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Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS)
Winter 2021 eNews, Volume 1
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Commissioner’s Corner

Happy New Year! Even though 2021 got off to a bumpy start, no doubt it will get better. Servicemembers, veterans and their families are accustomed to adversity, and we will find ways to keep moving forward in our personal and working lives.

Before I continue, I want to thank all of the National Guard members who responded to recent events in Washington, D.C. The speed with which they deployed was extraordinary.

In this edition of the VDVS eNews, we are highlighting the many successful programs and services that VDVS provides. In the military and government, we tend to use acronyms to designate these programs and sometimes forget that these can be confusing. So, when you read about SAA, V3, VTAP, VVFS, VMSDEP, and other programs in this edition, we hope you will gain a better understanding of the purpose and mission behind each one.

I am proud of how our Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) staff have remained committed to our vital mission of serving Virginia’s veterans, transitioning service members and their families. As importantly, they have done this while keeping the safety and health of our clients and themselves a top priority. The VDVS team has never forgotten the importance of providing personal, one-on-one service and consultations. Our representatives have continued to connect with veterans and family members virtually, via email and telephone, and they are also available for a face to face visit by appointment. They are standing by to connect with you.

One of the main benefits of working with our VDVS representatives is their close relationships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and their experience with and knowledge of the multitude of educational, financial, medical and other benefit programs available to veterans and their families. We also have strong partnerships with state and local resources providers, which lead to more veterans and families being served. We know how to take on complex situations, and stand ready to advocate for you. Plus, all of the services provided by VDVS are free of charge.

A few weeks ago, I was honored to be invited to speak at the funeral of 104-year-old World War II veteran Norton Hurd of Deltaville. Mr. Hurd was teaching high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He joined the Naval Air Reserve Corps as a pilot and then flew dive bombing and fighter missions in the Pacific where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, he returned home, ran his family’s hardware store, and became a beloved community leader. His courage and willingness to fight for our country during these darkest hours was an inspiration to me. It was a reminder that we Americans have been through tough times before and emerged stronger and more resilient than ever.

As 2021 unfolds, I promise that all of us at VDVS will continue to do all that we can to assist you. That said, we are always looking for ways to serve you better and appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Call us. Write us. Email us with your ideas.

We take our national recognition as the #1 state in America for veterans seriously. Our veterans, active military and family members deserve nothing less. .



John Maxwell, Commissioner
Virginia Department of Veterans Services

Upcoming Livestream Events offered by the Virginia War Memorial, events are free of charge, registration is required. Click on the links below to learn more.
 
Doomed to Repeat It? Does our Military Know its History?
Livestream Event presented by the Virginia War Memorial
February 3, 1:00 p.m.

Salute to Service: Helicopter Pilots
Livestream Event presented by the Virginia War Memorial
February 10, 10:30 a.m.

History Mystery: Where’s Tommie Cole?
Livestream Event presented by the Virginia War Memorial
February 11, 2:00 p.m.

Love Letters in the Midst of War
Livestream Event presented by the Virginia War Memorial
February 12, 4:00 p.m.

Veteran Health Needs in the Pandemic: Moving Toward Innovative Solutions
Online Event presented by NOVA Veterans Association and GMU Military, Veterans, & Families Initiative
Feburary 16, 9:00 a.m.

Eyewitness to History: Tuskegee Airman Dr. Harry Quinton
Livestream Event presented by the Virginia War Memorial
February 17, 2:00 pm





 
 










Ronald O. “Ron” White
US Army
 

Please give an overview of your military service.
I had the privilege and humbling honor to serve our Nation for over 21 years in the U.S. Army in various roles, culminating as a Military Aide to the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti and subsequently as the Deputy TRADOC Program Manager for the Battle Command Support Sustainment System. Commanded at the company level in the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and at the field grade level at the Reserve Storage Activity-Kaiserslautern. Earned my BS Degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; MA in Business, Bowie State University; MS in Leadership, Capella University; attended the Army Command and General Staff College the Air Force Command and General Staff College and the Strategic Studies Course at the US Army War College. I am a Life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans. Received the Army Knowledge Online award of excellence for 2004, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, the German Armed Forces Schützenschnur Badge and Distinguished Military Graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

