But, for so many others, it is a time of the month to play a part in recognizing the individuals who have helped secure and establish freedom and democracy in the United States of America.
It’s individuals like Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell who have such an emotional connection with Veterans Day.
O’Donnell’s father served in the Korean War. When he thinks of Veterans Day, O’Donnell thinks of veterans around the world who helped secure the foundation and principles on which this country is grounded.
And that is why it’s important to give back and reach out to them in any way that we can, O’Donnell said.
Veteran resources and programs are available statewide and locally in the Long Beach and Signal Hill community, and it’s going to take a lot more than just lounging around and thinking about veterans to truly support and provide these services, O’Donnell said.
“Long Beach has a long history of veterans,” he said. “We can’t sit in an office and hope that they will come and get these services. We need to continually outreach to ensure that these veterans know that these services are available.”
Resources and programs are available for any level of veteran— homeless or ill. O’Donnell said that it’s important to reinforce these services and to make them widespread and prominent so that, as opposed to just waiting for the veterans to come in on their own accord, people go out of their way to present these resources to them.
A real effort needs to be made to connect with veterans on the ground level, O’Donnell said.
“Veterans Day is about recognizing the people that built democracy and spread it around the world,” he said. “Very simply, they are the reason we are free.”
O’Donnell spoke with the Signal Tribune and provided a listing of the various programs and services that veterans can take advantage of state-wide and in the community.
All information of these resources come from their respective websites and general information that can be accessed through research.
Gold Star Manor
The American Gold Star Manor was incorporated as a charitable, nonprofit corporation for the purpose of providing a national home for members of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
American Gold Star Mothers are moms who had lost sons and daughters in the service of their country.
The manor has nine three-story units and one two-story unit for a total of 348 apartments. Gold Star Manor is located at 3021 N. Gold Star Dr.
To join, applicants must meet the following criteria: Natural or adoptive mothers must have been a legal U.S. citizen at the time of
their child’s induction into the United States Armed Forces and when they subsequently became missing or died in action; stepmothers must have been legal citizens and taken responsibility of their child when they were under 15 years of age and after they became missing or deceased.
Husbands, children and grandparents of members of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc may join as associate members using the same application. Associate members pay no dues, hold no offices and may not vote.
An honorary membership to the American Gold Star Mothers Inc. may be granted to mothers who were not citizens at the time of their sons’ or daughters’ induction into the United States Armed Forces and whose sons or daughters died while on active duty or when they became missing.
To apply or find more information, visit goldstarmoms.com .
Fisher House
The Fisher House Foundation provides comfortable homes for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.
There are 65 Fisher Houses across the United States, Germany and United Kingdom. More than 250,000 families have been provided 5.8 million nights of lodging, saving them more than $282 million since the program began in 1990, according to Fisher House officials.
These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, close to the medical center or hospital they serve.
Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a dining room and a living room.
The VA Long Beach Healthcare System falls under the umbrella of the Fisher House program and serves veterans across the community. It is located at 5901 E. 7th St.
For more information, visit fisherhousesocal.org .
VA Long Beach Healthcare System
As aforementioned, the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, 5901 E. 7th St., falls under the Fisher House program, and it provides the necessary health services for all veterans.
Services in mental health and physical ailments that range from bone-density scans, to cardiology issues, CT scans, trauma and speech impairments, plus many more, can be accessed at the VA.
Depending on the issue, treatment is given on a no-appointment or appointment basis.
Visit longbeach.va.gov to make an appointment or to learn more about services.
Villages at Cabrillo
The Century Villages at Cabrillo (CVC) is a nonprofit community development organization that serves as the steward of the Villages at Cabrillo. CVC delivers property management, real-estate development and supportive services that aim to empower residents, restore health and inspire hope.
Villages at Cabrillo is a residential community established to break the cycle of homelessness. A former 26-acre U.S. Naval housing site, CVC has become a nationwide public-private partnership model to benefit those in need.
The housing community provides housing on any given night to over 1,000 individuals. These people include veterans and non-veterans, families and children, ranging from shelter, to transitional housing, to permanent housing.
CVC provide services that include case management, life-skills training, substance-abuse treatment, affordable child-care, a homeless-education program, an employment center, a career center, a food-service program and a VA medical clinic.
To get involved and for more information, visit centuryvillages.org .
CalVet
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) strives to ensure that veterans of every era and their families get state and federal benefits and services they have earned as a result of their military service.
According to CalVet, California is home to 1.8 million veterans, representing 8 percent of the total U.S. veteran population.
California anticipates receiving an additional 30,000 discharged members of the armed services each year for the next several years— more than any other state.
CalVet provides service in the areas of education, employment, healthcare, housing, advocacy and assistance and VA claims.
CalVet’s educational programs provide development in apprenticeship and on-the-job training, college-degree and certificate programs, flight training and correspondence courses. Each program provides different benefits to different groups of individuals and offers a specified number of months of benefits. Veterans can only use one VA education benefit for training at a time.
The employment program has services and benefits to veterans who are unemployed or seeking employment, including services that assist in finding a job, unemployment benefits while seeking employment and apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs that pay while veterans prepare for a sustainable career.
CalVet programs include eight state veterans homes throughout California to veterans that require long-term care. CalVet also strives to be the hub of veteran resources to provide referrals and collaboration for veteran healthcare.
Statewide collaboratives, strong partnerships, advocacy and services has established housing options that fulfill the needs of veterans, as well. Federal benefits are also available.
For more information on all available resources and programs and where to apply, visit calvet.ca.gov .
CalJOBS
CalJOBS has an Employment Development Department (EDD) that assists veterans and their eligible spouses in order to help maximize their employment and training opportunities. Veterans are entitled to many resources designed to help in their search for employment.
The EDD veterans’ representatives specialize in assisting veterans in their efforts to return to work and are located in many local EDD offices. Services provided include a veteran 24-hour priority hold on all job listings, customized job search assistance, job fairs, employer recruitments and other events and resources.
Veterans are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an EDD veterans’ representative for personalized services and assistance to achieve professional goals.
For more information, visit caljobs.ca.gov .
Troops to Teachers
Troops to Teachers is a U.S. Department of Defense program that helps eligible military personnel begin a new career as teachers in public schools where their skills, knowledge and experience are most needed.
Registration is available on the program’s website at proudtoserveagain.com .
Feed Our Vets
Feed Our Vets is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help veterans and their spouses and children whose circumstances have left them in hunger.
The program seeks to solve this hunger problem by providing free food to veterans and their families, distributing goods and services and also public education and outreach.
Food pantries and other foundations seek to provide these resources for needy veterans.
For more information, including the different outlets that provide these food services, visit feedourvets.org .
