Message from Secretary Anthony Woods:

Dear Friends, This week marked the first annual observance of Veteran Suicide Prevention Awareness Day in Maryland on September 30th. It has made me reflect on the persistent challenge of suicide attempts and completions within our community.  Being part of the military-connected community is one of the greatest privileges of my life. It’s a community that’s strong, resilient, and always looks out for one another. We share a deep bond of service and sacrifice — one that enriches our lives in countless ways. But, as many of us know too well, this shared experience also comes with deep loss. Many of us have lost someone to suicide, whether it was a friend, a fellow service member, or in my case, my mother, an Air Force veteran. The pain of these losses is profound, and sadly, they’re far too common within our community. That’s why we all have a responsibility to recognize the signs of suicide risk and act when we see them. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions like, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”. Direct conversations can be life-saving. If you know a veteran who needs help, encourage them to call 988 and press 1 for veteran-specific support. Together, we can be there for one another — just like this community has always been. Sincerely, Tony

Secretary Woods attended the Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) Wounded Warrior Regatta.  CRAB provides therapeutic sailing opportunities to Wounded Warriors and others. 

DVMF Website

John Lombardi, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home Director on the left, accepts a very generous donation from John Parlett, Jr., President of Crusin' Southern Maryland.  Crusin' Southern Maryland is a strong supporter of the residents of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home and to date, the organization has raised over $200,000 which supports comfort items for the residents.

DVMF Deputy Secretary Ross Cohen attended the Ship Naming Ceremony for the USS Baltimore (SSN-812). The ceremony was held aboard the USS Constellation at the Baltimore harbor.

Dana Burl, DVMF Deputy Secretary for Military Families spoke at the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival on the benefits of music for those who have experienced trauma. Organizers, Gary Canteen is on the left and John Way is on the right.

Governor Moore met with U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer and other elected officials to tour the Naval Support Facility at Indian Head, the Navy’s first base in southern Maryland and the oldest continuously operating naval ordnance base in the country. The base is home to the Smart Arsenal and the Energetics Comprehensive Modernization Plan. The base is the largest employer in Charles County with 4,771 direct and indirect jobs and exceeds $700 million in annual revenue. 

Photo courtesy of the Executive Office of the Governor

Register

Maryland Senator Sarah Elfreth and Delegate Dana Jones place a wreath at the Missing Man Table on POW/MIA Recognition Day.  The location is the World War II Memorial overlooking the U. S. Naval Academy and the Severn River in Annapolis. Eye on Annapolis article.

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

Training, networking, and business development events are taking place across the state. Here is a highlight of some of the events coming up this month. Visit the Events page of our website to view a complete list of small business events. goMDsmallbiz.maryland.gov. 10/07/2024 - Start-Up Accelerator Series: Planning for Your Business Ownership Journey 10/10/2024 - Understanding Commercial Leases 10/15/2024 - Doing Business with Maryland Casinos: Ocean Downs Casino 10/22/2024 - T.I.P.S. Small Business Webinar: MBE Rights & Responsibilities 10/23/2024 - Getting Down to Business with Whiting Turner 10/24/2024 - T.I.P.S. Small Business Webinar: A.I. In Government Acquisitions & Contracting 10/29/2024 - How to Respond to the Top 10 Sales Objections 10/31/2024 - Budgets & Forecasts for Your Small Business Made Simple

Register

News from the Maryland Department of Aging

Addressing Ageism: An Introduction to Reframing Aging Ageism Awareness Day Webinar Wednesday, October 9, 2024 12:00-1:00pm Register for free at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fyhulRmaSX6Em6jvEJl0zg

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

NDEAM celebrates the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. The 2024 NDEAM theme is: “Access to Good Jobs for All.”  [ NDEAM link https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam ]

The Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) partners with people with disabilities who want to maintain employment or become employed, by providing services such as career assessment and counseling, assistive technology, job training, higher education and job placement. DORS also has specialized programs for students with disabilities to prepare them for work.

