November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung Cancer is the leading cause of death among Veterans but is curable if caught early! The percentage of military who smoke is still much higher than the general population. It may be caused by the close association of the United States military with tobacco companies dating back to WW1 when tobacco companies distributed cigarettes to servicemen, even having cigarettes included in rations, until 1975, saying that nicotine helped troops stay alert and boosted morale. As research studies showed the dangers of smoking, the military stopped promoting cigarette use around 1990. The military began strategies to reduce cigarette use, but the rate of smokers among Veterans is still higher than average. Since lung cancer can be cured early, the V.A. has a nationwide program called the Lung Cancer Screening and Surveillance Program. They hope to encourage Veterans to be proactive and get screened for cancer. On September 5, Prescott began screening as well.

The program is for tobacco smokers between the ages of 50 and 80 who currently smoke cigarettes or who have quit in the past 15 years. Pipe, cigar, chewers, and vape smokers are not yet included. It’s a quick 5-minute cat scan (without contrast) to look for issues. They have found 3 in the Northern Area so far so please get a baseline check, then get scanned annually. For more information, contact Theresa Haley R.N., the Lung Cancer Screening Coordinator, at 928-717-7456 Mondays through Thursdays 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For those who want to quit, see your primary care physician to get a prescription for smoking cessation. If you don’t have one, contact Theresa, and she will give you a one-month prescription to get started until you have a primary care doctor.

Veteran's Quarterly Business Mixer   November 6,   5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

This event is specifically tailored towards Veteran-Owned Businesses and the Veteran Community, however, EVERYONE is welcome to attend. These mixers provide a unique opportunity to connect with Veteran business owners, learn about Chamber initiatives for Veterans, and discover how Veterans in Prescott help local businesses. There will be a short announcement to welcome all attendees and the hosting location will discuss their business. Attendees are welcome to a tour of the location afterward.

This event is being hosted by US Vets U.S. VETS-Prescott and sponsored by Team RWB U.S. VETS– Prescott, 1040 Whipple St #400, Prescott, AZ 86305, USA

For Assistance with Registration please contact Crystal Christ

Crystal@prescott.org or (928) 445-2000 ext. 117

NAVAHCS Blood Drive    Tuesday, Nov. 7    8:30 to 4:30 pm

Please plan to give blood at the V. A. on Tuesday, Nov. 7 in Building 15. Appointments are encouraged by either calling 1-877-258-4825 or visiting www.Donors.vitalant.org (Blood drive code: PVA)

PACT Act Enrollment Claims Event    November 9, 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Learn more about the PACT Act and get screened. This event will be held at the Fort Mojave Indian Health Center, 1697 Plantation Rd., Mohave Valley. For more information call 928-346-4679 or Andrew.Taylor2@va.gov; Joshua.Wear@va.gov

Veteran’s Day Parade   November 11

Each year Prescott holds one of the largest Veterans Day Parades in the state. This year's theme is: Honoring Our Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans…A New Generation of Warriors. We have 115 entries and all Veterans, especially those who were in these Operations, are invited to walk in the parade to be recognized and thanked for their service. Plan to meet at the corner of Willis and Cortez St. in the Old Foothills Bank parking lot to walk as a group.

The festivities start on Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. for a Wreath Laying Ceremony. The Embry Riddle Army and Air Force ROTC Cadettes will stand guard for 24 hours at the All Veterans Memorial on the West side of the Courthouse along with a brief ceremony with the Mayor and Commanding officer laying a wreath. Then at 10:30 a.m. on Veterans Day, 11/11, the Opening Ceremony will begin at Union and Cortez Streets. The keynote speaker is Eli Crane, a 13-year Navy Seal Veteran, and our U.S. Representative. At 11:00 a.m. the parade begins at Union and Willis with a traditional pause at 11:11 a.m. to read the Veterans Day Proclamation. This is a wonderful tribute to our Veterans and Service Members! Please plan to join RWOP as we march around the Yavapai County Courthouse in the Veteran’s Day Parade! The meeting time is between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. at our STAGING LOCATION – ON PLEASANT STREET BETWEEN GURLEY ST. AND WILLIS ST. To register, contact Elsie Tyree at 928-778-0235 or email her at tyree200@msn.com.

One Million Veterans Program                   November 11 Goal

The U.S. Military is seeking one million Veterans to help with research for Veteran healthcare and is already making an impact. They are 12,000 Veterans shy of that goal and hope to meet it by Veterans Day. The MVP Station is at the Prescott Main Hospital, Building 164 in the Laboratory /Pharmacy Waiting Area Mondays through Thursdays, 7:00 a.m. to noon. Walk-ins are welcome!  If you have questions or want more information about the program, go to mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075. 

