MontgomeryCountyMD.GOV

The meetings of the Commission on Veterans Affairs are open to the public.  The Commission welcomes visitors to join us as we serve the County and its residents. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month, except in July and August. As possible, we adjust meeting dates in order to accommodate days of major religious observances. Please contact the office to confirm meetings.

Meeting Accessibility Notice: Sign language interpreter services and other auxiliary aids or services will be provided upon request with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three (3) full business days before the meeting/event. To request any other reasonable accommodation or to advise us of any dietary considerations, please contact Betsy Luecking at 240-418-4865 (V) or via MD Relay at 711 or send a request to  Betsy.Luecking@montgomerycountymd.gov .  Taking these steps will help us have sufficient time to best meet your needs.

Boards/Committees/Commissions (B/C/C) Inclement Weather Policy:

• If Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) open late, B/C/C morning meetings are cancelled.
• If MCPS closes early, or if afternoon or evening activities are cancelled, B/C/C afternoon and evening meetings are cancelled.
• If MCPS is closed all day, all B/C/C meetings for that day and evening will be cancelled.

Agendas

Next Meeting: Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs Meeting - Tuesday, November 17th, 2020 from 6pm to 7:30pm. Given the concerns of the coronavirus, the Commission will be meeting virtually via Zoom.  Please view the agenda for instructions on how to join the meeting. Agenda to be announced. If you have any further questions, please contact Betsy Luecking at 240-418-4865 (V), via MD Relay at 711, or e-mail  Betsy.Luecking@montgomerycountymd.gov .

Full Commission Meeting Schedule - 2020

November 17th, 2020
December 15th, 2020

Virtual Tribute to Veterans Living in Montgomery County
To honor and pay tribute to our Veterans, the Commission on Veterans Affairs has created a Tribute to Veterans Living in Montgomery County site and we seeking information our county residents who have served.  Please take a look and consider submitting your information or information on someone you know who is a Veteran.  From this site, there includes a link to our Fallen Heroes page. Visit: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/veteransday

City of Rockville - Online Veterans Day Ceremony
Wednesday, November 11, 2020 from 11am to 11:30am
Join Rockville’s Mayor and Council at this annual ceremony in honor of the men and women who served in the nation’s armed forces. This year's event will be an online ceremony with a message from Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton and guest speaker David Myles. Guest Speaker David Eric Myles is serving his first term as a councilmember on the Mayor and Council of the City of Rockville. He serves on the Rockville Goes Purple opioid awareness planning committee and has served on the Rockville Bike Advisory Committee and as the physician representative for Montgomery County’s Mental Health Advisory Committee. A Navy veteran and pediatrician by training, he has provided pro-bono medical care at Holy Cross Hospital. After graduating Yale University with a doctor of medicine and master of science in psychology, he moved to Maryland to pursue pediatrics residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Event will take place at: https://www.youtube.com/user/cityofrockville.

City of Gaithersburg – Veterans Day Observance
Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 11am
Please check back as this program may change due to the current public health crisis -https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/special-events/veterans-day-observance. The entire community is invited to join the City for its annual Veterans Day Observance on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, honoring & recognizing all U.S. military personnel who play an important role in safeguarding our nation & our future. The observance takes place at 11 a.m. at the Concert Pavilion. City officials and members of local veterans groups will be on hand to honor those who have served in all branches of the military. Officials, veterans and community organizations will also participate in a solemn wreath laying ceremony, followed by a reception inside City Hall.

Silver Spring Vet Center and Rosensteel Counsel #2169 Knights of Columbus - Veterans Day Event
Wednesday, November 11th from 11am to 2:30pm
Knights of Columbus, Rosensteel Council #2169, 9707 Rosensteel Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Veterans and their families are invited for a time of celebration and fellowship. 

Veterans of Foreign Wars 2562 with American Legion Posts 268 and 41 - Veterans Day Ceremony
Wednesday, November 11th at 11am
Veterans Park on Fern Street, Wheaton
There will be a gathering with a speaker and wreath laying. After the ceremony folks can pick up a bag lunch.

