Armed Forces 10K Tribridge Challenge & Freedom 5K
Five Star Veterans Center is a transitional home for veterans in crisis. We have 40 private bedrooms with private or semi-private bathrooms for veterans dealing with the hidden scars of battle such as PTSD, TBI, and other mental and emotional challenges.
After conquering Atlantic, local rowers now take on Pacific Ocean in weeks-long trek for charity
U.S. Marine veteran Paul Lore, 60 of Fernandina Beach, and Mat Steinlin, 44 of St. Augustine, have teamed up again. This time for a 2,800-mile trek across the Pacific Ocean to Kauai to raise awareness and funds for K9s For Warriors and the Childrenโs Tumor Foundation.
โTimely access to care and benefitsโ: VA department makes promise to military veterans battling cancer due to exposure
Military veterans battling cancer because they were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances, will have their benefits claims expedited to ensure they get โtimely access to care and benefits.โ
โHuge reliefโ: Locals applaud bill that expands health care for 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans
Veterans in Northeast Florida are breathing a sigh of relief after the U.S. Senate voted 86-11 to pass a bipartisan bill to expand health care benefits for nearly 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic burn pits during their military service.
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Gov. DeSantis visits Palm Valley to showcase help for military dependents, new veterans
Gov. Ron DeSantis had somewhat of a homecoming Friday as he brought his family to St. Johns County to sign three new Florida bills into law, each designed to support to military members, their families and those who recently served who are trying to re-enter the civilian workforce.
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Local group recruits volunteers to help veterans in crisis
As Americans in Jacksonville and throughout the country spend Memorial Day reflecting on and honoring the men and women who died in service, itโs also important to remember the service members who have returned home with the invisible scars of war.
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Vietnam veterans gather at memorial for African American service members
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, Americans come together to commemorate the service and sacrifices made by the nearly 3 million service members who served in Vietnam. The war wall in Jacksonvilleโs LaVilla neighborhood pays tribute to African American service members, including those who fought in Vietnam. Racism was still existing in boot camp and even in Vietnam,โ Vietnam veteran Hallie Williams-Bey. He said he believes we need to use Vietnam War Veterans Day as more than a salute to the sacrifices made. In 2012, President Barack Obama signed a presidential proclamation, designating March 29 as the annual observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day.
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Retired Army veteran to bike 3,200 miles to raise awareness for veterans impacted by pandemic
A retired Army veteran from St. Augustine will ride across the country to raise awareness for veterans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. โI embrace that.โParramore will bike from San Diego, California, back home to St. Augustine. News4Jax met Parramore last year when he rode roughly 500 miles to Key West to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. โThe farthest continuous days Iโve done is nine days from here down to Key West.โThis year, his ride will be roughly 3,200 miles to raise awareness for veterans affected by the pandemic. To donate or watch his livestream, visit his Wounded Warrior Project donation page.
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Program giving active duty and discharged service members a second chance
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Eighty-six veterans in 30 months and just one has returned to jail -- thatโs an impressive success rate for Jacksonvilleโs Veterans Treatment Court. They can enroll in the Veterans Treatment Court, which is a court-supervised, comprehensive treatment program. โIt is a very intense program,โ explained Judge Mose Floyd, who presides over the court. There is also a community service project at the end as an attempt to give back to the community." Prosecutors, defense attorneys and Duval County judges help identify veterans who have been arrested who may qualify for the program.
50 veterans honored with kayaking, barbecue & tailgate
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ To honor Veterans Day and thank local veterans for their service, Academy Sports and Outdoors partnered with Bama-Q to provide the Northeast Florida Chapter of Heroes on the Water a free lunch and tailgate after a morning kayak fishing trip. Bama-Q pitmasters prepared a three course Florida-inspired seafood meal and Captain Rick Murphy of the Florida Insider Fishing Report surprised the veterans with a video message thanking them for their service. The event took place Saturday afternoon at Brownโs Creek Fish Camp. Academy also donated kayaks and other fishing equipment to the organization.
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Jacksonville Beach officially a โPurple Heart Cityโ
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. โ Jacksonville Beach on Friday honored those who keep our country safe. Veterans, family and friends gathered to honor Purple Heart recipients and named Jacksonville Beach a โPurple Heart City.โCraig Dunning, a Vietnam War veteran, was one of the men recognized. He was one of the many Purple Heart recipients honored at the event. The city also moved the Veterans Memorial to Oceanfront Park on 1st Street and 6th Avenue where they unveiled the Purple Heart City sign. Going forward, Nov. 6 will be known as Purple Heart Day in the city of Jacksonville Beach.
