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VDVS eNews - Fall 2026, Volume 1 |
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September is a busy month for all of us as we return from summer vacations, kids are back at school, football season has begun and the holiday season is approaching.
September is also the month each year designated as National Suicide Prevention Month. This is especially important to our team here at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS).
Helping to prevent tragic losses of life is a priority year-round for VDVS and especially for our Virginia Veterans and Family Support (VVFS) team members. VDVS team members who work in the field are trained to recognize the signs that a veteran is contemplating suicide, especially when assisting individuals with basic needs such as housing, medical and behavioral health services, during military transition, and even during disability claims appointments.
While not every veteran will think about taking their own life, veterans – especially those in their first year after leaving the military - are more likely to die by suicide. Here are some warning signs that a veteran may be considering suicide. These signs include:
- Talking about or making plans for suicide.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or being a burden to others.
- Showing rage or seeking revenge.
- Acting anxious or agitated.
- Behaving recklessly and displaying extreme mood swings.
- Increasing drug or alcohol use.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Withdrawal or feeling isolated.
Please take a moment to review these signs and to think about how to ask clearly and directly about suicide risk when you’re concerned about someone. It’s so important to connect veterans and their families to behavioral health resources, and we at VDVS help do that. You can even refer a friend for services through the Virginia Veterans Network.
If you need to talk or are concerned about a loved one, immediate help is always available 24/7 by calling the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8.
One effective way to combat isolation for the veterans in our networks and increase opportunities to show support is with Buddy Check Friday. Make it a point to check on a “buddy”, friend or family member every Friday in person, with a telephone call or text message. These personal connections are one of the best ways to listen, show support, and prevent suicide.
Our VDVS team members work closely with several local and community resources, including the VA, Cabana, and others who provide counseling and behavioral health services to Virginia veterans and their families. VDVS also offers grants totaling over $4 million each year to nonprofits and other organizations throughout the Commonwealth that provide resources through our Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Program (SOS) program.
Bottom line – We are all a part of the suicide prevention mission. Our partners at George Mason University have made training for our mission more accessible by building a free online course called Virginia Identify, Screen, and Refer or VISR. The VISR training includes modules in military culture, suicide prevention, risk screening, and lethal means safety. VISR is a great tool for all of us, as we work to build skills that save lives. Here’s the VISR training registration details.
Also, this September, we were pleased to have so many Southwest Virginia veterans and their family members attend our Veterans Benefits and Resources Fair held in Lebanon on September 10. We commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks during the Commonwealth’s Patriot Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial on September 11 and observed National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Memorial on September 18.
In October, we will celebrate the grand opening of our new benefits offices in Chesapeake and Fairfax, expanding our ability to provide even greater support and service to veterans and their families across Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
As I mention in every edition of VDVS eNews, we welcome your ideas, questions and input on how VDVS can better serve you – our Virginia veterans and your families. I encourage you to visit your local VDVS benefits offices to meet with our team members there. I also invite you to check out all the information available on our Virginia Veterans Network (VVN) online portal by clicking here. You can also reach me directly by email at Commissioner@dvs.virginia.gov.
Please do all you can to help us prevent veteran suicides; if there’s a single thing to take away from this newsletter, it’s that 988 is the number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Our mission remains serving you who served our Nation. Best wishes for a safe and pleasant fall season.
Very Respectfully,
John Maxwell
Commissioner
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VDVS will host a Veteran Benefits and Resource Fair, Friday, October 23, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake. All veterans of any era, active-duty service members, Guard and Reserve members, and their family members in the Hampton Roads area are invited and encouraged to attend and participate.
The event is free and VDVS team members will be on hand to meet one-on-one with attendees to help them learn about and apply for the many federal, state, and community benefits they qualify for and earned from their military services. Topics to be covered include submitting U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims, healthcare enrollment, available education and housing benefits, survivor and dependent benefits, and more.