Learn more about DORS at dors.maryland.gov

The Maryland Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration provided this information on Burial Assistance:

Read More Here

More Information

News from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Fall 2024 Trout Stocking to Begin Across Maryland

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will begin fall trout stocking in early October as soon as water levels and temperatures are acceptable for trout. The department is making changes to trout stocking in response to survey feedback from trout anglers and environmental conditions this past summer. Read more. 

Maryland's Small Game and Wild Turkey Seasons Provide Abundant Fall Hunting Opportunities

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that squirrel, rabbit, fall turkey, and other small game seasons are either underway or set to open in the coming weeks. Squirrel season opened September 2 with a bag limit of six per day. Read more

Federal News

More service members eligible for benefits after VA amends character of discharge barriers

VA expands online notice availability for Veterans

Preventing Veteran and caregiver suicide

VA offers resources for suicide loss survivors

Beyond the call: Understanding the Veterans Crisis Line

Tele-emergency care through VA Health Connect

A beginner's guide to Veteran Homelessness

What services does VA provide for breast health?

Oct. 16th: Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness event

PREVENTABLE: Join a groundbreaking research study

Protecting yourself and others with vaccinations

Live Whole Health #240: You can do yoga

October 21 - 25: Veterans Buddy Check Week

Overview of the National Cemetery Administration Pre-Eligibility and VA Burial Benefits

44th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games will be held in Minneapolis

Deadline extended to October 30th for nominations for Women Veteran Trailblazers

Don't be haunted by the hacks

VA Press Release: VA proposes new legal service grant program to help Veterans upgrade their military discharge status and increase access to earned benefits

The latest issue of the newsletter Military Exposures & Your Health is now online at https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/publications/military-exposures/meyh-14/index.asp.  Military Exposures & Your Health is a quarterly newsletter for Veterans with service from 1990 to the present.

In this issue, learn about:

• The redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry
• The fourth wave of the Gulf War Era Cohort Study
• The second annual Karshi-Khanabad Community Forum
• Education for health professionals in military environmental exposures.

Each year, millions of people get sick from serious illnesses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV. Vaccines are your best protection — and they're covered by Medicare.

If you're 65 or older, it's especially important to stay up to date on your vaccines:

• People 65 or older should get an updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. If you've recently had COVID-19, you can wait 3 months to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
• For better protection against flu, the CDC recommends people 65 or older get one of the higher-dose flu vaccines, if available.
• The CDC recommends the RSV vaccinefor people ages 60–74 who are at increased risk, and for everyone 75 or older.

Pharmacies Near You

Medicare drug coverage (Part D) also covers vaccines for shingles, tetanus-diphtheria-whooping cough (TDAP), and more at no cost. Talk with your doctor about which vaccines can help you stay healthy this fall and winter!

Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

Nominate Now for the 2025 Small Business Week Awards 

Do you or someone you know have what it takes to become America’s 2025 Small Business Person of the Year?

Visit the SBA’s dedicated website at www.sba.gov/nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a National nomination.

The Baltimore District Office local award categories and guidelines can be found here. 

Join one of our free one-hour webinars to learn more about the program, category guidelines & how to submit your nomination.  

You’re invited to a virtual public listening session on VA’s plan to assess the possibility of a relationship between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and kidney cancer. VA will also ask for input for on future assessments during this listening session.

Join us on Webex from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. ET on November 19. Please be aware that space is limited to 30 slots for speakers. To listen or provide feedback, you must register by November 15.  

Learn more and register at Federal Register : Notice of Plans To Assess the Current Scientific Literature and Historical Detailed Claims Data Regarding Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Kidney Cancer

For Your Information

The Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families 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 DVMF.  The information provided is intended for your general knowledge only, and serves solely as a DVMF community outreach effort.

