Virginia’s Veterans

The United States of America is the greatest nation the world has ever known, but the freedom we enjoy in America today was not free. It was earned at a terrible price and preserved by those who have served faithfully in the Armed Forces of the United States. As our Lieutenant Governor, Bill Bolling has stood with Virginia’s veterans and he will always do so. 

Governor McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bolling are working to make Virginia the most veteran-friendly state in the nation. They have established a compact with veterans to make certain that Virginia leads the nation in its respect for service men and women, veterans and their families. 

Governor McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bolling have created a new Cabinet position for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security. 

They established a Veterans’ Advisory Group, made up of representatives of major veteran’s organizations, to help identify ways in which Virginia can help support Veterans and their families.

Governor McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bolling are also working to improve veterans’ services, including:

• Automating the Claims Processing System for Veterans benefits
• Implementing a coordinated statewide effort to Help Veterans Find Jobs
• Providing additional funding for burial vaults at Virginia’s Veterans’ Cemeteries
• Providing real estate tax relief for disabled veterans.
• Providing additional financial support for the Wounded Warrior Program

In addition, Governor McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bolling are honoring Virginia’s veterans by:

• Continuing the Wall of Honor, honoring Virginians who have died in the Global War on Terrorism, and making the Thursday proceeding Memorial Day an official statewide Day of Remembrance.
• Supporting the Virginia War Memorial’s efforts to expand and modernize facilities.
• Passing legislation to establish the Honor and Remember Flag as the official flag to remember Virginians who have been killed in the line of duty.

The McDonnell/Bolling Administration is also very focused on helping Virginia veterans find jobs when their military career is over. Two specific programs have been developed to help accomplish this goal:

• Military Career Transitioning - The Administration has opened a one-stop career transition center to assist USJFCOM employees affected by the upcoming transformation of JFCOM. The center will provide business and workforce development services, including entrepreneurship assistance, worker assessment, job fairs, training and a variety of other career related services.
• Troops to Energy Jobs Pilot Program - Lieutenant Governor Bolling, partnering with Dominion Resources, announced a pilot program to begin linking thousands of future job openings in the energy industry with troops leaving military service. This program is part of the national Center for Workforce Energy Development (CEWD) and is designed to establish an ongoing process of outreach, recruiting, education and training to create a pathway for military personnel to transition from the service into civilian careers in the energy field.

Governor McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bolling appreciate the sacrifice of our veterans, and through creative programs like these they will continue to support Virginia veterans and their families and make Virginia the best state in the nation for military personnel.