“No veteran should have to struggle through a complicated benefits system on their own. Every application represents a lifetime of service, and every veteran deserves someone who will take the time to listen, explain the process, and advocate on their behalf. This unique opportunity affords veterans access to individualized support and helps remove barriers that too often prevent veterans from accessing the benefits they've earned," said VDVS Commissioner John Maxwell.
The Chesapeake Conference Center is located at 700 Conference Center Drive, Chesapeake, Va. 23320. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required as walk-ins are welcome. For more information, visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star Quality Rating System provides veterans, families and caregivers with an easy-to-understand way to compare the quality of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The system assigns an overall rating of one to five stars, with five stars representing a rating of much above average quality. CMS bases the overall rating on three key areas: health inspections, staffing and quality measures.
For the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS), this national quality measure reflects the commitment of its four veterans care centers to providing high-quality, compassionate care to Virginia’s veterans. The VDVS veterans care centers—Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center in Roanoke, Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center in Virginia Beach, Puller Veterans Care Center in Fauquier County, and Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond—have all earned five-star overall ratings under the CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System.
Only 18% of all nursing homes in Virginia have a five-star rating. One area that allows the Virginia veterans care centers to achieve this top rating is fewer citations. The average number of citations during a health inspection of a nursing home in Virginia is 14.5 citations. Davis & McDaniel only had three citations during their last inspection, Sitter & Barfoot only had five, Jones & Cabacoy had two, and Puller zero citations.
Another area that the VDVS veterans care centers excel in is staffing. The nursing staff turnover rate is high in most nursing homes, with the average being 45.8% across the U.S. and 48.1% in Virginia.
“Our nursing staff turnover is significantly lower than our counterparts across the U.S. and Virginia at less than 30%, which makes a huge difference in continuity of care for our residents and the longevity of our staff,” said Todd Barnes, VDVS Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center Administrator. “This is one of the many reasons why all our care centers have a five-star rating. We’re committed to a higher quality of care.”
Achieving five-star ratings is a significant accomplishment and reflects the dedication of the professionals who care for Virginia’s veterans every day. From skilled nursing and rehabilitation to long-term care and specialized services, VDVS Veterans Care Centers strive to provide an environment where veterans receive the respect, dignity and quality care they have earned through their service. The CMS rating is one important measure of quality, complementing the personal experiences of residents and their families and the commitment of VDVS staff to serving those who served our nation.
To learn more about the Virginia veterans care centers, click here.
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 The Virginia Chamber Foundation, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation, is pleased to present the 2026 Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Executive Forum.
Virginia is home to over 663,000 veterans. It is also at the center of the nation’s defense industry. Competition for the talent, investment, and innovation will shape the next decade of development in the Commonwealth.
The 2026 Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Executive Forum will convene leaders from across Virginia’s business, defense, military, and public sectors to explore strategies that support our veteran community and strengthen Virginia’s competitiveness for defense investment, military-connected talent, innovation, and long-term economic growth.
The event includes panel discussions on Virginia's commitment to military families and Virginia's defense advantage; sessions on how to build Virginia's future defense workforce; and the V3 Awards Luncheon where we celebrate our Virginia employers who are leading the way in recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans through our Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program.
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The Virginia War Memorial commemorated the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 as it hosted the Commonwealth’s Patriot Day Ceremony on Friday, September 11, 2026. An estimated 800 citizens and participants attended the event.
The day began with a concert of patriotic music performed by Army combat veteran and Richmond musician Jim O’ Ferrell in the E. Bruce Heilman Amphitheater. Virginia War Memorial Director Dr. Clay Mountcastle welcomed everyone and served as Master of Ceremony for the ceremony.
The keynote speaker was Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Timothy Williams who recalled the bravery and courage of Virginia’s military and Guard members and first responders when the Pentagon in Arlington was hit by the jet plane hijacked by terrorists.
Other speakers included Richard “Rick” Pyle, retired firefighter and paramedic, who responded to the Pentagon attack, and John Riley, president of the Freedom Flag Foundation, the Richmond-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving the memory of the 9/11 attacks among young persons and all citizens.