What was or were your most rewarding assignment or assignments while serving?
I think that everyone remembers their first command. I was blessed with the opportunity to assume command of a 230 soldier strong headquarters company as a young newly promoted captain stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia. While my education and training gained while attending West Point was vital, nothing prepared me more than following the advice of my West Point Sergeant Major who told me, “when you get to your first unit, seek out your Sergeant Major and tell him that you want him to mentor you!”. This sound and sage advice afforded me the opportunity to honorably serve for nearly 22 years!
 
My final overseas tour of duty as an Aide to the US Ambassador to Haiti was also one of my most memorable assignments as I personally witnessed the violent overthrow of a national elected president, as President Aristide was removed from power by rebel forces in 2004. All of my military training and experience was called upon during these events, from my military tactical skills in evacuating the Ambassador from the Embassy, to my reconnaissance skills in providing daily reports to the ambassador about the movements of the rebel forces, to my French language competency in representing the ambassador at high-level meetings and negotiations and UN security forces moved in to secure the area; all that I learned and experienced in my more than 20 years of military service culminated at this point of my career. 

What are you doing now?
I am currently Vice President of Member and Public Relations for the Southside Electric Cooperative and also served as a Civilian Aide to The Secretary of The Army, a former Congressional District Director and Military Liaison as well as Director of Government and External Affairs for Virginia State University and an adjunct professor of Logistics at Richard Bland College of William and Mary.
   
I was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to serve on the Board of Visitors of Longwood University for a 4-year term from 2010–2014 and now serve as a Trustee for The Longwood University Trust. Served the Commonwealth as a Board Member for the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council and Virginia Heroes, Inc. and now currently serve as a Board Member for the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, the Richmond African American Scholarship Fund, The Robert Russa Moton Civil Rights Museum, and John Tyler Community College Foundation. Also, in 2020 I was appointed as Licensed Local Pastor for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving as Associate Pastor for Providence United Methodist Church in Richmond, VA.

What advice would you give to a transitioning service member? 
Never underestimate your military/veteran network nor your exceptionally valuable skills and experience that were honed during your period of service to our Nation and never discount your value and worth! No matter what field or vocation that you are pursuing, there are veterans in positions of influence and decision making that know your exceptional value and worth and will provide assistance, advice, and guidance as you transition out of the military. Virginia is one of the most veteran friendly states in the USA and organizations such as the Virginia Department of Veterans Services will provide you with all of the necessary tools for a seamless and successful transition. God speed and Carpe Diem!
 ;


David Gillespie, President and Founder,
Virginia Technical Academy, Newport News
 

Why is your business committed to hiring veterans? 
I retired after 30 years in the Coast Guard and I believe that Veterans have a different commitment toward getting the job done. Veterans enter the workforce with identifiable, transferable skills, tested in real-world situations. Also, they are able to work side-by-side with individuals of diverse gender, race, geographic origin, religion, ethnic background, and economic status. A Veteran has been trained to complete tasks on time, even under great stress, and stick with a task until it’s done. 

What advantages has your company experienced in hiring veterans?
Veterans have life experiences. They are self-starters. They take leadership roles and set the bar for others to follow. Considering the cost of a departing employees’ salary to replace them, employee loyalty is an immense cost benefit. Veterans know how important loyalty is for productivity and team unity. You would be hard pressed to find potential employees with a stronger work ethic than those who have served in military.

Can you tell us about the process of become a V3 Certified Partner? When did you become a V3 partner?
In 2010 I opened Appliance/HVAC retail/Wholesale store. Five years later, in 2015, I became a V3 partner for my service company, TruBlue Appliance Repair Service, and in 2018, I became a partner for Virginia Technical Academy trade school.

