Montgomery County, Maryland Commission on Veterans Affairs Annual Report 2016

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Montgomery County, Maryland 

Commission on Veterans Affairs Annual Report 2016

 

Daniel J. Bullis, Chairman 

 

Randy Stone, Vice-Chairman 

 

Isiah Leggett, County Executive

 

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M

EMBERSHIP

 L

IST

 2015 - 2016 

Letter of Transmittal 

3 

VA Strengthens Commitment to County Veterans Establishing Community-Based Outpatient Clinic 

4 - 5 

How to Enroll in VA Healthcare 

6 

Mike Love, Founder of the Beach Boys, Shares Message of Healing with Commission 

7 

Councilmember George Leventhal Announces That Montgomery County Effectively Ends Veterans 

Homelessness 

8 

HUD-Veterans Administration Supported Housing (VASH) Vouchers 

9 

MCTV Documentary on Vietnam Veterans 

10 - 11 

DAR Commemorates Vietnam 50th Anniversary with Wreath Laying 

12 

Montgomery County, MD Employment Data on Hiring of Veterans, Disabled Veterans, and People 

with Disabilities 

13 

FY18 Operating Budget Priorities 

14 

Annual Meeting with County Executive 

15 

VA Silver Spring Vet Center Services 

16 

Key Contacts for the VA and Other Resources 

17 

Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs 

18 

Projected Number of Veterans in Montgomery County, MD 

19 - 20 

How Many Uniformed Services Retirees Live in the County? 

20 

2015 - 2016 Year In Review 

21 - 22 

Connect with the Commission 

23 

Commission Presentations For 2015 - 2016 

23 

How to Contact Your Elected Officials 

24 

T

ABLE

 

OF

 C

ONTENTS

 

G

ENERAL

 P

UBLIC

 M

EMBERS

 

Dan Bolling 

Marek Posard - Resigned 

Vacancy 

Vacancy 

S

TAFF

 

Betsy Luecking, Community Outreach Manager 

Carly Clem, Administrative Specialist I

 

N

ON

-V

OTING

 C

ONGRESSIONAL

 R

EPRESENTATIVES

 

Austin Morris, Office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen 

Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report  Page 2 

V

ETERANS

 R

EPRESENTATIVES

 

Henry Bockman, Veteran 

Daniel Bullis, Disabled American Veterans 

James Campbell, Military Officers Association of America 

Octavia Dixon, Veterans of Foreign Wars 

Ron Drach, Veteran 

Elizabeth (Jane) McCarthy, American Legion 

Wayne Miller, Disabled American Veterans 

Randy Stone, American Legion 

E

X

-O

FFICIO

 M

EMBERS

 

Michael L. Subin, Office of the County Executive 

Joanna L. Starling, Montgomery College 

Vacancy - Department of Health & Human Services 

Vacancy - Department of Economic Development 

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L

ETTER

 

OF

 T

RANSMITTAL

 

Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report  Page 3 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS 

 

November 1, 2016 

 

Via Letter of Transmittal Electronically to: 

The Honorable Isiah Leggett, Montgomery County Executive 

The Honorable Nancy Floreen, President, Montgomery County Council 

Uma S. Ahluwalia, Director, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services 

 

 

The Commission on Veterans Affairs is pleased to present a summary of its activities for the past year. We continue 

to advise and consult with you on issues of concern to the estimated 42,000 Veterans, and their families, who live in the  

County.  Under your leadership and with your support, the Commission is mandated to research, assemble, analyze and  

disseminate information that will assist in meeting the needs of Veterans and their families. 

 

 

 

 Since 2009, the Commission had been advocating along with Congressman Van Hollen’s  and Senator Ben Cardin’s 

office to have the Veterans Administration (VA) open a VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in the County.  On  

September 19, 2016 we were pleased to be part of a “Golden Hammer” event put on by the District of Columbia VA Medical 

Center to mark the beginning of the build out of this clinic to be located at 15810 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD.  At this time 

we pay tribute in memory of Gregory Hamilton, Navy, Vietnam Veteran, who met with  County Executive Isiah Leggett  

about 10 years ago and requested that he establish a Commission on Veterans Affairs to work on establishing a CBOC.  

 

 

We continue to encourage cooperation, coordination and collaboration among all agencies and non-profits that serve 

Veterans so that our community works together to honor and provide the best services possible to Veterans and their families.  

We have established a close relationship with Serving Together which is a resource and referral source for Veterans and their 

families.  The Office of Human Resource’s merit hiring initiatives has led to as of October 20, 2016 the hiring of 191  

Veterans, including 13 who have a disability.   

 

 

We are pleased with the County’s efforts to end homelessness amongst Veterans and to assist in obtaining permanent 

housings with the Zero:16 campaign.  We are working to increase outreach to the general Veteran population regarding  

programs, services and enrollment in VA Health Benefits. We are supporting Veterans through our Veterans Education  

Partnership which includes Montgomery College Combat to College, Universities at Shady Grove and the University of  

Maryland Terp Vets. 

 

 

We wish to recognize and give our personal thanks to all Commissioners, the many community members, and the 

agency staff who participate in our meetings for their commitment and dedication.  We would like to acknowledge DHHS  

Director Uma Ahluwalia for her role in meeting with the Boards, Commissions and Committees to keep us informed of  

important health and human services issues, Dr. Jay Kenney, Chief, Aging and Disability Services, Betsy Tolbert Luecking,  

Community Outreach Manager, and Carly Clem, Administrative Specialist, for their outstanding support in providing the 

Commission with the resources needed to carry out our mission.  This report is the result of our combined efforts. 

 

 

It has been a pleasure to work with you and members of the Commission during our term of service.  We are  

confident that you will continue to support the Commission’s efforts to enhance the lives of our Veterans.  Our meetings are 

open to the public, and we invite you to join us for any meeting. 

 

Sincerely, 

Daniel J. Bullis, Chairman 

Randy Stone, Vice-Chairman 

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