Over 600 attendees participated in the virtual Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Conference and Annual Virginia Values Veterans Awards Program on Aug. 19, which aimed to celebrate military members, veterans and their families.
The event was hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.
Due to a partnership with the Department of Veteran Services through the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program, since 2012, 60,000 military veterans have been hired in Virginia civilian workforce, according to Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
“Virginia is home to a very strong military community,” he said. “We remain very committed as a Commonwealth, those in the public and private sector, to make sure Virginia continues to be the best state for business but also the best state for veterans.”
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger started off the conference thanking military members for their service. The main question she set out to answer was how to strengthen Virginia “as a place to call home” for veterans.
“The strong presence of military employees, service members and veterans here in Virginia makes us richer,” she said. “It renews our shared sense of public service and it reminds us that there are common goals that can bring us together. Even in moments of hard division and national doubt, we can share a purpose and a home that is far greater than ourselves.”
To empower veterans, Spanberger emphasized that they must have access to health care, receive support from their employers as well as other types of benefits.
