NDVS Newsletter - November 2023

Message from Director Wagar

As we head into the holiday season, I know I speak for everyone at NDVS in wishing you and your family the very best. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, I’m reminded of the many things we have to be grateful for this year.

For one, it remains my honor to ensure NDVS provides veterans, military members, and their families with the benefits they have earned. This includes burial benefits for veterans, spouses and Gold Star parents who have passed. With that, I’m pleased to report that our expansion projects at both our Southern and Northern Nevada State Veterans Cemeteries are now complete. Our NDVS cemetery teams are to be congratulated, as well as our partners, from the contractors to the VA. Because of their hard work, we will continue to meet the demand for an additional decade.

I’m also grateful for the passionate and strong NDVS team that recently saw some changes and new additions. Our Veterans Advocacy Support Team (VAST) Director Lisa Maciel took on a new role as our Deputy Director of Benefits. She is a retired Major from the U.S. Air Force Reserves and also served in the Nevada Air National Guard. Additionally, Army National Guard veteran Christopher Miannay joined our team as our newest Veterans Service Officer. He is based out of Las Vegas and now oversees our LGBTQ+ program. We are looking forward to announcing additional staffing updates next month.

I’m thankful that we can honor our veterans on November 11^th, Veterans Day! I’m thrilled over 200 have registered to join us in Las Vegas on Veterans Day. I’m extremely pleased that Governor Lombardo has agreed to speak, and Lt. Governor Anthony and other dignitaries will be joining us as well. The NDVS hosted Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at the Nevada State Veterans Memorial in front of the Grant Sawyer Building. The ceremony is timed so you may enjoy the Downtown Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade before joining us at 1:30 p.m. Register now as space is limited. I highly encourage you to register HERE to make sure you save your seat.

Finally, I’m thankful for your service and support throughout this year. We could not do what we do to benefit members of our veterans’ community without you! Thank you for all you do!

Warmest regards,

Fred Wagar

Photo: (L-R) Rick Johns, U.S. Submarine Veterans, Corvina Base, Sparks and NDVS Director Fred Wagar. Read more about the Corvina Tribute in this newsletter.

NDVS Website

Save Your Seat for the 2023 Veterans Day Ceremony

Join Governor Joe Lombardo and Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony on Veterans Day!

The Governor will serve as the keynote speaker at the NDVS-hosted Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at the Nevada State Veterans Memorial in front of the Grant Sawyer Building in Las Vegas. (555 East Washington Ave.) The ceremony will be held right after the annual Downtown Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade, making it convenient to attend.

The ceremony features widespread community support ranging from the Rancho High School Honor Guard to singing performances from Nikki Preston and as well as members of the Nevada Opera Choir and Myron Heaton Chorale.

If you haven’t already, register to SAVE YOUR SEAT by going HERE

SCAN TO REGISTER AND SAVE YOUR SEAT!

Congratulations to Veteran and Veteran

Supporter of the Month Recipients

Three recipients of the Veteran of the Month (VOM), and three recipients of the Veteran Supporter of the Month (VSM) awards were honored in a special ceremony held on October 18, 2023, in the Old Assembly Chambers in Carson City.

Congratulations to the following recipients:

Steve Ranson - VOM (September 2023) – Mr. Ranson is a U.S. Nevada National Guard veteran who writes and advocates for Nevada veterans. He is a co-author of the book, “Legacies of the Silver State: Nevada Goes to War,” which features stories from Nevada veterans chronicling their stories from World War II. He provides news and information of interest to veterans, servicemembers and their families through his work with northern Nevada newspapers. He is also involved in a number of charitable efforts that support active duty servicemembers, including those in the Nevada National Guard and those stationed at the Fallon Naval Air Base.
Tina Drakulich – VSM (September 2023) – Mrs. Drakulich is a Gold Star Mother. Her son, David, was a U.S. Army Ranger who lost his life while serving in Afghanistan during the Global War Against Terror. She is a founding member of the David J. Drakulich Foundation for Freedom of Expression. Projects of the foundation include the Art Heals Wounds, Veterans Art Project, Northern Nevada Veterans Writing Project, Combat Paper Nevada, NV Citizens Helping Troops and Sgt. David J. Drakulich Memorial Scholarship at Truckee Meadows Community College.
Walmart Store 2402 Claims Department; Amanda Schnaible & Florancia Rivera – VSM (October 2023) – The two are responsible for putting together holiday/season-related items to donate to the VFW Post 2350. The items are donated through the post to different organizations, hospitals and homeless communities from Salt Lake City to Reno.
Desmond Green – VOM (November 2023) – Mr. Green is known for his volunteer work with the Wounded Warrior Project, Pets for the Homeless in Carson City, as well as other charitable groups including Operation Gratitude
Sean Laycox – VOM (November 2023) – Mr. Laycox is known for his volunteer work at the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home in Sparks, Nevada as well as his volunteer work at the Reno Elks Lodge 597 and Vietnam Helicopter Museum. He is also a founding member and currently serves on the Mustang 22 Memorial nonprofit organization. Due to scheduling, Mr. Laycox will be honored in a ceremony at a later date.
Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 989 – VSM (November 2023) – The selfless service of the members of this organization are too numerous to list here, but their work is invaluable to ensuring the success of events including Vietnam War Veterans Day, Armed Forces Day in Fallon, the VVA 989 15 Year Anniversary Dinner, Memorial Day, Reno ACES Military Appreciation Night, Homeless Veterans Stand Down, Virginia City and City of Reno Veterans Parades, Nevada Day Parade, AVVA Gala and Northern Nevada State Veterans Home celebrations/decorating events.

