Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs

Minnesota Veteran - July

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Desk of the Commissioner - July

Veterans have a special bond with one another. The connection with your military comrades is unlike any other relationships with family or friends.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, these connections may have been paused. Many people felt isolated and disconnected from others important in their lives.

I’m excited that COVID vaccines are allowing restrictions to be ended and many activities are gearing up. People are hungry for connection and Minnesota Veterans may especially be looking forward to spending time with fellow members of Veterans Service Organizations.

MDVA Chief of Staff McElhiney Recognized by National DAV

“There are barriers to being a wounded Veteran, for sure, but Mike is living proof you can overcome them.”
Quote from Trent Dilks, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Minnesota Benefits Protection Team Leader, in the July/August issue of DAV Magazine.

The magazine is celebrating MDVA Chief of Staff Mike McElhiney who has been named DAV’s 2021 Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year. Mike is a Green Beret Army Veteran who served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and was deployed to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks of 2001.

New Veterans Homes Becoming Reality

After more than a decade of advocacy and fundraising, three new Minnesota Veterans Homes are becoming a reality in the communities of Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston. Leaders from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) visited the three communities the week of July 12 to provide an update to community leaders and stakeholders on the status of the future Minnesota Veterans Homes.

Leaders from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) visited the three communities the week of July 12 to provide an update to community leaders and stakeholders on the status of the future Minnesota Veterans Homes.

In March, Governor Tim Walz announced that all three of Minnesota’s proposed new State Veterans Homes projects would receive more than $80 million in federal VA funds federal funding this year. MDVA recently completed the Federal VA grant application process to obtain the funds. The final approval of the funds is expected in late July or early August.

Support Our Troops License Plates Help Minnesota Veterans

Meet SOT Grant Recipient: Honor Flight Twin Cities (HFTC)

Did you know when you buy the “Support Our Troops” (SOT) License Plate, you are helping Minnesota Veterans and their families?

The Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs (MDVA) distributes funds raised by the sale of SOT license plates to numerous organizations that support Minnesota Veterans and their families. Learn more about the SOT grant program on our website.

Honor Flight Twin Cities was awarded a $50,000 SOT grant to provide 75 WWII and Korean Veterans with free, round trip charter airline passage to Washington D.C. to view the Veteran memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.