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Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs

Friday Digest: May 23, 2025



This week:

* Work at MDVA [ #link_1 ]
* Memorial Day Programs at State Veterans Cemeteries [ #link_17 ]
* Fort Snelling National Cemetery to Host Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony, May 26 [ #link_5 ]
* Minnesota Military Radio - Tune in this Weekend [ #link_10 ]
* May Is Mental Health Month [ #link_8 ]
* Bravo Zulu House Grand Opening, May 28 [ #link_15 ]
* Decoration Day Wreath Laying Ceremony, May 30 [ #link_6 ]
* Veterans Painting Classes at St. Thomas, June 9 - 14 [ #link_2 ]
* Ramsey County Veteran Claims Clinic, June 12 [ #link_3 ]
* Mental Health First Aid Training, June 25 [ #link_16 ]
* National Veterans Wheelchair Games: Volunteers Needed [ #link_11 ]
* You May Be Eligible for Additional USDVA Educational Benefits! [ #link_4 ]
* Beware: Claim Predators Want to Prey on Your Benefits [ #link_13 ]
* The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits [ #link_9 ]
* 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline [ #link_12 ]
* Submit Your Veteran-Related Event [ #link_7 ]

Work at MDVA

If you are interested in speaking to a member of our Human Resources team regarding employment opportunities with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, fill out our Job Interest Form [ [link removed] ] to be contacted about available opportunities.

Bemidji

* Human Services Technician/Certified Nursing Assistant, part-time [ [link removed] ]
(multiple openings, application deadline May 30)
* Food Service Worker, part-time [ [link removed] ] (application deadline May 27)
* Resident Assistant, part-time [ [link removed] ] (multiple openings, application deadline May 27)

Fergus Falls

* Human Services Technician/Certified Nursing Assistant [ [link removed] ]
(application deadline May 30)
* Human Services Technician/Certified Nursing Assistant, part-time [ [link removed] ]
(application deadline May 30)

Hastings

* Nutritional Services Supervisor [ [link removed] ] (application deadline June 4)

Minneapolis

* Assistant Commissioner [ [link removed] ] (application deadline June 11)
* Licensed Practical Nurse [ [link removed] ] (application deadline June 30)
* Licensed Practical Nurse, part-time [ [link removed] ]
(multiple openings, application deadline June 30)
* Veteran Health Navigator Supervisor [ [link removed] ] (application deadline May 27)
* General Repair Worker [ [link removed] ] (application deadline May 30)
* Housekeeper, part-time [ [link removed] ] (application deadline May 29)

Montevideo

* Human Services Technician/Certified Nursing Assistant, part-time [ [link removed] ]
(multiple openings, application deadline June 2)
* Registered Nurse, part-time [ [link removed] ] (application deadline June 3)
* Housekeeper, part-time [ [link removed] ] (application deadline May 27)

Preston

* Licensed Practical Nurse, intermittent [ [link removed] ] (application deadline May 28)

Silver Bay

* Licensed Practical Nurse, part-time [ [link removed] ] (application deadline May 28)
* Registered Nurse - Supervisor [ [link removed] ] (application deadline May 23)
* Human Services Technician/Certified Nursing Assistant, part-time [ [link removed] ]
(multiple openings, application deadline May 27)

Memorial Day Programs at State Veterans Cemeteries

All of our State Veterans Cemeteries will be hosting Memorial Day Programs this Memorial Day weekend. All events will be held Sunday, May 25.


* Duluth [ [link removed] ]
* Little Falls [ [link removed] ]
* Preston [ [link removed] ]
* Redwood Falls [ [link removed] ]
memorial-day

Fort Snelling National Cemetery to Host Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony, May 26

The Federal Department of Veterans Affairs Fort Snelling National Cemetery will host a solemn Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony, accompanied by music, speeches, a moment of silence, a rifle volley, and the playing of Taps.

All members of the community and media partners are invited and welcome to attend. VA operates 156 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers' lots and monument sites in 44 states and Puerto Rico. Over 5.4 million people — including 4.1 million Veterans from the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — are buried in VA national cemeteries. VA also provides headstones, markers or medallions for Veterans buried in state, territorial and tribal Veterans cemeteries or interred in private cemeteries.

Minnesota Military Radio - Tune in this Weekend

Minnesota MIlitary Radio

For over 15 years, the award-winning Minnesota Military Radio (MMR) has been the forum for retelling the stories of Minnesota’s heroes. Retired Command Sergeant Major, Veteran and volunteer host Doug Wortham shares these stories which are carried on 67 broadcasting stations throughout the state of Minnesota, and broadcasted nationally on the Wreaths Across America Radio Network, in an effort to preserve the stories of our Veterans and keep listeners up to date on things happening at MDVA and in our Veteran Community here in Minnesota.

Coming up this week, we’ll connect with the Program Coordinator for Survivor Outreach Services from the Minnesota Army National Guard [ [link removed] ] and get an update from the MN Patriot Guard [ [link removed] ]. Tune in to our live Memorial Day show from 6-9 a.m. on Monday, May 26, on Twin Cities News Talk [ [link removed] ] or iHeartMedia Inc [ [link removed] ].

 

More information >> [ [link removed] ]



May Is Mental Health Month

Learning about our mental health and what we need to support our wellbeing takes time. It’s important to make mental health an ongoing priority in our lives, take care of ourselves, know when to get help and share our own stories about mental health when possible.

Prioritizing self-care and emotional wellbeing as part of your daily routine can help you learn more about your mental health and wellness, feel more comfortable talking about mental health, and access helpful resources that are available when you need them. As a result, your efforts will help you:


* Build connection
* Foster the feeling that you are not alone.
* Make space to gain perspective on the difficulty you’re experiencing.

"Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Health. Learn more ""here" [ [link removed] ]".

"

Bravo Zulu House Grand Opening, May 28

Bravo Zulu House

Bravo Zulu House will be a Veterans-only facility providing a nurturing, home-like setting where residents gain strength. The goal is to integrate formal therapies and counseling with dog therapy, hydroponic gardening and addressing the deep-seated wounds of war.

Join to celebrate their grand opening. This event is open to the public and is set to include special guests, a ribbon cutting ceremony and much more.

 

More information >> [ [link removed] ]



Decoration Day Wreath Laying Ceremony, May 30

Monument

The team from Camp 56 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Saint Paul Squadron of Civil Air Patrol; West Saint Paul American Legion; Father Vakoc Assembly, Knights of Columbus; and Hawkeye Valley Region of the Scottish American Military Society (SAMS), invites you to their Decoration Day Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at the foot of the Josias King statue.

*When:* 6 p.m., Fri. May 30
*Who:* Color Guards/ firing detail from the SUVCW, Civil Air Patrol; the American Legion; the Knights of Columbus; and SAMS
*What:* Conduct a ceremony consisting of a prayer, a rifle salute, and a laying of a wreath
*Where:* Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument was erected by the Grand Army of the Republic in 1903. The statue on top represents Josias King, the first Minnesotan to volunteer to fight for the Union in the Civil War.
*Why:* To honor all Minnesota Veterans of the US armed forces on the traditional date that was later renamed as Memorial Day

This ceremony is open to Veterans, those with an interest in US military history, and the public. This team of volunteers consider the Decoration Day ceremony an honor and a fitting tribute to our servicemembers whose service helped preserve the liberties Americans enjoy as a nation today.



Veterans Painting Classes at St. Thomas, June 9 - 14

Join for a free and relaxing outdoor painting class at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights.

Veterans (and their caregivers) are invited to register one of the class dates at no cost, with the mission to support Veterans connections to nature and one another in a unique outdoor experience.

 

More information >> [ [link removed] ]

Ramsey County Veteran Claims Clinic, June 12

The Minneapolis VA Medical Center staff will be at the Rondo Community Library June 12 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. to help you enroll and set up your My HealtheVet login. VA claims processors will be on-site to provide services. Your County Veteran Service Officer will also be there!

Please bring a copy of your DD214 and any recent claim correspondence you may have. This event is especially for Veterans in Ramsey County. Walk-ins are welcome or reserve your claims clinic appointment here [ [link removed] ].

Rondo Community Library
461 Dale St. N.
St. Paul, MN 55103 

Mental Health First Aid Training, June 25

Mental Health First Aid

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is committed to investing in both our Veterans and the communities where they live and serve. A healthy community is a suicide-safe community.

One way MDVA contributes to the wellbeing of our state and Veteran communities is by offering free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course certification each month. MDVA also offers this training to our employees.

Trainings are held Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.


* June 25
* July 23

 

More information >> [ [link removed] ]



National Veterans Wheelchair Games: Volunteers Needed

Wheelchair Games

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is the largest adaptive sports and rehabilitation event designed exclusively for U.S. military Veterans with disabilities. They are currently looking for volunteers to help with the upcoming games.

Support Veteran athletes, make connections and be part of something unforgettable here in Minneapolis, July 17–22, 2025. For questions, email: [email protected].

 

Register to volunteer >> [ [link removed] ]



You May Be Eligible for Additional USDVA Educational Benefits!

On April 16, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Veterans who served at least two periods of service - one that qualifies for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and another that qualifies for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB) - may be able to receive additional GI Bill benefits.

*Am I eligible for additional benefits? If so, what should I do?*

If you have previously applied to use VA education benefits, you may be eligible for additional benefits, if:


* You completed more than one eligible period of service, and
* You waived all or part of your MGIB benefits so you could use PGIB benefits.

If you have questions, please reach out to an MDVA Veterans Education Regional Coordinator.

 

Find your Regional Coordinator >> [ [link removed] ]

Beware: Claim Predators Want to Prey on Your Benefits

Many Veterans seek support and help with filing VA benefits claims for the payments they deserve. Be cautious of "claim predators" - unaccredited companies or individuals targeting Veterans' benefits for profit.
How to identify claim predators:


* Charging High Fees: Predatory companies charge absurd fees or require you to pay a portion of your VA benefits. Never pay anyone a fee to file an initial claim for benefits.
* Making Dishonest Promises: Don't trust anyone who claims they can help accelerate the claims process and obtain a 100% disability benefits evaluation. Remember, only VA has the authority to determine disability ratings.
* Requiring Binding Contracts: No one should ever charge a fee to file an initial claim for VA benefits. Never sign a contract agreeing to pay an unauthorized individual/company a percentage of your benefit payment in exchange for help with your VA claim.

 

Learn more about VA accredited representatives >> [ [link removed] ]

The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits

The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances.

The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions the VA presumes are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

 

PACT [ [link removed] ]

 

More information >> [ [link removed] ]

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line's number—988 then Press 1—helps make it easier to remember and share the number to access help in times of need.

Veterans can use this option by dialing 988 and pressing 1 to contact the Veterans Crisis Line. Veterans may still reach the Veterans Crisis Line with the previous phone number—1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 [ tel:1-800-273-8255 ]—by text (838255), and through chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat [ [link removed] ].

 



Submit Your Veteran-Related Event

If you know of a Veteran-related community event happening in your area you would like to submit to be included in our Friday Digest, please email all event information to [email protected] for consideration.



________________________________________________________________________

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