Additionally, Mr. Richard Kaufmann was named as the VOM for October 2023. Due to scheduling, Mr. Kaufmann will be honored at the Veterans Day ceremony. He is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who is known for his support of numerous volunteer events, ceremonies and celebrations involving the Vietnam Veterans of America – Sierra Chapter 989 in Reno.

Since moving to Las Vegas in September 2022, Mr. Kaufmann transferred his membership to the VVA Chapter 1076 in Las Vegas. He maintains the VVA’s website and participates in activities involving the Fleet Reserve Association – Branch #90 as well as volunteer activities involving the VA.

Please enjoy the photos of the recipients!

Photo: (L-R) Steve Ranson (VOM) and Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony

Photo: (L-R) Michael Musgrove, VSC Chair, Tina Drakulich (VSM) and Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony.

Photo: (L-R) Walmart Store 2402 Claims Department (VSM) Amanda Schnaible and Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony.

Photo: (L-R) Michael Musgrove, Chairman, Desmond Green (VOM)and Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony.

Photo: Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 989 (VSM).

Veterans Guest House Check Presentation

NDVS is proud and honored once again to support the Veterans Guest House in Reno, Nevada. On October 11, 2023, NDVS Director Fred Wagar presented a $10,000 donation during a special check presentation ceremony at the facility.

The Veterans Guest House in Reno is located at 880 Locust Street, next to Reno’s VA, Sierra Nevada Health Care. The Veteran’s Guest House began in response to the growing need for free, overnight lodging for veterans seeking medical care in the Reno/Sparks area. Without the Guest House, many veterans and their families would sleep in their cars or would not receive the medical care they need. The house can serve 33 individuals each night, helping to improve the health of veterans and their families.

There is no fee for veterans and their families for temporary lodging at the Guest House. For more information on Reno’s Veteran’s Guest House, go HERE.

Photo: (L-R) Judge David Hardy for Washoe County, Sylvia Froslie, CEO Veterans Guest House, Patrice Klaich, Donor Relations Manager Veterans Guest House, and NDVS Director Fred Wagar.

USS Corvina Tribute at NNVMC

On October 14, 2023, NDVS Director Fred Wagar attended a tribute to honor the lost members of the submarine the U.S.S. Corvina. The ceremony was held at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Ceremony in Fernley. Members of the United States Submarine Veterans, Corvina Base, Sparks hosted the event.

The Corvina met her doom on November 16, 1943, when three torpedoes were fired by enemy forces at the submarine. Two of those torpedoes were reported to have hit the Corvina as she was patrolling an area south of Truk. The Corvina’s crew of 82 died in the attack. The Corvina was the only American submarine to be sunk by a Japanese submarine in World War II.

The Corvina was assigned to Nevada and is one of 52 American submarines lost at sea. For more about the Nevada veterans group, visit the Corvina website: http://usscorvinabase.org/

For more on the Corvina history and its fallen heroes, visit here:

https://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-corvina-226.htm

Photo: (L-R) USS Corvina Rick Johns and NDVS Director Fred Wagar.

Veterans Day at Our State Veterans Homes

In addition to the NDVS-hosted Veterans Day Ceremony at the Nevada State Veterans Memorial in Las Vegas, residents at both our State Veterans Homes will have a week’s worth of opportunities to celebrate Veterans Day!

