Message from Acting Secretary Ross Cohen:

You may have already seen Governor Wes Moore’s press release announcing his selection for the next Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families. Deputy Secretary Dana Burl, myself, and the whole team at DVMF are excited to start working with Colonel Ed Rothstein, USA (retired) when he joins the team on August 1st. Ed has an extraordinary career of service to this country, including deploying to Afghanistan, serving as the Garrison Commander at Ft. Meade here in Maryland, and as a County Commissioner in Carroll County. We are fired up to welcome Ed aboard. It has truly been an honor to serve as the Acting Secretary for this interim period.  I have traveled throughout the state, meeting many of you at veteran service organization conventions and at community events.  I had the opportunity to visit Veteran-owned businesses and to attend special events. I will be resuming my role here as Deputy Secretary and I look forward to continuing to work with Maryland Veterans, service members and military connected families. For your awareness: today, DVMF will be holding dignified burial ceremonies for unaccompanied Veterans at three of our state Veterans cemeteries.  The information is below, and I encourage you to attend if you are available.   Sincerely, Ross

Unaccompanied Burials Scheduled at three DVMF Veterans Cemeteries - TODAY

The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Cemetery Program will be hosting three dignified burial ceremonies to honor and pay respects to unaccompanied veterans.  The ceremonies will take place on July 25, 2025 at the cemeteries listed below.  All are welcome to attend. Questions may be directed to the DVMF Cemetery Program at 410-923-6981.   Crownsville Veterans Cemetery 1122 Sunrise Beach Road Crownsville, Maryland 21032 July 25th @ 11:00 a.m.   SP4 John Robert McGee, US Army 6/17/1966-5/15/1968   GYSGT Richard Lee Winebrenner, USMC 7/13/1965-7/31/1985   PV1 Rex Franklin Wyatt, US Army 2/10/1976-3/26/1976   Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery 11501 Garrison Forest Road Owings Mills, Maryland 21117 July 25th @ 1:00 p.m.   CPL George Washington Haller III, US Army 11/21/1950-11/8/1952   Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery 14205 Pleasant Valley Road, NE Flintstone, Maryland 21530 July 25th @ 1:00 p.m.   PVT Kenneth Michael Bunnell, US Army 1/24/1963-9/10/1964   PVT John W. Johnson, USMC 7/8/1943-9/19/1943   DVMF Cemetery and Memorials Program

DVMF Website

Colonel Bill Montgomery, USA (ret) is the host of Veterans SITREP, supported by Harford County Community College.  In this photo, Col. Montgomery is interviewing Colonel Lewis Patrick Hawkins of the Maryland National Guard, representing Adjutant General Janeen Birckhead and DVMF Acting Secretary Ross Cohen for a live town hall episode of the Veterans SITREP.

Listen to the Veterans SITREP

Pictured left to right: Acting DVMF Secretary Ross Cohen, Western Correctional Institution Warden Bethany Cornachia, and Maryland State Senator Karen Lewis Young.

Through a partnership with America’s VetDogs, incarcerated individuals at the Western Correctional Institution in Cumberland train service dogs to support veterans living with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and other service-connected conditions.

Andrea Jones, a member of the DVMF Benefits team gives a briefing to the Maryland National Guard 244th Engineer Company at the Hagerstown Armory.  A resource fair was held for the soldiers on July 12th.

If you need information or assistance regarding your federal VA benefits or filing a claim for compensation/pension, please contact one of the DVMF offices.

DVMF Acting Secretary Ross Cohen presents a Governor's Citation to David Heredia, Jr., the outgoing commander of the American Legion Department of Maryland at the annual American Legion convention.

This photo was taken at the July Maryland Veterans Commission meeting.  On the left is Mike Bowers, the newly appointed Chairman of the Commission. Acting Secretary Ross Cohen is next, followed by Commission Vice Chairman Mike Moore.  

On the far right is Commissioner Raul Rosas, who represents Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans on the Commission.  During the meeting, Commissioner Rosas donated $1,500 to the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund in memory of former Secretary George W. Owings III.

 Recognizing National Hire A Veteran Day: Honoring Service Beyond the Uniform

Each year on July 25, National Hire A Veteran Day serves as a powerful reminder of the immense value veterans bring to the workforce—not just in leadership and technical skills, but in resilience, mission-driven focus, and a deep commitment to service. At the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families (DVMF), we don’t just observe this day—we live its values every day. We proudly employ veterans across our department, and we recognize the importance of not only hiring them, but ensuring they thrive in meaningful public service roles. To mark this occasion, we turned the spotlight inward and asked our own veteran employees. We invite you to meet four of our outstanding team members: Roslyn, Russ, Phil, and Mike. Each of them represents what it means to carry the values of service into civilian life and into the heart of our mission at DVMF. Visit our Instagram or Facebook to read their full stories and join us in recognizing the importance of hiring veterans.

Classes are also available at Ft. Meade. Active duty service members use this link to find dates and times available.

