WVN Summer 2026 Newsletter

Summer 2026 Newsletter

From the Director's Desk

Greetings! July marked the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The semi-quincentennial provided an opportunity to reflect on our nation's history, recognize the diverse contributions of all Americans, and reaffirm a shared commitment to civic engagement and future progress.

Last month also recognized Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, highlighting the unique mental health challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and encouraging awareness of available resources. Disability Pride Month commemorated the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), celebrating the achievements of individuals with disabilities while promoting awareness and inclusion. South Asian Heritage Month celebrated the theme "Unity in Diversity," honoring the rich cultures, traditions, and shared histories of South Asian communities.

In addition, this month honors Intersectionality Awareness Month and recognizes the work of civil rights advocate and Columbia Law Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, whose concept of intersectionality highlighted how overlapping identities can shape individuals' experiences. The observance encouraged greater understanding of systemic barriers while uplifting the voices and experiences of people across all identities.

Together, these observances reinforce the importance of diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being, while celebrating the people and communities whose contributions continue to strengthen our nation.

In Solidarity,

Jessica Frost

WVN Director

Women Veterans Network Survey

Your opinion matters! The WVN would appreciate your feedback as we plan for this fiscal year's events and program series. Complete our programming survey by September 14 for a chance to win a spa package that includes:

“Birds of a Feather” framed print by John Darien
Relaxation book called Mindfulness on the Go written by Padraig O’Morain
Relaxation items such as candle, body lotion, soap, and sleep mask
Flowered Journal by Wyeth, New York
Set of two bracelets by Kate Spade

Complete the Survey

Learn more about the state’s annual annuity by clicking the link below: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-delivers-record-584-million-in-annual-benefits-to-massachusetts-veterans-and-military-families

WVN-Sponsored Veteran Events

Click on each flyer for more information about the event

WVN in the Neighborhood

On July 25, the WVN's Peggy Duffy-Shea shared information about the WVN and Massachusetts veterans benefits at the annual Run to Home Base event at Fenway Park. Look for the WVN at upcoming veteran events by visiting mass.gov.

Military Calendar and Holidays

August 7

Purple Heart Day

August 10

Agent Orange Awareness Day

August 14

Navajo Code Talkers Day

August 16

National Airborne Day

August 29

Marine Corps Reserve Birthday

September 2

V-J Day (Victory over Japan)

On July 23, the EOVS Deputy Secretary Andrea Gayle-Bennett (second from left) along with the WVN's Peggy Duffy-Shea attended the Purple Heart Veterans Breakfast at Somerville High School, where they honored a local Vietnam veteran with a special citation.

Local Veteran Events

Click on each flyer for more information about the event

**Alt text:** Promotional flyer for a “Family Storytelling Retreat” at Easter Seals in Franklin, New Hampshire, Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9. The free retreat is for veterans and military families and is designed to strengthen connection, communication, and shared understanding. A filmstrip on the left shows families participating in group storytelling and art activities. Camp Resilience and Homefront Strong logos appear on the right. Registration: camp-resilience.org/event-details/military-storytelling-retreat.

**Alt text:** Flyer for the VA Healthy Teaching Kitchen’s free virtual “Cost Friendly Cooking” classes for VA-enrolled veterans. Sessions are held via VA Video Connect from 1:00–2:00 p.m. on August 10, 17, and 24, 2026. Recipes include microwave apple oatmeal custard, a microwave ham and broccoli rice bowl, and turkey joes. Classes are taught by a registered dietitian. To enroll, contact Nutrition & Food Services at 774-826-2870. The flyer is framed by colorful fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans.

**Alt text:** Flyer for the Eastern Essex District Department of Veterans Services’ free Veterans’ Fishing Trip on August 17, 2026. Two fishing rods appear over an ocean background. The Yankee Fleet departs from 1 Parker Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts; meet at 7:30 a.m. and return at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is provided by Rusty Can, with prizes for the biggest and smallest fish. RSVP to [tochoa@eessexvets.com](mailto:tochoa@eessexvets.com) or 978-356-6699.

**Alt text:** Patriotic flyer for the Braintree Veteran Services “Veterans’ Picnic” on Saturday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Braintree Public Safety Complex, 2015 Washington Street, Braintree, Massachusetts. The free “BBQ for the Brave” features burgers, hot dogs, and music. The event honors those who have served and is sponsored by Mayor Erin V. Joyce, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, American Legion Post 86, VFW Post 1702, and DAV Chapter 29.

