DVA News
Washington State Recognized for Innovation in Serving Incarcerated Veterans
Published: 02/29/2016
Partnership focuses on successful release and reintegration into communities.
OLYMPIA — For the third consecutive year, Washington State has been recognized as a Pillar of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The award was received for an Innovative State Program for Incarcerated… read more
Addressing the Latino Legislative Day
Published: 02/25/2016
Addressing the Latino Legislative Day
Rafael Lozano, Service Center Program Manager, represented WDVA on a panel for the 11th Annual Latino Legislative Day at the Capitol Campus on February 22, 2016, speaking about veteran’s benefits and entitlements.
Rafael addressed a packed house of over 500, in both Spanish and English, and stayed throughout the day to answer questions and… read more
YesVets pilot project aims to get more employers to say “Yes” to hiring veterans
Published: 02/12/2016
YesVets pilot project aims to get more employers to say “Yes” to hiring veterans
2/11/2016
Contacts: Janelle Guthrie, ESD Communications Director, (360) 902-9289
Heidi Audette, WDVA Communications Director, (360) 725-2154
Barbara Dunn, Commerce Communications Director, (360) 725-2805
New veterans hiring… read more
Learning to Teach Again - Rural Veterans Coordination Program Assists Veteran
Published: 02/12/2016
The WDVA Way is to inspire each other and share information – you can do both by Sharing Your Story!
Date: _______2/10/2016_________________
Program/Location: _Rural Veterans Coordination Program_
Who did you help? (Ian) We helped Ian find his passion to return to college to… read more
Learning to Dance Again - Ballroom Dancer Dances Again with Wife After Therapy
Published: 02/08/2016
Learning to Dance Again
The Washington Soldiers Home in Orting received a special dancing performance from one of their occupational therapy residents who was unable to dance after an injury.
That was, until, his persistence in therapy sessions paid off and he surprised the entire staff with a ballroom dancing performance during one of… read more
Massing of the Colors Day - 2016
Published: 02/08/2016
Governor Inslee has proclaimed February 21, 2016 to be Massing of the Colors Day in Washington State.
READ MORE: http://www.dva.wa.gov/massing-colors-stadium-high-school
Oak Harbor Governor's Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee Town Hall
Published: 02/08/2016
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs
Media Release
Director Lourdes E. Alvarado-Ramos
Deputy Director Gary Condra
Heidi Audette
Communications Director
(360) 725-2154 – office
(360) 791-8966 – cell
For… read more
Former Homeless Veteran Spends Holidays in New Home Thanks to Building 9
Published: 02/07/2016
Building 9 for Veterans - WDVA Share Your Story Submission
This letter was received by a former homeless Veteran who went through the Bldg 9 Transitional Program for Homeless Veterans. He now has a home & spent the holidays with his children in his own home & submitted this letter.
(For his privacy, we have omitted his signature line)
What Would YOU Do with a Half-Acre and Couldn't Fail
Published: 02/02/2016
If you haven’t heard of the Veterans Farm at Orting, you’re not alone. No one has, because six months ago, it didn’t exist.
Sure, it was an idea, a thought, a conversation among members of the Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC). But the scale of the project was enormous and the budget was zero. With no plan and no money, there was no way to build a program with the opportunity to… read more
Remembering George “Meadowlark” Lemon III’s Military Service
Published: 01/04/2016
As many pay tribute to Lemon for his basketball career, we also pay tribute to the “Clown Prince of Basketball” for his military service.
While it’s not shocking that George “Meadowlark” Lemon III was instrumental to the game of basketball while playing with the Harlem Globetrotters, it may not be well known that this icon in sports history also served his country.… read more