservation service work on public lands. The VCC’s work in state parks uses veterans’ unique background, diverse job skills, and service ethic to address pressing conservation needs on public lands. The focus of the VCC is to develop veterans professionally through training and on-the-job experience through full-time, paid, year-round positions.

Read More Here

National Grief Awareness Day: Aug. 30

Understand the signs of grief and loss 

National Grief Awareness Day is August 30. Grief affects everyone differently and there are various stages/phases of grief. Explore resources about this important topic. 

• The Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration outlines signs and symptoms of different types of grief and corresponding resources: Grief and Loss Resources
• There is no right or wrong way to grieve. This article outlines various stages of grief and provides tools and strategies for coping: Coping with Grief and Loss - HelpGuide.org
• Read about bereaved adults in this National Institutes of Health article: Coping with loss: Bereavement in adult life
• Learn how grief and loss affect your brain and why it takes time to adapt: Health News: NPR

The Coast Guard Day Celebration for the 232nd birthday of the Coast Guard was held at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay on August 4th.  The temperature reached 99 degrees, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the more than 1,000 Coast Guard and civilian personnel, as well as retirees and family members who enjoyed the food and fun at the event. In this photo are from left to right: Christopher Stewart, MWR Director, USCG Yard, Captain David Obermeier, USCG Yard Commanding Officer, Denise Nooe, MDVA, and Steve Fyfe, Del Estrella, & Nathan Studgeon, all representing the United States VA Vet Centers.  Captain Obermeier was able to keep cool, by volunteering for the dunk tank.

VA Caregiver Support Program

Spirituality and Grief On Friday, August 5, 2022, join the CSP Peer Support Mentoring (PSM) Program and the VA National Chaplain Office for their monthly spirituality call. This month’s call will focus on Spirituality and Grief, and is open to caregivers of Veterans enrolled in the Program of General Caregiver Support Services or the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. The call will be held on: Time: 12:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. CT; 10:00 a.m.; MT; 9:00 a.m. Pacific) Meeting call-in number: 1-833-558-0712 (USA Toll-free); Meeting access code: 2762 030 9378 For more information about future PSM calls, visit CSP’s Events page.

Federal News

The new PACT Act and your benefits

More Pact Act Information - Video

Save the Date: September 1st - VA Mental Health Summit

New Veterans Crisis Line number - Dial 988 then Press 1

Women Veterans' preventative health care resources

New feature expands Veterans' ability to customize VA profile

Live Whole Health #130: Body Scan with Loving Kindness Phrases

Live Whole Health #131: The gift of music and movement

Live Whole Health #132: Tai Chi Warm-Ups

Veterans receive free access to online small business library

WHAT: Joint Mental Health Summit 2022: Social Determinants of Health & Vulnerable Veteran Populations

WHO: VA staff from VA Maryland, Beckley, Clarksburg, and Washington D.C. & Community Partners

WHEN: Thursday September 1^st, 8:30am-12:30pm

WHY: Engage with VA mental health staff and community partners to learn about how social determinants of health affect urban and rural vulnerable Veteran populations, while considering access to care, suicide prevention strategies, and how factors like racial discrimination and the criminal justice system play a role in healthcare

WHERE: Virtual conference via WebEx. A meeting link will be sent later in August.  

**Free CEs will be available for VA and non-VA attendees: ANCC, ACCME, AAPA, ASWB/NYSED, AOTA, APA/NYSED, NBCC**

This summit is appropriate for non-profit and other Veteran-centric organizations, mental health providers, counselors and social workers.

Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program Update

Limited PSLF Waiver Available Until October 31, 2022

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a Limited Waiver to federal PSLF program rules, which allows borrowers who had the wrong type of loans or payments to get credit for past periods.  The waiver is available to borrowers until October 31, 2022. You can learn more about the waiver here. 

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

Check out Blue Star Families Upcoming Events: Here

Voices of Vets has a new website. Also save the date: October 1, 2022 for the 4th Annual VOICERAISER.

Women Veterans United Committee, Inc. announces the 5th Annual Retreat 2022 scheduled for August 26th through August 28th.  The organization is also collecting donations for the Women Veteran Baby Shower: Flier and  More Information, Donations Needed & Drop-off Locations.  

Save the Date: 11/10/22 Disabled Veterans National Foundation Veterans Resource Fair, Silver Spring

Project Opportunity provides free entrepreneurship education, training, coaching and a supportive community for veterans in pursuit of owning a successful small business.

Upcoming classes:

Baltimore Fall Class

Spouses of Veterans, Active Duty, and Guard/Reserve Personnel Fall Class, Linthicum

Harford County Fall Class, Havre de Grace

Montgomery County Fall Class, Takoma Park

Prince George's County Fall Class, Largo

Southern Maryland Fall Class, La Plata

Community Calendar

August 17, 2022

USDA Virtual Career Fair for Veterans, Transitioning Service Members & Spouses

DC Bourbiz at MGM National Harbor for Veteran & Military Spouse Networking

August 18, 2022

The Baltimore Station Fundraiser at Bengies Drive-in, Baltimore

August 23, 2022

Patuxent River Job Fair

August 25, 2022

Joint Base Andrews Job Fair

September 7, 2022

VA Claims Clinic, Bel Air

September 8, 2022

Dog Tag Bakery Virtual Open House

September 9 & 10, 2022

Women Veterans Alliance - Women Veterans Engage Mid-Atlantic Region, Greenbelt & Virtual

September 10, 2022

Military & First Responder Appreciation Day at Maryland State Fair, Timonium

September 10-11, 2022

Lacrosse Shootout for Soldiers, Sparks Glencoe

September 22, 2022

Job Fair, Woodlawn

Message for New Subscribers:

Is this your first edition of the MDVA newsletter?  If so, welcome!  You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up to receive it from our website or you gave permission to an MDVA program, the MD Motor Vehicle Administration or MD Department of Labor to receive information on VA benefits and resources.  We at MDVA respect your privacy and DO NOT share your email address.  We hope you enjoy receiving our bi-weekly newsletter and find it both educational and engaging.  If you have questions about our Department, our Programs, or your VA benefits, please visit veterans.maryland.gov or call 410-260-3838.