Military & Veterans News

Vet News: New Parks Program to Support Post-9/11 Veterans

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has elevated its commitment to veterans across the nation with the announcement of its philanthropic grants to the National Park Foundation (NPF) and The Mission Continues to support a programmatic partnership between The Mission Continues and the National Park Service (NPS). TheVeterans in Parks program, launched during the centennial year for both Boeing and the NPS, supports and expands opportunities for volunteer service and career development for post-9/11 veterans within the hundreds of National Park Service sites and programs nationwide.

Vet News: Presidential Proclamation -- Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 2016

Fifteen years ago, nearly 3,000 innocent lives men, women, and children who had been going about their normal routines were taken from us, depriving families and loved ones of a lifetime of precious moments. But the acts of terror of September 11, 2001, sought to do more than hurt our people and bring down buildings: They sought to break our spirit and destroy the enduring values that unite us as Americans. In the years that followed, our capacity to love and to hope has guided us forward as we worked to rebuild, more sound and resilient than ever before. With the hearts of those we lost held faithfully in our memories, we reaffirm the unwavering optimism and everlasting strength that brought us together in our darkest hour, and we resolve to give of ourselves in service to others in that same spirit.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Suicide Prevention Month: #BeThere

WASHINGTON – Today marks the start of Suicide Prevention Month and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is asking for the entire nation’s help in reducing Veteran suicide. VA is calling on community leaders, supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family members to BeThere for Veterans and Service members starting with a simple act, which can play a pivotal role in preventing suicide.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: VA Awards $300 Million More in Grants to Help End Veteran Homelessness

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today awarded approximately $300 million more in grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to help thousands of very low-income Veteran families around the nation who are permanently housed or transitioning to permanent housing. The SSVF grant program provides access to crucial services to prevent homelessness for Veterans and their families.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Soldier Takes Olympic Silver After Disqualification is Overturned

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Spc. Paul Chelimo relied on the strength he developed as a Soldier to get through the men's 5,000-meter run at the Rio Olympic Games, where he eventually claimed the silver medal.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Secretary Mabus Names Destroyer for Medal of Honor Recipient

Today, in a ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, DDG 122, will be named John Basilone in honor of the United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross in World War II.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Executive Order -- Providing an Order of Succession within the Department of Veterans Affairs

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the "Act"), it is hereby ordered that:

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: George Washington Would be Proud – Florida Salutes Purple Heart Day

TALLAHASSEE – It was Aug. 7, 1782. The Revolutionary War was still nearly two years from ending and General George Washington wanted a way to recognize the outstanding soldiers who were fighting to achieve our nation’s independence.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: VA Releases Report on Nation’s Largest Analysis of Veteran Suicide

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today released its findings from the nation’s most comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicide rates in the United States in which VA examined more than 55 million Veterans’ records from 1979 to 2014 from every state in the nation. The effort advances VA’s knowledge from the previous report in 2012, which was primarily limited to information on Veterans who used VHA health services or from mortality records obtained directly from 20 states and approximately 3 million records..  Compared to the data from the 2012 report, which estimated the number of Veteran deaths by suicide to be 22 per day, the current analysis indicates that in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Governor, Cabinet Appoint Sutphin Veterans’ Affairs Director

TALLAHASSEE – Retired Army Lt. Col. Glenn Sutphin was appointed Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet during the Aug. 2 Cabinet Meeting.  FDVA, on behalf of the Governor and three-member Cabinet, is the premier point of entry for Florida’s more than 1.5 million veterans to access earned services, benefits and support.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Obama Administration Announces Nearly 50-Percent Decline In Veteran Homelessness

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) today announced the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States has been cut nearly in half since 2010.  The data revealed a 17-percent decrease in veteran homelessness between January 2015 and January 2016—quadruple the previous year’s annual decline—and a 47-percent decrease since 2010.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Million Veteran Program is Now Largest Genomic Database in the World

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Million Veteran Program (MVP) has reached an important milestone when an Army Veteran from Montgomery, Alabama, became the 500,000th to voluntarily enroll in the research database program – making MVP the largest genomic database in the world.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: President Obama’s Remarks Awarding the Medal of Honor to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Kettles

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Welcome to the White House.  Of all the privileges of this office, none is greater than serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the finest military that the world has ever known.  And of all the military decorations that our nation can bestow, we have none higher than the Medal of Honor.  

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Commissioner Putnam Provides Tips for Military Consumer Protection Month

TALLAHASSEE — July is Military Consumer Protection Month, and Commissioner Adam H. Putnam is providing tips for Florida’s more than 1.5 million veterans and 65,000 active duty military members to protect themselves against fraud.  Military Consumer Protection Month is a national effort to raise awareness about common scams and how active duty military, veterans and their families can avoid them.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipients Named

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced today the 15 recipients of the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest honor the DOD gives to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: President Obama to Award Medal of Honor

On Monday, May 2 at 12:00 PM Eastern, President Barack Obama will award Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano [KA ho OH hano hano], U.S. Army, and Private First Class Henry Svehla [SUH vay luh], U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.  This event in the East Room will be open press.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Paralympians help to coach, mentor the athletes at the 2016 DoD Warrior Games

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Paralympics are the pinnacle of competition for disabled athletes. At the 2016 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games, a group of Paralympians are helping to coordinate, coach and mentor these wounded warriors to help raise their level of competition and mold some future Paralympians.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Statement from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the Tragedy at Fort Hood

During my trip to Asia, I have been constantly updated on the situation at Fort Hood. I am deeply saddened by the loss of nine brave soldiers in this training accident. This tragedy has touched the 1st Cavalry Division, the Fort Hood community, and the entire Department of Defense. It painfully demonstrates, along with the loss of a Blue Angels ‎pilot this week, the risks our men and women in uniform take on behalf of the American people everyday.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: VA Selects New Director of the Center for Women Veterans

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of a new director of the Center for Women Veterans.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Fisher House Foundation Receives 4-Star Rating Under New Rating System

Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, recently implemented an updated and enhanced financial rating system, and Fisher House Foundation not only retained its 4-star rating for the 12th year in a row, it’s overall score went from 96.87 to 99.37 out of 100.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: VA Announces Partnership With Non-Profit Organization, Leanin.org

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Center for Women Veterans today announced a partnership with LeanIn.Org, the nonprofit organization founded by Facebook Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, to empower women to achieve their ambitions. Building on the successful launch of LeanIn.Org circles within the Department of Defense, VA is following the same model to increase support to women Veterans.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: VA Launches Veterans Legacy Program

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the launch of the Veterans Legacy Program to memorialize Veterans’ service and sacrifice through public educational programming. The program uses the rich resources found throughout VA national cemeteries, Soldiers’ lots and monument sites. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald announced the program yesterday during a Memorial Day ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Names of Three Fallen Service Members added to California Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Sacramento – The names of three California Veterans who died as a result of their service in the Vietnam War were added to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park today. 

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Now Accepting Online Donations Benefitting the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire - USNewswire/ -- With Memorial Day quickly approaching, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has added a new opportunity for individuals or businesses to make an online donation to the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund. Donations via the online application at www.donate.dmva.pa.gov will be used to preserve the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial, located at the federal Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Lebanon County.