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August 2019 Veterans Voice Newsletter
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Message from the Director
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Message from the Director - August 2019
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NDVS is introducing some new and exciting initiatives this August! From a new grant program, to participating in luminary events, to a Nevada State Memorial Project.
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Create a Gold Star Family Luminary Event!
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Nevadans have been challenged to "Take the Pledge Today!" in support of Gold Star Families!
The Gold Star Luminary Initiative asks you to mark your calendar for the last Sunday in September (September 29, 2019) for the light a luminary event!
Don't forget the power of social media! Create a hashtag on Twitter or a shareable post on Facebook to gather support. Pin a photo of one of your beautiful luminary bags or "like" our Nevada Department of Veterans Services Facebook page. We will help you spread the word!
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Grants Available
to Honor and Remember
Every Veteran - Every Generation
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If you have an idea for a ceremony or event to honor and recognize veterans, we want to hear from you. NDVS is offering up to $2,000 to help host a ceremony or special event highlighting a generation of veterans. For example, what about hosting a USO dance party to honor Nevada's Korean War veterans? Or how about hosting a luminary event, where lights or candles are lit to honor a fallen Nevada warrior?
Every year, NDVS supports various events across Nevada, all aimed at recognizing and honoring Nevada's veterans. Just to give you an idea, last year NDVS held an all-day event at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home on Veterans Day to recognize the 100
th anniversary of the end of WWI. We encourage you to look at the list below and start planning your event or ceremony in 2019:
WWII
Korean War
Vietnam War
Cold War
Grenada
Lebanon
Desert Storm
Panama/Kosovo/Somalia
Global War on Terrorism Post 9-11
NDVS is also looking for events or ceremonies this year that honor unique veterans or military families:
Native American Veterans
LGBTQ Veterans
Women Veterans
Hispanic Veterans
African American Veterans
Blue Star Families
Drop us a line: Let us know your ideas and what you have planned. Contact Josh Loftis at
[email protected] and let us know how we can support your event or ceremony. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
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Veterans Memorial Location Project
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By NDVS Staff
(Nevada) - Honoring Nevada's military and veterans is the focus of a new, exciting, upcoming NDVS project. We are partnering with veteran/military reporter, Chuck N. Baker to locate, identify and document veteran/war memorials across the Silver State. Some of these memorials have been forgotten, neglected, or lost in history. The goal of this project is to provide the public with the locations (map with coordinates) and information (along with photos) on these memorials. We could use your help to find and identify these veterans memorials across the State.
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Congratulations Graham Stafford and United Veterans Legislative Council!
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U.S. Navy veteran Graham Stafford was named Veteran of the Month (VOM) and the United Veterans Legislative Council (UVLC) was also honored as Veteran Supporter of the Month (VSM) in a special ceremony inside the Old Assembly Chamber in Carson City on July 26, 2019. Lt. Governor Kate Marshall attended on behalf of Governor Steve Sisolak.
Click here to read more |
Fifteen Nevada Unclaimed Veterans Receive Military Funeral
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The Nevada Veterans Coalition conducted its eighteenth mission at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley by honoring 15 veterans whose remains have been in the care of a local mortuary, yet remained unclaimed.
Services were conducted with full military honors at 2:00 P.M., Friday, July 12 2019 at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 14 Veterans Way.
Click here to read more |
Join Us for the Dedication of the POW/MIA Chair of Honor at
Greater Nevada Field
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By J.R. Stafford, President, VVA Chapter 989
(Reno) - The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 989 invites you to Greater Nevada Fields for the dedication of the POW/MIA Chair of Honor.
This is an opportunity for the local veteran community to show support and commitment by recognizing and remembering our 82,000 POW/MIA since WWII with the addition of a permanent seat at the Reno Aces' ballpark.
Please pass the word to your contacts (both in and out of uniform) and join us for Military Appreciation Night and the Dedication of the POW/MIA Chair of Honor on Saturday, August 3, 2019.
Tickets are still available online and must be purchased by midnight, August 1, 2019.
Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you at the ballpark on August 3
rd!
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Health and Wellness
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VA Extends Agent Orange Presumption to 'Blue Water Navy' Veterans
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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing to process Agent Orange exposure claims for "Blue Water Navy" Veterans who served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.
These Veterans may be eligible for presumption of herbicide exposure through Public Law 116-23, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which was signed into law June 25, 2019, and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020. They may also qualify for a presumption of service connection if they have a disease that is recognized as being associated with herbicide exposure.
The bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act gives VA until Jan. 1, 2020, to begin deciding Blue Water Navy related claims. By staying claims decisions until that date, VA is complying with the law that Congress wrote and passed.
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Exposure ED App - Information on Presumptive Illnesses at Your Fingertips
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The VA has a terrific tool to help you learn almost instantly about presumptive illnesses. Exposure ED is a free app you can download and uses your dates of service, branch of service, location of where you served to give you key information on environmental exposures and more.
Health care providers both in and outside of VA can use VA's Exposure Ed app to help veterans concerned about environmental exposures and their health. Providers can look up information by exposure, conflict, date, location, and health effects; they can find local services and benefits information; and they can print information from the app. Learn more about the app at
https://go.usa.gov/xy2WB
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Programs and Services
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Check out the New NDVS App!
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Access all of the resources from our website at the touch of your finger!
Download the NDVS Web App by Texting "NDVS" (No quotations) to 94502! Check it out!
