 July 2026
“Wisconsin’s veterans bring discipline, leadership, and hard-earned skills to our workforce, and this ranking reflects what happens when state agencies work together on their behalf,” said DVA Secretary James Bond. “WDVA is part of a larger effort to make sure Wisconsin is delivering on its commitment to those who have served in the armed forces. We are grateful to have dedicated partners in our mission from the local level all the way to the governor’s office.”
Wisconsin has been ranked fourth in the nation every year since 2023 in the Uniform National Threshold Entered Employment Rate (UNTEER) for veterans and eligible persons, a standard created by the U.S. Department of Labor to measure how effective states are in providing employment services to veterans.
Read the full press release here
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*Right picture: Bear River Powwow in Lac du Flambeau (LDF). Included in this picture of Tribal veterans are (left to right) Secretary Bond, LDF Tribal President, John Johnson Sr., Brig. Gen. Joni Mathews, Tribal Veteran Liaison, Melissa Doud and Lac du Flambeau Tribal Veteran Service Officer Ronald Peterson.
 Pictured above (left to right): Sawyer County Veterans Service Office, CVSO, Gary Elliott; Lac Courte Oreilles TVSO, Louis Bird Traverzo; and Secretary Bond, who was presented with a special native blanket in recognition of his commitment to Tribal veterans.
14 organizations dedicated to serving Wisconsin veterans and their families have received a total of $550,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. WDVA is proud to support the work these organizations are doing across the state to expand job training, encourage veteran entrepreneurship, support mental health services and much more.
"Every year, I'm reminded of how much these organizations do for Wisconsin veterans, often reaching people our department can't reach on our own," said Secretary James Bond. "These grants help fund emergency assistance, mental health support, housing, business training, to name just a few. I'm proud of the partnership WDVA has with these nonprofits and grateful for everything they do on behalf of those who served."
See the full press release and list of recipients here.
For more information about our grants, see the WDVA grants page.
Annually the month of July is National Military and Consumer Protection Month. Please join WDVA and help us raise awareness of potential fraud and scammers targeting military and veteran families.
With the rise of AI scams and frauds targeting military service members and veterans, WDVA and our partners at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) remain committed to spreading awareness so you can prevent yourself from becoming a victim and to protect your confidential and personal information.
If you have any questions about identifying and avoiding AI scammers, fake telemarketers, recovering from identity theft, and more, please visit DATCP's website at ConsumerProtection.wi.gov.
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Governor Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), announced that beginning July 1, 2026, Gold Star family members will be able to get a personalized Gold Star Family license plate at no cost to them in honor of their loved one’s service and sacrifice.
Gov. Evers signed 2025 Wisconsin Act 50 last December to permanently waive the fee and allow Gold Star families to personalize their Gold Star specialty license plate at no cost. The Gold Star license plates are available to order and personalize online at: https://specialplates.wi.gov/
This is a new important benefit to honor, remember, and respect the sacrifice and service borne by families of Wisconsin's fallen veterans. Read the online press release here.
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Earlier this month, WDVA rolled out our new Military Funeral Honors benefits video that explains how families can formally request military funeral honors ceremonies across Wisconsin.
Each ceremony includes folding and presentation of the United States burial flag and the sounding of taps. A military funeral honors ceremony is free to any eligible veteran. If you have questions, you can learn more by calling 1-800-WIS-VETS or visiting wisvets.com.
Thank you to Wisconsin’s Veteran Service Organizations who help make military funeral honors ceremonies possible across the state. And a special thank you to Jessie Cuff, CVSO, Waupaca County Veterans Service Office and WDVA’s Military Funeral Honors Team for their assistance in creating this new video. Watch the video on YouTube.
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Members at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King had a very special visit by the Red Star Pilots from the EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh. On Thursday, July 23rd, members from Ainsworth and Moses Halls enjoyed a special 20 plane flyover the King campus and afterwards, loaded into a bus and had a meet and greet at the Waupaca airport to talk to the pilots and see the planes up close!
Most of the Red Star Pilots Association members are military veterans flying CJ-6 and Yak-52 aircraft which includes both jet and propeller aircraft. The activities staff at King would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dan and Lee from the Red Star Pilots Association for their assistance in setting up this exciting opportunity for our members in King!
View more pictures on our Homes' Facebook page, here.
Pictured: A member living at Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, visits the Waupaca airport and gets an up and close view of a Soviet-era Yak-52 airplane on July 23, 2026.
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We had a full house and lots of full bellies at the delicious BBQ sponsored and served by volunteers from the Retired Involved Nursing Group (RING). It is one of the most anticipated summer activities of the year at our Union Grove Veterans Home by members and staff. The menu, prepared by Wild Oak BBQ, featured smoked brisket, baked beans, and potato salad, while the trio BBR (Bill, Bubba, and Randy) kept everyone entertained with rock, folk, and country favorites.
WDVA would like to express our appreciation and a heartfelt thank you to the RING team - a Wisconsin-based organization that brings together retired nurses for social, educational, and community activities.
Please stay tuned to all the events and happenings at our Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove by following our Home's Facebook page.
Looking for a new, rewarding career? The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is looking for great people like you to help us serve veterans in Wisconsin! This month's featured job opening is for License Practical Nurses (LPNs) at our Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove. There is a Sign-On Bonus of $3,000 for eligible applicants for this job opening.
You can also search for all available WDVA job openings across the state which includes various positions with our administrative offices in Milwaukee and Madison, our three veteran memorial cemeteries, and with the skilled care teams at our three state veteran homes.
To view all available openings, and learn how to apply, please visit wisc.jobs today!
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