**Alt text:** Patriotic flyer for the District 12 Chicken Bake at the Onset VFW, 4 Gibbs Ball Park Road, Wareham, Massachusetts, on Sunday, August 23 at 12:00 p.m. The family-friendly event includes a bounce house. Tickets are $25 and include chicken, JAG, corn on the cob, and Caesar salad; hot dogs and hamburgers are provided for children. For tickets, contact a local VFW post or email [district12@vfwma.org](mailto:district12@vfwma.org). Proceeds support veterans and the community.

**Alt text:** Home Base Outreach flyer for July and August 2026, featuring the National Center of Excellence in Boston. Programs include “Living With Loss,” a grief-skills course for military suicide-survivor families beginning September 16; Skillful Parenting; Building a Strong Home Base; Impact of Trauma; and a weekly virtual open-art studio. Upcoming Boston events include the Run to Home Base fundraiser on July 25 and a 9/11 service project on September 11. Additional resiliency programs are offered for first responders, veterans, youth, teens, and families, including Spanish-language sessions. QR codes throughout the flyer provide registration and program information.

**Alt text:** Patriotic flyer for the 158th annual Marshfield Fair Veterans Resource Fair on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Marshfield Fairgrounds, 140 Main Street, Marshfield, Massachusetts. Veterans, active-duty service members, and Guard and Reserve members receive free admission and can connect with local resources and support. The flyer features an American flag, Ferris wheel, fair entrance, and saluting service member. Family activities include rides, exhibits, food, and live entertainment. For information, call 617-888-6636.

**Alt text:** Flyer for free Friday cookouts at the Springfield Vet Center, 95 Ashley Avenue, West Springfield, Massachusetts, on June 12, July 17, and September 11, from noon to 1:00 p.m. Veterans, current service members, and their families are welcome. Food is served at noon, rain or shine. The flyer includes photos from past cookouts and notes support from Friends of the Springfield Vet Center. For information, call 413-737-5167.

**Alt text:** Flyer for “Bringing Our Stories to Life, One Piece at a Time,” a free family art workshop presented by Homefront Strong and Warrior’s Art Room. The event is listed for September 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Warrior’s Art Room, Keystone Building, 122 Pleasant Street, Suite 105, Easthampton, Massachusetts. Service members, veterans, and their families can learn simple drawing techniques, create artwork using meaningful personal objects, and submit their work to the Shaped by Service Art Show. Registration is available at homefrontstrongus.org/shaped-by-service or through the QR code.

**Alt text:** Flyer for the City of Lynn’s North Shore Veterans and First Responders Parade on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with a rain date of September 27. The parade begins on Centre Street, continues along Western Avenue, Tucker Street, Maple Street, and Ford Street, and ends at Manning Field. The flyer seeks volunteers, marchers, and sponsors and includes contact information for the Lynn Veterans Council at [lynnveteranscouncil@gmail.com](mailto:lynnveteranscouncil@gmail.com) and lynnveteranscouncil.com. Logos for the Lynn Veterans Council and City of Lynn appear at the top, along with a Venmo donation QR code and an illustration of a service member, firefighter, and police officer in front of an American flag.

**Alt text:** VA flyer seeking donations for a Central Western Massachusetts Women Veteran and Service Member Baby Shower on September 26, 2026. Requested items include an infant swing stroller, high chair, car seat, baby monitor, Pack ’n Play, sound machine, bottles, pacifiers, diapers, wipes, hygiene products, bath supplies, blankets, safety kits, books, towels, crib sheets, and baby clothing. For information, contact Michael Nemeth at 413-582-3033 or Christine Dunn at 413-557-0627. A QR code links to the baby shower wish list.

**Alt text:** Flyer for the “Strength ThrU Unity” Community and Veterans Health Fair and Celebration on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., with a rain date of October 10. The free event will be held at the North Quabbin Veterans Center, Mill Brook Crossing, 72 Freedom Street, Athol, Massachusetts. Indoor activities include family resources, nurse wellness screenings, veteran service and community organizations, and a Women’s Recovery Art Exhibit. Outdoor activities include three live bands, food trucks and markets, children’s games, dancing, local businesses, and a Mill Brook Crossing ribbon-cutting ceremony. Everyone is welcome.