What advice would you give to other employers seeking to hire and retain veterans?
If you are looking for a leader and someone who would be dedicated to common goals of your company hire a veteran. When you hire a vet, you are bringing the leadership experience necessary for success for your company. Through extensive training and education, military personnel learn the concepts of leadership from day one. They first learn to effectively accept direction from other leaders, and many go on to take leadership roles themselves. Military leaders have experience managing their emotions in high-pressure situations. They are experienced motivators and delegators. 
Governor Breaks Ground for Major Expansion of
Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia

 
From Left to Right: Glenn Powers, National Cemetery Administration, VDVS Commissioner John Maxwell, Delegate Tommy Wright, Governor Northam, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins, VDVS Cemeteries Director Mike Henshaw, VDVS Deputy Commissioner Thomas Herthel, VDVS Assistant Cemeteries Director Scott Miller.


Governor Ralph Northam participated in a special ceremony on December 17 to celebrate the start of construction to expand the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia County and to acknowledge a $5.23 million grant for the expansion presented to the Commonwealth by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemeteries Administration (NCA).
 
The funds will be used to add 3,600 new pre-placed burial crypts at the cemetery, which is one of three state veterans cemeteries operated by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS). The expansion will cover approximately seven acres and enable the cemetery to provide continued service for nearly 179,000 Virginia veterans and eligible family members.
 
The Governor was joined by Glenn Powers, NCA Deputy Secretary of Field Programs and Cemetery Operations,  Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins, VDVS Commissioner John Maxwell, Deputy Commissioner Thomas Herthel, and Director of Cemetery Services Michael Henshaw.  
 
“More than 721,000 veterans call Virginia home, and we are committed to caring for them through every stage of their lives, which includes providing dignified final resting places,” said Governor Northam. “We are grateful to the National Cemetery Administration for the trust they place in the Commonwealth, and the guidance and support they provide our Department of Veterans Services.”

“Expanding the capacity of the Virginia Veterans Cemetery aligns with our mission to honor the legacy of those who served,” said Secretary Hopkins. “At the end of the day, we want to do everything we can to take care of our Virginia veterans and their families.”

“Our state cemeteries are an integral part of our VDVS mission to serve all Virginians who wore the uniforms of our armed forces and their families through every stage of their lives,” said Commissioner Maxwell. “This NCA grant allows us to continue to serve thousands more veterans and their families for many decades to come.”
 
The Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia was the first of three state veterans cemeteries established in the Commonwealth, opening on December 1997.  The cemetery encompasses 127 acres, with 28 acres currently developed. Since its dedication, more than 6,000 veterans and their dependents have been interred at the cemetery.

In addition to the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia, VDVS also operates the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk and the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin. Together, these three state veterans cemeteries conduct nearly 2,000 services each year. For more information, please click here. 

 
Construction Underway at New VDVS Veterans Care Centers in Fauquier County and Virginia Beach

 
Puller Veterans Care Center (Fauquier County).

 
Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center (Virginia Beach).


Despite the disruptions that the coronavirus pandemic has caused for many businesses and projects over the past year, construction continues on schedule at the two new VDVS veterans care centers – the Puller Veterans Center in Fauquier County and the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Centers in Virginia Beach.  According to VDVS Chief Deputy Commissioner Steve Combs, who is the agency lead for both projects. Plans are for both care centers to be completed and begin operations in 2022.
 
“We are pleased with the progress of the construction of both care centers,” Mr. Combs says. “Both care centers will be one-story, state-of-the-art facilities with capacity for 128 residents.  Each resident will have a private room and bath. The centers will be organized into households of 16 rooms, with each household having its own dining and living rooms to create a more homelike environment. Residents will also have access to open air outdoor spaces within each center.”
 
“Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads are the two regions of the state where the most veterans live and these two new centers will be in the heart of both areas, making it easier for family and relatives to visit the residents,” Combs notes. “Finding the sites to place the centers couldn’t have happened without the generosity and partnership of the local governments in each area.”
 
“The Puller Veterans Care Center is located just outside the Town of Warrenton on the former Vint Hill Farm Station property that served as a U.S. Army and National Security Agency (NSA) installation.  The land for the center comprising 30 acres was donated by the Vint Hill Economic Development Authority (EDA) in partnership with Vint Hill Village and Fauquier County,” Combs says.
 
