RESOURCES
Tallahassee is part of the North Florida/South Georgia Veteran's Health System, which covers 22 counties, and services approximately 80,000 veterans. The current clinic in Tallahassee is located on St. James Court off Mahan Drive. This location also has an annex that houses the mental health facility, audiology and other programs and resources for homeless veterans. A new outpatient clinic is to be constructed at the corner of Blair Stone road and Orange Ave. This facility should be opening in late 2014.
The latest addition to our national Veteran's Cemeteries, is now located off Apalachee Parkway slightly past Capital Circle. The dedication ceremony was held on May 22, 2015.
Veterans Newsletter - monthly electronic newsletter published by Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. www.e.floridavetsnews. Or, go to the Department website @ www.FLoridaVets.org. Click on the "News" tab to subscribe and/or view archived issues.
Veterans Resource Center, Leon County, 918 Railroad Ave., 850-606-1940. VRC is a one-stopshop focusing on services and benefits complete with computers/printers and counseling.
Vet Center, 548 Bradford Road, 850-942-8810
Veterans Administration, Regional Office, 800-827-1000 www.va.gov.
Big Bend Homeless Coalition, Home Front, assists in housing for homeless veterans,1602 Stuckey Ave., 850-205-6006
American Legion Post 13, 850-222-3382
Florida Department of V eteran Affairs, www.floridavets.org
Florida Veterans Foundation, 850-488-4181
Florida State University Collegiate Veterans Association, www.facebook.com/groups/2202046016
VA Outpataient Clinic, 850-878-0191
Veterans Events Inc. of Tallahassee, 850-606-194
Veterans History Project: A project of the American Folklife Center of the Library of congress. www.loc.gov/vets Items included in the Veterans History Project collection may take the form of war veterans' first-hand oral histosries, memoirs, collections fo photographs and letters, diaries, and other historical documents from World War I till today. Your help is needed in interview a veteran in order to preserve history. Visit the web site and download a Field Kit, that helps you through the process.
MUSEUMS
FSU World War II Institute is part of the Dep't. of History, 850-644-9033. Contains lots of artifacts, and all of Tom Brokars reference collection utilized while writing the book, The Greatest Generation.
Camp Gordon Johnson World War II Museum, 1001 Gray Ave., Carrabelle 850-697-8575 www.campgordonjohnston.com.
Museum of Florida History, Gray Bldg. Extensive exhibit of World War II collection
Apalachicola Memorial Park, houses the only replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. It is a partial sculpture, but none the less powerful..
MEMORIALS
Korean War Memorial--Gaines Street and Suwanee Street
Vietnam War Memorial -- across Monroe Street from the Old capitol
Vietnam War Memorial --at Lake Ella
World War II Memorial--Gray Bldg., intersection of Bronough St. and St. Augustine
Veteran's Memorial :THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, Havana
Florida Veterans Hall of Fame: The hall was created in 2011 to honor military veterans who have also made a contribution to the state of Florida. It can be found on the first floor of the Florida capitol. www.floridaveteranshalloffame.org
ORGANIZATIONS
American Legion Hall Post 13, 229 Lake Ella Dr. 850-222-3382
Tallahassee Civil Air Patrol, 3246 SW Capital Circle 850-580-0010
Vietnam Veterans Of America, Big Bend Chapter 96, 241 Lake Ella Dr. 850-224-0839
Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Post 3308, 2769 Tennessee St., 850-575-3308
FSU Collegiate Veteran's Association, has a Veteran's Center, and is on track to become the most veteran-friendly campus in the country.
Have intramural athletic teams, give campus orientation tours for vets, and sponsors the annual Veteran's Day Film Festival.
And, have a newly established Veterans Student Union, the first permanent student government agency committed to providing resources to student-veterans. FSU provides funding, office space, and representation in the administrations of student body presidents. Veterans Affairs secretary Eric Shinseki has applauded FSU's support of student-veterans.
Honor Flight Tallahassee: the goal of Honor Flight Tallahassee is to pay to send World Wat II veterans from this area to Washington, DC, to give them an opportunity to visit their Memorial, along with the memorials for other military lanndmarks. Localfundraising projects are being coordinated by the Moore Communications Group. The first ever trip is planned for spring, 2013. Its focus will be on WWII veeterans, but a special effort is being arranged to extend this trip to terminally ill veterans. Subsequent trips will be provided for those who served in the Korean War and in Vietnam. For more information, call 888-881-1566, or email [email protected]
A new chapter of the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation has been established in our area. This is a six year old national organization whose main purpose is to bring wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to learn and participate in fly fishing. The local organization wants to offer the experience to severly wounded military here in our area. The program provides transportaion, accommodations, meals, guides, instruction. The cost for a week aaverages $4500 per warrior. The Southern Chapter hopes to provide two fishing experiences with 8 total participants.
