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DVS eNews - Fall 2025, Volume 2 |
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Hard to believe that it’s already November. In just a few weeks, we will all be enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with our families and then looking forward to the holidays and the new year ahead.
November is an important month for all of us here at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) as it’s when we celebrate Veterans Day and honor all the men and women who have served and those continuing to serve in all branches of our United States military.
Veterans Day is commemorated every November 11 as it is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice ending World War I in 1918. This year is particularly notable as it marks the 250th birthday of our Army, Navy, and Marine Corps which were established as the colonies joined together and created our nation. Our first veterans were those farmers, tradesmen, merchants, doctors, lawyers, teachers, laborers, and patriotic citizens who left their homes and farms and volunteered to fight for our freedom from the British Empire.
Astoundingly, from the Revolutionary War until today, over 41 million of our fellow citizens have served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Reserves, and National Guard during wars and peacetime. Hundreds of thousands more serve today and will themselves become veterans when they leave active duty. Every one of these brave men and women deserves our recognition and appreciation each year on Veterans Day.
As General George Washington said after his victory at Yorktown, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.” And as President Abraham Lincoln said a half-century later, “Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”
This past June at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, DVS and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) co-hosted the 250th birthday ceremony for the Army, and as noted in this edition of DVS eNews, we hosted a similar birthday event with VA250 for the Navy in October. This month, we will celebrate the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps with a ceremony on November 7 in conjunction with VA250 and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
On Tuesday, November 11 at the Memorial, we will gather together for the 69th Annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony at 3 p.m. Please join us. There will also be other Veterans Day events and parades on November 11 in virtually every town and city throughout the Commonwealth. There is sure to be a Veterans Day event near your home for you, your family, and friends to attend. We invite you to participate and honor all who have served.
These last few months have been very busy and productive for me and all of our DVS team members as we continue our mission to serve the nearly 700,000 veterans, their spouses and family members, and transitioning service members here in the Commonwealth.
It started in late August when we hosted the VA and dozens of veterans services organizations at the Richmond Convention Center. Our team delivered briefings and showcased our programs and services to over 1,300 veterans and families. Our benefits team worked throughout a long 10-hour day conducting benefits/claims discussions with over 100 veterans. Excuse me for bragging, but there is no better team of claims or appeals professionals in the country.
Last month, we again joined the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (VVSF) in co-hosting the annual Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Executive Forum in Richmond. Nearly 400 filled the event space, including hundreds of veterans, dozens of private and public sector veteran-friendly employers, and members from the Virginia Chamber and its regional chambers. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin kicked off the day with a strong commitment to you and your families, highlighting our continued priority to make Virginia the easiest place to transition, and our shared commitment to keep programs like VMSDEP, and the services that help you through the challenges that come about in each stage of life for our veterans.
Between those events, our team and I have traveled throughout Virginia meeting with local Community Veterans Engagement Boards, veterans services organizations, student veteran groups, and others in the veteran and military community to learn first-hand what issues they consider most important.
This month, we are introducing new improvements to our successful Virginia Veterans Network (VVN) online portal to make it even more accessible and easy for our veterans and their families to find the information needed to take advantage of the benefits, programs and services earned. More than 47,000 of you have already signed on to use VVN. If you haven’t signed on yet, I urge you to do so. If you are a family member or friend of a Virginia veteran, make sure he or she discovers this unique and powerful resource. Click here to access VVN.
What’s more, we often discover that too many Virginia veterans are not aware of DVS and aren’t taking advantage of the many programs and services available to them and their families. With over 50 operating locations across the Commonwealth, our team members are always nearby and available to meet in person or virtually. Help us spread the word! We’re here to serve you and our services are always free.
As I remind you in every edition of DVS eNews, we want to hear from you. How can we serve you better? If we’re doing things that have helped, your testimonials will be appreciated and retold. Your shipmates, squadron-mates, and battle buddies will trust your feedback much more than mine! Please contact your local DVS office or email me directly at Commissioner@dvs.virginia.gov. I promise you will receive a reply.
