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Starting a new year is always exciting and challenging. Our general assembly is in session, and the pace of activity can be frenetic. It’s a time when our legislators consider issues across our state, bills to add focus to issues and needs including those of our military and veteran communities.
In each of Virginia’s 40 State Senate and 100 House of Delegates districts, veterans are a significant constituency, and these legislators work to incorporate high impact programs and services in support of you and your families. The result is to hopefully create an operating budget across all elements of the Commonwealth, including DVS, for both ongoing programs and new initiatives. Even during the annual General Assembly session, we never stop our normal activity of serving you with Benefits & Claims, Transition & Employment, Peer Counseling, or the efforts at any one of our local service locations.
For 2025, the DVS budget requests include additional funding for the new DVS veterans care centers and funds for new projects and expansion at the three DVS state veterans cemeteries, plus ongoing programs such as the new Virginia Veterans Network (VVN) and working with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to increase annual funding to $65 million for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) to provide student scholarships to state colleges and universities.
Advising the Department of Veterans Services and the Governor on the list of ongoing and prospective programs and their priorities is the mission of the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Services Organizations (JLC). The JLC is a unique board of 27 members appointed by the Governor who represent organizations and nonprofits from throughout the state composed of military veterans from every branch of service. You can learn more about the JLC and the list of members on our website.
Each year, the JLC prepares a list of legislative proposals and initiatives which is distributed to all General Assembly members. JLC members also visit the Capitol during the Session to meet one-on-one with legislators and their staffs to promote their sponsorship and support of these objectives.
On another important note, I hope you have visited our new online resource for veterans, the Virginia Veterans Network (VNN) which launched on Veterans Day. This great new free resource…created by veterans for veterans…connects veterans like you and your family members to a vast array of programs and services available in the Commonwealth. Thousands of you have already visited and registered on the site. If you haven’t, do so today by clicking here.
So far, the feedback we’ve received about VVN has been generally positive. But this is just a start of developing the “marketplace” you need to serve you and your families throughout the “veterans journey”. We want to get constructive and specific feedback, such as:
- What’s not in here?
- What types of capabilities would you like to see? (For instance, what about “rideshare” availability programs for veterans without driver's licenses to get to and from medical appointments).
- What are the top three capabilities that should be added next?
I’m sure you can come up with many others and I’m counting on it.
I know the New Year also brings for many of us “new year resolutions”. At DVS, our overall mantra is consistently “Virginia Values Veterans” and our pledge to ensure that Virginia remains the #1 state in America for veterans to live, work and raise a family. However, on an operational and tactical level, we are constantly looking to make positive changes that improve the lives of you and your families. That effort should always be reinforced by your feedback and our understanding of what brings the greatest impact to our transitioning service members and families, our veterans, their families and survivors.
Please email me directly at Commissioner@dvs.virginia.gov with your questions and concerns, and as I travel around the state, please introduce yourself. I look forward to meeting all my fellow veterans. We’re looking forward to making sure that 2025 is the best year yet for Virginia veterans and their families.
May the Lord continue to bless this great Nation, this great Commonwealth, and especially all our veterans and active service members and their families.
Chuck Zingler (USN, Ret.)
Commissioner
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On Veterans Day 2024, Governor Glenn Youngkin launched the Virginia Veterans Network (VVN) – a free online hub of resources and services for veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reservist members and their families.
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) developed this online tool to make it easier for veterans, transitioning service members and their family members to make online appointments with their local DVS offices and find information about the free federal, state, and local benefits and programs they have earned from their service in one convenient and comprehensive online site.
The network provides direct access to resources and services—covering everything from job training and employment to health care and wellness— from vetted and trusted veterans service organizations, nonprofits, and state agencies.
“The Virginia Veterans Network is created by veterans for veterans with the purpose of connecting veterans like you and your family members to virtually all programs and services available in the Commonwealth,” said Chuck Zingler, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. “I encourage all military-connected individuals to visit the site and register today.”
This one stop shop website provides hundreds of resources at your fingertips and it’s designed with you in mind. Simply create a free profile to browse and select the resources that are of interest to you. Those resource partners will then reach out to you within 72 hours of your initial contact to provide you with additional information on the topic(s) you requested.