Cecil County Commissioners recently honored Cecil States Attorney James Dellmyer for his efforts to standup a Regional Veterans Treatment Court in Judicial District 3, which includes Cecil, Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties. Four of the Boards of Commissioners on the northeastern shore of Maryland provided letters of support for this initiative.  Cecil County acknowledgement

Maryland Commission on Civil Rights & Office of the Attorney General Publish Know Your Rights: A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Rights

Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Executive Director Cleveland L. Horton II and Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announce the publication of Know Your Rights: A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Rights (available in both English and Spanish). This 37-page resource is designed to give Marylanders critical information about how Maryland law protects their civil rights in a number of different areas:

• Protections against discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, health services, and education;
• The rights of persons with disabilities, immigrants, persons with limited English proficiency, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community; and
• Freedom from hate crimes, and other acts of hate and bias.

Authored jointly by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (“MCCR”) and the Office of the Attorney General’s (“OAG”) Civil Rights Division (“CRD”), this booklet combats misinformation about the continuing force of civil rights protections. While federal policy changes create uncertainty and confusion, Maryland law continues to provide robust protections against discrimination while many federal provisions against discrimination remain in effect. This Know Your Rights guide was designed to be a useful tool for Marylanders to better understand their legal rights under the law, as well as information on where they can go should they believe their rights have been violated.

Read More Here

News from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources

New Margraff Trail System Offers Easy, Intermediate, Advanced and Adaptive Options for Hikers and Bikers

Tucked in the mountains of Western Maryland near Accident in Garrett County, the Margraff Plantation Trail System offers six miles of newly-constructed trails – a 1.4-mile beginner trail, a 1.4-mile intermediate trail, a 1.2-mile advanced trail and a 2-mile intermediate-level adaptive trail. Read more.

Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass Fishing Closed until August 

Targeting striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries is prohibited through July 31. This closure, now in its sixth season, is necessary to protect the species, because when water and air temperatures rise in the hottest part of summer, fish are more vulnerable to dying after being caught and released. Read more.

Public Input Sought for Next Chapter of Chesapeake Bay Restoration Work

On Tuesday, August 5, Maryland will host an open house in Annapolis to provide information for the public about the recently released draft revisions to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. There will also be an opportunity for the public to submit their thoughts on the revisions as part of the public feedback period, which runs until September 1. Read more

Federal News

Getting Veterans off the street: A new step toward ending Veteran homelessness

Surviving spouses and VA home loans

Military Exposures and your Health - Spring/Summer Newsletter

Importance of Updating Your Identity and Contact Information

Federal Electronic Health Record helps catch lung cancer earlier for Veterans

Medical Foster Program

Live Whole Health #281: Take a stand!

Live Whole Health #281: Finding Stillness

How Veterans are influencing the gaming industry as entrepreneurs

Career tool built for the military, Veterans Community

Sharing the story of the Purple Heart with future generations

Stars of Valor Fellowship Program

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen’s office is seeking its inaugural Stars of Valor Fellow. The Stars of Valor Fellowships Program was established to create employment opportunities for veterans, Gold Star families, and Active-Duty military spouses within the United States Senate. The fellowship is a two-year, paid, full-time employment opportunity. 

To apply, please visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/835210400.

For more information, see McCain-Mansfield Fellowship,  SFC Sean Cooley and SPC Christopher Horton Gold Star Family Fellowship, and Active-Duty Military Spouse Fellowship. 

National Veterans Financial Resource Center (FINVET)

How FINVET Supports Veterans: After military service, Veterans work toward financial success. But finding financial tools can be a challenge since they are located in many different places. FINVET steps in as a one-stop website, making it easier for Veterans to find money resources and navigate their financial journey. These resources include:     Paying for essentials like housing, food, car, and clothes. Saving money through budgeting, discounts, and reducing impulse buys. Increasing income through work, investments, education, and benefit utilization. Managing debt by building credit and addressing medical, legal, and utility bills. Protecting money by avoiding scams, using safe banks, and planning for the future. More Information

The U.S. Vet Center staff organized a very successful open house event at the Silver Spring Vet Center.  On the left is Wayne Stinchcomb and on the right is Del Estrella, both Vet Center outreach specialists.

DVMF staff also attended the event including Denise Nooe (center) and Christina Williams (not shown in this photo), who provided benefits and claims information to Veterans and family members.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) is dedicated to serving Veterans and their families. We want to raise awareness of potential scams affecting the Veteran community.

The VA will never contact you to request money. Scammers may pretend to be affiliated with VA organizations, government officials, charities, and military personnel. Additionally, these scammers may:

• Ask for personal information
• Use an urgent and aggressive tone
• Demand money via wire transfer or gift cards
• Send you suspicious links claiming they are for VA websites
  • Federal government websites often end in .govor .mil
  • https://ensures that you're connecting to an official website

Please report any suspicious requests to your local authorities. For more information about how to protect yourself from fraud, visit VSAFE. You can also access this VA Fraud Protection Kit.