Finally, as we prepare for your day on November 11th, Veterans…and your families, I want to thank each of you for your service and sacrifice. I am proud to be among you. May you have a safe and happy November and Thanksgiving holiday. May God continue to bless our Commonwealth and our great Nation as we celebrate 250 years of freedom and liberty for all!
Chuck Zingler (USN, Ret.)
Commissioner
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The Virginia War Memorial will host the 69th Annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony at 3 p.m., Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Members of the public and especially those who have served or currently serve in the U.S. armed forces and their families are invited and encouraged to attend and participate in this special ceremony which honors and celebrates the millions of men and women veterans who served in war and peacetime from the Revolutionary War to today.
The program will include a tribute to Virginia Blue Star families, and the recognition of the Virginia Military Family of the Year and the winners of the Virginia War Memorial’s 2025 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest. Patriotic music will be provided by the Combined Northside High School Choir and Chorale from Roanoke.
For those that cannot attend in person, the 69th Annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony will also be televised live on WTVR CBS6.1 and 6.3 television in Richmond and livestreamed on WTVR.com. and WTKR.com. For more information please visit www.vawarmemorial.org or www.dvs.virginia.gov or telephone 804.786.2060.
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 (L to R) Michele Crone, Virginia Department of Veterans Services chief of staff, stands with Virginia Veteran Farmer Recognition Award winners Troy Brown; Joshua Clark; and Ralph Morton; and Bill Osl, chairman of the State Fair of Virginia Youth Development Board.
Three Virginia farmers who served in our armed forces have been recognized with the inaugural Virginia Veteran Farmer Awards. The awards were presented at a special ceremony held on October 2 at Meadow Event Park in Caroline County during the 2025 State Fair of Virginia.
The State Fair of Virginia and the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company presented the awards which honor the invaluable contributions of these veterans who transitioned into farming or paused and returned to farming after their military service. The contest was open to all Virginia veterans who are currently professionally engaged in agriculture in the Commonwealth.
“They answered the call to serve our nation with courage,” said Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Scott Sink. “The same values of resilience, sacrifice and stewardship that defined their military service are the very bedrock of the livelihoods they have built in agriculture.”
Recipients of the first Virginia Veteran Farmer Awards are:
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Troy Anthony Brown (Accomack County): After a 33-year stint in the U.S. Navy, Brown settled on Virginia’s Eastern Shore where he established a farming operation that focuses on sustainable agriculture and includes aquaculture, an organic garden, and an orchard.
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Josh Clark (Gloucester County): A first-generation hay, corn, and soybean farmer, he served four years in the U.S. Navy and comes from a family that has a history of military service including his son who serves in the U.S. Army. Clark actively embraces conservation practices and technology with the goal of protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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Ralph Morton (Greene County): A 21-year U.S. Army veteran, Morton is a livestock and produce grower and also operates a bed-and-breakfast on his farm. After a traumatic brain injury and suffering from PTSD, he credits transitioning to agriculture after active duty with helping him find personal serenity and fulfilling a mission to teach children and others about the importance of farming.
DVS Chief of Staff (COS) Michelle Crone joined State Fair of Virginia officials on stage to present the awards and also presented each recipient with an official DVS challenge coin.
“As a proud US Navy veteran myself and the spouse of a veteran, it is gratifying to meet these Virginia veterans who served our Nation and continue to serve their communities and the Commonwealth after transitioning from active duty to agriculture,” said COS Crone. “It is an honor and a privilege to be here today to honor and recognize these three outstanding Virginia veteran farmers. We salute each of them and wish them continued success in their farming operations.”
“Veterans and farmers share core values of discipline, resilience, hard work, and a heartfelt sense of duty. I am so proud of the veterans celebrated here today who continue to serve in their local communities through growing a safe and sustainable food supply and for paying forward their skills to future generations who will continue to cultivate an outstanding America,” added Virginia Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Chuck Zingler.
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 Attendees at The Amy S. Howard Suicide Prevention Symposium at ECPI University's Virginia Beach campus.
The Virginia Department of Veteran Services (DVS) Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services (SOS) Program has finalized 57 community grant awards for FY26 to provide suicide prevention and/or opioid addiction services for service members, veterans, and their families (SMVF).
These awards will provide services with focus areas for caregiver support, financial literacy, homeless services, women veterans, and justice involved veterans throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia to prevent suicide and opioid addiction.
Since the program’s inception in 2023, DVS has awarded over $16 million in grant funds to veterans services organizations and non-profits serving SMVF in the Commonwealth.
The full list of new SOS community grantees for the grant year starting October 1, 2025 can be found on the DVS website.
“DVS is pleased to have a key role in enhancing Virginia’s behavioral health system of care, ultimately ensuring we are providing the best quality of service to the SMVF community,” said Commissioner Chuck Zingler, Virginia Department of Veterans Services. “These grant funds offer a critical and timely opportunity to provide extended resources across the Commonwealth.”
Upon notification of this recent grant funding, new grantees were invited to participate in a semi-annual Suicide Prevention Symposium on Friday September 26, 2025. The Amy S. Howard Suicide Prevention Symposium was renamed in memory of the late Amy S. Howard, DVS Senior Grants Administrator and key architect of the SOS program who passed away in May 2025. Amy’s legacy will live on through community organizations changing and saving lives.
The Symposium event was held on the ECPI campus in Virginia Beach with approximately 95 attendees from DVS and over 57 organizations. Symposium attendees included new grantees that received their first awards this fiscal year and those grantees that are entering their second or third year of services through SOS.
Grantees spent the day learning about DVS services, collaborating, and networking with each other so that veterans and families benefit from as many resources as possible.
To learn more about the Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services program, click here.
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 Peter J. Wilson, D.M.A.
Violinist & Conductor; Music Director: Richmond Philharmonic, Waynesboro Symphony; Artistic Director: American Festival Pops; MGySgt, U.S.M.C. (Ret.)
Please give an overview of your military service and the branch in which you served.
I served in the United States Marines for 30 years (1990-2020) as a member of “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band for that entire service, my primary billet being a violinist. In 2007, I was appointed String Section Commander of the organization and held this position until my retirement. For two years, I additionally served as Combo Section Commander. For roughly the 2nd half of my career, I was the senior enlisted music advisor to The White House and retired at the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9). My additional duties included serving for 25 years (1995-2020) as the official ceremonial narrator — “The Voice” —and chief script writer of Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, announcing all Marine ceremonies and parades in the National Capital Region that required a public address announcer, master of ceremonies, or narrator, including parades, award ceremonies, retirements, and Marine Corps Birthday Balls. As a member of the Marine Band, I played with the Marine Orchestra, led countless small ensembles such as string quintets, quartets, trios, and duos, and led the Marine Rock Band “Free Country” for 13 years for regular events on the South Lawn of The White House. Additionally, I wrote many arrangements for orchestra and small ensembles to be performed at The Executive Mansion, the State Department, The Pentagon, and General Officer quarters.
What was or were your most rewarding assignments while serving?
