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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Veterans are more likely to experience conditions such as PTSD, anxiety and depression—challenges that can be magnified by urban stressors like housing insecurity, noise, and isolation.
We are here to help! If you are interested in being connected to mental health services, visit nyc.gov/vetconnect and fill out the "VetConnectNYC Request Form" to connect directly with a member of our team.
And for more information, explore additional resources at nyc.gov/vets.
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"Homecoming of Heroes: A Ticker Tape Parade Honoring Out Post-9/11 Veterans and Their Families"
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NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) Commissioner James Hendon today announced that the City of New York will next year host a ticker tape parade celebrating the service of post-9/11 servicemembers and veterans — the first of its kind in a major city in the nation. On Monday, July 6, 2026, the City of New York will host “Homecoming of Heroes: A Ticker Tape Parade Honoring Our Post-9/11 Combat Veterans and Their Families,” a historic tribute recognizing the extraordinary service, sacrifice, and resilience of a generation that bore the weight of America’s longest war.
This celebration will be the first time New York City, or any major city in the nation, formally recognizes veterans of the Global War on Terror with a parade down the famed Canyon of Heroes. The event comes at a powerful moment in national and international history — on the heels of the 250th birthdays of the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps; the 400th birthday of New York City; and the return of the International Naval Review 250, bringing allied fleets from around the world to New York Harbor in a rare show of global maritime unity and respect. [READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE]
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"Veterans and Service Members' Week" Discounts
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NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced new partnerships with restaurants and cultural institutions across the five boroughs to offer free admission, discounts, and other benefits for active U.S. military members, veterans, and their families for Memorial Day weekend, from this Saturday, May 24, 2025, through Monday, May 26, 2025. As New York City celebrates Fleet Week, Military Appreciation Month, and “Veterans and Service Members’ Week” in the five boroughs, these benefits build on existing discounts that the city is highlighting, creating opportunities for veterans and service members to experience the full range of New York’s cultural and culinary offerings at a reduced price.
Restaurants offering discounts to active and retired service members and veterans from May 24, 2025 until May 26, 2025:
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For specifics on the 35+ cultural institutions offering free admission and discounts, read the full press release here.
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Memorial Design Concept Reveal
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NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) Commissioner James W. Hendon today continued “Veterans and Service Members’ Week,” as part of national Military Appreciation Month and the lead up to Memorial Day, by unveiling initial designs for a new memorial honoring the at least 100 fallen post-9/11 service members from New York City who made the ultimate sacrifice during their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The memorial — titled “Flames of Honor” and which will be located in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens — was first announced during last year’s Fleet Week reception and will be designed by artist Douwe Blumberg. During Veterans and Service Members’ Week, Mayor Adams is paying special tribute to the over 13,000 active service members who call New York City home, the 210,000 veterans who live in the five boroughs, and all those who lost their lives while serving their nation and who resided in New York. [READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE]
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Bob Woodruff Foundation | Our Veterans Calendar
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Veteran-related Headlines
West Point class of 2025 includes honorary member Peter Wang, a junior ROTC cadet killed in Parkland shooting
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CBS News
By James LaPorta
Published: May 23, 2025
Washington — The cadets graduating Saturday from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point spent four years studying strategy, ethics and the art of leadership. They march past statues of battlefield giants, memorize the lessons of Antietam and Afghanistan and are steeped in stories of courage drawn from the long arc of American military history.
But among the lessons on duty and sacrifice for the class of 2025, there's inspiration among their ranks — one not found in the footnotes of war colleges or the annals of Medal of Honor citations. It's the story of a teenager who never wore a uniform beyond the one he donned as a Junior ROTC cadet in Florida seven years ago — a boy who dreamed of being a soldier, but before he could achieve it, he had already sacrificed his life as a hero.
Peter Wang, a member of this year's West Point class, was just 15 years old when he was among the 17 killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He was found dead in a third-floor hallway, wearing his Army JROTC uniform. [READ MORE...]
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More Veteran-related Headlines
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A Message From Mayor Adams:
Each week DVS shares a brief update about how our administration is getting stuff done for New Yorkers.
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Thanks to the Adams administration’s efforts, we're continuing to drive down crime and improve New Yorkers’ quality of life. Last week, we announced milestones in “Operation Padlock to Protect” to turn once-shuttered former illegal smoke shops into vibrant and legal small businesses. Since launching in May 2024, we have closed nearly 1,400 illegal cannabis shops and taken over $95 million in illegal products off our streets. And through our “Cannabis NYC Loan Fund,” we’re not only investing in a safe and successful cannabis industry, but we’re also filling these vacant storefronts with legal pizzerias, barber shops, retail stores, and more. That’s how we opening the doors to opportunity while keeping our communities safe.
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Week in Review | May 10 - May 16
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We want to showcase Veteran work and help spread the word! This is a space for Veteran artists to express themselves in an authentic way.
Please email submissions to connect@veterans.nyc.gov with a brief bio, an artist statement, art medium, and your affiliation to the Veteran community.
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Join Our Team! Be Part of the Mission!
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Employment Specialist- assists the Military Affiliated Community in accessing meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities across a diverse range of sectors, including public, private, and government industries. This position will focus on guiding individuals toward job placements that align with their skills, experiences, and career goals. In addition to employment placement, the Employment Specialist will also provide critical support by connecting constituents with relevant workforce development programs, ensuring they have access to the training, resources, and support needed to successfully transition into the workforce and advance in their careers.
PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Program Coordinator- reports to the Assistant Commissioner of Policy and Strategic Partnerships to assist in: coordinating collaboration between DVS and Dwyer Program providers, facilitate payment to Dwyer Program providers by assisting them in accessing Passport and PIP systems, track and monitor implementation of Dwyer Program practices, quantitatively and qualitatively assess and analyze success of Dwyer programs by developing and administering pre and post surveys of Dwyer program participants, and more.
Summer College Intern- assist with general administrative tasks and community outreach initiatives during the summer of 2025, between June and September. Interns will play a vital role in supporting DVS's day-to day operations.
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VA Work Study Positions at DVS
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The NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) supports VA Work-Study Positions! Here is a current list of available VA Work-Study openings:
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NYC Civil Service Job Openings and Exams
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To view all available job listings, visit the exam board here!
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If you received this newsletter by way of a friend or colleague and have yet to sign-up on your own, click here, and stay up-to-date with the latest news impacting the community, updates on city services, info on DVS programs, Veteran-specific resources & more.
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