The entire program is more than fishing, it is a respite from the rigor and stress, and rehabilitation that our participants endure. This program needs support from our community. Go to: www.fishingwithwarriors.org Locally, 5032 Capital Circle, SW 850-597-3419
Another group, Wounded Warrior Project, sponsors an annual event with lots of help from Hunters Helping Hunters, Inc. this group was established for the purpose of providing hunting opportunities for disabled adults, and veterans. It is a three day hunt held in Mt. Pleasant, Fla. Meals, lodging, blinds and stands, modified for the disabled are all included. Volunteers help with guiding, and processing the bagged deer. For more information contact 850-510-1602, or email [email protected]
ENTITLEMENTS
The G.I. Bill provides a maximum of $18,078 per academic year for post 9/11 vets. Through Yellow Ribbon programs, some schools cover the gap. These benefits, like those of the GI Bill can be passes to spouses and kids. For information go to www.gibill.va.gov
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers vets access to counselors via videoconferencing through its telemental Health Program. Go to www.va.gov for details. Friends and family of soldiers and vets can also get phone help through the VA's new Coaching into Care program
The Financial Planning Association offers pro bono sessions for military families on Yellow Ribbon weekens. Also, H & R Block provides members of the armed services with audit help, tax preparation and other advice. www.yellowribbon.mil
The Department of Veterans Affairs' Aid and Attendance program is ofter overlooked. Through the program, vets may qualify to receive extra income to cover nursing home care or to pay an aide. Apply via your regional VA office..
The Florida Fish and Wild Life Commission has implemented changes to commercial fishing license requirements for Florida veterans, and veterans with disabilities so they can more easily enter the commercial fishing industry. The changes include the commercial restricted species endorsement. Income requirements will be waived for one license year. To apply, veterans should visit www. MyFWC.com/License and click on Commercial Saltwater Products
Phone:850-487-3122
The Veterans Administration has recently purchased a 250 acre tract on U.S.Hwy 27 (Apalachee Parkway) to estaablish a veterans cemetery. It is located just past Mom and Dads Restaurant, heading east. Approaching from the west, it is about one miles from the Solid Waste facility. It is part of the VA's effort to add new national cemeteries in Florida. It will serve northwestern Florida, southwestern Georgia and southeastern Alabama.
The City of Tallahassee and Star Metro, our local bus providers, have started a Veterans Bus Pass Program. Through this program, eligible Veterans will receive an annual bus pass to be used on all of StarMetro's fixed route. Go to StarMetro's website---www.talgov.com/starmetro--under Helpful Services.
Tallahassee is the first Capital City in the nation to be named a Purple Heart City As a way to recognize Purple Heart recipients as well as salute all veterans within the Capital region, StarMetro wrapped a bus with pictures of our heroes.
HOUSING,
Home Front is an apartment complex that provides housing for homeless veterans. Contact the local Veteran's Organizations for information.
VET EVENTS.
Veteran's Day Parade: The parade has been put on by Leon County until the Vets Events Organization took over the planning and implementation in 2010. The parade grows in size and scope each year, and includes a celebration in the cities Chain of Parks.
Veteran's Day Film Festival: Sponsored by the FSU Collegiate Veteran's Association. Films selected are thought-provoking, usually documentaries, that encourage conversations about the military. The film is shown at Ruby Diamon Auditorium, FSU campus.
Homeless Veterans Stand Down is sponsored by Veterans Events, the Florida Veterans Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It will take place at the North Florida Fairgrounds. It offers homeless vets a place to rest, medical attention, food, clothes. It lasts three days, and will have booths offering services, information, etc. Included will be a legal area where minor outstanding criminal offenses can be settled. Transportation will be provided in North Florida, South Georgia.
WELCOME HOME Vietnam Veterans, Saturday, March 20 @ 8:30 am, at the Vietnam War Memorial on the corner of South Monroe St. and Apalachee Parkway. Breakfast will be served immediately following the Welcome Home ceremony. For more event information contact: LamyS@LeonCountyFL.gov
Each Armed Forces Day, Leon County salutes veterans of different wars at the appropriate memorial. 2015 saw the event honor the Korean veterans of our community at the Korean memorial, located in Cascades Park
FSU is currently beginning a fund-raising effort to build a three part Veterans Center on campus. The University plans call for a building large enough to house the Collegiate Veterans Association, the ROTC program, and its World War II Museum.