It was always an honor to provide musical support for events at The White House, and I also really enjoyed arranging music and performing it for the Kennedy Center Honorees each year. But perhaps the most rewarding “assignments” were providing after-dinner entertainment for events that hosted Wounded Warriors. In addition, leading string quartets for the funerals of Marines either killed in action or who passed away while on active duty for other reasons was always a profound honor. Our primary mission was to provide musical support to The President and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, but I always believed our secondary mission included promoting American musical traditions and providing what I call “musical diplomacy” for all kinds of events. Music helps comfort us, heal us, celebrate, and also solidify bonds between our country and our allies. This really was the essence of what my job entailed during my service. One of my more memorable and rewarding assignments was the opportunity to perform the Theme from “Schindler’s List” at the Kennedy Center with legendary film composer John Williams conducting. He was the most gracious musician, and it was a life-changing experience for me. Finally, in my 26th year of service, as President Obama was in his final months in office, I got the call to provide solo violin music for a surprise anniversary dinner The President was hosting for his wife, poolside, at The White House. He never told his staff or her staff. He called his personal aide, the chef, and my boss directly. There were no cameras and no other guests. Mrs. Obama was genuinely surprised, as she arrived in a jogging suit with a ball cap. The President pulled off a remarkable surprise. I played romantic music for The First Couple for two hours. I’ll never forget it.
What are you doing now?
Since retiring from the Marines, I have continued to serve as an orchestral conductor for three different organizations in Virginia. I am the Music Director of the Richmond Philharmonic and The American Prize-winning Waynesboro Symphony Orchestras. I’m also the Artistic Director and Conductor of the American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) in the National Capital Region. Most recently, I led a concert by the AFPO on Armed Forces Day, which was a tribute to our troops and veterans while taking the audience on a journey through the music that accompanied our Nation's wars. In addition, I am working on completing a memoir about my 30 years as a Marine violinist of The White House, entitled “FIRST FIDDLE.” I’m currently working with a wonderful collaborative editor out of L.A. and hope to publish sometime next year or early 2027. The thread through this book speaks to the “musical diplomacy” I mentioned in my previous answer. I also still perform and record as a violinist and have a new album with cellist Jennifer Kloetzel being released next year. My other duo partner, Aaron Clay and I (“Bridging the Gap” — Violin & Double Bass Duo we formed while Marines together) continue to perform outreach in schools as well as public concerts and benefits. Finally, I continue to perform our National Anthem on solo violin for various sporting events such as Major League Baseball games and NCAA Men’s Basketball games.
What advice would you give to a transitioning service member?
It’s challenging to give general advice to transitioning service members since we all serve in such a wide variety of occupational specialties while also having very different goals and interests moving forward. Even though not everything applied to me, I found the transitioning courses to be valuable, and I would encourage folks nearing military retirement or separation to take those seriously. Making lists of goals, staying engaged with family and friends, and attacking that bucket list are all good places to start. Finally, I would tell any former service member to be an engaged citizen. Get the word out about the 1% of our population who chooses to serve our Nation in uniform and support the 6% of our population that are veterans. We all need each other, and we can always be supportive even after we hang up that uniform.
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 Bobby Lipes, Virginia Patriot Guard Riders member, escorts unaccompanied veterans behind his motorcycle in a glass case.
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 All ten unaccompanied veterans' remains with their folded flags.
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 Navy Honor Guard folding the flag for unaccompanied veteran John S. Keith.
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 Members of the Honor Teams carry the remains of the unaccompanied veterans from the chapel up to the columbarium to be interred.
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It was a beautiful fall morning on October 16 – filled with a slight chill in the air, warm sunshine and the sound of motorcycles escorting ten unaccompanied Virginia veterans to their final resting place.
These veterans were escorted by the Virginia Patriot Guard Riders and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Department over 60 miles from Bennett's Funeral Home in Mechanicsville to Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia where they were laid to rest.
Army veteran Bobby Lipes with the Virginia Patriot Guard Riders towed the glass case that carried the remains of each veteran being honored with his motorcycle. Inside the chapel, Lipes opened the service and introduced each honor team.
Pastor J.D. Selzer of Kingsland Baptist Church in Chester and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran prayed over the veterans being honored. He also provided a reminder of the willingness for these men to lay down their life in service to their country and how those present were honoring them with the proper burial and respect they deserved.
Each veteran received full military honors including taps and folding of the flag by their branch of service, followed by a rifle volley by the James M. Slay Detachment #329 Marine Corps League.
