Message From the Executive Director

Welcome to WeAreVirginiaVeterans.org. This is your website and is a major part of our on-going efforts to reach out to and engage veterans and their loved ones through blogs, chat rooms, other social media, healthcare information and community resources. I encourage you to use the tools on this site to find friends and resources that can help you, your family and your community seek treatment and support for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury and other challenges that the demands of military life place on you and your families.

Through this website, Twitter, Facebook and other communications media we are hosting an outlet for Virginians statewide to ask questions anonymously, to read personal stories and to meet others who may be experiencing the same challenges. The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program staff and our communications tools are local, accessible and personal.

Virginia is privileged to have such a remarkable veteran community. It amazes me that one in ten Virginians is a veteran. We have over 260,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who have served our country since 9/11. Our campaign, “WeAreVirginiaVeterans” will strive to create a supportive community composed of local veterans, our loved ones and all others invested in helping us stay healthy and resilient. We sincerely believe that Our Community is Our Strength.

I hope that you will find this website useful, fun and interactive. I encourage you to sign up for a forum where you can ask and answer questions anonymously. Specific features of WeAreVirginiaVeterans.org include Find a Veteran or Friend where you can connect one-on-one with other members in your community. The Blog provides an opportunity to read the stories of a veteran, the spouse of a veteran, a mother who lost her military son, and veterans who are now peer-to-peer specialists for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program. The Resources section includes a wealth of information about healthy lifestyles, coping with combat stress, getting help for traumatic brain injury and other topics compiled into an easy-to-read resource. We hope that you can find everything from quick tid-bits to valuable resources and partner information in one place. Finally our News & Events highlights current and relevant news stories and events related to veterans and families.

In closing, I send a special thank you to our Payne, Ross and Associates team that developed this site. They are Susan Payne, Susan Kalergis, Vicki Brothers, Jamie Howard, Diana Boven and Amy Marshall, Margaret Mariani. This website will remain a work in progress. We are interested in your feedback and are willing to adjust the site to better meet your needs. WeAreVirginiaVeterans welcomes you and encourages our military and civilian community to join our team.