Florida Department Of Veterans Affairs

Florida Man Pleads Guilty To Making Threatening Communications

For Immediate Release

BOSTON A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to sending threatening communications to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Drummond Neil Smithson, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of use of interstate communications to transmit a threat to injure. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Feb. 2, 2023 in federal court in Worcester. Smithson was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 12, 2022.

On or about July 19, 2020, Smithson, an Army veteran, mailed a threatening communication from Ayer, Mass., to the Department of Veterans Affairs threatening to injure members of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization advocating for the end to gun violence. In the letter, Smithson threatened, among other things, If you take my pension there is going to be retaliation, and, You take my pension and the second I get out of prison I will go to a Moms Demand Action meeting Try me.

The charge of use of interstate communications to transmit a threat to injure provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

• 1 Courthouse Way, Suite 9200Boston, MA 02210,

Entertainment And Performing Arts

Tallahassee is home to many entertainment venues, theaters, museums, parks and performing arts centers.

A major source of entertainment and art is the . The Railroad Square Art Park is an arts, culture and entertainment district of Tallahassee, Florida, off Railroad Avenue, filled with a variety of metal art sculptures and stores selling artwork and collectibles. Railroad Square is mainly known for its small locally owned shops and working artist studios, and its alternative art scene. On the first Friday of every month, Railroad Square is home to a free gallery hop known as First Friday from 6pm-9pm, where a diverse group of upwards of 5000-7000+ Tallahasseeans of all ages come to meet their friends and experience art.

Tallahassee is known for its many museums. It is home to the Museum of Fine Arts at Florida State University, , , , , , Old Capitol Museum, Knott House Museum, and The Grove.

Veterans Florida Agriculture Program

The Veterans Florida Agriculture Program is a six-month training fellowship that provides veterans and servicemembers a comprehensive, hands-on experience in the agriculture industry. The training takes place at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Research and Education Center facilities across the state.

Trainees earn $15 an hour.

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Driver Licenses & Id Cards

Under section 322.21, Florida Statutes, veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability are eligible for a no fee driver license, with endorsements, or an identification card. The same veterans are also entitled to a no fee Veterans designation on their driver license or ID card. The Veteran designation can be used to show proof of status for discounts at participating merchants. Qualified veterans should provide a valid identification card from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, indicating the 100 percent, total and permanent service-connected disability rating.

Under section 320.084, Florida Statutes, 100 percent disabled veterans are eligible for a DV license plate at no charge to the applicant.

Homeless veterans, their spouse and children are eligible for a free Florida ID card. You must visit a driver license service center for an ID card renewal or replacement.

Information regarding the REAL ID required documents can be found by selecting the applicable citizenship status below.

Special Designation

Veterans who live in Florida can add a veteran designation to their driver license or ID card. To add Veteran to a license or ID card, veterans can visit any local service center. Replacement driver licenses are free to veterans only adding the Veteran designation.

To add Veteran to a license or ID card, veterans can visit any local service center. Be prepared to bring the following:

Division Of Benefits And Assistance

The Claims and Benefits Division provides many different services to the veterans and their dependents. The primary function is to assist veterans and their dependents with their claims before the USDVA. Claims worked through the Tallahassee claims office help claimants obtain compensation and pension benefits. The FDVA is accredited with 12 service organizations in order to better represent the claimant with their claims and appeals. They include American Ex-Prisoners of War, American Legion, American Red Cross, Blinded Veterans Association, Fleet Reserve Association, Jewish War Veterans, , National Association of County Veteran Service Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers Association, The Retired Enlisted Association, Veterans of World War I of the USA and Vietnam Veterans of America.

FDVA Claims Officers will assist in the appeals process, and if necessary, represent the claimant at a personal hearing before the USDVA Hearing Officer. Disabled veterans are eligible to receive free hunting & fishing permits, license plates, exemption from property taxes, toll and parking permits, and tuition deferral.

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Commission On Veterans’ Affairs

The Commission on Veterans’ Affairs was appointed by the Governor of Florida to represent veterans residing in locations throughout the state. Its function was to act as liaison for the FDVA with veteran’s organizations & auxiliaries, communities and individuals. The rules creating the commission were repealed on June 10, 2008.

Veterans Nursing Homes Of Florida

The state of Florida operates 6 Veterans’ nursing homes and 1 assisted living facility throughout the state. Basic admission requirements for all veterans’ nursing homes in Florida include an honorable discharge, Florida residency for one year prior to admission, and certification of need of nursing home care by a VA physician.