Community Calendar

October 4, 2024

1st Friday Vetworking Brunch & Business Card Exchange, Elkridge

1st Friday Vetworking Social + D9 Military Meetup, Hanover

October 4 - 6, 2024 

Weekend Warrior including multiple events: Poker Run, Warrior Bike Ride, Happy Hour & Live Music and Crab Feast, Perry Point & Cecil County, More Information & Registration

October 5, 2024 

The Mission Continues, Baltimore Platoon Volunteer Opportunity, Baltimore

Glass Soldier Workshop, Reveille Grounds, Baltimore, Registration

October 7 - 11, 2024

Tour de Maryland Adaptive Cycling event, Five Counties

You Are Not Alone Mental Health Awareness Project, Temple Hills

October 9, 2024 

Serving Together in Calvert County, Lusby

October 10, 2024

VA Claims Clinic & Resource Fair, Baltimore

Chili Cook-off, Baltimore

October 11 & 12, 2024 

3rd Annual Veteran Owned Small Business Conference sponsored by the Maryland Department of Labor, Linthicum, Register

October 12, 2024

Suicide Awareness Training, American Legion Post 175, Severna Park

Out of Darkness Community Walk for Suicide Prevention, Salisbury

DAV Department of Maryland Veterans Claims Clinic, Dundalk

Lifeline Horse Rescue and LETS Program 2024 Fall Open House, Gaithersburg

Women Veteran Spooky Craft Fun, Leonardtown

Pink & White Sneaker Party to benefit Cancer Research sponsored by VFW Aux 9619, Morningside

October 16, 2024

State Highway Administration Engineering and College Career Fair, Baltimore

Women Veteran Wednesdays sponsored by Easterseals

Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowship Information Session, Virtual

VA Breast Cancer & Domestic Violence Awareness event

October 17, 2024

Maryland's Commitment to Veterans October Workshop, Virtual, Topic: Intimate Partner Violence

October 19, 2024

Ft. Meade Fall Fest, Ft. Meade PX, additional information

October 20, 2024

Cake/Baked Goods auction to benefit Platoon 22 sponsored by International Harvester Collectors Club Chapter 39, Ijamsville

October 24, 2024 

Salute to Heroes Gala, Greenbelt

October 25, 2024

Ft. Meade Retiree Appreciation Day, Ft. Meade, Retiree Newsletter

Serving Together in Calvert County, Lusby

Fidos for Freedom Fundraiser, Greenbelt

Operation Second Chance Halloween Workshop, Leonardtown

October 26, 2024

A Day at Ease, Union Bridge, Register

October 27, 2024

Lifeline Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation, Light Warrior: Loving All Parts of Yourself, Gaithersburg

October 29, 2024

Veteran Job and Resource Fair, LaPlata, Flier

Safe Firearm Storage Workshop, Columbia

October 30, 2024 

Welcome to the Workforce - LinkedIn Learning, Cover Letter and AI Use, Baltimore, sponsored by Blue Star Families

Base Camp: Veterans Career and Resource Session sponsored by Prince George's County Office of Veterans Affairs, Virtual

Power of Age Expo 2024, includes Veterans Muster, Timonium

Community News

Baltimore County is looking for 988 Veterans and Military Ambassadors - Read More Here

2024 Women Veterans Baby Shower is seeking donations by Nov. 17th

VETMotorsports Hosts Autocross Event.

Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, veterans with service-connected injuries, and Gold Star Parents are invited to take part in a high-performance driving experience on a closed course! Entry fees are fully covered for this "Bring Your Car" autocross event. Drivers are encouraged to bring their own vehicles, but all participants are welcome to ride along with any willing competitor. Loaner helmets will be provided for those who need them.

To participate, please email us at vetmotorsports@gmail.com with "Autocross Event" in the subject line.

Event Details:

- Date: October 13, 2024

Location: Waldorf, MD

Listen to the Veterans SITREP podcast. Every Thursday at 6:30 PM, host Colonel Bill Montgomery (U.S. Army, Retired) will interview featured guests. The program will be broadcast live on WHFC 91.1 FM, live streamed, and become available on the WHFC Podcast webpage and available on Spotify.

Serving Together hosted a Claims Clinic at the headquarters building in Rockville on September 21st.  Members of the Disabled American Veterans provided claims assistance to those who attended.

At ServingTogether, we provide local veteran resources, information and services to active duty service members, veterans, family members and caregivers in the DMV region free of charge. We do this through coordinated care, community education (Mental Health First Aid, QPR and other classes) and our numerous veterans’ collaboratives. We also provide mental health assessments as a recipient of the Staff Sergent Fox grant program.