To start your journey to the help and resources you need, visit vesa.dvs.virginia.gov and click the button on the right-hand side. For additional questions, please read our VVN Frequently Asked Questions.
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Kay Currie has been hired as the Women Veterans Liaison at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.
Through her work, she plans to increase connectivity to resources that empower women, enhance their skills, and improve their opportunities. Mrs. Currie plans to facilitate community support, expand networks, and ensure smooth transitions for women veterans.
In her new position, “I plan to use my knowledge and experiences from my previous roles to support veteran women by helping plan and execute statewide initiatives to address the unique challenges women veterans face,” said Currie.
With roots in Southampton County, Virginia, Mrs. Currie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Union University and a master’s in educational leadership and supervision from Virginia State University.
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Interested in learning more about what went on in Virginia during World War II? You should check out the comprehensive online exhibit at the Library of Virginia in Richmond.
This past September, the Library of Virginia opened “Homefront to Frontline: Virginia’s World War II Story,” and has made its massive collection of documents, posters, personal letters, official government papers, newspaper articles, radio broadcasts and other memorabilia available to access free online for anyone interested in how World War II affected Virginia civilian citizens and those who served in the military during the war.
According to Lauren Caravati, Library’s digital collections specialist in charge of the collection and the exhibit, members of the public also now have online access to copies of the more that 270,000 separation notices issued to every Virginia service member who served in any branch of the U.S. military during World War II.
“These are the official discharge papers that every soldier, sailor, airmen, Marine or Coast Guard member who listed a hometown in Virginia received when they returned home,” Ms. Caravati said. “Copies of each of these notices were also sent to the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) so the agency could contact the service members to assist them in finding civilian employment when they returned home. Thankfully, the VEC did not dispose of the notices and donated them to the Library of Virginia to be preserved for future generations.”
Ms. Caravati noted that it was auspicious that these separation notices were given to the Library as the World War II records of thousands of military personnel, including separation notices, were lost in a major fire that destroyed much of the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis in 1973.
Ms. Caravati added that the Library of Virginia continues to add personal records and other World War II Homefront related items to its collections and is always interested in individual donations. She can be contacted at Lauren.Caravati@lva.virginia.gov.
Visit the Library of Virginia's website for more information on the “Homefront to Frontline: Virginia’s World War II Story,” including how to access items in the collection.
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The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is proud to report that its team members assisted Virginia veterans and their family members to secure $6.28 billion in compensation and benefits earned from their military service from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.
This amount of compensation dollars, which represented an increase of 64% over previous annual dollars received, demonstrated that the Commonwealth enjoyed one of the highest rates of successful VA claims of any state in the U.S.
DVS included these milestones and other achievements in its 2024 agency annual report to Governor Glenn Youngkin, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw and the members of the Virginia General Assembly.
DVS operates 38 local offices in communities throughout the Commonwealth staffed by knowledgeable Veterans Services Representatives who work one-on-one with veterans to make them aware of the federal benefits for which they are eligible and assist them with the preparation and submission of the detailed and often confusing claims application process. There is no charge for any of these DVS services to Virginia veterans and their family members. DVS team members reported nearly 90,000 contacts with clients during FY24.
“Assuring that our veterans receive the benefits they earned from their services is a top priority at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services,” said DVS Commissioner Chuck Zingler. “Our mission to improve the lives and well-being of all Virginia veterans and their families so that Virginia remains the #1 state for veterans to live, work and thrive. Assisting them in receiving these financial benefits contributes not only to their personal finances but also to the overall economic health of our Commonwealth.”
“With the addition and expansion of many VA benefits over the past year, we encourage all veterans to check with their local DVS office soon and see if they are taking advantage of all the compensation and benefits that are available,” Commissioner Zingler added.
For more information on all the programs and services available to Virginia veterans and their dependents, go to www.dvs.virginia.gov or call 844-VDVS-VET (844-838-7838).
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The Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Cemetery in Suffolk received around two inches of snow during the night on Tuesday, January 21. Combined with sub-freezing temperatures, most roads became iced over making driving conditions difficult or even impossible. While Wednesday, January 22 was a rare day when no burials were scheduled at the cemetery, Superintendent Angela Bufano and the cemetery team did not let the unusual weather deter them from the duties.