The names of the 184 citizens who died during the attacks on the Pentagon were read aloud by JROTC cadets from Richmond’s John Marshall High School, Navy JROTC cadets from James River High School in Chesterfield County, and by members of the 92nd Basic Chesterfield County Police Academy. Additional patriotic music was provided throughout the ceremony by The Virginians Chorus.
Following the conclusion of the ceremony in the Heilman Amphitheatre, Dr. Mountcastle and Secretary Williams and attendees moved to the Shrine of Memory - Global War on Terror & Beyond for the placement of memorial wreaths, the tolling of the ship’s bell from the USS Virginia, the playing of TAPs and a closing benediction by Mark Flores, Chief of Chaplain Services at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System.
Many attendees then visited Patriot Way for a display of military and first responder vehicles and equipment parked along 2nd Street adjacent to the Memorial grounds. A free barbecue lunch was provided to all in the Memorial’s Veterans Hall courtesy of Uncle Jim’s Dress Blue Barbecue of Mechanicsville.
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 Walk-in interviews are occurring Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-applications are encouraged, but not necessary.
For questions, contact Beth Rinker, Director of Human Resources
Puller Veterans Care Center
6951 Vint Hill Parkway
Warrenton, VA 20187
Phone: 540-525-1458
Email: Beth.Rinker@dvs.virginia.gov
To learn more about the Puller Veterans Care Centers and the three other VDVS veterans care centers, click here.
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Virginia’s three state veterans cemeteries participated in a National Day of Service and Remembrance for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday, September 12.
Over 230 volunteers comprised of veterans, military spouses, first responders, Girl Scouts, American Heritage Girls, Trail Life USA, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), community members, and more showed up to help beautify the grounds and clean the headstones and markers where thousands of Virginia's veterans and service members are laid to rest in Amelia, Dublin, and Suffolk.
This volunteer opportunity was part of a National Day of Service and Remembrance sponsored by the National Cemetery Administration and Carry the Load, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Volunteer events were held at over 120 national, state, and local cemeteries across the nation.
“One of the highlights of the day was the headstone cleaning effort,” said VDVS Cemeteries Director Andre Logan. “Volunteers expressed how meaningful it was to take part in preserving the dignity and appearance of these resting places. The cleaning not only improved the condition of the headstones but also helped educate participants on proper care techniques.”
These events demonstrated the strong commitment our communities have in honoring those laid to rest in Virginia’s state veterans cemeteries.
Learn more about our cemeteries here.
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The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) would like to remind those eligible organizations that the deadline to apply for grant funds supporting veteran suicide prevention and opioid addiction services is September 30, 2026 at 4:59 p.m. EST.
The Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services (SOS) program aims to enhance understanding of suicide prevention and opioid addiction among service members, veterans, and their families (SMVF) and build community support capacity to ensure that professional help and assistance is widely available for Virginia’s military-connected population.
The SOS program serves as the steward of these grant funds and is now formally soliciting a Request for Applications (RFA) to expand community-based interventions, peer-to-peer networks, and harm reduction services across the entire Commonwealth.
For eligibility and application submission instructions, click here.
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Rob Downey
Richmond, Virginia
Please give an overview of your military service and the branch in which you served.
I commissioned in 2013 as an infantry officer after graduating from the United States Military Academy. After completing initial training and Ranger school, I went to my first assignment at Fort Hood, TX where I deployed to Afghanistan as a Platoon Leader. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to try out for the 75th Ranger Regiment and be selected for service in 1st Ranger Battalion. I served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer while deploying two more times to Afghanistan. I finished my time on active duty as an instructor for newly commissioned infantry officers at Fort Benning, GA.
What was or were your most rewarding assignments while serving?
Getting to serve and lead throughout my career was immensely rewarding. I met truly incredible people, who pushed me to be better than I ever could have been on my own. The amount of courage, selflessness, and sacrifice shown every day by these people is still something I carry with me.
