Summer always seems to pass by way too quickly. Fall is now upon us, and the pace of our lives picks up quickly with students back in school, everyone back from vacations and at their jobs, and weekends filled with football games, apple picking, harvest festivals, and many other events.

While our DVS team and I have had a busy and productive summer, the calendar is already filling up quickly with meetings, special events, veteran jobs fairs, and more.  Our mission to assure Virginia veterans and their families take advantage of the programs we provide and the state and federal benefits they earned from their service never changes whatever the season.

Just two weeks ago, I was especially pleased that our DVS team and I personally could be part of a very successful Richmond Veterans Benefits and Resource Fair hosted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and DVS. Over 1,300 veterans and their family members attended this one-day event and hundreds of them had the opportunity to speak to VA and DVS representatives for the first time about healthcare, educational benefits, and other programs and how to submit claims for them. This fall, we plan to work with the VA and other organizations throughout the Commonwealth to continue to take part in more onsite and virtual resource events like this.

The next few months also offer a calendar full of great patriotic, historic and veteran events in Virginia to commemorate and celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the founding of this great nation – all under the auspices of the Virginia 250 American Revolution Commission. Check out the schedule of events near you on their website, VA250.org.

Here in Richmond, our Virginia War Memorial will honor and remember the thousands who died and thousands more who were injured on 9/11/01 during the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington and the downing of the aircraft in Pennsylvania at the annual Commonwealth’s Patriot Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 11. I urge all to come and participate in this inspiring event and take time to see the Memorial’s film and exhibit about the 9/11 attacks which includes an actual section of the Pentagon wall struck by the hijacked aircraft on that fateful day.

A week later, the Memorial will host the National POW/MIA (Prisoner of War/Missing in Action) Recognition Day Ceremony on September 19 at 10 a.m. Following the ceremony, the Memorial’s new exhibit, Virginia's MIA: The Search Continues, will open to the public. This exhibit is dedicated to the more than 1,200 Virginia service members who never returned from battle and highlights the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) which continues to search for the remains of those lost and bring them home.

In fact, as I write this, DPAA has announced they recently found the downed B-17 piloted by Ernest Pugh from Gloucester, Virginia in the jungles of New Guinea in 1942 and hope to find and return his remains.  Again, please join us if you can for this great event and to see this informative exhibit and the never-ending efforts to bring home our MIAs.

And just as we joined with VA 250 to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the U.S. Army, we plan to celebrate the U.S Navy’s 250^th birthday on October 13 and the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250^th birthday on November 7. We are also pleased to partner with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for the Marine Corps' 250^th birthday celebration. Watch for more information on these events and the Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11 at the Virginia War Memorial.

I want to remind all Virginia veterans, family members and transitioning service members that our innovative and exclusive online resource created for you by DVS and your fellow veterans is up and running – the Virginia Veterans Network (VVN).  It is truly your online one-stop resource for virtually all your questions and connections about benefits, programs and resources you earned and that can help improve your lives.  Nearly 40,000 have already gone online and registered to use VVN. If you haven’t done so yet please visit vvn.dvs.virginia.gov to learn more.

Here's hoping you have a safe and fun fall. I look forward to seeing you at events such as the ones I’ve mentioned and at other events as I travel around the Commonwealth. As always, I continue to welcome and want your comments, ideas, and suggestions as to how we can serve you better. Email me at Commissioner@dvs.virginia.gov.  I promise you will receive a response.

May the Lord continue to protect our active-duty service members wherever they are in the world, bless you and your families, and watch over our great Commonwealth and our great Nation.

Chuck Zingler (USN, Ret.)
Commissioner

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) works to make it as easy and convenient as possible for veterans and their family members to have access to team members nearby to assist them with learning about the programs and benefits available to them.

This is why DVS has local offices throughout the Commonwealth from the Eastern Shore to the Far Southwest, from Hampton Roads to Northern Virginia, from Southside to the Shenandoah Valley and everywhere in-between. Wherever a veteran or family member lives, a DVS office is no more than a short drive from their home.

In this edition of DVS eNews, we begin a series of profiles about these benefit offices and the team members who staff them. First up is the DVS Benefits office located at 519 Leesville Road, Suite A in Lynchburg where we spoke with Veteran Service Representatives (VSRs) Janice Atkins Benejan and Felicia A. Linthicum.