As Bufano noted, “It was all hands-on deck” as the team worked diligently to clear roads and sidewalks to prepare for the burials scheduled during the rest of the week. In fact, by Thursday, January 23, a full schedule of nine veterans services including four in-ground burials were held.
“Kudos and special appreciation go to Angela and the Horton cemetery team for their exceptional dedication and commitment to ensure that Virginia veterans and their families continue to receive the honor and services they deserve,” said DVS Deputy Commissioner Steve Combs.
A few days later on Saturday, January 25 at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia, DVS Assistant Cemeteries Director Scott Miller, DVS team leader Cody Beares and 77 volunteers worked in the chilly weather to remove the more than 5,700 holiday wreaths that had been placed at each grave on Wreaths Across America Day on December 14. And they completed the project in around an hour-and-a-half.
Before undertaking the removal project, the Patriot Guard was on hand to perform a special flag presentation ceremony. Special appreciation goes to the Guard members, the Amelia cemetery team, the volunteers and especially to Joe Diman, the local coordinator for Wreaths Across America, for their service in honoring and remembering Virginia veterans and their family members interred there.
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Joel Weise | Springfield, Virginia
Please give an overview of your military service and the branch in which you served.
I graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and was commissioned as an Ensign. I was stationed on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Northland, a 270ft ship based out of Portsmouth, Virginia. The primary missions I participated in were 1-2 month deployments to conduct narcotic and migrant interdiction operations in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. After finishing my first tour, I was assigned to Coast Guard Recruiting Command at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. I was a program analyst for several officer candidate programs. In this role, I worked with stakeholders to identify hiring needs, program eligibility requirements, and work with recruiting offices to ensure hiring needs were met.
What was or were your most rewarding assignments while serving?
While both assignments offered very different experiences, my time at recruiting command was the most rewarding. One of the things I enjoyed most was being able to work with prospective officer candidates and help them with their applications. I remember working with a particular individual who went through two selection panels before getting selected on the third try. When they called to let me know they were selected and hearing how happy they were and appreciative of my help, that really stuck with me as a happy memory.
What are you doing now?
I work in federal contracting as a management consultant specializing in organizational change management.
What advice would you give to a transitioning service member?
Like every big life decision people will have opinions about what they think you should do. While much of the advice you will hear has merit, at the end of the day it is your transition, and you have to decide what makes the most sense for you. That said, some specific advice I would give is:
- Start early. People’s advice on this varies, but generally at least 12 months out from your anticipated separation.
- Network as much as possible with people in the civilian workforce. Use LinkedIn, attend professional conferences, join groups on social media, or go to recruiting events.
- Your fellow veterans already in the civilian workforce are a powerful resource, connect with them.
- There are a ton of resources for transitioning service members. Programs like DoD SkillBridge or organizations like Hiring our Heroes and American Corporate Partners are just a few of the many programs and organizations out there ready to help you.
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Cardinal Technology Solutions, Inc. | Winchester, Virginia
Leslie Hicks, President
Tell us about your business. What products do you sell or services do you offer?
Cardinal Technology Solutions is a full-service Managed IT Services Provider and has been a long-term trusted partner for our clients in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia since 2014; developing a personable relationship and working closely with our clients to allow us to act in their best interest in the long term. We provide many different services, helpdesk support, software, and hardware among them. We have multiple strong partnerships with leading IT industries such as Dell, Microsoft, SonicWall, IPFone, SEGRA and Telarus.
Our Key Skill and Services Areas Include:
- Total Site IT Management
- Software / Hardware Support
- Onsite IT Service
- Cyber Security
- Server Management and Maintenance
- Firewalls
- Backup and Recovery
- Change Management
- Remote Support
- Workstation and Server Data Transitions
- VoIP Phone Services
- Repairs
- Network Security
Cardinal Technology Solutions’ focus is on providing a long-term IT partnership with our clients and helping to protect what they have worked so hard to build. Most of our client relationships have existed for at least five years, most have been with us since our inception. These long-term relationships allow us to completely understand our clients’ unique needs and requirements across a broad range of diverse businesses. This has given us the technical strength and expertise to meet every business challenge, big or small, and provide a superior level of service.
