MDVA Cemetery & Memorials Program

The State of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) are honored to offer our veterans, National Guard, Reservists and their eligible dependents a final resting place at one of five state veterans cemeteries located throughout Maryland. The MDVA Cemetery Program is the largest of its kind in the nation.  In addition, the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs manages several Veteran Memorials.  The Maryland World War II Memorial and the Gold Star Families Monument are in Annapolis, and the Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial are in Baltimore. For the Cemetery Program, a Pre-interment application may be completed to indicate your request to be buried in one of the state’s Veteran cemeteries. To apply, complete the Pre-interment application and mail to your chosen cemetery location.   Read More about the MDVA Cemetery & Memorials Program

During inclement weather, the removal of flags is covered under Title 4 U.S.C § 6. (c) – Flag and Seal, Seat of Government, and the States.  The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs displays all weather flags but they are not designed to withstand gale force winds.  Cables or weights can become detached during high winds and lead to personal injury.  On days when the weather service has posted a wind advisory, the department may remove flags from cemeteries and memorials until it is safe to restore them.  Thank you for understanding.

MDVA Website

Event Link

* Additional Featured Military Women Leaders Panelist: Lieutenant General Jody J. Daniels, Commanding General, US Army Reserve Command

On March 21st, MDVA Secretary Anthony Woods visited Warrior Canine Connection's (WCC) service dog training facility in Germantown.  WCC recently received a grant from MDVA's Service Animal Grant Program to establish a service dog training program at the Jessup Correctional Facility. The program will enlist and instruct incarcerated veterans to train the service dogs for placement with other veterans.

Photo credit: Toni Gianforti

MDVA Deputy Secretary Robert Finn (right), presents a Proclamation to the American Legion National Commander Jim Troiola, during his recent visit to Maryland.  On the left is American Legion Department of Maryland Commander Ronald Holcombe.  Commander Holcombe is also a member of the Maryland Veterans Commission.

MDVA Deputy Secretary Robert Finn, recently spoke to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Chapter 306 in Hagerstown.

Governor Wes Moore and MDVA Secretary Anthony Woods join others in testifying in support of the Keep Our Heroes Home Act (HB 554/SB 553).

Maryland Insurance Administration Invites You:

Come join this virtual open house to learn how to reduce your flood risk with experts on hand to answer your questions. Stop by to enjoy any or all virtual sessions: Know your flood risk & flood mapping tools, Flood Insurance, Flood Proofing your House, and Preparing for a Flood. Feel free to send any flood questions beforehand to Maryland.SilverJackets@usace.army.mil.

Marylanders who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis should call or text 988. Learn more at 988.maryland.gov and access free community outreach materials in our 988 Toolkit. Find 988 cards targeting students and schools as well as free promotional materials for all Marylanders (including posters, ads, magnets, and more) to promote this important service. Maryland veterans and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1 to transfer to the Veterans Crisis Line, press 2 for Spanish.

Trained Military Assistance Provider

The Trained Military Assistance Provider (TMAP) Program is an essential part of Maryland's plan to end suicide in our service members, veterans, and their families. This curriculum is free for Maryland-based nurses, doctors and all primary care staff interested in learning more about military culture, crisis response planning and suicide prevention strategies, and lethal means safety protocols focused on service members, veterans and their families (SMVF). Enroll now.

2023 Session of the Maryland General Assembly has Convened

The Maryland General Assembly is currently meeting in Annapolis for the 2023 Legislative Session.  As a service to the veteran community, information on proposed legislation of possible interest to veterans is provided below:

2023 Legislative Information

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

Maryland General Assembly Website

March 27th: Silver Spring Vet Center, Silver Spring

March 29th: Annapolis Vet Center, Annapolis

Please see more Vietnam Veteran events in the Community News section below.

Federal News

Marking the 20-year anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom

VA has support for Veterans thinking of suicide

VA Maryland Health Care System: Health Watch

Options for Proving you are a Veteran - How to Get a Veteran ID Card

April 19th: Welcome2VA Event - All Post 9/11 Service Members and Veterans are invited to join our Welcome2VA Series 

April 19th: VA Financial Education Wellness Wednesday, Virtual

VA April Class Schedule for Financial Literacy Month, Virtual

VA releases new Mission Statement

VA continues aggressive nationwide outreach to assist Veterans impacted by toxic exposures

