NOTE: The City is sharing this information on behalf of Councilman Pickett.

This is from Councilman Pickett's monthly newsletter, which residents can sign up for at: www.cityofpsl.com/newsletter

March 2023

Welcome to the Veterans' View

Saints of the Military

In March, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Although we celebrate this day, many do not know the true meaning behind the celebration and choose to use this day as a day for recreational drinking.

St. Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

It's only fitting that the military adopts a patron saint that embodies what a warrior does on the battlefield. For many, these are charms that they wear on their dog tags or carry on their key chains. They are symbols of hope and inspiration when the servicemember is feeling down or needs a source of motivation to get him or her through the day.

To the military, Patron saints are an advocate and intercessors to God on behalf of the military. According to the holy texts, there is a continuous spiritual war between good and evil, and it's fleshed out on the battlefield in heaven and earth. Many branches of the military have also adopted their own patron saints.

United States Army

St. Sebastian
Army Rangers - St. Andrew
Paratroopers - St. Michael
Infantry - St. Martin of Tours, St. Maurice
Artillery - St. Barbara
Special Forces - St. Philip Neri

United States Merchant Marines

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

United States Air Force

St. Michael
St. Joseph Cupertino
Our Lady of Loreto

United States Navy

St. Nicholas
St. Brendan

United States Marine Corps

St. Barbara

Source of Inspiration

My daughter gave me a St. Michael medallion before I left to go to Afghanistan. I was also given a holy cross to wear by my mother. The archbishop had blessed the cross.

Each day before I would ride out of my firebase, I would bow my head, touch the medallion, and cross, then I would say a prayer for my safety and my entire platoon’s safety. St. Michael and Holy Cross were my symbols of hope.

Although I am no longer in a combat zone, I still carry both charms. St. Michael is hanging on my truck mirror, and the cross is still on a necklace that I always wear. Both charms are still protecting me to this very day. Both have served, and continue to serve their purpose, looking out for my safety, and giving me a source of inspiration when times get tough.

VA Burial Benefits

Having a conversation with your family about your final wishes is never a comfortable conversation. Many veterans are not aware of what burial benefits they're entitled to. I must admit that until I was researching this article, and was unaware of all that is available to me as a veteran once I pass.

Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery and other benefits provided they did not receive a dishonorable discharge.

You are not eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery if you have been found guilty of a capital crime, sex crime or convicted of subversive activities after September 1, 1959.

Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of the VA national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave site, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker, or medallion, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family.

To learn more, please contact Todd Newkirk, Director of the South Florida Cemetery, at 561-971-0858 or email him at todd.newkirk@va.gov.

To learn more about government burials, please visit Assisting Families with Burial - National Cemetery Administration (va.gov).

Upcoming Events

Healthy U: Adoption

March 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Community Center

2195 SE Airoso Blvd.

River Nights

March 9 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Veterans Park at Rivergate

2200 SE Veterans Memorial Pkwy

St. Patrick's Day Festival

March 17 from 5:00 - 10:00 p.m.

March 18 from 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

MIDFLORIDA Event Center

9221 SE Event Center Place

Everclear Concert with special guest, David Cook

April 1 at 7:00 p.m.

MIDFLORIDA Event Center

9221 SE Event Center Place

Visit our events calendar

Local Veterans Organizations

To learn more about resources for veterans, please visit any of the following links.

Air Force Sergeants Association, Elmer Andrews Chapter 564
Charles Carr - Rolling Thunder Inc. Chapter 6.

Mailing Address: 5914 N.W. Bayou Court. Port Saint Lucie, Florida 34986

Burn Pit Registry

VA established this registry in 2014 to put data to work for Veterans and help us better understand the potential health effects of exposure to airborne hazards during military service. By joining the registry, you can provide information that will help VA provide better care to all Veterans. To learn more, click the button below.

Learn more

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Health Issues

File a claim in any of these ways:

File a claim online at VA.gov

Get help from an accredited representative, like a Veterans service officer (VSO)

Get help at a VA regional office

Operation Sacred Legacy

Indian River State College and the Office of U.S. Congressman Brian Mast announced Operation Sacred Legacy, an effort to provide as many local veteran interviews as possible for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

To learn more, click the button below.

Visit our Website