“It was so heartwarming to have over 50 people who care about these veterans,” said Sandra Moore, Administrative Supervisor at Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia and the cemetery team member behind coordinating this burial service. “It was an honor and blessing to lay our unaccompanied veterans to rest.”
After the service, the veterans were then laid to reset in Columbarium 2 by their honor team and given their final salute.
May we never forget the service and sacrifice of these veterans:
Guy Arrington of Richmond – Army, SP4
Kenneth Sutton of Richmond – Army, PV2
Alton Collier of Henrico - Marine Corps, Corporal
Edward Killian Jr. of Richmond - Air Force, AMN
John M. Watkins of Richmond - Army National Guard, PV2
Theodore Jones of Richmond – Army, SP4
John S. Keith of Richmond – Navy, ET3
Lamont Pompey of Richmond – Army, PFC
Josef P. Roman of Richmond – Navy, AT2
Ronald Everette of Richmond – Army, SP5
Their service may have ended long ago, but their memory — and their honor — will live on forever.
“Whenever Sandra [Moore] calls us, we make every effort to be here for one of these unaccompanied veteran burials,” said Sue Bennett, military spouse to Charlie Bennett, U.S. Air Force veteran who served on one of the Honor Teams for the burial service. “My parents are buried here, and we just want to ensure that every veteran is recognized at the end of their life for their time in service by those who appreciate all of their sacrifices.”
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 Stets family members in Shrine of Memory Global War on Terrorism with memorial wreath
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A special ceremony was held on October 23, 2025 at the Virginia War Memorial to unveil the name of Staff Sergeant Mark A. Stets, Jr. of Virginia Beach which was added to the wall of the Memorial’s Shrine of Memory-Global War on Terrorism. Staff Sergeant Stets was killed by terrorists in Pakistan in February 2010.
The inspiring ceremony was attended by the Stets family, Remarks were given by Stets family friends, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares; Kathy Owens, Virginia War Memorial Foundation board member, and Dr. Clay Mountcastle, Virginia War Memorial Director. The ceremony concluded with the playing of TAPS.
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 (L-R) Representative Rob Wittman, Secretary Crenshaw, Deputy Secretary Reed, Governor Youngkin, John Paul Jones reenactor, Cheryl Wilson, Dr. Clay Mountcastle, Admiral Frank Rennie, and Branch Fields
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 Navy veterans present challenge coins to JROTC cadets
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The Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (Virginia 250) hosted a special ceremony and reception to commemorate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy on Monday, October 13 at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.
Attendees including many Navy veterans, Navy JROTC cadets and government officials and legislators filled the seats of the Heilman Amphitheater and were welcomed by Ben King, Virginia War Memorial Operations Director, who kicked off the program by introducing “John Paul Jones”, the Father of the U.S. Navy, portrayed by actor Bryan Austin in full costume, and who read an opening address entitled “Come Sail With Me.”
Soloist Branch Fields sang “The Star Bangled Banner” followed by a greeting from Virginia War Memorial Director Clay Mountcastle and the reading of the 1175 Proclamation that established the U.S. Navy by Rear Admiral Frank Rennie (USN, Retired) and Virginia War Memorial Foundation Board Member.
Virginia 250 Executive Director Cheryl Wilson introduced Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott who related his experiences serving as a Navy officer. He was followed by Virginia Deputy Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Captain Joyce Reed (USN, Retired) who introduced Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The Governor spoke of how Virginia is truly the birthplace of the Navy, of how proud Virginia is to be the home of Norfolk Naval Station and other facilities, and how the Navy and its related industries, such as shipbuilding, continue to play a major part in the economy and success of the Commonwealth. He reminded the attendees to honor and remember the thousands of sailors who gave the ultimate sacrifice from the Revolutionary War to today and the thousands who never returned home.
Joining the speakers in the celebration were U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw, as well as DVS Commissioner Chuck Zingler and Chief of Staff Michelle Crone, both of whom are Navy veterans.