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Want to recognize a Flagler County veteran? Nominate them now
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. Flagler Countys Veterans Services Office is asking for nominations for its Veteran of the Year Award, which will be presented on Veterans Day. Our veterans have done and continue to do so much for Flagler County, said David Lydon, Flagler County Veterans Services Officer. The Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council commissions a panel of veterans and community leaders to review and select the Veteran of the Year from the eligible candidates. A one-page typewritten nomination statement, maximum 250 words, that describes why the individual being nominated should be selected as the Flagler County Veteran of the Year should be provided along with the resume. The hard part will be selecting just one recipient.Mail nominations to: Flagler County Veterans Service Office, Attn: Veteran of the Year, 1769 E. Moody Blvd.
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Veterans for Black Lives Matters group organizes on Juneteenth
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A new group, Veterans for Black Lives Matter, organized in Jacksonville on the historic day Juneteenth. The group did this in honor of two Black veterans killed by a mob more than 100 years ago in Jacksonville. โI urge all veterans to support the Black Lives Matter issue here in Jacksonville,โ said another speaker. โWe will have justice and we will take it by any means necessary because Black Lives Matter. Black lives have always mattered, but now weโre here to tell you that weโre speaking up, weโre speaking out that Black Lives Matter,โ said McCollough.
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Here is how you can show your support on this unique Memorial Day
And Monday marks Memorial Day, the federal holiday in the U.S. for honoring and mourning the military personnel whoโve died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Itโs a great way to show your followers that this day means more to you than just a barbecue or the day off work. Another neat way to honor the ultimate sacrifice is to create an online memorial for a loved one with the Veterans Legacy Memorial Website. If you really want to show your support, hang up an American flag outside your home or perhaps honor the day with a sign or sidewalk chalk in your front yard. Thatโs likely the easiest way to honor the day while still socially distancing and following CDC guidelines.
Curry asks state for $2M to keep pedestrians safe, fight violence, prevent veteran suicide
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Mayor Lenny Curry made a pitch Wednesday to state lawmakers to bring more money into Jacksonville in order to keep pedestrians safe, help fight violence and work to prevent veterans from committing suicide. Curry asked for an additional $2 million to fund three programs that he believes are important to Jacksonville: pedestrian crossing installation, Cure Violence and โThe Fire Watch." Weโre seeking funding for pedestrian safety, funding for Cure Violence, which helps intervene in stopping violent crime, and money to help us in preventing veteran suicide,โ Curry said. The mayor also wants an additional $750,000 from the state to fund an expansion of the Cure Violence program that began in June. The city will also plug in an additional $2.4 million to add an additional Cure Violence site between Edgewood Avenue and Interstate 295.
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New facility aims to improve health care access for veterans in Northwest Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Veterans living Northwest Jacksonville have limited access to health care facilities, according to a local health organization, but a new facility in the neighborhood is helping to change that. On Wednesday, Veterans Healthcare officially opened a new facility on North Myrtle Avenue at West 20th Street. โWith this location, we can service the people in this area who otherwise wouldnโt have access to health care," said Ivorique Turner, DO, CEO and medical director of Veterans Healthcare. The facility offers primary and walk-in care, veteran disability exams, medication review and mental health services. โHaving mental health services at this facility allows us to be able to serve the veterans in that way," said Turner, who is a Navy veteran.
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Tree removal service branches out to help veterans
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The owner of a local tree removal service has launched a new program in hopes of not only honoring veterans but also helping them protect their homes from falling trees. The program, known as Tree Work For Heroes, is the brainchild of Canary Tree Service founder Justin Hartmann, who said itโs been in the works for some time but is only now becoming a reality. The service is free to veterans who are unable to pay for the service, which can cost hundreds of dollars for paying customers. To contact Canary Tree Service, visit canarytreeservice.com or call 904-753-8785. According to the Wilmington Star News, Canary Tree Service was accused of price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Florence.
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Scammers โpreying on ignoranceโ in fraud targeting veterans
But new data released by the Federal Trade Commission show veterans on average lose almost $1,000 to scams. Now, heโs investing his time and energy in coaching fellow veterans and active duty military through the obstacles that life throws at them. โCatfishing is a huge problem in the military now.โโThese individuals are preying on ignorance and theyโre preying on individuals emotionally to extort them for money,โ he added. But Floridaโs leaders are pushing legislation that would crack down on scams and fraud targeting veterans and military. Redman believes that number could grow if both active duty military members and veterans are not informed about the existence of these scams.