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Behind the Scenes Efforts to Prevent Veteran Suicide in Nevada
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By Kim Donohue, NDVS Homeless and Suicide Prevention Program Manager
Below are the locations and times for all of the Nevada walks:
- Battle Mountain: Elquist. Registration begins at 8:00 AM
- Caliente: Meadow Valley walkway/ Across from the baseball fields/Lincoln St. / Caliente, NV Registration begins at 8:00 AM
- Carson City: Bob McFadden Plaza at 223 West 3rd Street. Registration begins at 9:00 AM
- Elko: Elko City Park, Horizon Hospice Memorial Rose Garden. Registration begins at 8:00 AM
- Ely: Steptoe Park, corner of 13th East and Avenue I. Registration begins at 9:00 AM
- Las Vegas/Henderson: Bob Miller Middle School, 2400 Cozy Circle. Registration begins at 7:30 AM
- Mesquite : Mesquite Recreation Center (West Field) 100 West Old Mill Road. Registration begins at 8:00 AM
- Pahrump: Petrack Park 150 NV-160. Registration begins at 7:30 AM
- Silver Springs: Silver Stage Middle School Track, 3800 Spruce Avenue. Registration begins at 10:00 AM
- Winnemucca: Winnemucca Community Garden, 151 W. McArthur Avenue. Registration begins at 8:00 AM
We look forward to seeing you there!
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A Closer Look at the Henderson Vet Center
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Many organizations boast that they are "Serving the men and women who served." And most of them are 100 percent correct. But one national group with local representation uses the phrase in its promotional material.
Vet Centers are community-based and part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with a history that goes back to the official Readjustment Counseling Service Vet Center Program. It was initially established in 1979 out of the recognition that significant numbers of Vietnam-era veterans were still experiencing readjustment problems. A part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the centers operate separately from the main VA offices and today assist more than Vietnam veterans. Veterans from all eras are welcome.
In Nevada, there are three of these Vet Centers. One is located in Reno and two are located in Southern Nevada, Las Vegas and Henderson. At a recent Open House at the Henderson Vet Center, Outreach Specialist Phellep "Phil" Snow and other individuals spoke about the mission of the two offices.
Click here to read more |
News You can Use
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Help for Veterans Seeking Movie/Entertainment Jobs
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Breaking in as an actor or in other sectors in the movie industry is universally known as a tough career choice. And yet each week new names and faces seem to appear on the silver screen, on magazine covers and on television talk shows.
Veterans, especially those who have recently returned to the States, may not be aware of just how the entertainment culture is moving and what is required to make it in Hollywood. But there is some hope for veterans especially who want to pursue such a goal.
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Employment/Education
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Job Opening - Nurse Wanted at
The
Southern Nevada State Veterans Home
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The State of Nevada Human Resources Office is currently recruiting for a
Registered Nurse 4 (Open Competitive Recruitment) # 37837 to work at the Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City.
The position Is open to all qualified applicants. Online applications will be accepted until recruitment needs are satisfied. Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. Lists of eligible candidates will be established and hiring may occur early in the recruiting process. Recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received, or a hiring decision has been made.
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Job Openings for CNAs and Nurses at
The Northern Nevada State Veterans Home
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The Northern Nevada State Veterans Home has positions available for Nurses, CNAs, and a Universal Worker. The Universal Worker is a unique position. It does not require a CNA license.
Qualified candidates may apply for open positions online or visit the new home and apply on site, at 36 Battle Born Way in Sparks, Nevada.
Go here to apply online:
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Invictis International Recognized
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On June 28, 2019, Evan Rush, Southern Nevada Outreach Director, presented a Patriot Employer Program certificate to Invictus International. Invictus International has full-time operations headquartered in Orange County, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The company was started in 2016 as a means of expanding on the success of servicing choice close/ executive protection contracts. The core team started with retired and active Marines from the Reconnaissance and Raider (MARSOC) communities.
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Always Remember
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Happy Birthday Coast Guard! Hope You Have a "Mari" Day!
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The United States Coast Guard celebrates its birthday this month and we thought we'd share a few facts about it.
The United States Coast Guard was created on August 4, 1790 by Congress at the request of Alexander Hamilton. At the time, Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury, and the United States Coast Guard (known then as The U.S. Revenue Cutter Service) was purposed with collecting customs duties in our nation's seaports.
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August Marks Atomic Bomb Anniversary
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Portions of the roots of wartime atomic weapons and development of atomic bombs are firmly based in several states, including major efforts in New Mexico. A great deal of the intelligence and research went into designing and building an atomic bomb that twice dropped on Japan during WWII. In New Mexico, bombs named Fat Man and Little Boy were assembled and later used on Japanese cities. But Nevada also played a strong part in preparation for that war-ending event, although not a lot is written about the State's contribution.
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Nevada's Role in the Apollo Mission
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While we celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Apollo Mission that landed man on the moon, Nevada Appeal reporter Steve Ranson takes a look at the Nevada high desert training that supported the mission and lunar landing.
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Nevada Airmen Played Significant Role in the Gulf War Mission
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Depending on who one talks to, the Gulf War of 1990, goes by many names: The Persian Gulf War, the Gulf War, the First Gulf War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm (the latter being the Second Gulf War) and the "Mother of all Battles" according to the late Saddam Hussein.
Whatever it's called, Nevada played a part in the Gulf War.
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Mark Your Calendar
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Mark Your Calendar - August 2019
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