Veterans Day Ceremonies to be held Across State

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John A. Scocos and Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch will host three Veterans Day ceremonies on Friday, November 11, 2016 to thank and honor all those who have served our country. 

The ceremonies will also kick off the state's commemorative efforts for the World War I centennial. The events follow State Highway 29, the World War I Veterans Memorial Highway, across the state. 

• American Legion Post 53, Eau Claire, 8:30 a.m.
• Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, 11:00 a.m.
• VFW Post 7784, Oneida, 2:00 p.m.

Learn more at WisVets.com!

Air Force Veteran Cindy Brosig Named Wisconsin Woman Veteran of the Year

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary John A. Scocos named Cindy Brosig, Sun Prairie, the Wisconsin Woman Veteran of the Year during the WDVA's annual Wisconsin Women Veterans Conference on Thursday, October 13 at the Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee.

Brosig (pictured above with her family), served nine years active duty service in the Air Force and continues to serve as a Wisconsin Army National Guard spouse, a veteran advocate, and a catalyst for community connectedness. 

Brosig used her GI Bill benefits to get a master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis on animal-assisted therapy. She created Operation: Healing and Empowering Everyday Life (OP: H.E.E.L.) and uses animal-assisted interventions to connect and care for the entire veterans community.

The Wisconsin Woman of the Year award recognizes women veterans who have compiled a record of superior service as a military service member, a veteran, and outstanding member of the community. Established in 2008, each year this award has been given to an outstanding woman veteran covering service eras from WWII to the current conflicts.

Wisconsin Veterans Home at King Achieves 5-Star Ratings for All its Facilities

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary John A. Scocos announced today that according to the October 2016 Nursing Home Compare Five-Star Ratings of Nursing Homes Provider Rating Report by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), each of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King’s four facilities is now rated 5-stars out of 5-stars, the first time this milestone has been reached at the Home. 

“Our mission is to provide the safest and best quality care to our nation’s heroes and the latest reports by CMS indicate that our efforts are paying off,” Secretary Scocos said.... Read more »

VETERAN SUICIDE ADDRESSED AT MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT

Thank you to all who attended the WDVA Mental Health Summit on October 14, 2016. We were honored to have Major General (retired) Mark Graham, Vets4Warriors Director, as our keynote speaker. A tireless champion of military and civilian efforts to promote mental health and suicide-prevention awareness, and to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health care, the General shared his family's story about his son's suicide and helped to spread the word about support services for those in crisis.

Also during the summit, the WDVA launched it's Zero Veteran Suicide Initiative, an effort to train civilians to identify veterans who may be contemplating suicide with the goal of completely preventing it. Watch local TV coverage about the announcement here. 

CALLING ALL VETERAN BUSINESS OWNERS!

Are you a veteran who owns a business in Wisconsin? Would you like others to know about your business and what it does? We'd like to highlight a Wisconsin Veteran-Owned business in each newsletter. Email us and let us know a little bit (200 words or less) about yourself and what your business is. Be sure to include a photo or logo and a link to your website. We look forward to hearing from you!  

WI BUSINESS ANSWERLINE CAN HELP YOU

The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center hosts the Wisconsin Business Answerline to help you with business planning, business permits or licenses, insurance, obtaining business financing, start-up tips, and more. Call them at 1-800-940-7232 for free assistance.