Every Veterans Day, we honor the brave and dedicated men and women who have served the public at the highest level in our Armed Forces.  In this community, we are fortunate to have many avenues through which we can support our veterans all year round, and I have had the privilege to learn about and work with several local programs.

            Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County is now an affiliate for Veteran Build, an initiative to engage military service members, veterans, and their families in their mission of building homes, communities and hope.  Habitat believes that every veteran deserves to be welcomed home with dignity, honor, and respect.  They are committed to serving those who serve by providing safe, decent, energy-efficient, and affordable housing to veterans in this county.  Additionally, in partnership with the Home Depot Foundation, Habitat developed the Repair Corps program to offer critical home repairs to military veteran homeowners. 

            Gold Star Family is a term coined from the Service Flag - flags or banners flown by families during World War I.  They bore a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the US Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities engaging our troops.  If that loved one died in combat, a gold star replaced the blue star and informed the community of the price paid by that family in the cause of freedom.  Our nation now recognizes Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day on the last Sunday in September.  Gold Star Spouses Day is April 5.  Just this year, the U.S. Senate designated August 1 as Gold Star Children's Day. 

            Lauren Berkson, a District 1 resident whose father Joseph Berkson was an Army Ranger killed in the Vietnam War, has made it her life's mission to raise awareness of Gold Star Families and install memorial markers on public lands to pay respect for their loss.   She works with U.S. Army officials to sponsor these markers and organizes community commemoration events.

            Jupiter-based Renewal Coalition is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to assist wounded service members and their families in their transition from military to civilian life, or back to active duty by offering a retreat at Florida residences.  The intent is to provide military families with a relaxed, pleasant and welcoming environment.  Volunteers provide all transportation, food, lodging, activities, and entertainment.

            PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of the PGA of America, and locally through the South Florida PGA Foundation.  This program introduces golf to veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.  It is 6 to 8 weeks in length, and includes expert instruction from PGA professionals.  Funded entirely by the Foundation, it is offered free of charge to military veterans and their families.

            Additionally, the annual Palm Beach Gardens Mayor's Veterans Golf Classic raises funds to help local families served by the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

            Residents in our North County community also work with the Missing in America Project, a national effort to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. The program provides honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes.

            Palm Beach County's Division of Veterans Services assists and counsels former and current members of the Armed Forces who reside in the county.  Services include assistance in preparing and filing claims for federal, state and local benefits, for which they, dependents and survivors may be eligible.  For more information, visit https://discover.pbcgov.org/communityservices/humanservices/Pages/Veteran-Services.aspx.​

Your comments are welcome, and as always, please contact me if I can be of assistance to you by calling 561-355-2201, or by email to mmarino@pbcgov.org.