In 2012, after learning of Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit that mails handmade knit and crocheted hats and scarves in care packages to deployed military men and women, local yoga instructor Heather Thamer brought the initiative to Howard County. She called it Made With Love, and collected donations, mainly from friends and family, each year in early November.

In 2017, Thamer reached out to Lisa Terry, Manager of the Howard County Office of Veterans and Military Families, for support and the initiative has grown every year since then, utilizing Howard County's 50+ Centers as drop off locations and local various knitting clubs as contributors. Heather Thamer moved out of the area in early 2020, but support for Handmade With Love is stronger than ever - 683 scarves were donated this year, (181 more than last year) and 489 hats were collected, 232 more than last year! Sincere thanks go out to So Simple Yarn Shop, Cloverhill Yarn Shop, North Laurel Sit & Stitch Knitting Club, Community Knit & Crochet Group of Howard County, Thom Thumb Square Dance Club, and all of the individuals from local churches and the greater community. And, a big thank you to Postal Xpress N More in Ellicott City for shipping all of the donations to California for free!

In October, Howard County's Office of Veterans and Military Families, Economic Development Authority, the Health Department's Bureau of Behavioral Health and the Commission for Veterans and Military Families presented an outdoor screening of the documentary, Bastards' Road, which follows Marine veteran Jonathan Hancock as he walks 6,000 miles around the country. He uses the solitude of the road and the company of his fellow Marine brothers and the families of their fallen to successfully manage the wounds of war that never fully heal. A panel discussion with filmmakers, NAMI and the Vet Center followed. Howard County Veterans Foundation, partnered with event sponsors to raise money for the future veterans monument at Bailey Park. To learn more or view the documentary online, visit bastardsroad.com and for additional health and wellness resources, see the Howard County Veteran and Military Families Resource Directory or the Howard County Health Department's Behavioral Health Resources.

To kick off National Veterans Small Business Week, the University of Maryland hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mid-Atlantic Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), which will support aspiring veteran entrepreneurs and the small businesses they own while serving as a regional epicenter for training, consulting and technical assistance. A local VBOC to support Howard County veterans will open in the Maryland Innovation Center (MIC) on Columbia Gateway Drive; a ribbon cutting is scheduled for early December.

The MIC hosted six veteran start-ups to share their business pitches in front of a panel of judges. Lots of innovative ideas were presented, including plans for a nonprofit called Reveille Grounds which blends the power of coffee, connection, and collaboration to build stronger veterans and stronger communities in Baltimore. Military-affiliated individuals will be able to access the support and resources they need, when they need it, through personalized and coordinated care. Project Opportunity provides free entrepreneur training for veterans, active duty, reservist and military spouses who want to start or expand a small business.

The Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park Ltd. (FPVSP), a 501c3 organization, supports the park by promoting stewardship through programming, sustainable recreation, and the

preservation and restoration of its natural resources. Over the past several years, FPVSP, in collaboration with the Maryland Park Service, has endeavored to make the park accessible to every user. They have installed new bilingual signage throughout the park and have funded the Mobile Visitors Center, a roving van staffed by Spanish-speaking rangers and bilingual materials that work to be inclusive of the large Latinx constituency.

Development of accessible programming for every user at the park continues to be a high priority and includes these programs:

The Hollofield Playspace - The Maryland Park Service’s first fully accessible playground

opened in 2017 located in Howard County, in the Hollofield Area of the park.

Paddle the Patapsco - Located in Howard County in the Daniels Area of the park, this

accessible paddling program provides opportunities for veterans and people with severe

disabilities to experience paddling on the Patapsco. This program is a collaboration with Kennedy Krieger, Team River Runner and Baltimore Canoe and Kayak Club.

Healing Waters - Accessible Fly Fishing geared to wounded warriors and military veterans, this program is located in the Morgan Run area of PVSP.

Operation Campout - Free camping equipment and campsites are supplied to Veterans and Active Duty Military and their families. This program is located in Howard County in the Hollofield area of the park.

PVSP Sensory Trail - Although there is a small sensory trail in the Hilton Area, a much longer sensory trail is being planned.

PVSP Adaptive Cycling Loop - The new adaptive cycling loop is being installed in the

McKeldin Area of the park. This natural surface trail loop is being designed to accommodate adaptive bicycles used by cyclists with disabilities.

2021 Veterans Day Parade and Celebration 

The 7th annual Veterans Day Parade and Celebration were a huge success! More than 40 organizations walked in the parade, including Atholton, Howard and Oakland Mills High School JROTCs; the Long Reach and Mt. Hebron High School marching bands; plus Cub Scouts, military vehicles, and more. The parade celebrated the life and legacy of honorary Grand Marshall Larry Killen. The post-parade ceremony included remarks from County Executive Calvin Ball and featured entertainment by The Young Columbians.

When Brighton Gardens activity directory called the Office of Veterans and Military Families requesting help to honor their 14 resident veterans on Veterans Day, we were more than happy to pay them a visit. Gifts included a certificate of appreciation from County Executive Calvin Ball, a special coin from Trinity Health Military and Veterans Health Program presented by Veteran Commission chair Greg Jolissaint (pocket-size medallions, called challenge coins, given to service members, are a longstanding tradition as a mark of camaraderie), handmade hats and scarves from the Made With Love initiative, and homemade quilts from Quilts of Valor Foundation. A day before the event, we lost one of our honorees, a 99 yr old WWII veteran who was to be honored. Of the 16 million that fought in WWII, just 240,326 are still alive; it's important to recognize their service and sacrifice.

HCC Student Veterans Lounge and Vivian Bailey Food Pantry

As part of Howard Community College's annual Veterans Day celebration, Student Veteran Organization (SVO) communications officer, Donovan Waters, and vice president Jordan Wynn, both Navy veterans, shared their stories of transition from ships to school. Designated as a military-friendly school, HCC offers a Student Veteran Lounge to give veterans a quiet place to grab a cup of coffee and study. The Vivian C. "Millie" and William Harrison Bailey Food Pantry was recently renamed to honor our local 103 year-old WWII veteran and her late husband.

If you have been to Mission BBQ for lunch then you likely stood for the playing of the National Anthem which happens every day at noon. On Veterans Day, Mission BBQ in Ellicott City celebrated even bigger with Nafrettifi Griffin, a member of the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families singing from the MBBQ military cargo truck. Poppies, thank you cards, free sandwiches and cake were all distributed as part of the festivities. Even our beloved 103 year-old WWII veteran, Millie Bailey, had lunch in her special booth.

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,500 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. Our local Civil Air Patrol Howard Squadron is collecting donations to place wreaths on Howard County veterans' graves on December 18. If you are interested in donating, visit CAP Howard's page to find out how you can help.

If you would like more information about resources for veterans in Howard County, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/veterans or email veterans@howardcountymd.gov