 “The 25-acres of land for the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center was donated by the City of Virginia Beach and is in the Princess Anne section of the City near the government complex. While both centers have the same design, special consideration was given to the exterior design of each to correspond to the unique architecture and look of the area.”
 
“Our goal at VDVS is to assure that both care centers are an integral part of their local communities.  We look forward to the residents of each center having the opportunity to participate in programs, concerts, church services, ballgames, and other community events both onsite at the care centers and in the surrounding areas. This has been the tradition of our two existing care centers in Richmond and Roanoke for many years,” Combs adds.
 
VDVS currently operates the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center on the campus of the McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond and the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke, adjacent to the Salem VA Medical Center.
 
“Plans call for the Puller Veterans Care Center to begin accepting residents in March 2022,” Combs said.  “To accomplish this goal, we plan to start hiring key leadership positions in the summer and fall of 2021, with a big push of “pre-opening” hiring coming in January and February 2022.  As we admit more residents, we’ll continue to hire more staff over the following months.”
 
Combs noted that hiring for the Jones & Cabacoy Veteran Care Center is scheduled to begin in late 2021, with many positions hired in April and May, 2022 to prepare for the first admission of residents in June 2022.
 
The Puller and Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Centers will specialize in in-patient, residential care for veterans who require skilled nursing, Alzheimer’s/memory, and short-term rehabilitation. To qualify for admission to these or any VDVS state veterans care centers, an individual must be an honorably discharged military veteran, a resident of Virginia or entered military service in Virginia, and have a medical need for the services provided.
 
VDVS will start accepting applications for admission to the Puller and Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Centers approximately 4-6 months prior to opening.  If you would like to be notified when admissions are being accepted, please e-mail Kendra Ellison at Kendra.ellison@dvs.virginia.gov.

Veteran Service Representative Profile:

Matthew Wright

 
 
This is the first of a series of short interviews with VDVS Veterans Services Representatives (VSRs) and how they continue to serve veterans and their families during the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. VSRs are VDVS staff members who advocate for Virginia veterans and family members and connect them to earned benefits and services they have earned.
 
For this edition of VDVS eNews, we spoke with one of the newest VSRs, Matthew “Matt” Wright, who serves at the VDVS Benefits office in Wytheville.
 
Matt retired after 20 years of active duty in the US Army that included four tours of duty in the Middle East and a stint as a recruiter in Martinsville and returned with his wife to settle near their families in the New River Valley.  He taught school in Montgomery County before joining VDVS in October 2020.  He did on-the-job training at the VDVS Abingdon and Big Stone Gap offices through December.
 
“I applied for the VSR job because I felt a sense of duty to my fellow veterans,” Wright says. “As a veteran who receives benefits myself, I understand the struggles that veterans and their family members often go through.”
 
“I feel I was well-trained for this position,” Wright continues. “I was impressed with how VDVS is so invested in training new employees like me.  Because of the pandemic, much of my training was online but the training team adjusted well to this. They challenged me to learn and how to ask the right questions of our clients.  Asking the right questions is extremely important for a VSR.”
 
Wright notes that on average he has been meeting with two or three clients by appointment each week despite the pandemic.  Most clients he works with by email and telephone although he recently met with three clients in person in the past few weeks at the Wytheville office.
 
“In this part of Virginia, I find we deal more with older veterans and their spouses who are seeking how to increase their current benefits and pensions.  That said, I recently helped a veteran file his first claim with the VA (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs),” Wright says.
 
“Internet access is extremely lacking in much of Southwestern Virginia which makes working with clients virtually difficult. Even cell phone coverage is spotty in many of our rural areas,” Wright notes. “I have one veteran who contacts me only by telephone – an old-fashioned rotary model. We talk by phone and then we handle any paperwork by regular mail.”
 
“I love talking to fellow veterans. I want to hear their stories. Being a veteran myself, I can understand what they’re saying. I feel I give them an ‘ear’ that understands.  If someone is in need, I will do whatever it takes to help them as will my fellow VSRs.”
 