When did you establish your business? 2014
Who are the veteran owners of your business?
Leslie Hicks is the veteran owner and controlling partner of Cardinal Technology Solutions, Inc. He provides for the vision, strategy, sales, leadership, policy development, innovation, growth, and communication for the company. Leslie is a Marine and served honorably in the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing from 1988-1995.
What encouraged you to establish your business and do you have any advice for other transitioning service members or veterans who may be considering establishing a business?
For many years I worked for other companies that were all great organizations, but I found that I wasn’t being fulfilled. My desire to continue serving led to the launch of Cardinal Technology Solutions and subsequently registering it as a Veteran Owned Small Business. As such, we have always looked to form partnerships with and support other veteran organizations and businesses. We launched Cardinal Technology Solutions ten years ago to build an IT support company that is fast, responsive, and reliable from the ground up and offers multiple solutions for our customers in one place.
For service members or veterans that are considering establishing their own businesses I would recommend that you pursue the VOSB (Veteran Owned Small Business) rating as soon as you begin. This special designation puts you at a great advantage especially when bidding for government jobs, but also overall. We have had companies come to us just on the basis that we are a veteran owned and operated company. Seek out other veterans that are in business and ask for their help. Control your growth and have a five-year plan for that growth. Surround yourself with smart people, listen to them but also use the lessons you learned in the military as well. If you do those things, you will surely have great success moving forward!
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Q.E.D. Systems Inc. | Virginia Beach, Virginia
Kennis L. Sigmon, Director of Corporate Planning
Please tell us a little bit about your business.
Q.E.D. Systems Inc. provides an array of repair and modernization for Navy vessels. Services include maintenance planning, logistics, training, engineering services, shipboard repair, and fabrication.
Why is your business committed to hiring veterans?
Our company was started 53 years ago by Bob Jones who was a veteran. Of our 750 employees over 47% are veterans. The knowledge base and work ethic of veterans is essential to our primary mission.
What advantages has your company experienced in hiring veterans?
Hiring veterans significantly reduces the time requirement to understand shipboard systems and maintenance requirements. Veterans also understand the importance of completing high quality work in order to have ships in peak condition when they sail away to protect our country.
Can you tell us about the process of become a V3 Certified Partner? When did you become a V3 partner?
Q.E.D. Systems has been a part of the V3 program since 2021. Core Curriculum Training is a requirement for any qualifying company to become part of the program.
What advice would you give to other employers seeking to hire and retain veterans?
If an employer is not a veteran, it is hard to understand the dedication that comes with each veteran they hire. In order to hire veterans, you have to work with the various programs that assist the employer. An example is V3 and the veterans employment centers.
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Robert "Bob" Creecy | U.S. Navy
Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center, Virginia Beach
What military branch of the military did you serve and during what period of time?
“I served in the U.S. Navy from 1968-1972.”
What was the highlight of your military service? What are you most proud of?
“While I was in the Navy, I became the ‘World Champion” for being the fastest teletype tape reader. I served as a Radioman. My job was to decode messages. It was important that the messages we decoded be correct and timely. We were dealing with very important information. I am very proud of that.”
What do you like most about the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center?
“Oh what’s not to love? I love everything! The staff - they are superior, attentive and respond so quickly. The food is amazing. It's prepared well and there is attention to detail. I don’t mind inviting guests to eat here. My room is so nice. I have a beautiful view and so much space with my own desk!”
What advice would you give to someone considering serving in the military?
“Be proud of what you are doing!”
Special thanks to Kathryn Shear, CDP, Director of Activities at Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center for interviewing Mr. Creecy.
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Honoring a Legacy of Service: A $31,000 Gift from the Frazier-Mason Some Gave All Foundation
The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (VVSF) is honored to announce a generous $31,000 donation from the Frazier-Mason Some Gave All (SGA) Foundation. This incredible gift reflects the SGA Foundation's enduring commitment to serving those who have served our country.