**Alt text:** Flyer for “Shaped by Service: A HomeFront Strong Storytelling Event,” presented by HomeFront Strong in partnership with Warrior’s Art Room. The exhibit is hosted at Warrior’s Art Room, 122 Pleasant Street, Suite 105, Keystone Building, Easthampton, Massachusetts 01027. The call-to-artists deadline is Monday, October 19, 2026. The show runs November 2 through January 1, with an artists’ reception Saturday, November 7, from 4–6 p.m. Regular gallery hours are Monday and Wednesday, 5–8 p.m., and Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, noon–4 p.m. Entry is free for service members, veterans, and family members. Each artist may submit up to five pieces, depending on size, and gallery admission is free. A QR code and the website HomeFrontStrongUS.org/Shaped-by-Service provide registration details. The flyer includes HomeFront Strong and Warrior’s Art Room logos, photographs of gallery events, examples of veteran artwork, and sponsor logos for the Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board and Mass Cultural Council.

**Alt text:** Flyer for the “2026 Boston Veterans Celebration of Service Parade.” The parade takes place Saturday, November 7, 2026, at noon, beginning at the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street. The route follows Boylston Street, turns left onto Tremont Street, and ends at 1 City Hall Plaza. Organizations interested in participating may email [veterans@boston.gov](mailto:veterans@boston.gov). The lower half of the flyer shows a veterans parade on a Boston street, with uniformed color guard members carrying American, Massachusetts, and Boston flags as spectators line the route. City of Boston and City of Boston Veterans’ Services logos appear at the bottom.

**Alt text:** Dark blue, red, and light blue “Call to Artists!” flyer for the HomeFront Strong “Shaped by Service” art show at Warrior’s Art Room in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Show dates are November 7 through December 31, with an artists’ reception on November 7. There is no entry fee or admission fee. The show is not juried and is open to all veterans and military family members. Registration is available at HomeFrontStrongUS.org/Shaped-by-Service. The flyer includes HomeFront Strong and Warrior’s Art Room logos; sponsor logos for the Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board and Mass Cultural Council; and photos of artists, gallery visitors, paintings, and art materials. A note states that the program is supported in part by a grant from the Easthampton Cultural Council, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council.

Ongoing Programs and Events

Click on each flyer for more information about the event

Flyer for Project New Hope’s **Veterans’ Farmers Market**, offering free fresh fruit and vegetables to veterans and their families. The market is held Fridays from **11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.** at the **Worcester VA Clinic, 403 Belmont St., Worcester, MA 01604**, on **July 10 and 17; August 7 and 21; September 4 and 18; and October 2 and 16, 2026**. The flyer includes colorful produce, partner logos, a QR code, a photo of the clinic, and the website **[www.projectnewhopema.org](https://www.projectnewhopema.org)**.

Flyer for **Trust House**, a VA Boston Healthcare System program at the Jamaica Plain Campus. It describes a therapeutic transitional residence for women veterans offering individual and group therapy, case management, compensated work therapy, psychiatry, recreational outings, and a 12-month residential setting. Contact: **Simone DiPilato, PsyD**, **617-435-2049**, **[simone.dipilato@va.gov](mailto:simone.dipilato@va.gov)**. Decorative pastel shapes surround the text, with the words **Security, Well-being, Independence, Community, Support** highlighted in a yellow circle.

Research Opportunities

Click on each flyer for more information about the event

Veteran Hiring Events, Career Workshops, and Trainings

State, Federal, and Nonprofit Resources

Click on each photo or flyer for more information

State Veteran Benefits

MassVets Benefit Estimator

State Veteran Programs

VSO Finder

Veterans Equality Review Board (VERB)

EOVS Transition Toolkit

Gold Star Families Toolkit

VA Claim Assist Portal

About the Women Veterans Network

Established in 1997, the Women Veterans Network (WVN) is a program within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Veterans Services. The WVN seeks to serve as a primary resource for Massachusetts' military veterans, with a mission of increasing awareness of the federal, state and local benefits available to them. As part of its outreach mission, the WVN hosts a variety of events every year, including webinars, gatherings, the Women Veterans Appreciation Day, and an annual conference.

Disclaimer: The sharing of any non-EOVS information does not constitute an endorsement of products or services on the part of the Executive Office of Veterans Services.