Wright looks forward to the end of the pandemic restrictions so he can meet more often in person with his veteran clients in Wytheville and other VDVS offices in nearby Blacksburg and Hillsville.  He can be contacted by telephone at (434) 215-9068 or by email at matthew.wright@dvs.virginia.gov .

VDVS Provided Increased Educational Opportunities For Virginia Veterans and Dependents During 2020

 
 
Providing veterans and their families with educational and training opportunities is one of the most important missions of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. 

Martina Murray is VDVS Director of Education Programs. She and her staff are responsible for the State Approving Agency (SAA), which works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and is the sole authority to review, approve and certify colleges, universities and training programs to assure they comply with GIBill® guidelines.

Murray also oversees the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), which is responsible for the waiving of tuition and mandatory fees at Virginia’s public colleges and universities for qualified students who are survivors and dependents of veterans killed or totally and permanently disabled, or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service.  

“Virginia has the fourth highest use of GIBill® educational benefits in the U.S.,” Murray says. “The SAA oversees more than 900 educational facilities and programs to see that each adheres to approval criteria.  Our staff members work with each institution to help them meet these criteria and we are authorized to de-certify any programs that do not meet program requirements.”

“COVID-19 restrictions have meant that our staff had to conduct reviews remotely this past year and help work with institutions as many were forced to change their programs to virtual programs rather than campus and onsite instruction due to the pandemic,” Murray adds. “That said, our staff has done an exemplary job in handling these duties remotely so that our veterans and their family members can take advantage of these benefits they earned from their service.”

“Applications to our VMSDEP Program more than doubled from 1,207 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 to 2,432 in FY2020 as the program was expanded to include dependents of veterans with non-combat service-connected disabilities,” Murray notes.

To meet this increased need, VDVS launched a new and improved online application portal for FY2021. This new portal greatly helped the functionality of the program for the VMSDEP staff and applicants as well as for our partners, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and our participating schools.

Virginia Veteran and Family Support:
Here to Help Virginia Veterans and Their Families Through COVID-19 and Beyond

 
 
The mission of the Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) program at VDVS is to provide resources, referrals, care coordination and supportive services to Virginia’s Veterans, National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves, caregivers and family members. This statewide program also provides peer and family support to help individuals and families navigate transition challenges, behavioral health recovery, and/or life stressors.
 
Brandi Jancaitis was named Program Director of VDVS this past October in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  VDVS eNews asked Jancaitis how VVFS has continued to serve its clients during these extraordinary times.  

“I am pleased to say that VVFS has maintained our operations throughout the pandemic and continues our mission to serve veterans and their families,” Jancaitis says. “We were flexible enough that we were serving clients remotely prior to the pandemic, so continuing to do so has not been a significant adjustment for our staff members.”

“We understand that veterans and their families have been impacted by COVID-19 just as much as their fellow Virginians and we’ve worked hard to maintain awareness of not only COVID-related community-based resources but all also veteran-specific resources as well,” Jancaitis notes. “COVID or not, a veteran or family may still struggle with housing, with finances, with stable employment, with personal relationships and even quality of life. COVID has definitely contributed to additional feelings of isolation, stress and uncertainty.”

“At VVFS, our goal is to offer support, encouragement, connection to worthwhile resources, definitive answers on questions and concerns, and help each veteran and family member achieve their utmost health, success and quality of life.  As most of us are veterans or military family members ourselves, we are personally committed to the success of our clients and their families,” Jancaitis notes.

Jancaitis encourages veterans and family members to connect with their regional VVFS office and representative by visiting the VDVS website where you can find local contact information including email addresses and telephone numbers or call the statewide hotline 1-877-285-1299 to connect to regional support. In addition, if you or a loved one are in crisis, please call the 24 hour Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
VDVS Virginia Women Veterans Programs Continuing to Connect During 2021

 
 

Women veterans are the fastest growing segment of Virginia’s veteran population. In fact, more than 108,000 women who served in our military call the Commonwealth home. This is 15% of our total veteran population and the largest percentage of women veterans per population size of any state.
 