The Frazier-Mason Some Gave All Foundation was established in 2007 to honor the memory of two fallen heroes: SGT Joshua James Frazier of Spotsylvania and SGT Nicholas Conan Mason of King George, who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq. Over the past 15 years, the SGA Foundation has raised more than $571,000 to support service members wounded, disabled, or in need due to injuries sustained during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Their assistance has included:
- Physical disabilities
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Educational needs
- Housing modifications for mobility
- Transitional housing
- Debts and arrears
- Travel and transportation needs
- Family sustainment essentials
- Job preparedness
- Support for local veteran hospitals and facilities
As the SGA Foundation concluded its remarkable mission, they chose to gift VVSF with a significant portion of their remaining funds. This decision reflects their confidence in VVSF's ability to carry forward their mission of service. SGA President Vic Frazier shared, “DVS is always committed to what is best to help veterans. It is clear that the people who work at DVS are top notch and genuine at heart.”
We extend our deepest gratitude to Vic Frazier and the entire Frazier-Mason family, including Jana Frazier, Christine Mason, Carly Mason, and Charles Mason. Your unwavering support has made a lasting impact on the lives of countless veterans and their families.
With this generous contribution, VVSF will continue to expand our efforts to provide critical resources and support to Virginia’s veteran community. Together, we honor the legacy of SGT Frazier and SGT Mason and reaffirm our commitment to those who have given so much for our freedom.
Thank You, Frazier-Mason Some Gave All Foundation!
Kayla Arestivo
Executive Director
Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
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The Virginia War Memorial Foundation (VWMF) is pleased to present four one-act plays written by veterans and one spouse of a veteran, which are professionally produced and performed by Richmond’s Firehouse Theatre, under the program title, War in Pieces. The 2025 festival will be held April 4 - 13, 2025.
This co-production, now in its fourth year, has grown out of the VWMF’s free veterans writing program, “The Mighty Pen Project,” which offers 12-week long university-level writing classes throughout the year encouraging veterans and their loved ones to commit to paper their memories and reflections. For over a decade the Mighty Pen Project has been helping veterans navigate their personal histories. New York Times bestselling author David L. Robbins teaches the classes.
This production is made possible by a generous grant from The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. It will be presented in VMI Alumni Hall at the Virginia War Memorial, which seats 90 people for these performances. There will be eight performances, each of which includes all four plays together. Tickets are $35.00 per person (General Admission) and $15.00 for Military Veterans and Students. Tickets can be purchased at FirehouseTheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at (804) 355-2001.
2025 Plays:
A Couch by Cam Torrens. An Air Force officer pushes to be in the first wave of responders to the 9/11 attack, but his wife - who outranks him - has different ideas.
Kaho’olawe by Harry Meyer. On a small Hawaiian island once used for bombing practice, an unexploded bomb must be defused, but it isn’t going to go down quietly.
Cao by Larry Meier. An Army captain accompanies the flag-draped remains of a fallen soldier from Vietnam home to the remote coalfields of Virginia.
War’s Teeth by Shani Miller. A young mother, home from deployment in Afghanistan, thanks a Vietnam vet for his service, unleashing for them both memory and healing.
Performance Schedule:
Friday, April 4th, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 5th, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 6th, 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 10th, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 11th, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 12th, 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 12th, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 13th, 2 p.m.
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 Christie Monahan, Front Royal office Veterans Services Representative visited the home of WWII veteran Leland Teets where she was able to assist him with his VA claim. She mentioned it was "truly surreal to hold a DD214 that said Normandy, France."
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 DVS Veterans Services Representatives Sean Kell, Marlyn Cullen and Janice Benejan attended the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery Wreath Laying Ceremony on December 16, 2024 and are seen distributing wreaths to lay on the gravesites of Virginia's veterans.
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 Mary Curtis, Veterans Services Representative (Benefits Office JBLE Eustis) and Stuart Allison, Transition Resource Coordinator (V3) attended the Hire Vets Now event at Fort Eustis that was sponsored by the VA Chamber Foundation on January 22.
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 The DVS Manassas office staff held a meet and greet with Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger to discuss the services offered by DVS to support veterans. Pictured L-R: Kevin McNelis, Veteran Justice Specialist; James Custodio, VVFS Northern Regional Coordinator; Mayor Davis-Younger; Will Triplett, Benefits North Regional Director; George Johnson, Veterans Services Representative (VSR); Briana Robinson, VVFS North Assistant Regional Manager; Jennifer Letterle, Veterans Services Administrator; and Julie Pulsifer, VSR.
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