VA homeless programs evolving to support aging Veterans

Always download the latest VA PDF forms from the VA Forms website

Live Whole Health #162: Connecting Mind and Body 3, Sensation of Grounding

Live Whole Health #161: Finding what you're looking for

New VA Life Insurance Program

PGA Hope: Golf for Veterans

VetServe 2023: Mark your calendar, national day of service is April 21

Stars and Stripes Veterans Benefits Guide is now available online

IRS: Free tax preparation for Veterans who qualify

The Veterans Curation Program is hiring Veterans

VA Maryland Health Care Facilities

The 99^th Retirement Services Office will be at Ft. Myer, VA (DC) 1-2 April 2023 and Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD 17-18 June 2023 to conduct a retirement services seminar. This event will provide in detailed information on your retirement benefits, the retirement timeline, and step by step instructions for the retired pay application. You will receive an in-person briefs from HRC Grey Area Retirement Branch, VA, Tricare, DFAS, and P3. You will also have access to one on one assistance from each representatives to answer your questions and reconcile any issues.

If you are a TPU, IMA, IRR, or NG Soldier already in the GREY AREA (retired/retired reserves).....WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

To register for Ft. Myer, VA (DC) 1-2 April 2023, please use the link below:

Pre-Retirement Seminar / 1-2 April 2023 / In-Person Ft. Myer, VA (afit.edu)

To register for the APG, MD 17-18 June 2023 event, please use the link below:

https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=692347&k=0468400A7F50

To view the 99TH RD FY23 calendar, please see the attached flyer. Hyperlinks are provided with each date should you rather rsvp for a different date/location. 

Should you want a virtual option, use link provided below to find all events: 

https://www.usar.army.mil/Retirement/

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

Other Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Events:

March 26th: American Legion Jamison-Harrison Post 238, Hughesville

March 27th: Silver Spring Vet Center, Silver Spring

March 29th: Annapolis Vet Center, Annapolis

March 29th: Platoon 22 Boots and Banter Coffee Social, Frederick

March 29th: Montgomery County Public Libraries Presents: Dog Tag, Silver Spring

May 11-13: WELCOME HOME! A Nation Honors our Vietnam Veterans and their Families, National Mall, Washington, DC

Women Veterans United Committee, Inc. 

Greetings,

I'd like to cordially invite you to be our guest during the Grand Finale of our 6 Month Campaign on Mental Health Awareness (Call to Action) and Suicide Prevention (Plan of Action) on April 15, 2023. This event will be held at the Art Gallery on the Maryland National Harbor.

Please register 

Community Calendar

March 25, 2023

Gilchrist's 5th Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans

PACT Act Awareness Event - Veteran and Survivors Claims Assistance, Gaithersburg

March 26, 2023

American Legion's Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans, Hughesville

March 27, 2023

Vietnam Veterans Celebration, Silver Spring Vet Center, Silver Spring

March 28, 2023

Blue Star Families: Women's History Month Tour of the Military Women's Memorial, Arlington

March 29, 2023

Veteran Resource Fair, Baltimore

Annapolis Vet Center Vietnam Veteran's Day Commemoration

Platoon 22 Books and Banter Coffee Social, Frederick

Montgomery County Library Presents: Dog Tag, Silver Spring

March 31, 2023

Warrior Wellness: Adaptive Yoga & Trauma Informed Practice for the Military Community, sponsored by Platoon 22, Frederick

April 6, 2023

Veterans Job Club, Baltimore

April 7, 2023

Southern Maryland Spring Community Resource Event, Waldorf

April 12, 2023

Prince George's County Vet Center Therapeutic Outing to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, RSVP required

April 13, 2023

Golf Fundraiser for Baltimore Station, Baltimore

April 18, 2023

Military Officers & Spouses 2023 Job Fair, Arlington

April 19, 2023

Welcome2VA Event, Virtual Register

April 27, 2023

2023 Women Veteran Entrepreneurs Virtual Conference

April 29, 2023

Discovering Horses Clinic, Pre-register to hold your spot, Monkton

Chesapeake Cycling Club's C3 - Tri-County Classic supporting Wounded Warriors, Easton

May 4-7, 2023

Warriors At Ease Combined Yoga & Meditation Training, Takoma Park

May 7, 2023

2nd Annual Veterans Celebration of Carroll County, Westminster

May 9, 2023

Annapolis Vet Center Community Open House & Resource Fair, Annapolis

May 11-13, 2023

WELCOME HOME! A Nation Honors our Vietnam Veterans and their Families, Washington, DC

May 25 - 29, 2023

The Eyes of Freedom Traveling Exhibit, Hereford High School, Parkton

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.