Message from Secretary Anthony Woods:

Dear Friends, Happy New Year! The 2025 legislative session is officially underway, and we’re focusing on initiatives that will directly benefit our veterans and military families. This session, we hope to: Modernize veteran commissions to enhance their ability to connect with and support veterans across the state. Expand burial eligibility to National Guard & Reserves, ensuring all who have served are honored with a dignified resting place. Protect veterans from fraud by addressing the growing issue of claims sharks and safeguarding veterans’ economic well-being. Form stronger interstate compacts, making it easier for families to integrate smoothly into new communities. Your voice matters as we work toward these important goals. We encourage you to stay engaged and help us ensure a future where veterans and military families are respected, supported, and protected. Best, Tony

DVMF Website

The Sons of the American Legion made another donation of comfort items at the end of 2024 for the residents of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. In this photo are from left to right: Jerry Darnell, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 136, Sade Herbert, Charlotte Hall Director of Volunteer Services and Tommy Bryant, 2nd Vice Commander, Southern Region.

Charlotte Hall residents also received a donation from the staff of the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities. In this photo are Akosua Osei, Program Manager, Anne Arundel County Veterans Services Coordination Center, Joelle Ridgeway, Anne Arundel Department of Aging and Disabilities and Sade Herbert, Charlotte Hall.

We here at DVMF would like to thank everyone who contributed to gifts and comfort items for the Veterans and spouses who reside at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home.

Southern Maryland News Article: Organization names dog after late Veterans Affairs Secretary

News from the Comptroller's Office:

Date/Time:         January 27^th, 3:00 p.m., virtual

Title:                    Tax Season Resources, Benefits, and Credits for Veterans

Description: This webinar will provide resources through the Maryland Comptroller’s Office identifying tax credits, filing deadlines, ways to file your taxes, and more. Aimed specifically at our veterans, our specialists will present information and take questions!

Registration     

News from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources:

From the Yellow Farm House to the White House: A Journey of Conservation and Connection

Ranger Sarah Milbourne reflects on her decades of experience with bald eagles, from observing our then-endangered national symbol as a child at her grandfather’s farm, to educating the public about them through the Scales & Tales program, and ultimately accompanying two of the birds for a visit with the President of the United States. Read more.

Maryland Fifth Graders Invited to Enter Arbor Day Poster Contest

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Forest Conservancy District Boards invite all Maryland fifth graders in private and public schools to participate in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest.

The theme for 2025 is “Trees Are Terrific…and Forests Are Too!” Entries are accepted until March 3, 2025 (please note this is an updated deadline.) Read more.

Maryland Departments of Natural Resources, Environment Celebrate Milestone of 1 Million Trees Planted

Before the close of 2024, Maryland had planted more than 1 million trees towards the state’s 5 Million Trees Initiative. The state saw a substantial increase in tree plantings in the past year. Read more.

On Hart-Miller Island, Wildlife Abounds in ‘Manmade’ Space

When seasonal ranger Cory Byrne would make his rounds along Hart-Miller Island State Park, he noticed that the foxes would stick around the road, sometimes playing, sometimes snoozing on a rock. Earlier generations of foxes likely swam or crossed over ice to the state park, which is just under a mile offshore from Baltimore County. But these young foxes were born on the island, beneficiaries to a habitat unique in the state. Read more.

Join the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Program for the Fort Meade Amplify + Hiring Event, February 12^th  & 13th!

Attendees will:

• Receive a complimentary professional headshot
• Hear from local and national employers and resources
• Network with local spouses
• Hear from subject matter experts on all things resumes, interviews, networking, and more
• Receive small group/1:1 support with your resume
• Leave with critical tools, resources, and connections to impact your career development
• Additionally, Amplify attendees will receive a complimentary LinkedIn Premium access code

You should attend if you:

Are a Military Spouse 

Are looking to grow your network 

Are reentering the workforce

Making a career pivot or looking to reskill/upskill 

Gain meaningful employment 

Looking to level up in your current career 

Are wanting to connect employers looking to hire military connected talent 

For more information and to register, visit:https://www.hiringourheroes.org/meade-milspouse

Federal News

VA: How we are winning the fight to end Veterans Homelessness

You Asked, We Answered: Why is VA transitioning to Login.gov or ID.me accounts?

