Message from Secretary Woods:

Dear Friends, Each year, the members of the Maryland Senate and the Maryland House of Delegates pause to honor our Maryland’s fallen service members on the floor of their respective chambers. This year, two Marylanders who were killed in the line of duty were honored: SO1 Christopher Chambers, a Navy SEAL, was lost at sea on January 11, 2024 while conducting operations off the coast of Somalia.   CW2 Andrew Eaves, was an Army aviator and Navy veteran, who lost his life while piloting a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on January 29, 2025 in a tragic air collision.  I was honored to attend these ceremonies and remember these patriots alongside Ms. Lois Chambers, SO1 Chambers’ mother, whose strength and resilience in the face of such tragedy was inspiring.  Ceremonies like these remind us not only of the patriots that have given the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation, but also of their families. Please join us in remembering SO1 Chambers and CW2 Eaves and the families who mourn them.   Sincerely, Tony

Ms. Lois Chambers attends remembrance ceremony in the State House.

A bugler sounds TAPS from the gallery.

Resource List

DVMF Website

Link to tell us your story

Link to survey

CBS news story

Rabbi Chesky and Chani Tenenbaum, Co-Directors of Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland welcomed Heather Geraldes, Executive Director of the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund, and Ross Cohen, Deputy Secretary of Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families to the JUSA Chabad House. The visit included a presentation of a $15,000 grant check to the Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland, which provides vital support and resources to Jewish military personnel, veterans, and their families.

Wellspring of Life Farm (WLF), through their new “Operation Reach” Program, will soon be bringing equine-assisted therapeutic services directly to veterans who find it difficult to otherwise access those services.  WLF, located in Monkton, received grant support recently for the program from the DVMF Service Animal Grant Program, and a special grant from The Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Memorial Foundation to purchase a mobile unit transport van.  In April, WLF will begin weekly outreach programs for underserved veteran communities in Maryland, including medical foster homes, hospice, mental health clinics and outpatient programs on and off VA grounds. WLF will use innovative technology, knowledgeable staff and trained equines to provide these communities with on-site equine therapeutic activities via their mobile unit transport.  Wellspring of Life Farm is one of nine organizations that received funding this year from the DVMF Service Animal Grant Program. 

From left to right, Jade Andrews, Wellspring of Life Farm volunteer; Amy Andrews, Air Force Veteran; and Debbie Bollinger, PATH ESMHL Leader (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning), with two mini-horses that will be providing equine-assisted services to veterans.

Ken Allensworth, Executive Director of the Martinsburg VA Medical Center met with DVMF Deputy Secretary Ross Cohen and Phil Munley, Director of the DVMF Service & Benefits program.

Join Team Maryland!
Virtual Job Information Session for Federal Employees in Career Transition
March 7, 2025, 10am-12pm
To Register: https://ow.ly/ZTcI50V8tMF

Note: DVMF Benefits Specialists will also be attending to assist with benefits questions and claims.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:   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.   Maryland veterans and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1 to transfer to the Veterans Crisis Line. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for LGBTQIA+ support.

Spotlight on Education: University of Maryland Global Campus

News from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources

DNR to Host Informational Meeting About Potential MARL Power Transmission Line Project

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is scheduled to host an informational meeting on March 13 in Frostburg to take public feedback related to the potential Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) power transmission line project being planned by NextEra Energy that could stretch through Western Maryland. The meeting will be an open house style setting to gather feedback from the public regarding impacts to wildlands. Read more.

Five Watersheds Selected for Whole Watershed Act Funding

Maryland’s Whole Watershed Act, passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2024, establishes a collaborative and science-based approach to watershed restoration. Spread across the state, the five watershed-scale programs selected for initial state grant funding will start the next phase of restoration in Maryland, benefitting habitats and local communities. Read more.

2025 Session of the Maryland General Assembly has Convened

The Maryland General Assembly is currently meeting in Annapolis for the 2025 Legislative Session.  As a service to the veteran community, information on proposed legislation of possible interest to veterans is provided below:

2025 Legislative Information

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

Maryland General Assembly Website

Federal News

What military service members, family members need to know about airborne hazards, Army.mil article

Preventing a crisis before it occurs for my Veteran spouse

VA support for Veterans facing cancer

Live Whole Health #262: Listening to your life

March is National Nutrition Month

VA's Home Loan Benefit

VA Education and Training Benefits

VA Life Insurance

Download the VA Health and Benefits App

Building a community that matters: Supporting Veterans through gaming

Here's the complete Space A Travel Guide, wearethemighty.com article

National Resource Directory

Have you checked out the National Resource Directory? This is a database of validated resources that supports recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration for service members. 

Learn more about this resource.

News from the Social Security Administration

Veterans, active-duty service members, and their families have given so much to serve our country, but unfortunately, their patriotism can be an open door to their heart and wallet. Scammers target veterans, active-duty service members, and their families at a higher rate than they do civilians. They are 40% more likely than their civilian counterparts to lose money to scams and fraud.  From fake government calls and predatory entrepreneurship offers to financial scams and identity theft, scammers take advantage of veterans’ trust and service history.

Raising awareness is the first step in protecting our veterans. The Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) designated March 6, 2025, as National Slam the Scam Day—an outreach campaign to raise public awareness of scams, including Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams. This is part of National Consumer Protection Week, March 2-8, 2025.  

Protect yourself and the veterans in your life by recognizing the signs of a scam. Remember: 

• Scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust.
• Scammers say there is a problem or a prize.
• Scammers pressure you to act immediately.
• Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way.