The ceremony included an exchange of Challenge Coins from Navy veterans to JROTC Navy students from James River High School of Chesterfield County, the reading of the poem “Sea Fever”, the playing of TAPS, cheers for the U.S. Navy, and the singing of “Anchors Aweigh.”
Following the conclusion of the ceremony, attendees gathered in the Memorial’s Veterans Hall for the cutting of Navy 250th Birthday Cake and other refreshments.
Virginia 250 hosted the U.S. Army 250th Birthday Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial on June 14 and will host the U.S. Marine Corps 250th Birthday Ceremony there on November 7, 2025. For more information on this ceremony and other upcoming events at the Memorial, visit vawarmemorial.org and dvs.virginia.gov. For a schedule of Virginia 250 events, go to va250.org.
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 Governor Glenn Youngkin addresses the crowd of business and military leaders at the Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Executive Forum.
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 V3 Award winner for enterprise sized companies, Amazon Corporate. (L to R) Secretary Craig Crenshaw; Ian McDuffie, Senior Manager - Amazon Global Military Affairs; DVS Commissioner Chuck Zingler; DVS Director of Veterans Education, Transition, and Employment Services Patrice Jones; and DVS Deputy Director of Transition & Employment Programs Jasmine Gore-Crockett.
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The 2025 Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Executive Forum was held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on October 23 where Governor Glenn Youngkin joined nearly 500 business and military leaders. Hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation, Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), and the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (VVSF), the event highlighted strategies to strengthen Virginia’s position as a national leader in supporting service members, veterans, and military families.
“I want to thank the Virginia Chamber for being such an extraordinary partner on behalf of our veterans,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “By bringing together businesses across the Commonwealth to participate in the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program, we’ve been able to grow participation from 1,700 companies when I took office to over 3,800 different employers today, resulting in the hiring of 53,000 veterans across Virginia in the last three and a half years. In the same period, we’ve seen the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program (VMSDEP) grow from 4,500 participants to nearly 10,000. With our announcement at today’s forum of our new partnership with the American Corporate Partners (ACP) to provide 1,000 coaches and mentors for Virginia’s veterans and military spouses over the course of the next two years and our efforts to press towards 50,000 participants in the Virginia Veterans Network (VVN) we launched last year, we’re taking our efforts to serve our heroes to the next level.”
The program included roundtable discussions with leaders from across sectors focused on improving veteran employment outcomes, strengthening support for military spouses, and aligning workforce strategies with the Commonwealth’s economic priorities.
“The partnership between the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and over 3,800 employers that make up the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program has delivered tremendous success for the past 16 years,” said Commissioner Chuck Zingler. “The combined efforts and partnerships formed by these organizations and leaders offer significant promise as we move forward to reduce under-employment for our veterans and spouses. Today’s conference highlighted the importance of the military family, and the significant impact our veterans, spouses and families bring to our businesses, industries, schools, healthcare, and communities. Their sacrifices have helped to solidify the Commonwealth’s bright future. As we celebrate 250 years of America in Virginia, we must remain focused in keeping them a critical component of this initiative and continue to serve as a leader in delivering the promises of freedom, security, and prosperity.”
Four of the 3,800 total V3 certified employers were recognized for their outstanding achievements and dedication to hiring Virginia’s veterans. Since its inception, this unique public-private partnership has resulted in the hiring of over 176,000 Virginia veterans and military spouses throughout the Commonwealth. Congratulations to all our award recipients and all V3 employers for your continued efforts.
V3 Award Recipients:
- Small Sized Company (1-50): BAFO Services, LLC
- Medium Sized Company (51-300): Knight Federal Solutions Inc.
- Medium Sized Company (301-1,000): Top Guard Security
- Enterprise Sized Company (1,000+): Amazon Corporate, LLC
To learn more about becoming a V3 certified employer, visit dvsv3.com or dvs.virginia.gov.