What are you doing now?
I currently work with the awesome team at Puritan Cleaners here in Richmond, VA. I help with a lot of things, but my focus is on growth and helping serve more customers across the city. It is a rewarding role because so much of what we do also revolves around giving back to the community. Every fall we do a coat drive for those in need in partnership with the Salvation Army, and in the spring, we conduct a food drive in partnership with Feed More. Together with our community, we collect and care for roughly 16,000 coats annually and in 2026, together with our clients, we donated over 230,000 meals for local families. These are team efforts, and the fact they have direct impact on our community is something I am very proud of.
What advice would you give to a transitioning service member?
I have had a few jobs since leaving active duty, and I think through that journey I’ve realized that it is important to find things in the civilian world that fill you with the same energy that the jobs you enjoyed in the service did. I would tell transitioning service members to think about the things they enjoyed and find opportunities that offer those same characteristics. Whether it’s your full-time role, volunteering opportunities, or coaching your kid’s t-ball team – find what motivates you and pursue it.
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SeayMy T.Tee's Apparel Co.
Founder and Owner, Tyler Seay
Tell us about your business. What products do you sell or services do you offer?
SeayMy T.Tee’s is a veteran-owned, story-driven apparel company built around the idea that clothing can carry more than a logo. Our designs turn memories, identity, humor, resilience, invisible battles, and lived experience into wearable statements.
The company includes collections such as PLAYER 1 VS, which draws from 1990s and early-2000s gaming, internet culture, nostalgia, and growing up through the shift into digital life; The Drip Series, which is the louder streetwear and personality side of the brand; and a Sarcoidosis Awareness collection connected to my own experience with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Through that awareness collection, $10 from each qualifying shirt purchase is pledged to the Autoimmune Association.
Most products are currently sold through our ecommerce storefront and produced on demand while I build the company toward more in-person vendor events and physical product experiences throughout Virginia.
Where are you located in Virginia?
Fredericksburg
When did you establish your business?
2026
Who are the veteran owners of your business?
I am the founder, owner, and veteran behind SeayMy T.Tee’s Apparel Co.
In which branch of service did each owner serve and during what period of time?
I served in the U.S. Army from April 2011 through April 2021. I served for ten years, reached the rank of Sergeant (E-5), and served as a Combat Engineer, including leadership roles as a Team Leader and Squad Leader.
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?
I started SeayMy T.Tee’s because I wanted to build something that could give people a way to express the things they carry but do not always know how to say. After leaving the Army, I eventually realized that one of the things I missed most was having a clear mission.
Entrepreneurship became a way to build a new one for myself.
The Army taught me to break large problems into smaller tasks, work through imperfect conditions, learn from what did not go right, and keep moving. I use a lot of that same mindset now. I treat mistakes like an after-action review instead of a verdict on whether I belong in business.
My advice to another veteran would be not to wait until everything feels perfect before you start, but also not to confuse constant activity with real progress. Learn your numbers, listen carefully to the people you want to serve, use the veteran-business resources that are available, and be willing to hear what needs improvement. The military gives us a lot of useful habits, but civilian entrepreneurship also requires us to keep learning and adapting.
Most importantly, build something you actually care enough about to keep working on before anyone is clapping for it. There may be a long stretch where the effort is real but the outside validation is not there yet. Having a reason bigger than a quick sale matters during that stretch.
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In each edition of VDVS eNews, we profile a resident of one of our VDVS Veterans Care Centers. VDVS operates the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond (SBVCC), the Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center in Roanoke (DMVCC), the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center in Virginia Beach (JCVCC), and the Puller Veterans Care Center in Warrenton (PVCC). For more information on VDVS Veterans Care Centers, click here.
Peter Sielinski | U.S. Army
Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center
What military branch did you serve in? What period of time?
Lt. Colonel, Army, July 26, 1963, to February 28, 1986
What was the highlight of your military career? What are you most proud of?