At the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home (SNSVH), Veterans Day itself will start off with a parade in front of the home. Anyone can participate in this event! Simply decorate your vehicle or even yourself and drive or walk the parade route in front of the facility. Each year, this event receives tremendous support from the Boulder City police and fire departments, much to the delight of residents. Individuals and groups are highly encouraged to participate. The Opening Ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m. with the parade running through 10:00 a.m. The public is invited to participate in the parade. All you have to do is just show up!

That afternoon, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., residents will be treated to a Classic Car Show in front of the home. As with the parade, anyone can showcase their car. There is no fee to enter vehicles for viewing. The afternoon will also feature live music and a BBQ lunch for residents, staff and volunteers.

For more information on activities at the SNSVH, reach out to Amanda Kehrer at kehrera@veterans.nv.gov.

In Sparks, the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home (NNSVH) Veterans Day Week schedule includes a Vitalant Blood Drive for the entire community on Monday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To schedule a blood donation appointment on Nov. 6, please click here.

Also, on Monday, Nov. 6, the NSNVH residents will be treated to a special lunch sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Nevada Chapter and a Reno Elks Nerf Tournament in the afternoon. The weekly Monday Night Football on the big screen will be Veterans Day Week themed with special prizes.

On Tuesday, local Hillside Elementary students will visit the Home to perform patriotic songs, and afternoon Bingo will have special prizes thanks to Eden Home Health and Hospice.

On Wednesday, NNSVH will host a Volunteer Appreciation Lunch followed by a Wheelchair Decorating Contest and Parade sponsored by the David J. Drakulich Foundation with help from Makers Paradise. Some residents are planning to attend the American Legion Sparks Post 30 dinner that evening.

On Thursday, NDVS Director Fred Wagar will visit one-on-one with residents thanking them for their service, with afternoon Bingo special prizes thanks to Eden Home Health and Hospice.

On Friday, the local Marine Corps League will help residents celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps 248th birthday at 10 a.m. That afternoon, Ron Miranda and his wife will present information about Veteran Tribute Displays (VTDs) to NNSVH residents and their families, including a free photo booth. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Reno Media Group, with nine local radio stations, will be hosting a Radiothon at Michael's Reno Powersports with donations going towards local veteran organizations, including the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home.

On Saturday, the City of Reno’s annual Veterans Day Parade will be livestreamed on the big screen in Town Hall for all residents to enjoy at 11:11 a.m. NNSVH Chef Parsley will provide a special lunch. That afternoon, the local Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society will give a presentation for residents with special giveaways and hands-on demonstrations.

For more information on activities at the NNSVH, reach out to Julie Dudley at dudleyj@veterans.nv.gov.

Photos: (L-R) 2022 NNSVH Veterans Day Fun

Photo: (L-R) 2022 Veterans Day Parade Fun at SNSVH.

Classes to Begin at Free Crombie CNA Training Academy

The Crombie Academy is set to launch another FREE Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training program in the weeks ahead, after Christmas. This four-week (120 hour) program introduces students to basic nursing skills, nursing assistant duties, and responsibilities. The program also provides an understanding of veteran culture within an acute and long-term setting at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home.

The academy is named after PFC David “Nick” Crombie, from Winnemucca. Read more about Nick Crombie HERE.

The Crombie Academy is a workforce development program, provided at no cost to participants. The program is aimed at providing graduates with the information they need to pass Nevada’s mandatory CNA certification exam setting these graduates up for potential CNA job opportunities at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City.

For more information on the Crombie Academy, eligibility, and application process, go HERE.

Photo: Previous Graduating Class at Crombie CNA Training Academy

Expansion Projects Now Complete at State Veterans Cemeteries

Two important expansion projects at the Northern and Southern Veterans Memorial Cemeteries are now complete. This will ensure the cemeteries will be able to meet the demand of the of the Veterans’ Community for years ahead!

The Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery expansion project added new Columbarium Walls to include 5,740 niches as well as four new inground cremation sections which included 5,432 plots.

The project also included new roadways, sidewalks, and landscaping within the expanded area. This expansion will provide 8 to 10 years of developed land for future cremation interments. The next cremation interment expansion planning will begin when there is approximately 3 years of utilization remaining from this current expansion.

At the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, the columbarium expansion was completed in August of 2022. The expansion provided NNVMC with 3,580 niches, 805 double depth casket liners (including 12 oversized), and 757 in-ground cremation sites.

This project also completed a cemented mow strip throughout the cemetery and other sidewalk projects. This expansion will give the cemetery a 6-year cushion before another anticipated expansion will be requested.