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Our partners at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) put together list of known scams currently circulating through calls, texts, letters, and emails. We want to share these with you to make sure you don’t fall victim to these fraud schemes.
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Overpayment Scam: Someone contacts you claiming to be from the VA alleging you have a substantial VA debt due to overpayment. High pressure tactics to insist the debt must be repaid immediately via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency or other non-traditional payment methods. The VA will never demand veterans repay their debts in full up front.
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Bereavement Scams: Scammers exploit the vulnerability of grieving family members while contacting them to gather personal information or extort money with claims of fake debts owed by the deceased, inflated funeral expenses, processing fees, or unpaid insurance premiums.
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Mail Scams: Involve text messages alleging to be from shipping companies or the United States Postal Service attempting to make a delivery, demanding delivery fee payment, or with a gift offer.
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Unpaid Toll Texts: Individuals receive a text notification indicating they have an excessive outstanding unpaid toll fee, and immediate payment is demanded to prevent driver privileges from being permanently revoked or arrest. The messages appear to be from companies such as EZPass, SunPass, PeachPass, and FastTrack, among others. The messages usually instruct the victim to click on a link to issue a payment for the outstanding fees.
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Natural Disasters Fraud: Scammers prey on vulnerability resulting from natural disasters and exploit the chaos and desperation of homeowners.
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I. Bill Benefits Scams: Some non-accredited educational institutions and programs employ deceptive practices and make embellished promises regarding the value and earning potential of their degrees. Veterans and their families need to protect their benefits by choosing only G.I. Bill approved schools.
If you miss a VA benefits payment, identify a discrepancy in payments, or find suspicious activity with your direct deposit account, contact VA immediately at 1-800-827-1000. If you suspect you have experienced fraud, you can find resources to file a report to the appropriate agency by visiting vsafe.gov or by calling 1-833-38V-SAFE.
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As Veterans Day approaches, the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation invites you to pause and reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. Their service has shaped not only the Commonwealth we call home but the freedoms and opportunities we cherish every day.
Across Virginia, communities are preparing to celebrate our veterans through ceremonies, parades, and gatherings that remind us what it truly means to serve. For the Foundation, this season carries special meaning — it’s a time to connect with those we support, to share their stories, and to reaffirm our mission of ensuring that every Virginia veteran and family member has the resources and care they deserve.
Through your generosity, the Foundation continues to make a direct impact in the lives of veterans across the Commonwealth. Whether it’s providing emergency housing assistance, supporting mental health and wellness programs, or funding initiatives that restore hope and dignity, your support transforms lives.
This Veterans Day, we encourage everyone to take a moment to thank a veteran — not just with words, but through action. Volunteer. Donate. Share their stories. Together, we can continue to honor their service not only on Veterans Day but every day of the year.
Kayla Arestivo
Executive Director
Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
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Join the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Virginia War Memorial at the inaugural Salute to Service Reunion Celebration, commemorating 35 years since Operation Desert Storm. This special event reunites Virginia veterans and their families for a day of remembrance, camaraderie, and reflection, featuring speakers, music, discussions, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial.
The Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Virginia War Memorial invite Virginia veterans, their immediate family members, and those who directly supported the Operation Desert Storm conflict to submit a Request for Invitation, click here.
Our next Virginians at War documentary, Decisive Victory: Operation Desert Storm, will feature interviews with Desert Storm veterans and their families, and will discuss the invasion of Kuwait, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and the lasting impact on the American public.
Get a first look at Decisive Victory: Operation Desert Storm with this compelling trailer, click here.
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 On September 25, Kimberly Cheeseman, V3 Transition Resource Coordinator (pictured behind table) attended the Army Community Service Spouse Employment Symposium at Fort Lee where they got to engage with military spouses seeking employment assistance and share the resources that DVS has to offer them.
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Zuri Polk, Military Education and Workforce Initiative (MEWI) Manager, attended the DOD SkillBridge Expo in October to share the services MEWI has to offer.
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