12th Annual Tribute to America's Veterans Concert
Thursday, November 12th at 6pm
Join us for the 12th Annual Tribute to America's Veterans Concert on Veterans Day Wednesday, November 11th at 6pm for an evening of live Blues music with the incomparable Memphis Gold and his band with the internationally acclaimed vocalist Stacy Brooks. This year's concert saluting our vets features Memphis who is a Vietnam Vet and his niece Stacy who is from a military family. This event is presented in collaboration with the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs. This concert will be presented live virtually at 
www.facebook.com/groups/silverspringtowncenter. FREE and everyone welcome!

Commission Meeting Summary Minutes - 2020

September 15th, 2020
July 15, 2020
June 16th, 2020
May 19th, 2020
April 21st, 2020
March 17th, 2020 - No Meeting
February 18th, 2020
January 21st, 2020

Commission Meeting Summary Minutes - 2019

December 17th, 2019
November 19th, 2019
October 15th, 2019
September 17th, 2019
June 18th, 2019
May 21, 2019
April 16, 2019
March 19th, 2019
February 19th, 2019
January 15th, 2019 - No Meeting

Commission Meeting Summary Minutes - 2018

December 18th, 2018
November 20th, 2018
October 16, 2018
September 25, 2018
June 19th, 2018
May 15th, 2018
April 17th, 2018
No March 2018 Minutes - Meeting Cancelled
February 20th, 2018
January 16th, 2018

 

Commission Meeting Summary Minutes - 2017

December 19th, 2017
November 21st, 2017
October 17th, 2017
September 19th, 2017
June 20th, 2017
May 17th, 2017
April 18th, 2017
March 21st, 2017
February 21st, 2017
January 17th, 2017

Commission Meeting Summary Minutes - 2016

December 20th, 2016
November 15th, 2016
October 18th, 2016
September 20th, 2016
June 21st, 2016
May 17th, 2016
April 19th, 2016
March 15th, 2016
February 16th, 2016
January 19th, 2016

CVA Annual Reports

"Leggett Introduces Legislation to Establish Veterans Commisson" - Press Release: June 9th, 2008

Bill 23-08 - Original Legislation - Introduced June 10th, 2008. Effective November 3rd, 2008. Establishment of the Commission.

Bill 34-08 - Amended Legislation - Introduced October 28th, 2008. Effective December 10th, 2008. Increased the number of voting members on the Commission.

Bill 52-10 - Amended Legislation - Introduced October 26th, 2010.  Effective March 10th, 2011. Altered the membership of the Commission to include the President of Montgomery College or the President's designee as a designated ex-officio member.

Bill 28-18 - Boards, Committees, and Commissions - Amendments  - Introduced July 17, 2018. Effective January 10, 2019. Altered the membership of the Commission to increase the number of Veteran voting members and removed Ex-Officio Member from the Department of Economic Development.

Requesting Your Military Service Records / DD 2-14 / Medical Records
Whenever a Veteran requests benefits and services, a copy of the individual's discharge papers are required to verify eligibility. This includes admission to Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Maryland's five cemeteries, VA claims and a myriad of other services provided to Veterans and their families. Veterans and their next of kin can request a copy of the service member's DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Activey Duty from the National Archives. Records can be requested online or via mail or fax. To file the request via mail or fax, you must submit  Form SF 180, Request to Pertaining Military Records . A completed request can be sent to National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138, Fax 314-801-9195.

Applying for VA Benefits and Claims Assistance
The  Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) Service and Benefits Program  provides assistance to the men and women who served in the Uniformed Services of the United States, their dependents, and survivors in obtaining benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, State of Maryland and other programs for veterans and their families.

MDVA COVID-19 Notice: 
Most Veteran Benefits Specialists are on full time remote work status and periodically visit offices to collect mail and messages.  Please contact your service officer by phone or email.  Service officers will return your call or email as soon as possible.

MDVA Montgomery County Service Center
Montgomery College Service Center
Joseph Thornton, Veterans Benefits Specialist (VBS)
900 Hungerford Drive, Mannakee Building, Room MK251, Rockville, MD 20850
240-567-5405 (V)
240-567-4361 (FAX)
E-mail:  joseph.thornton@maryland.gov
Effective January 6th, 2020 : Mr. Thornton, VBS, works at the Montgomery College Service Center weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Outreach Hours: Mr. Thornton will be at the Silver Spring Vet Center (2900 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910) the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Please note: While walk-ins are accepted at both locations, to ensure you are seen please call ahead to schedule an appointment.

For more information and resources, view our Veterans Network Directory -  Benefits & Claims Assistance  and  Retirement Benefits