Remembering 9/11

Remembering 9/11

“A five-sided granite group marker stands over the gravesite”– Arlington National Cemetery Website Group Burials

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services participated in events around the country remembering the victims of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. By participating in local ceremonies, we recognize, remember, honor, and mourn those who died, and their families effected by the heinous actions.A few of our team visited the Pentagon Group Burial Marker in Section 64 of Arlington National Cemetery.

The significance of the Group Marker is best described by the Arlington National Cemetery Monuments and Memorials narrative, “On September 12, 2002, a funeral service was held in Memorial Amphitheater for the final remains of the 184 victims of the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon. While the service honored all 184 victims, it offered special recognition of the five families who did not receive any recovered remains of their loved ones. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld offered words of condolence at the service, stating, ‘We remember your loss, our loss, our country’s loss, and the loss of precious lives.’ Following the service, a group burial was held in Section 64. A five-sided granite group marker stands over the gravesite, bearing the names of all those who perished in the Pentagon or aboard American Airlines Flight 77.”We hope you had the chance to reflect and remember on the anniversary of 9/11 and that someday you will be able to visit the Pentagon Group Burial Marker. It is located off Patton Circle in Section 64 — in the southeastern part of the cemetery, closest to the Pentagon.

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“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

American Legion & Task Force Movement Credentialing Summit

American Legion & Task Force Movement Credentialing Summit

“Task Force Movement is a great example of the power of collaboration.”-Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

As part of the recent American Legion Convention in Charlotte, NC,  Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services planned and led the American Legion & Task Force Movement Credentialing Summit.

We joined with over 75 partnered organizations in labor, government, academia, the private sector, and the veteran community in sharing ideas and best practices on creating opportunities for military-connected individuals in high-demand industries such as transportation and cybersecurity. Dixon Center also introduced two of our partners, Student Veterans of America and FourBlock to the Task Force Movement coalition, adding their experience and expertise in supporting veterans and their families to our ongoing work at Task Force Movement.The highlight of the summit was former congressman, 32nd Undersecretary of the Army, and chairman of TFM, Patrick J. Murphy announcing that Task Force Movement would also be focusing on career opportunities for military-connected individuals in healthcare—another opportunity to leverage the attributes and potential of our military and veteran connected community in an industry that is facing critical labor shortages.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

The Fedcap Group: Making the Lives of Veterans Better

The Fedcap Group: Making the Lives of Veterans Better

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is a member of The Fedcap Group which was founded in 1935 by three World War I veterans. Our goal is, and always will be, to assist the partner companies integrate veterans and their families into their existing direct-service programs. Specifically, over the summer we worked with Civic Hall in New York City on veterans inclusion; we had meetings with The Fedcap Group staff on awareness and community outreach programs for veterans as well as coordinating Dixon Center’s participation in the 27 November Fedcap Group Gala in NYC; we met with Fedcap Serving Maine’s Veterans Forward to share actions for development and outreach; and lastly, we continue to focus on introducing Single Stop to outside partners serving veterans in multiple states.   Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is proud to be a resource for all of the 20 Fedcap Group top-tier nonprofit companies

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Grant Program

Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Grant Program

“Dixon Center’s ideas and leadership have been key to increasing the impact of the organizations that are part of the Texas Veteran + Family Alliance Easter Seals Greater Houston Collaborative.”    – Elise Hough, CEO, Easter Seals Greater Houston

On August 22, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services hosted the annual convening for the Texas Veteran + Family Alliance Grant Program for Easter Seals Greater Houston. With our partners, Combined Arms and Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, we planned, led, and facilitated discussions focused on sharing best practices and overcoming obstacles, organized and coordinated training for the 11 grantees of the program, and created a platform for the different organizations to share their experiences over the last year in order to make the program stronger and more effective in the next grant cycle.

Through our extensive network of organizations and communities, we exposed the Texas Veteran + Family Alliance grantees to emerging research and practices that will improve how these organizations provide services to veterans and their families throughout the Gulf Coast of Texas, an area that includes over 200,000 veterans.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

Summer Development Update

Summer Development Update

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services always kicks off summer by formally honoring our fallen heroes on Memorial Day weekend with an annual mailing that we send to 631 of our donors and friends. They have our sincere gratitude for their generosity and the trust they place in us. Since then, we have personally spoken with 71 of our current donors and received gifts or commitments from 105 of them.So far this summer, we had meetings with eight new potential partners, wrote and submitted 21 letters of inquiry or grant applications (two of which were collaborations with other partners) to various foundations, and had numerous one-on-one conversations with individual prospects. Almost all were with foundations, corporations or people that we have not interacted with previously. We proudly knock on every door in service to our veterans and military families. This summer, we are just doing it in short sleeves.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