Felicia has been serving veterans at DVS for almost 25 years and Janice, a U.S. Army veteran herself, for over 8 years. When asked why they decided that helping veterans as their chosen profession, Felicia said, “I want to show appreciation for those who have served.”

Janice replied, “I feel as though my job is an extension of my military service, and it gives me pride to be able to continue to serve in some way.”

Both noted that the Lynchburg office is usually very busy with each of them assisting an average of 10 clients each weekday.  Many of the clients call or visit the Virginia Veterans Network to make appointments at the office but nearly as many are “walk ins” who simply come by hoping to speak to a VSR. Most are interested in how they may obtain or increase their federal benefits or are seeking assistance in filing their initial claims for benefits, they said.

We asked Felicia and Janice if there were particular incidences in which they felt they made a big difference in assisting a client. Here are their replies:

“It’s great when one of our clients receives an unexpected award,” Felicia said. “In one particular case, a surviving spouse we worked with was awarded a total of over $240,000 from the VA DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) program, with $125,961 coming from her DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) Survivor Benefits Plan.”

Janice said, “I have helped veterans be able to get a disability rating of 50% or higher so they can afford to get their medical treatment and medications taken care of. One veteran we assisted received a 100% disability rating for hearing loss and received an award of more than $300,000. These veterans often tell us these awards were life changing for them.”

All of us owe our thanks and appreciation to Felicia and Janice for the work they do helping Virginia veterans and their families every day.  If you are a veteran or family member seeking advice and assistance with your benefits, you can find your nearest DVS Benefits Office online or on our new online portal the, Virginia Veterans Network (VVN), You can make an appointment to see a VSR in person or virtually by calling the telephone number of the office nearest you, or visiting vvn.dvs.virginia.gov. 

Pictured above: Veterans Services Representatives Felicia Linthicum (left) and Janice Benejan (right) from the DVS Lynchburg Benefits Office.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) - Department of Virginia hosted a ceremony commemorating National Purple Heart Day on Thursday, August 7 at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.

Over 200 persons gathered in the Memorial’s Shrine of Memory including Purple Heart recipients, veterans, service members from Fort Lee, and others to participate in the event.

Ben King, the Memorial’s Director of Operations and Commander of MOPH - Department of Virginia and a Purple Heart recipient himself, served as Master of Ceremonies. In his opening remarks, King noted that “the deeds and sacrifice that are required for freedom to flourish are embodied by the people who are here today.”

Among those honored was Benjamin Hill Jr., a 75-year-old Vietnam veteran from Fluvanna County who received the Purple Heart after being wounded in combat. Hill read Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proclamation acknowledging August 7 as National Purple Heart Day in Virginia. Also, during the ceremony, twelve Virginia Purple Heart recipients presented challenge coins to active-duty service members in attendance. Read the Governor’s Certificate of Recognition.

To view CBS6 TV video of the ceremony, click here. 

The Purple Heart is America’s oldest military award dating back to General George Washington and the Revolutionary Army. General Washington’s profile is featured on the medal which has been awarded to over 1,000,000 service members killed or wounded serving in the U.S. armed forces since that time.

The State Fair of Virginia and Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company are looking for nominations for their new Virginia Veteran Farmer Recognition Award.  The award will honor and recognize the invaluable contributions of the many veterans in the Commonwealth who have transitioned into farming and agriculture or paused and returned to farming after military service.

According to Marlene Jolliffe, the executive director of the State Fair of Virginia, this contest seeks to celebrate the unique perspectives veterans bring to agriculture and “is an opportunity to honor the stories of veterans who have found purpose and fulfillment in farming. By sharing their experiences, we can inspire others and foster a greater understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by those who have served our country.”

The deadline to nominate a Virginia Veteran Farmer is September 10, 2025. Three winners will be selected and recognized at a special ceremony to be held on Thursday, October 2 at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell.

Nominations for the awards can be made by family, friends, veterans-service organizations or by veteran farmers themselves. Questions on the nomination forms will reflect on the experiences of veterans who have embraced farming as their career, the challenges they faced returning to civilian life and the lessons they have learned as farmers.

Nomination forms are available here.

The State Fair of Virginia will be held September 26 - October 5, 2025. For more information, visit https://www.statefairva.org/.

The Virginia War Memorial in Richmond will again host the Commonwealth’s Patriot Day Ceremony, Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 11 a.m. in the Shrine of Memory-Global War on Terrorism and Beyond.