Photos: (L-R) SNVMC Columbarium Walls Now Completed!

Photo: NNVMC Expansion Now Completed.

Newest NV Advocate “Graduates”

Forty-nine (49) participants received their Nevada Veteran Advocate (NV Advocate) certification last month after attending a free, two-day NV Advocate Conference.

An NV Advocate is a trained volunteer who helps connect veterans, servicemembers and their families to benefits, programs and services that have been earned through U.S. military service. When assistance is needed with VA claims and other benefits, NV Advocates refer them to accredited veterans service officers.

The NV Advocate Conference provided training and information on 20 topics ranging from veterans benefits to housing, entrepreneurship, presumptive illness, suicide prevention, and so much more! To learn more about the NV Advocate Program or take the online course, go HERE.

The recent NV Advocate Conference was held at the Culinary Academy in Las Vegas on October 7-8, 2023. The next in-person conference will be held in the Spring of 2024 in Reno.

Please enjoy the photos from the NV Advocate Conference!

Maciel Named NDVS Deputy Director of Benefits

The Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) is pleased to announce United States Air Force Reserve and Nevada National Guard veteran Lisa Maciel has been selected to serve as the Department’s Deputy Director of Benefits. Ms. Maciel assumed the new role immediately.

Ms. Maciel’s duties include overseeing Nevada’s two State Veterans Memorial

Cemeteries – the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City and the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley. She will also oversee the Department’s Veterans Advocacy Support Team (VAST), which is comprised of the Department’s statewide Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) as well as the Nevada Veterans Advocate program (NV Advocates). The NV Advocates are trained volunteers who help connect veterans, military members, and their families to their earned benefits. Additionally, she will supervise the Department’s outreach team and unique veteran population programs.

Ms. Maciel most recently served as the Department’s Veterans Advocacy Support Team(VAST) Director, so she possesses knowledge of the organization, its programs, and services. She is a retired Major from the U.S. Air Force Reserves and is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She is also a member of the National Guard Association of the United States, Military Officers Association of America, and the Air National Guard Medical Service Corps Association. She resides in Virginia City and has deep roots and family ties in Nevada.

Photo: Lisa Maciel

Meet the New NDVS LGBTQ+ VSO!

U.S. Army National Guard veteran Christopher Miannay is the Department’s newest Veterans Service Officer (VSO) who will also oversee the LGBTQ+ program. This program is aimed at reaching out to the LGBTQ+ veteran community to connect veterans to earned benefits, resources and programs. He will be based out of Las Vegas.

Mr. Miannay brings a wide range of skill sets to his new position. His most recent experience includes working within the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office as a Senior Business Process Analyst. Prior to that, he worked in Clark County as a Field Operations Coordinator in the Elections Department. He has also worked in the insurance field and served as an Automated Logistical Specialist within the U.S. Army National Guard.

Mr. Miannay is an Honor Graduate in the U.S. Army’s Automated Logistics Program. He has a graduate from the Warriors Leadership Course. He has also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of Nevada – Las Vegas.

He may be reached at miannayc@veterans.nv.gov.

Photo: Christopher Miannay Veterans Service Officer (VSO)

Caliente Outreach

On October 20 and 21, 2023, the NDVS Southern Nevada Outreach Director visited Caliente. Maria Mandaleni-Orozco met with the Post Commander, Patrick “Jack” Horner, Sr., and Lincoln County Commissioner, Diane Path, at the VFW Post 7114. The visit provided her with insights into the history of the post and the community’s veterans.

While there, Maria also engaged with Caliente veterans and residents at the Grover C. Dils Community Health Fair. This allowed her to share important information about earned veterans’ benefits, resources and programs designed to support veterans and their families.

Maria plans on making outreach efforts in this community a regular occurrence. This type of community outreach and education plays a crucial role in ensuring Nevada veterans and their families receive the support and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

Photo: NDVS Southern Nevada Outreach Director Maria Mandaleni-Orozco

Congratulations NDVS Staffer Marilyn Monarrez

NDVS Administrative Assistant Marilyn Monarrez’s 1987 Cutlass Supreme took 1st Prize at the Sonidero Street Vendors charity event last month to support small businesses.

Marilyn and her husband put in the hard work to restore her classic car to show off its beauty. The car has hydraulics suspension system, and an astonishing paint job.

The event was sponsored by the community empowerment organization, Fifth Sun Project.

Marilyn’s classic car came out on top in the contest involving 14 cars. About 200 people attended the event. Way to go Marilyn!