Serving in the Special Forces and as a communication advisor to the Libyan Army; it was a fantastic job.
What do you like about Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center?
I like it because everything is taken care of. I think the staff is very professional. I love the folks here and they're good to work with.
What advice would you give to a person considering serving in the military?
Sign up right away! I loved being a soldier; it was the epitome of my career.
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Dave Marchant Memorial Tournament Supports Virginia Veterans
The Dave Marchant Memorial Virginia Veterans Tournament was held on August 28 at Piankatank River Golf Club in Hartfield, bringing together golfers and supporters for a day focused on supporting Virginia’s veterans and their families.
Hosted by Knights of Columbus Assembly 3349, the annual tournament raises support for Virginia Veteran and Family Support through the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation. The tournament is held in memory of Dave Marchant and continues his commitment to serving veterans.
Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Tim Williams attended the tournament and provided opening remarks to the golfers before play began. He thanked those in attendance for their continued support of Virginia’s veteran community.
VSF would like to thank Knights of Columbus Assembly 3349, Piankatank River Golf Club, the sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who participated in making the tournament a success.
The Foundation held its September Board of Trustees meeting on September 17 at Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond. Trustees received updates on Foundation activities, finances, and other priorities as we continue supporting veterans and their families across the Commonwealth.
Mike Coleman
Chairman
Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
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Salute to Service is a multi-year program dedicated to reuniting Virginia veterans with their units while honoring the American conflicts in which they served.
The Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Virginia War Memorial invite Virginia veterans, their immediate family members, and those who served in support roles during the Vietnam War to join us on April 3, 2027, for Salute to Service - Coming Home: The Vietnam War, chaired by Commander Paul Galanti, USN (Ret.) and Jamie Galanti. This powerful program will bring veterans, families, and the community together to reflect, reconnect, and honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served.
The program will consist of speakers, musical performances, exhibit panels, and other events providing rich context and a broad perspective of what Virginia veterans experienced in their campaigns and the people with whom they served. A wreath-laying ceremony and free time on the Virginia War Memorial’s grounds will also allow veterans to remember and honor those who did not return. The shared history of veterans, and the public’s understanding of it, will be enhanced through individual oral histories, photographs, and artifacts.
Registration is now open.
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 VDVS Commissioner John Maxwell and Benefits Assistant Regional Director Betina Nicklas (not pictured) discussed how DVS assists veterans, what benefits are available, and fielded questions from veterans at the Central Virginia Veterans (CVV), Inc. monthly breakfast in Palmyra on August 29.
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The VDVS SOS, Cemeteries, and VVFS teams participated in World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 at ECPI University in Virginia Beach. Sue Armstrong, Director Suicide Prevention & Opioid Addiction Services (SOS) (left); Bonnie Hummer, SOS Grants Administrator (second from left), Daphne Eaton, Resource Specialist, Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) (center right); and Morgan Yeager, Cemeteries Operations Coordinator, Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery each shared the services provided by VDVS to attendees.
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 A happy moment was shared when VDVS Appeals Specialist Samantha Allen (left) and Deputy Commissioner Sloane Rose (right) visited Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center (DMVCC) in Roanoke and met with WWII veteran Jon Eakin (bottom) and Todd Barnes (top center), DMVCC Administrator. Mrs. Allen represented Mr. Eakin at a hearing years ago and got to reconnect with him this month.
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 Jamie Staten (left), VDVS Peer Services Director, met with Bob Dees (right), Executive Director of the National Center for Heathy Veterans (NCHV). This organization provides a faith-based, holistic environment at Valor Farm in Altavista, VA. NCHV empowers veterans to overcome trauma and transition with strength toward recovery and resilience. Veterans are enrolled in a comprehensive program—live in a community setting, engage in meaningful work, and advance through resilience, trauma recovery, and career preparation. Jamie met with key staff and exchanged ideas for proving veteran peer support and discussed possible collaborative events in the future.
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