This annual event will officially commemorate the 24^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington and the downing of the commercial aircraft in Shanksville Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. September 11 has been designated each year as Patriot Day, a National Day of Mourning, by the United States Congress to honor and remember the 2,997 men and women who died and the more than 6,000 who were injured on that day.

The keynote speaker will be Rear Admiral Samuel J. Cox (U.S. Navy, Retired), Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command and Curator of the U.S. Navy. The ceremony will also include selections of patriotic music performed by the Virginia Barbershop Chorus and the placement of wreaths and the ringing of the ship's bell from the USS Virginia (CGN-38) in memory of those who perished or were injured during the 2001 attacks.

Members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend and participate in the ceremony. Attendees should arrive by 10:45 a.m. to be seated. There is no admission charge and parking is available in the Virginia War Memorial surface lot and parking deck.  The Memorial will be open for visitation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 11 and the documentary film, A New Century, A New War, will be shown all day in the Memorial’s Reynolds Theater.

For more information, visit www.vawarmemorial.org.

Pictured above: US Army Private Smith rang the ship’s bell from the USS Virginia (CGN-38) three times during the 2024 Patriot Day Ceremony – one time for those who died in New York, one time for those that died at the Pentagon, and one time for those who died in Pennsylvania.

On August 7, 2025, Virginia Community Resource Center (VCRC) Director Donna Williams spoke about the impact VCRC has had on the Petersburg community thanks to the ongoing Partnership for Petersburg initiative from Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin.

This was a special celebration held at the Petersburg Public Library to mark three years since the start of the Partnership for Petersburg.

In addition to Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin, those in attendance included Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw, Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) Commissioner Chuck Zingler, Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham, members of Petersburg City Council, and other leaders from the Petersburg community.

Williams shared how VCRC is a unique pillar in the Petersburg community because it has a vast number of resources available through internal and external partnerships – ensuring community members receive a “next step” to their inquiry.

“Our goal is to remove barriers and improve the quality of life for veterans and all other citizens of Petersburg,” said Williams. “We are focused on employment, education and training, housing, mental health, public health, veteran benefits, food distribution, personal hygiene and even shoes.”

There are currently 11 in-house organizations within VCRC: Virginia Department of Veterans Services, Virginia Works, Petersburg Department of Social Services, Virginia State University Public Health, Commonwealth Supportive Services, Justin Davis Heart Foundation, Katie Soles, Tech For Troops computer lab, Urban League, Buffalo Soldiers, and the Conglomerate Leaders Association.

Since opening in April 2023, VCRC and the organizations listed above have served a combined total of more than 23,000 visitors, with 8,900 services provided to veterans in the Tri-Cities and surrounding counties from DVS.

“The Partnership for Petersburg started with a radical idea — seeding resources, encouragement, volunteerism, commerce and care into an at-risk community to make it stronger and more viable,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “Today, we see the manifestation of those good works in many of the programs, progress and people of Petersburg. It has been my honor to play a small part in this big undertaking and to witness positive change.”

For more information about the Partnership for Petersburg, visit https://www.pfp.governor.virginia.gov/. For more information about the Virginia Community Resource Center (VCRC), call (804) 203-5105.

Calling all patriotic Virginia middle school and high school age students! 

The Virginia War Memorial is now seeking entries for the 2025 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest.

The annual competition is open to all Virginia resident middle and high school public, private and home-schooled students. One winner will be selected from among all middle school entries (grades 6-8) and one from high school entries (grades 9-12).

The 2025 essay topic is “A Virginian Who Served in the Military who Inspires Me.” Students may consider a member of their family, of their local community or other Virginia native who served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces from World War II to present day as their subject.

New this year, the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) – Department of Virginia will award each of the two students who write the winning essay a prize of $500. The student winners will also be invited to come to Richmond and participate in the Commonwealth’s 69^th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Essays should be 500-750 words in length and utilize interviews and primary sources whenever possible. Students are encouraged to contact Sylvia Marshall, Virginia War Memorial Archivist (Sylvia.Marshall@dvs.virginia.gov) for additional resources regarding Virginia military veterans if they wish. Entries will be judged on clarity of thought, adherence to the contest theme and guidelines, proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Detailed information regarding rules, guidelines and how to enter are available online at https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/contests-scholarships/essay/.