Recognizing that women veterans face unique opportunities and challenges, the Virginia Women Veterans Program (VWVP) was officially established by the General Assembly in July 2018.  Beverly VanTull, an Army veteran herself, was named VWVP’s first full-time program manager.  Virginia is one of only thirty states that employs a state women veterans representative. VDVS eNews asked VanTull about the program and how it coped with the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020.
 
“From the beginning, our program has been aimed at women veterans from all eras of military service including Virginia National Guard and reservists. We also welcome service members within twelve months of discharge or retirement whatever their military status,” VanTull says.  “Our mission is to target and expand the advocacy for Virginia’s women veterans to enhance their lives as they transition to the civilian world by increasing their community visibility and helping provide access to the wide array of benefits tailored to meet their specific needs.”
 
VanTull notes that beginning in 2017, the General Assembly began recognizing the contributions of women veterans by establishing the third week of March each year as Virginia Women Veterans Week.  With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that same month, many of the events and programs planned to commemorate 2020 Virginia Women Veterans Week were postponed or scaled back.
 
COVID concerns forced the VDVS to change the annual Virginia Women Veterans Summit, which was to be held this past June in Richmond as a live three-day meeting to an online event. The Summit, which has been held in Chesapeake, Hampton, and Arlington, has grown from 300 to over 800 participants. Changing the format to a virtual online live event was a major undertaking but VanTull, the VDVS team, and partners such as the Virginia Employment Commission and sponsors such as Dominion Energy and COMCAST put together a successful event with over 1,200 women veterans participating online.
 
“The Summit is our most significant annual outreach event and helps connect women veterans with the services and local resources they need as we reach the most women veterans at one time,” says VanTull. “One of the highlights of our Summit is hosting a ‘pitch contest’ for women-veteran entrepreneurs with the winners receiving grant funds for their businesses. Amazingly, our 2020 Virginia Women Veterans Summit included registered participants from 70 cities and counties across the state plus participants from thirty other states and even four international countries.”
 
The Virginia Women Veterans Program continued to transition to hosting virtual sessions throughout 2020 to give women veterans the opportunity to share resources, community information, employment and education opportunities and simply to connect with each other, VanTull reports.
 
“We recognize that our women veterans need these resources to fully access their ‘pathways to success’ as they transition back into civilian society. However, half the battle is awareness of what is available locally and nationally,” VanTull says. “These virtual forms have proven to be a great way to introduce them to federal and state agencies and local and national organizations and nonprofits that focus on health, wellness and other important topics. We will continue to hold these virtual events and have many planned for the coming months in 2021.”
 
VanTull is currently putting together plans to build awareness for and create events to commemorate this year’s Virginia Women Veterans Week March 14-20.  Plans are also underway for the 2021 Virginia Women Veterans Summit in June. Depending on the pandemic situation, the 2021 Summit will be held either as in person event, a hybrid event with limited attendees, or again as a virtual event.
 
For more information the Virginia Women Veterans Programs and upcoming events, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.
Virginia War Memorial Offers Variety of Livestreamed Educational Programs During Pandemic

 
 

As part of its expansion dedicated on February 29, 2020, the Virginia War Memorial (VWM) added a new distance-learning center with video capabilities to stream programs over social media channels. 
 
According to Virginia War Memorial Director of Education Director James Triesler, the original modest list of livestream programs planned for 2020 was greatly expanded due to the pandemic as the Memorial’s usual lineup of live educational programs normally held onsite was reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions.
 
“We have broadcast over 100 livestream programs since March of last year,” Triesler reports.
“Our Eyewitness to History series includes interviews with veterans from World War II to the Global War on Terror, including an interview with Korean War veteran and former Virginia Governor, L. Douglas Wilder.  These interviews allow us to learn about the history of an event from those who were there. This February we are planning an interview with Dr. Harry Quinton, who served during WWII as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.”
 
