News

The Bismarck/Mandan area Out of Darkness Walk is going to be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 12pm on the State Capitol Grounds. 

The Suicide Prevention Coalition is hosting their 7th Annual Conference at the Bismarck Career Academy on September 5th from 8:00am to 4:30pm. The theme for this year's conference is Providing Hope Across Generations and the topics they will focus on are Adverse Childhood Experiences, Teens and social media, and Vicarious Trauma. They will also host an event on September 4th from 6:30-9:00pm that highlights International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. 

August 10, 2024, was the second anniversary of the PACT Act, which ushered in a new era of VA benefits and health care for Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards during their service. If you have a question about the PACT Act, please go to VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MyVA411.

Have you been charged a fee to file a VA disability claim or promised a 100% disability rating? These are tactics that Claim Predators use to prey on Veterans and their loved ones and steal their disability entitlements. If you have experienced this, you can file a report at www.vsafe.gov or by calling the fraud hotline at 833-38V-SAFE (8-7233).

Save the date to help clean and beautify the Fargo National Cemetery on the National Day of Service and Remembrance in Honor of Patriot Day! Join volunteers on September 11th at 9:30am. You can sign up for the event here.

Open to Veterans, their families, community members, and community providers. 6 FREE CEU's! (ANCC, APA, ASWB, NBCC, NDBACE). It is going to be hosted at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, and it will start at 8:00am. 

Former Navy Petty Officer Lonnie Bedwell will be the Keynote speaker at the "Night for Sight" Gala and Silent auction at 6:PM on Thursday October 3, 2024 at the Avalon Event Center in Fargo ND. The event is hosted by the "Haiti Eye Mission" and will be Emceed by 2021 Miss North Dakota Reyna Bergstrom. 

Join the Cass County Veteran’s Office on September 11th from 10am – 3pm at Broadway Square in Downtown Fargo as they host a Community Stand Down. A free meal will be provided for those who attend along with education about the PACT Act, healthcare for homeless veterans and VA enrollment.

Amelia Marcum was selected as the top 2024 DAV Scholarship recipient. She is currently in her junior year studying economics and international relations at Stanford University in California. Amelia saw a need in North Dakota that led her to create the North Dakota Native Veterans Resource Guide, which connects veterans throughout the entire state to benefits and resources they've earned. 

A live virtual training is being offered on Microsoft Teams. The VA is offering this S.A.V.E. Training to teach people how to support our veterans. 
S - Signs of suicidal thinking should be recognized
A - Ask the most important question of all - "Are you thinking of killing yourself?"
V - Validate the Veteran's experience
E - Encourage treatment and Expedite getting help

If you are interested in this training, please reach out to Justin Lervik to register or for more information.
Email: justin.lervik@va.gov
Phone: 701-239-3700 ext 3335