Diabetes Education at the VA

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed as being pre-diabetic or diabetic, the VA offers classes to help you reverse the diagnosis. If you’re pre-diabetic you can learn how to control it and also live healthier if you’re diabetic. Pre-diabetes, which is reversible, is a warning that you are headed for diabetes which cannot be reversed. There are in-person and online classes each month. The in-person classes are on the VA Campus, Building 117 in Room 134. The Pre-Diabetic classes are generally on the 2nd Wednesday of each month online and on the 4th Wednesday of each month in person from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The Diabetes classes are usually on the 1st Wednesday online and the 3rd Wednesday in person from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you can’t get to a class in person, you can take an online class. The Health Resource Center will provide you with an iPad if you need one. You need the internet. To register for an in-person or an online class, call Kathy Bryson or Janee Lai at 928-445-4860 x 2581. They will send you a booklet before class so you can mark your questions. Those attending online will get an email with the link.

The classes for November and December are:

• Diabetes Online Nov. 1 and Dec. 5,    12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Diabetes Classroom  Nov. 15 and Dec. 20, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Pre-Diabetes Online Nov. 8 and Dec. 13,     12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Pre-Diabetes Classroom Nov. 22,  12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

        None in December due to the holidays!

5th Annual Tribal Veterans Symposium       Nov. 17 & 18

This free event will be held at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino and Resort, 22181 Resort Blvd in Flagstaff between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. It is open to Tribal Veterans, military service members and families, providers, partners, and stakeholders. For more information, contact Holly Figuero at Holly.Figuero@azblue.com

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA – DECEMBER 16 AT 11:00 A.M.   Prescott National Cemetery

Wreaths Across America allows you to join a grateful nation in saying “thank you” to our veterans and those who serve. This is a way to Remember an American hero at the Prescott National Cemetery, which is one of more than 4,000 locations nationwide and abroad; Honor those who serve; and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.  To do that, your support is needed through volunteering and/or donating. The wreaths are sponsored and the hope is that each hero gets one. Each wreath costs $17 this year. Money donated for each wreath goes to Veteran Service Organizations in the Prescott/Prescott Valley area to assist the ongoing needs of our Veterans. WREATHS CAN BE SPONSORED ONLINE UNTIL NOVEMBER 28, 2023 at: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org click on “SPONSOR A SPECIFIC CEMETERY" AND USE CEMETERY CODE: AZPNCP for Prescott National Cemetery.  If you want to volunteer, contact Diane Brown at DJBrownRN@yahoo.com at 480-772-6014 or Robert Jones from the National Cemetery at 928-445-4860 x7569. Volunteers lay wreaths on each marker of a fallen hero. That volunteer will say the Veteran’s name to ensure that the legacy of duty, service, and sacrifice of that veteran is never forgotten. RWOP sponsored 10 wreaths this year. 

This 35-minute touching ceremony will be held at the Prescott National Cemetery on Saturday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. There is no parking at the cemetery, but there is free parking at Yavapai College with a shuttle service to and from the cemetery. The first shuttle starts at 9:00 a.m. and the last shuttle will be at 10:45 a.m. After the ceremony, shuttles will return you to Yavapai College.

Yavapai Republican Men’s Forum 

This group’s mission is to educate Republicans on issues ranging from political candidates and governmental policies to authors discussing topics of interest to conservatives. Membership is open to both men and women who are registered Republicans. They have a luncheon meeting from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. on the 2^nd Monday of every month at the Prescott Vibes Event Center. You must be a member to attend. For more information go to YRMF.org.

Veterans Connection Hub is Now Open!

The Veterans Connection Hub, located at 120 N. Marina St. Suite B in downtown Prescott, combines services under one roof. ​The new Veterans Connection Hub offers social activities, workshops, PTSD assistance, and referrals, ensuring veterans and their families feel valued and welcomed and gives them a place to hang out together and share community.

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT)



The V.A. offers an evidence-based vocational program to assist Veterans with PTSD, serious mental illness, traumatic brain injuries, and other physical disabilities to find employment that they feel satisfied with and that gives them a sense of purpose and helps them maintain that job. They offer Transitional Work where they match Veterans to work assignments and Supported Employment where they do a vocational assessment and analysis to find out what the Veteran would like to do, build a resume, and do the search. They advocate for the Veteran to increase the Veteran’s confidence for the interview with a prospective employer and help with the transition to the job. If a Veteran wants to get involved, go to your provider and request a CWT referral. For questions call

John at 928-445-7860 x 6834.

Life Insurance Guide for Veterans & Servicemembers – 

If you need assistance with insurance, here is another resource. Click this link or Click the image below.

Please visit the ~ Armed Services Corner ~page on our website for more information!