Community Resources

ServingTogether, a program of EveryMind, was launched in 2011 to coordinate community-based resources for service members, veterans and their families in the MD/NoVa/DC region. Our mission is to make it easier for all those who have served in the Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves, and their families to access the local services they need.  We have hundreds of dedicated non-profit, state and federal partners that can help with needs from A to Z!

To contact the Care Coordinators, please visit www.servingtogetherproject.org and complete the Get Assistance Now form on the website, or call 1-855-738-7176.

Visit https://servingtogetherproject.org/  for upcoming events, information, helpful guides, checklists and more.  

Community Collaboration

ServingTogether helps to coordinate or is a member of various collaboratives, committees and councils related to our military and veteran community. We chair several community collaboratives that provide an opportunity to network, share, learn and interconnect to other area community providers. To learn more about them, visit: https://servingtogetherproject.org/

News from Community Building Art Works:

Military Voices - October 17th at 3:30pm EST (Virtual) Join Veteran & author Kevin Basl on the first and third Thursdays at 3:30pm EST to learn how to use writing as a tool to communicate, self-discover, and reflect in our series in partnership with Blue Star Families. This program is open to Active Duty, Veterans, Military Spouses & Caregivers. Register at https://bsfcbaw_writing.eventbrite.com

Visual Art Program - Wednesdays at 7pm EST (Virtual)

Interested in visual art? Every Wednesday at 7pm, join Veterans and Artists, Valerie Acosta, Shaun Smith and Joe Merritt to learn something new. To see the schedule and learn more about all Visual Art Programs, please visit our website.

More Than One Story - Next Virtual Orientations - October 8th, November 12th, and December 10th

Our monthly program for Women and Non-Binary Military has begun, but if you are still interested in participating, it's not too late. Interested individuals must attend an upcoming orientation to participate. Visit www.cbaw.org/mtos for more details.

Future Events: Save the Date

November 1 - 3, 2024: Squared Away Weekend, Various locations

November 2, 2024: The Baltimore Station - Stars, Stripes and Chow Chili Cookoff, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Tickets

November 6, 2024: Pact Act Veterans Claims Clinic & VA Health Enrollment Fair, Perry Point

16th Annual Hero Haven - Homeless Stand Down, Martinsburg VA Medical Center

November 8, 2024: Veterans Resource Day, California

November 8, 2024: 2024 Prince George's Senior Veterans Celebration, Greenbelt

November 9, 2024: 2nd Annual Baltimore County Veterans Day hosted by the Baltimore County Commission on Veterans Affairs and the Towson University Military & Veterans Center

November 9, 2024: Veterans Resource Day hosted by the Harford County Commission on Veterans Affairs, Bel Air

November 9, 2024: Baltimore City Veterans Day Parade

November 10, 2024: Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET) 27th Annual Veteran's Day Salute and 5K & 1 Mile Run/Walk/Role, Baltimore

November 10, 2024: Women Veterans Meet & Greet, Leonardtown, Register

November 12, 2024: Veterans Resource Fair, sponsored by Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Silver Spring

November 13, 2024: Community & Veterans Job Fair, Ft. George G. Meade

November 15, 2024: Queen Anne's County Caregiver's Conference, Grasonville

November 26, 2024: Welcome to the Workforce - Making the Most of Your Family and Friends During the Holidays, Virtual, sponsored by Blue Star Families

https://veterans.maryland.gov/maryland-veterans-commission/Maryland Veterans Commissioner CAPT (Ret) Jerome D. Davis, SC, USN and CAPT (Ret) Willie Evans, SC, USN, who is the VFW District 1 Commander for the Department Maryland attended a meeting and briefing with Dr. James Dula, PhD, USAF Retired.  Dr. Dula is the Veterans Affairs Officer and Military Liaison for Prince Georges' County.

Message for New Subscribers:

Is this your first edition of the DVMF 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 DVMF program, the MD Motor Vehicle Administration or MD Department of Labor to receive information on VA benefits and resources.  We at DVMF 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.