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How Were Different Than A Clinic

Vet Centers are small, non-medical, counseling centers conveniently located in your community. Theyre staffed by highly trained counselors and team members dedicated to seeing you through the challenges that come with managing life during and after the military.

Whether you come in for one-on-one counseling or to participate in a group session, at Vet Centers you can form social connections, try new things, and build a support system with people who understand you and want to help you succeed.

Vet Center services are available to you at no cost, regardless of discharge character, and without you needing to be enrolled in VA health care or having a service-connected disability. If youre a Veteran or service member, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, you can access our services if you:

We encourage you to contact us, even if youre unsure if you meet these criteria. If we cant help you, well find someone who will.

Our services are also available to family members when their participation would support the growth and goals of the Veteran or active-duty service member. If you consider them family, so do we. We also offer bereavement services to family members of Veterans who were receiving Vet Center services at the time of the Veterans death, and to the families of service members who died while serving on active duty.

No. You dont have to be enrolled in VA health care or have a service-connected disability.

Urban Planning And Expansion

The first plan for the Capitol Center was the 1947 Taylor Plan, which consolidated several government buildings in one downtown area. In 1974, the Capitol Center Planning Commission for the City of Tallahassee, Florida responded to growth of its urban center with a conceptual plan for the expansion of its Capitol Center. , working for , led the urban planning and design effort. Estimating growth and related development for approximately the next 25 years, the program projected the need for 2.3 million square feet of new government facilities in the city core, with 3,500 dwelling units, 100 acres of new public open space, retail and private office space, and other ancillary spaces. Community participation was an integral part of the design review, welcoming Tallahassee residents to provide input as well as citizens’ groups and government agencies, resulting in the creation of six separate design alternatives.

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I Lost My Vaccine Card Can I Get A Replacement

If you lost your card, there are options for getting proof of your COVID-19 vaccination.

Public Site/Patient Portal

If you received your vaccine at a Pinellas County public site booked through www.patientportalfl.com, log in with your user name and password if you forgot your password, select Forgot Password and a temporary password will be sent to you. Once logged in, click Vaccination on the top tool bar then select the down arrow to My VVR to find your vaccination record.

You can also email:

Pharmacy/Private Health Provider/Other

If you received your vaccination at a pharmacy or private health care provider, they should be able to look up your records and make a new card. The Florida Department of Health or your personal physician can also pull your record from the Florida Shots database.

Testing: Miami Va Healthcare System

Any Veteran who shows symptoms should call the VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center at 1-877-741-3400 for triage and instruction prior to coming to the medical center or clinics.

These are the impacts to Veteran clients in Monroe based on the COVID-19 Update from the Miami VA Healthcare System:

Impacts for veterans in Monroe County traveling via privately owned vehicles to appointments at Miami/Monroe VA locations:

• A singular point of entry is assigned for all facilities and enhanced screening is being performed upon entry at all facilities
• Visitors need to plan extra time for screening
• Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center: change to parking and drop off
• Visitors need to plan for extra travel time

Impacts for veterans in Monroe County who travel to the Miami VA – Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center via Monroe County Veterans Affairs Veterans Transportation Program :

• Drop off will still be at the same location, but veteran clients will have to enter through the West Entrance

A reminder of current COVID precautions in place at the Miami VA Healthcare System:

• Universal Masking is in effect all personnel on Miami VA grounds at any location must wear an appropriate mask.
• Physical Distancing is required in all waiting areas, public areas, and workspaces.
• Enhanced Screening methods are in place at all entrances to Miami VA facilities.
• Virtual care is encouraged whenever clinically appropriate.

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Prepare For Your Visit

If youre interested in receiving counseling, information on resources, or referral services, give us a call to discuss any questions or to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors. Although were a counseling center, our licensed professionals dont diagnose any mental health conditions nor do they provide medications for mental health treatment.

Walk-ins are welcome. Same-day services are available. Anyone in crisis will be seen the same day.

Contacting us:

You can call us at anytime during our posted hours of operation. If you need to call outside of those times, on weekends, or holidays, the Vet Center Call Center is available 24/7 at . Calling our main line after hours will automatically send you to the Vet Center Call Center.

Making an appointment:

After your initial contact with us, the Vet Center director will be notified of your interest and will work to match you with a counselor. You can expect a return call within 1 to 2 business days, and we will schedule your first appointment within 2 to 10 business days. Anyone in crisis will have their needs addressed immediately.

Cancelling or rescheduling an appointment:

If you know youll miss an appointment, please notify us as soon as possible so we can reschedule your appointment and make that time available for another Veteran or service member.