How Veterans Can Protect Themselves

• Be skeptical. Hang up or delete suspicious messages from “government officials” calling about a problem with your Social Security number or account.
• Guard personal information.
• NEVER make payments with gift cards, cryptocurrency, gold bars, wire transfers, or by mailing cash.

Report Scams

• Visit vsafe.gov or call the VSAFE fraud hotline at 833-38V-SAFE (8-7233)

For more information on protecting yourself from scams and other topics important to veterans, please visit www.ssa.gov/veterans. 

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.

Register

Community Calendar

March 7, 2025

Brothers After War screening, Silver Spring

March 9, 2025

Honoring All Who Served, Lusby Ceremony honors two WWII Centenarians

March 10, 2025

Mental Health Awareness Project, Temple Hills

March 14, 2025

Women's History Month 2025 SHERO Summit, Catonsville

Maryland VSBE & SBR Programs Certification Workshop, Hanover

Operation Second Chance Spring Craft Class, Leonardtown, Register

March 17, 2025

A legacy of Service: Remembering Vivian Elzie Taylor and the 6888th, Salisbury

March 18, 2025

ServingTogether Caregiver Connect, Virtual, More Information

Veterans Book Group, Laurel

Job Fair & Hiring event, Frederick

March 19, 2025

Ft. Meade Technical Job Fair, Club Meade, Ft. Meade

Leave No Veteran Behind Employment Connect, Largo

The 6888 Women from the Shore, Salisbury

Women Veteran Wednesdays, sponsored by Easterseals, Virtual

Blue Star Families Coffee Connections, California

Healing Arts Program, Hollywood, Register

March 20, 2025

Maryland's Commitment to Veterans Monthly Workshop Series - Caring for Women Veterans: Navigating VA Healthcare, Register

Maryland State Procurement Connections Workshop, Baltimore

Women Veterans Breakfast, Lexington Park, Register

March 22, 2025

Honoring Women Veteran Educators, Severn, Register

Therapeutic Horticulture, La Plata

Military Officers Assoc. of America Monthly Meeting (MOAA), Ellicott City

March 23, 2025

LETS Wellness Workshops, includes stress-reducing yoga, Lifeline Journey video - Greystoke Farm, Gaithersburg

March 25, 2025

Navigating eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA)

March 27, 2025

Silver Spring Vet Center - Remembering Vietnam Veterans

March 28, 2025

UMGC Friday VetWorking, Elkridge

March 29, 2025

Honoring Vietnam Veterans on Welcome Home Day, Platoon 22, Frederick

Platoon 22 Fundraiser - Dueling Piano, Hagerstown

University of Maryland Student Life and ServingTogether Claims Clinic, College Park

March 30, 2025

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by Gilchrist, Register

April 3, 2025

Service to Success Hiring Fair, Hanover

Veterans Job Fair, Rockville

Community News

Pulling for Veterans seeking Volunteers

Heroes on the Water provides no-cost therapeutic fishing experiences to Veterans, first-responders, active-duty military members and their families

Veterans Service Center in Frederick offers multiple services

Platoon 22 events in Frederick

Applications open for Dog Tag Fellowship Summer 2025 Program

News from Community Building Art Works (CBAW):

Visual Art Programs - Wednesdays 7pm EST (Virtual) Interested in visual art? Every Wednesday, join Veterans and Artists, Valerie Acosta, Shaun Smith and Joe Merritt to learn something new. Join Veteran and Artist, Margaret Jacobson on Wednesday, March 12th at 7pm EST for Paint Night: Working with Gold Leaf. Learn more about Visual Art Programs and register HERE.

Comedy Writing Workshop with Amelia Bane - Tuesday, March 11th at 12pm EST (Virtual) Join comedian and writer, Amelia Bane on Tuesday, March 11th to learn and practice your comedy writing skills in our series in partnership with the Steven Cohen Military Family Clinic. Register HERE.

More Than One Story - Next Virtual Orientations - March 11th, April 8th & May 13th (Virtual)

Join Community Building Art Works in a virtual orientation session to learn more about our program for women and non-binary military (Active Duty and Veterans), More Than One Story. This monthly program uses live, interactive online art and creative writing workshops to create a “Virtual Community Center” where women and non-binary military members gather and experience belonging in a healthy, safe, and connected environment. Individuals interested in participating in MTOS are required to attend one Orientation Session. Additional Orientation dates are forthcoming. Visit www.cbaw.org/mtos for more details. This program is partially funded by the SSG Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program through the VA.

Visit www.cbaw.org to learn more about Community Building Art Works. For more information, email info@cbaw.org.

News from ServingTogether:

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/

Future Events: Save the Date

April 5, 2025: The Mission Continues Baltimore Platoon volunteer effort for Earth Day, Filbert Street Garden, Baltimore

April 19, 2025: Veterans Claims Clinic and referrals for Prostate Cancer Screening, Catonsville

April 22, 2025: SilentVets.org 2025 Charity Golf Tournament, Windsor Mill

April 25, 2025: Veteran Stand Down 50, Cambridge

April 26, 2025: Veterans Stand Down 50, Salisbury

April 26, 2025: Military Children 2025 Word Expo, Arlington

April 26, 2025: PTSD Support for Loved Ones, Twin Beaches Library

May 3, 2025: 1st Annual Adaptive Sports Day, Annapolis

May 4, 2025: 4th Annual Veterans Celebration of Carroll County, Westminster

May 18, 2025: EveryMile for EveryMind 5K & 1K Fun Run/Walk, Flier

July 19, 2025: 2nd Annual Veterans Appreciation Day, Frederick

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.