“Our Salute to Service series honors the men and women who have served in every branch of the United States military. Hosted by VWM Research and Policy Manager Kyndall Drumheller, these programs allow veterans to discuss what it is really like serving in the military and to place their service in its historical context,” Triesler says.  “So far, we have featured the Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy.  We have explored what it was like to serve on a submarine and listened to the experiences of a Navy SEAL. Our February program will explore the role of nurses in the military.” 
 
“We have two wonderful programs that allow the public to go behind the scenes to explore the archival material and the artifacts housed at the Virginia War Memorial.  From the Archives, hosted by VWM Archivist Heidi Sheldon, shares the stories of Virginians who have served, through their letters, photographs, and documents,” Triesler notes.  “From the Collection, hosted by the VWM Curator Jesse Smith, shares the stories of the artifacts that are stored in the humidity and temperature controlled vault at the museum.”
 
Added to the regular livestream series mentioned, the Virginia War Memorial staff and guest speakers explore other events and topics relating to U.S. History from the American Revolution to the present.  Authors, Historians and Veterans come together to educate the public on topics like the Freedom Flag and 9/11 or various aspects of the study of military history.

The VWM livestream programs have included partnerships with other educational organizations, such as, the Battle of the Bulge Association and the Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield County. Twice the VWM held all day livestream events to educate students and the public about World War II.
 
“In addition to providing educational resources to the people of the Commonwealth, we have been pleasantly surprised to discover that our viewers include people from all over the United States and Europe. We are looking forward to creating new programs, adding new partnerships and providing new commemorations in 2021,” Triesler says.
 
To learn about upcoming livestream programs visit www.vawarmemorial.org/events or to view previously recorded programs and resources, visit www.vawarmemorial.org/learn/resources.


Thank You for your Generosity

 
George C Marshall MOAA presented the Foundation a check in support of the Virginia Veterans and Family Support Program. Sandor Asboth, Resource Specialist with VVFS (left) and John Lesinski, VVSF Chairman accepted the donation.


The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (VVSF) would like to thank all of our donors who supported our veterans and their families in 2020. This was a year filled with unexpected hardships that affected the entire world. Their gifts are a testament to the generosity of the human spirit during crisis situations.

As you may know, 100% of all contributions made to VVSF support direct services for our veterans and their families through programs offered by the Department of Veterans Services (VDVS).  Every donation to VVSF enables the Commonwealth to provide levels of needed assistance beyond that which is available through state and/or federal funding. 

VVSF is honored to partner with many organizations and individuals who have faithfully given for many years. Their continued support and dedication is highly valued and greatly appreciated.  In November and December VVSF received substantial donations from longtime supporters along with new donors.  These funds will go far in helping to provide the necessary services to those who have served our nation and our Commonwealth. VVSF would like to recognize the following:
  • AMVETS POST NO.5, in memory of Commander Sheets
  • Dr. Douglas Cox and Cox Chiropractic Clinic 
  • George C. Marshall MOAA Chapter
  • GStek, Inc.
  • Pretty Real Estate
  • Stephen and Mary Robinson
 
Thank you to the VDVS team who work diligently within our communities throughout Virginia to assist our veterans with the services and resources needed. The relationship with DVS is evidence of what can be accomplished when we come together to build a supportive network for our Virginia veterans.

To learn more about the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation and how it assists Virginia veterans and their families, please visit www.vvsf.org.
Click here to make a virtual or face-to-face appointment with a VDVS representative
Click here to download the VDVS Virginia Veterans Resource Guide
Click here to download the Virginia OAG Military & Veteran Legal Resource Guide
Click here to read the Re-entry Roadmap for Veterans Incarcerated in Virginia. 
Click here to download the VDVS Agency brochure
Click here to evaluate your military experience for college credits and see how they apply to Virginia Community College System programs that support your career goals
Click here to learn how to obtain a veteran indicator on your Virginia license.
Click here to learn about the Veteran Employment Grant for V3 companies
Click here to learn about DMV 2 Go Mobile Military and Veteran Site Visits.
Click here to download a Virginia Resident Disabled Veteran’s Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License Application (Department of Wildlife Resources)
Click here for a free service that can help you find the local resources you need. 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

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Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs 
Virginia General Assembly
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