All entries must be submitted through the Virginia War Memorial website by 11:59 p.m., Monday, October 13, 2025. For additional information or questions, please contact Elizabeth Oglesby, the Memorial’s Education Outreach & Programs Manager, at Elizabeth.Oglesby@dvs.virginia.gov or by calling 804-786-9700.

Pictured: 2024 Veterans Day Essay Contest winners Savannah Overton and Henry Clark with Virginia War Memorial Director Clay Mountcastle (left), General Gary Brito (center), Virginia Adjutant General James Ring (right).

Martin Charles Townes
King William, Virginia

Please give an overview of your military service and the branch in which you served.

I was a member of the Virginia Army National Guard from 2001 to 2007, during that time I was a Combat Engineer (12B).

What was or were your most rewarding assignments while serving? 

My most rewarding assignment was when I was mobilized and stationed at Fort Lee to assist Military and Civilian Police with installation access point security, I was stationed there for a year.

What are you doing now? 

I am currently working at the Executive Mansion of Virginia as the Deputy Butler; my coworkers and I serve the Governor and First Family and manage the household. Outside of my butler duties I am the Mansion Historian. I'm a member of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources and I'm one of the Statewide Ambassadors for the VA250 Commission.

What advice would you give to a transitioning service member? 

My advice to transitioning service members is take advantage of the benefits that you EARNED. Due to my veteran status I had access to GI Bill benefits which I used to pay a portion of my college tuition, and I received a VA Home Loan that helped me purchase a home. 

Percy Burrow | U.S. Air Force
Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center, Richmond

In which branch of the military did you serve and during what period of time?

“Air Force- 1971-1985”

What was the highlight of his military service? What are you most proud of?

“Making the rank of E7. I was so excited. I also enjoyed being a VIP driver. It was great talking with generals, and colonels."

What do you like about the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center?

“The people. Plus, Admissions, and activities! It’s really nice to have individual bedrooms, and I like how clean they keep the building.”

What advice would you give to a person considering serving in the military?

“Stand up straight, and don’t talk back. Do what you’re supposed to do, and you’ll do great!”

Special thanks to Stephen Hopewell and the entire staff at SBVCC for conducting this interview and sending the photo of Mr. Burrow.

Altria Supports Virginia Veterans with Major Grant

The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation is proud to announce that Altria has awarded a generous $115,000 to support the Virginia Department of Veterans Services Veterans Education, Training, and Employment (VETE) program.

This funding will help expand opportunities for veterans, service members, and their families through:

• Credentialing & Certification Programs with the Community College Workforce Alliance.
• The Virginia Veteran Laptop Project, providing laptops to veterans and spouses enrolled at Virginia community colleges.
• New Initiatives for Women Veterans & Spouses, including upskilling grants and career transition support.

Altria has been one of the Foundation’s greatest corporate partners year after year, and this latest gift is yet another example of their continued dedication to Virginia’s veteran community. These programs not only open doors to education and employment but also provide stability, hope, and dignity for those who served.

We thank Altria for their enduring commitment to Virginia’s veterans and families. Their partnership ensures every veteran has the tools and support to thrive in civilian life.

Kayla Arestivo
Executive Director
Virginia Veterans Services Foundation

MORE THAN 80,000 AMERICANS are still missing in action from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars and other conflicts. More than 1,300 of the missing are Virginians. Their sacrifices will be forgotten without the efforts of organizations like the Virginia War Memorial and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

Join us September 18, 2025 at 6 p.m. at the Virginia War Memorial at 621 S. Belvidere Street, Richmond for the next Leadership in America lecture from Mr. Kelly McKeague.

Mr. Kelly McKeague is the director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. He is responsible for policy and oversight of all aspects of the DPAA’s program to account for our nation’s missing personnel from past conflicts. In December 2015, McKeague culminated a 34-year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring at the rank of major general.

Our exhibition: Virginia’s Missing in Action: The Search Continues will open following Mr. McKeague’s talk.

One of the more poignant charges of the Virginia War Memorial in the Code of Virginia is to honor the memory of those missing in action and, as remains are officially identified, to accord them the Gold Star designation. This exhibition will recognize and illustrate the commitment of DPAA and international partners working diligently around the world to find the missing and bring them home.

Register online by September 11 for your reservation at VaWarMemorial.org/LIA. Light reception and exhibit opening to follow lecture.