When/Where: Thursday, September 14, 2017 – Starting at 9am- 3:30pm. Chase Center, 815 Justison St., Wilmington, DE  19801

The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition along with the Delaware Military and Veterans Suicide Prevention Subcommittees has been planning the annual “Delaware Military and Veterans Mental Health Summit.” We will continue the focus on presenting information and resources to veterans, service members, families and providers who work with the military community in Delaware. This is a great platform for sharing resources and continuing to help increase the understanding of mental health issues in the military population. Please save the date and join us in helping our community understand the importance of this subject matter.

Registration opens at 8am. There’s no cost to attend and free CEUs can be available.

You can also register at: https://www.signup82north.com/beventLive.aspx?EventID=NBI90154070

When/Where: Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Location: Smyrna Rest Area-Pavilion 1, 5500 North DuPont Highway, Smyrna, DE  19977.

The Wreaths Across America convoy will stop in Delaware as they proceed on their journey to Arlington National Cemetery. This is the first time Delaware Vietnam Veterans of America Gold Star Program and representatives of Delaware Law Enforcement Community have joined forces to host a brief service of honor and remembrance.

The service will include a host of memorial themed activities to include the playing of the National Anthem, TAPS and Amazing Grace by the Delaware State Police Pipes and Drums Corps. Junior ROTC members will escort Gold Star Families to reserved seating.

Call Judy Campbell at 302-593-5991, for more information. www.delawarevva.com

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” -Joseph Campbell

When/Where: Monday, December 12th, 2016 beginning at 11:30am. Location is Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Ave., Dover, DE 19901

We would like to invite everyone to the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony that’s being hosted again by the Delaware General Assembly. State House ceremonies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. are part of a week-long celebration of America’s veterans and their service to our country, with a particular focus on family during the holidays.

“This nationwide program is about remembering our fallen heroes, honoring those who serve and teaching our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms,” said event organizers. The originator of the wreath laying program was Morrill Worcester, owner of a wreath making company in Maine who in 1991 donated and delivered wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery to be placed on the graves of the fallen.

The WAA program’s mission of “Remember, Honor, Teach,” spreads the message of the importance of remembering our fallen heroes, honoring those who serve and teaching our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms. A large wreath honoring all five branches of the armed forces will be placed at the base of the Delaware Continentals Statue. Additional wreaths will be laid on the grounds of Legislative Hall, at the Gulf War Memorial, the Dover Light Infantry Memorial, World War II Memorial and the Medal of Honor Memorial. The ceremony will include a volley and TAPS. –Lori Christiansen

When/Where: Saturday, November 12th, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in Downtown Dover.

The Delaware General Assembly, in conjunction with the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, the Delaware National Guard, the City of Dover and the State Veterans’ Organizations, will honor Delaware veterans with a parade through the streets of downtown Dover.

The parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the west side of Dover, move east along Loockerman Street, turn right onto Federal Street and end at the Legislative Mall. A reviewing stand will be located in the downtown area, where Master of Ceremonies David Skocik, President of the Delaware Veterans Coalition, will acknowledge parade participants. All Delaware veterans and veterans’ organizations, JROTC Units, as well as high school and college bands are invited to march in the parade.

Participants can complete a parade registration form and return to: Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, 802 Silver Lake Blvd, Suite 100, Dover, DE 19904 or fax it to (302) 739-2794.

Deadline for parade registration is Friday, October 28, 2016. Below is a copy of the registration form.

For further information, please contact Gary Chaffee, Volunteer Parade Coordinator at (302) 632-7718.

de-veterans-parade-registration

When/Where: November 11, 2016 @ 10:30am / Delaware Memorial Bridge Plaza, New Castle, DE

Please join us to pay tribute to all our brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. This year’s ceremony is hosted by At-Large, Delaware National Guard and the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs (DCVA). We would like to extend this invitation to all our veterans, families and friends. (For more information please contact the DCVA at 302-739-2792.)

What is a Veteran? A “VETERAN” -whether active duty, discharged, retired, reserve or guard- is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount of “up to, and including his/her life.”

It is a VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is a VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is a VETERAN, not a poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is a VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is a VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is a VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.