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

July 25, 2025

UMGC 4th Friday Vetworking, La Plata

July 26, 2025

LETS Wellness Series - Build Strength & Mobility and Reduce Chronic Pain, Gaithersburg

Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Family Paddle, Mattingly Avenue Park, Indian Head, Register

July 27, 2025

Mission BBQ offering free sandwich to Korean War Veterans

July 29, 2025

Vets to Drones Fly Day, Laurel

July 30, 2025

CRAB: Military Sailing Days, Annapolis

Prince George's County Base Camp: Veterans Information & Resource Session, Virtual

August 1, 2025

Veterans Resource Fair, War Memorial Building, Baltimore

What Every Small Business Needs to Know (and Why It Matters), Virtual

Project Plase Veterans Resource Fair, Baltimore

Aug 2, 2025

Maryland Public Television Caregiving Expo, Owings Mills

Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Jug Bay Paddle/Picnic, Selby's Landing, Upper Marlboro, Register

August 5, 2025

Fishing Camps for All Abilities, Hollywood

August 7, 2025

Ft. Meade Back to School Resource Fair, Club Meade

VA Claims Clinic & Resource Fair, War Memorial Building, Baltimore

Fishing camps for All Abilities, Hollywood

August 14, 2025

The Spirit of 45 Ceremony to commemorate the legacy and sacrifice of WWII Veterans, Baltimore National Cemetery

August 16, 2025

Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention Project, Nanjemoy, Therapeutic Horticulture

Wellspring of Life Farms Discovery Times for Military & First Responder Families, Monkton

August 27, 2025

UMGC MilVet Net 2025, Adelphi

CRAB: Military Sailing Days

Community News

Wellspring of Life Farm upcoming events for Military & First Responder families in Monkton

News from Dog Tag:

Empowering Veterans, Spouses & Caregivers Through Community and Business Education

Are you a military veteran, spouse, and/or caregiver trying to figure out your next professional chapter? If so, keep reading!

The Dog Tag Fellowship Program is a five-month, primarily remote experience that combines academic coursework, hands-on business training, and community-building. Fellows earn a Certificate in Business Administration from Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies and gain valuable insight into real-world entrepreneurship by going behind the scenes of Dog Tag’s nonprofit bakery in Washington, D.C.—learning how we operate, make strategic decisions, and manage day-to-day business challenges.

Whether fellows go on to launch a business, pursue further education, or shift into a new career, Dog Tag provides the foundation to move forward with clarity and confidence.

No business idea required—just a commitment to growth. Applications are currently open—apply today at https://www.dogtaginc.org/pages/application

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Send them our way!

Project Opportunity has started enrolling for free entrepreneurship classes for the Fall:

Baltimore Class, Orientation on Tuesday, September 2nd, Registration

Southern Maryland Class - Waldorf, Orientation on Monday, August 25th, Registration

Military Spouse & Military Dependents Class - Waldorf, Orientation on Monday August 25th, Registration

Harford County Class - Aberdeen, Orientation on Wednesday, September 3rd, Registration

Team River Runner offers multiple opportunities in Maryland to kayak:

July 26: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Saturday Family Paddle, Mattingly Avenue Park, Indian Head, Register

July 27: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Sunday Family Paddle, Riley's Lock, Poolsville, Register

July 30: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans White Water Wednesday, Lock 6, Bethesda, Register

Aug 2: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Jug Bay Paddle/Picnic, Selby's Landing, Upper Marlboro, Register

Aug 3: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Sunday Family Paddle, Riley's Lock, Poolsville, Register

Aug 6: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans White Water Wednesday, Lock 6, Bethesda, Register

Aug 8: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Full Moon Paddle, Mallows Bay, Marbury, Register

Aug 9: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Fossil Paddle, Mallows Bay, Marbury, Register

Aug 10: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans Sunday Family Paddle, Riley's Lock, Poolsville, Register

Aug 13: Team River Runner: Kayaking for Veterans White Water Wednesday, Lock 6, Bethesda, Register

Future Events: Save the Date

September 6, 2025: We All Serve Hike, Street

September 8, 2025: Mental Health Awareness, Temple Hills

September 13, 2025: A Day of Belonging, Potomac

September 15, 2025: Golf Tournament supporting Platoon 22, Myersville

September 17, 2025: Ft. Meade Community Job Fair, Ft. Meade

September 20, 2025: Veteran Fireside Chat: Stories of Hope and Recovery, Annapolis Neck

September 24, 2025: CRAB: Military Sailing Days

September 24, 2025: Prince George's County Boot Camp, Virtual

September 27, 2025: Veteran Owned Small Business Expo, Columbia

October 6, 2025: Mental Health Awareness, Temple Hills

October 15, 2025: CRAB: Military Sailing Days

October 24, 2025: Ft. Meade Retiree Appreciation Day, McGill Training Center, Ft. Meade

November 8, 2025: Baltimore County 3rd Annual Veterans Day Celebration & Resource Fair, Towson University

November 8, 2025: Veterans Day Parade, Baltimore City

November 10, 2025: DVNF Veterans Resource Fair, Silver Spring

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.