Location:

Parking:

Plenty of no-cost parking, including handicap-accessible spaces, is available in the easily accessible, well-lit lot in front of our suite.

Fort Myers Vet Center

We offer confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder , and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma . We can also connect you with more support in VA and your community.

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Federal Representation And Offices

Tallahassee is split between and .

The operates post offices in Tallahassee. The Tallahassee Main Post Office is at 2800 South Adams Street. Other post offices in the city limits include Centerville Station, Leon Station, Park Avenue Station, and Westside Station.

The maintains a National Weather Service in Tallahassee. Their coverage-warning area includes the eastern Florida Panhandle and adjacent Gulf of Mexico waters, the north-central Florida peninsula, and parts of southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia.

The 81st Regional Support Command opened an Army Reserve Center at 4307 Jackson Bluff Road.

The Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center is at 2910 Roberts Avenue host the Navy Operational Support Center Tallahassee and the 2nd Platoon, Company E, Anti-Terrorism Battalion and 3rd Platoon, Company E, Anti-Terrorism Battalion.

Department Of Veterans Affairs

The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs is the premier point of entry for Floridas more than 1.5 million veterans to access earned services, benefits and support. From our network of award-winning state veterans homes to statewide benefits and assistance outreach and counseling, FDVA strives to provide competitive wages and benefits to all our valued team members. Come join an agency where we advocate with purpose and passion for our states veterans, their families and survivors.

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Florida State Veterans Home

The Robert Jenkins, Jr. Assisted Living/Domiciliary Home provides a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services, and incidental medical care to eligible veterans. Veterans admitted must be residents of Florida for one year prior to admission and have an honorable discharge. The cost of care is determined based on income.

To Contact A Fdva Veterans Claims Examiner Call 319

Florida Department of Veterans AffairsThe Florida Department of Veterans Affairs is a nearly 1,500-member constitutionally chartered State Veterans Affairs department responsible for serving the nations third largest veteran population. The department operates a network of eight state-run veterans nursing homes and one assisted living facility, and provides statewide outreach through a network of veterans claims examiners to connect Floridas 1.5 million Veterans, their families, and survivors with earned services, benefits and support. FDVA has approximately 100 Veterans Claims Examiners, known in veterans circles as VCEs, co-located with the VA Regional Office in Bay Pines, each VA Medical Center and many VA Outpatient Clinics throughout the state. All outreach services are free to the Veteran. These Hope Navigators, who are often the first-line contact with our states Veterans, can be reached by calling 319-7440. You may also contact them via e-mail at .

County Veteran Service OfficesInformation on current federal, state and local veterans programs, entitlements and referral services is also available in Florida through a network of County Veteran Service Offices. The counselors, who are county employees and wartime veterans, are trained and accredited annually by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. All services are provided free of charge. A list of offices can be found online at www.FloridaVets.org/benefits-services.

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What Types Of Claims And Appeals Can I Track With This Tool

You can use this tool to check the status of a VA claim or appeal for compensation. Track your:

• Disability compensation
• Veterans or Survivors Pension benefits
• Special monthly compensation
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
• Burial allowance to help pay for a Veterans burial and funeral expenses

You can also use this tool to check the status of a claim or appeal for other benefits like these:

• GI Bill or other education benefits
• Veteran Readiness and Employment
• A home loan Certificate of Eligibility
• A Specially Adapted Housing or Special Housing Adaptation grant
• A pre-need determination of eligibility to be buried in a VA national cemetery

Florida Department Of Veterans Affairs

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is a government agency of the state of Florida under the authority of the Governor of Florida charged with helping veterans and their families to receive all benefits they are legally entitled to.

Florida first began assisting military veterans when they returned from World War II in 1944, but it wasn’t until 1988 that a constitutional amendment was approved by Florida’s voters to create a specific agency for that purpose. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs was created in 1989.

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Va Hosts Pact Act Benefits Open Houses In Florida

Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

A new law called the PACT Act just expanded VA health care and benefits for Floridas Veterans and their survivors.

The PACT Act was perhaps the largest expansion of Veteran eligibility in VAs history.

If you served during the Vietnam War, Gulf War era, or post 9/11, your VA eligibility has increased. All Veterans and their families are invited to learn more about what VA offers and how to use these earned resources.

Check out the list of VA facilities in Florida that are hosting special PACT Act Open Houses the week of Dec. 10-17, 2022. Get your questions answered, enroll in VA care, get help with filing a benefits claim, and more.

Its easy just bring your DD214 and leave the rest to the VA. You can also contact VA at 1-800-MyVA411 to learn more about the PACT Act or visit us online at www.va.gov/PACT.

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