Veterans may be eligible for one more year of G.I. Bill benefits

Rudisill Decision Update - Education Benefits

Current VA disability compensation rates

Six suicide prevention resources all Veterans need to know

Five ways women Veterans benefit from Whole Health

Live Whole Health #255: Living with purpose: Intent for the New Year

Achieve Your VA Career Goals with VMS TEP

How Veterans preference can make a difference in your application

Veterans receive free access to small business training

Connect with your community this winter

Sports4Vets registration season is here

Gulf War Veterans:

Read the latest issue of the newsletter Military Exposures & Your Health online at https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/publications/military-exposures/meyh-15/index.asp.  Military Exposures & Your Health is a quarterly newsletter for Veterans with service from 1990 to the present.

This issue contains the following articles:

• All About Environmental Health Registry Assessments
• VA’s Report on the Impact of Jet Fuel Exposure on Health
• VA Completes the First Stage of the Military Working Dog Project to Enhance the Early Identification of Military Environmental Exposure Conditions
• Announcing the New Complex Exposure Threats Center of Excellence

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

January 15, 2025

Women Veteran Wednesdays, Virtual

VA Wellness Wednesdays, Virtual

Winter Job Fair, Gaithersburg

January 16, 2025

Thurmont Veteran Coffee Social

Women Veterans Virtual Learning Lounge: Live Whole Health

January 17, 2025

Middletown Veteran Coffee Talk

January 21, 2025

Prince George's County Veterans Book Group

January 23, 2025

Emmitsburg Veteran Coffee Talk

Veteran & Military Spouse Virtual Job Fair

January 24, 2025

Frederick Veteran Coffee Social

Women's Veterans Breakfast, Lexington Park

January 25, 2025

MOAA Monthly Meeting Invitation, with presentation by DVMF, Ellicott City

Southern Maryland Veterans Empowerment Expo

January 29, 2025

Hiring Our Heroes Virtual Career Summit

Community News

Veterans Growing America Marketplace has a new location in Clarksburg. Flier

Information on the Greenwell Foundation's Veteran Recreational Therapy Retreat Program - Flier

Gold Star Gamers - January Newsletter

JYCC 2025 Adaptive Tennis Events Schedule

What’s New This Session?

• Updated Saturday Times:
  • Para Standing Tennis: 12:30–2:00 PM
  • Veterans Practice & Play: 2:30–4:00 PM
• Adjusted Schedule: Due to court availability, there are a few additional cancellations and breaks in the schedule compared to previous sessions.

Please carefully review the schedule below for specific class dates. To help keep everything clear, registered players will receive calendar invites during the first week of classes.

Register Now for Session III

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.

Project Opportunity offers free entrepreneur training for Veterans in the Spring:

Howard County (orientation scheduled January 30th - flier)

Entrepreneur Training for Spouses of Veterans, Active Duty & Guard/Reserve Personnel, Aberdeen (orientation scheduled for February 19th - flier)

Prince George's County, (orientation scheduled February 20th - flier)

Montgomery County (orientation scheduled for February 24th - flier)

Please join us for Blue Star Families' Spaces for Belonging discussion session for youth and parents with:

Guest Speaker: Shawn G. Skelly, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Biography

Date and Time:  January 15, 2025 from 7:00-8:30pm

Location: Red Cross Headquarters, 430 17th ST NW, Washington, DC 

Join us in-person or virtually for this important discussion to hear more about Ms. Skelly’s experience, time in active service, and her current work in the Office of Personnel and Readiness. She will share her perspective and answer your questions. 

As always, our goal with the Spaces for Belonging program is to provide a safe space for LGBTQIA+ young people and their military affiliated parents to have open conversations and find community,  

Please register here:

Spaces for Belonging: Family Discussion Session | Blue Star Neighborhood

Future Events: Save the Date

February 4, 2025: Operation Annapolis

February 10, 2025: Resilience in Action: How Yoga Can Help First Responders

March 30, 2025: Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by Gilchrist

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.