UWUA’s 32nd Constitutional Convention

UWUA’s 32nd Constitutional Convention

At the Utility Workers Union of America’s 32nd Constitutional Convention from 26-29 July,    Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, a valued partner of the UWUA, engaged with hundreds of UWUA leaders and members from union organizations across the country. Along with our partners, Breakthrough 22 and EMB Consulting, both on the convention floor and our booth, we shared innovative strategies on how to best integrate veterans and their families into the UWUA’s program, organizations, and their communities. We also reconnected and strengthened our relationship with the UWUA’s Veteran Committee, successfully advocated for a veteran-focused resolution, and forged new relationships with Power4America, Union Sportsman Association, Guide Dogs of America, Veterans Archives, and many other organizations.One of the highlights for us during the three days was the presentation by Dixon Center that inspired and motivated the audience on the importance of veterans inclusion, and member leadership as essential elements of the UWUA’s continued growth and success.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

Episode 21 of the Service Before Self Podcast

Episode 21 of the Service Before Self Podcast

On a recent episode of Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services’ “Service Before Self” Podcast, Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst interviewed Carl Cricco, the CEO for K9s For Warriors, and John Tappen, a Navy veteran who has been paired with a service dog from K9’s for Warriors.The podcast kicks off with the inspirational story of Shari Duval, and how a mother’s love for her son became the catalyst for the founding of K9’s For Warriors, the largest provider of service dogs for service members and veterans in the country.John Tappen candidly shares his personal story of struggle after his service in the Navy and how at the lowest moment of his life, K9s For Warriors, stepped in and paired him with a service dog, Henry, that has literally transformed his life. John’s story is not unique—too many veterans encounter isolation and disconnection after military service. Carl Cricco describes K9’s approach in detail and the role that a service provider like K9s for Warriors can play in addressing that isolation and disconnection.To hear more about how K9s for Warriors is changing the lives of veterans and their families, like John, in communities across the country, listen to Episode 21 of the Service Before Self Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

Save the Date Annual Holiday Reception 2023

Save the Date Annual Holiday Reception 2023

Save the DateDixon Center for Military and Veterans ServicesAnnual Holiday ReceptionTuesday Evening, December 12, 2023 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm ESTWashington, D.C.

Please Save the Date of our Annual Holiday Reception and Awards Ceremony.

About this Event

We hope that you will save the date for our annual holiday reception and award ceremony. We use this time every year to thank our friends, families, supporters, and donors. Every year we recognize special individuals and organizations with our four awards: 

The Eugene and Ruth Freedman Leadership Award

The Herbert and Carolyn Metzger Service Award

The Michael “Mick” Yauger Point Man Award

The Lou Lowenkron Commitment to Veterans Excellence Award

 

Please Save the Date and we look forward to another successful event. Watch for more information and announcements.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

Thank You Menasha Corporation Foundation

Thank You Menasha Corporation Foundation

Thank you Menasha Packaging and Menasha Corporation Foundation for the $5,000 contribution to Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services.Dixon Center spent time with over a hundred leaders attending Menasha’s National Sales meeting.We used the opportunity to share stories of courage and valor. We revealed combat stories and examples of unconventional leadership in the trenches of war. These stories came to life in a very personal way. And in addition to generating inspiration to those in attendance, we connected them with our work enabling veterans and their families to succeed where they live. Clearly we tapped into their desire to make the lives of veterans and their families better.Dixon Center’s Development team worked directly with the Menasha Corporation Foundation to easily fulfill their goal of making a very generous $5,000 donation. Their check arrived recently and was processed immediately by our parent organization, The Fedcap Group.We continue to make our giving process very easy so we can ensure donors goals are met and funds are available for programs and services.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

Utility Workers Union of America Donation

Utility Workers Union of America Donation

Thank you Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) for the $5,000 contribution to Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services.For more than 11 years Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services and the Utility Workers Union of America remain enduring partners.The UWUA is increasing access to an array of training and support services through the Utility Workers Military Assistace Program (UMAP). UMAP and Dixon Center collaborate on creating pathways to careers where veterans earn a family wage and have affordable healthcare and benefits.We are especially thankful to President James T. Slevin, and Secretary-Treasurer Michael Coleman for their leadership as well as all the UWUA members for their commitment to those touched by military service.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen