WVN September 2026 Newsletter

September 2026 Newsletter

From the Director's Desk

This September, we pause to remember, honor, and support one another.

As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we pause in solemn remembrance of the lives lost, the families and communities forever changed, and the profound impact of that day on our nation. We honor the courage of the first responders who answered the call and the millions of service members who stepped forward to serve in the years that followed. Twenty-five years later, we carry forward the memory of those we lost with enduring gratitude for all who served, sacrificed, and continue to bear the lasting impact of September 11.

September also marks Hispanic Heritage Month and Suicide Prevention Month.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans, including generations of women who have served our nation. Among them is Colonel Maritza Sáenz Ryan, an Army veteran of Puerto Rican heritage who became the first woman and first Hispanic person to lead the Department of Law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Suicide Prevention Month reminds us of the importance of connection, conversation, and access to mental health and peer support. If you or someone you know needs support, resources are available:

EOVS Statewide Advocacy for Veterans’ Empowerment (SAVE): Peer support and connections to resources. Call (617) 210-5743, email SAVE@mass.gov, or visit SAVE.
Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1. You do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care—or be in crisis—to connect. Visit Veterans Crisis Line.
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line: Available 24/7. Call or text (833) 773-2445 or visit Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line.
Women Veterans Call Center: Call (855) 829-6636 or visit the Women Veterans Call Center.

Additional health, mental health, and well-being resources for women veterans are available on mass.gov.

Together, we honor those who came before us, support one another today, and continue building a stronger, more connected community for women veterans across Massachusetts.

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

WVN-Sponsored Veteran Events

Click on each flyer for more information about the event

**Alt text:** Flyer for “Silver Wings, Flying Dreams” film screening and discussion, featuring a black-and-white historical photo of three women aviators standing in front of a military aircraft. The documentary tells the story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II, highlighting their missions, groundbreaking service, and impact on aviation. A discussion will follow the screening, and light refreshments will be provided. The event is Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at the Marlborough Senior Center, 40 New Street, Marlborough, MA 01752. A registration link and QR code are included on the flyer. Logos for Women Veterans Network Massachusetts and partner organizations appear at the bottom.

**Alt text:** Flyer for Women Veterans Network Massachusetts “Family Night at Apex Entertainment.” Women veterans are invited to bring their families for an evening of arcade games, bumper cars, bowling, laser tag, a ropes course, and more. Guests receive a loaded play card, and a buffet will be available. Registration is limited to a maximum of four people per family. The event is Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Apex Entertainment, 21 Apex Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752. Register using the QR code or visit **[https://bit.ly/4x3XMIR](https://bit.ly/4x3XMIR)**. The flyer features colorful photos of Apex Entertainment, arcade games, bumper cars, and bowling, along with the Women Veterans Network Massachusetts and Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services logos.

**Alt text:** Flyer for the Women Veterans Network Massachusetts Pasta Party. Features a photo of fresh pasta ingredients, including flour, eggs, and pasta. Attendees will work together to make handmade fettuccine, with an option to make homemade meatballs. Gluten-free pasta and vegetarian stuffed mushrooms are available. The event is Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at Third Space Kitchen, 491 Main Street, Unit E, Groton, MA 01450. Space is limited to 10 participants. Register at [https://bit.ly/4gliKR3](https://bit.ly/4gliKR3) or using the QR code on the flyer.

WVN in the Neighborhood

On August 30, the WVN's Peggy Duffy-Shea and Executive Office of Veterans Services Deputy Chief Engagement Officer Nick Charrette attended "Veteran's Day" at the Marshfield Fair, where they shared information about EOVS' programs and services with veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.

Military Calendar, Holidays, and Observances

September

National Suicide Prevention Month

National Service Dog Month

September 11

Patriot Day

September 18

Air Force (USAF) Birthday

Air National Guard Birthday

National POW/MIA Recognition Day*

*EOVS will host a ceremony starting at 9:30 a.m. at The Big E in front of the Massachusetts building as part of Military Appreciation Day

September 20

National LGBTQIA+ Veterans Day

September 22

Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day - Massachusetts State House

September 27

Gold Star Mother’s Day

September 29

VFW Day

Local Veteran Events

Click on each flyer for more information about the event

**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 Wall That Heals” in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, featuring a nighttime image of the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica with an American flag. The Wall will be open 24/7, rain or shine, September 17–20, 2026. Events include the escort arrival and wall setup, a Wampanoag Tribe wall blessing and opening ceremony on September 17, an Agent Orange Awareness “Light the Night” ceremony on September 18, tours and Echo Taps, and a closing ceremony on September 20. For more information, email **[info@TheWallThatHealsYarmouth2026.org](mailto:info@TheWallThatHealsYarmouth2026.org)** or visit **[https://thewallthathealsyarmouth-2026.org](https://thewallthathealsyarmouth-2026.org)**, the destination provided with the flyer’s website/QR information.

**Alt text:** Flyer for The Wall That Heals Educational Tours in Yarmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, inviting schools and community groups to schedule guided tours honoring the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans. Tours are available Thursday, September 17, beginning at noon; Friday, September 18, beginning at 9:00 a.m.; and Saturday, September 19, beginning at 9:00 a.m., with the last tour each day at 4:00 p.m. No tours are offered Sunday, September 20. Tours are appropriate for schools, Scout troops, veteran organizations, civic and senior groups, churches, and community organizations. Photos show visitors and students exploring The Wall That Heals and its Mobile Education Center. To schedule a tour, email Barbara-Anne Foley at **[bafoley@capeveterans.com](mailto:bafoley@capeveterans.com)** or call **508-237-3349**. The flyer does not include a QR code or website link.

**Alt text:** Flyer for The Wall That Heals Agent Orange Awareness event, honoring veterans affected by Agent Orange and raising awareness of its lasting impact. The event is Friday, September 18, 2026, at Parker’s River Landing, 669 Route 28, Yarmouth, MA 02673. The honorary wreath-laying ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Agent Orange Awareness event at 7:00 p.m. The Wall That Heals is open 24 hours, with ceremonies and programs daily. Special programming includes educational displays and the Mobile Education Center, health resources and support, speakers and veteran stories, and opportunities for community engagement. The flyer features the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a silhouetted service member, battlefield cross, orange map of Vietnam, and the messages “Never Forget, Never Again” and “Awareness Today. Health & Justice Tomorrow.” For more information, scan the QR code or visit **[www.TheWallThatHealsYarmouth-2026.org](http://www.TheWallThatHealsYarmouth-2026.org)**. Contact Debi Robinson at **253-226-1588** or Barbara-Anne Foley at **508-237-3349**.

**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 a Comedy Night benefiting Veteran Pathways of New England, featuring comedians Rob Steen, Mark Riley, and Jody Sloane. The event is Friday, October 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Lawrence Elks Lodge #65, 652 Andover Street, Lawrence, MA. Tickets include an Italian dinner buffet and cost $60 per person or $400 for a table of eight. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and all proceeds support Veteran Pathways of New England. A QR code links to tickets, event details, and sponsorship information at **[https://www.veteranpathwaysne.org/comedy-show-october-2026/](https://www.veteranpathwaysne.org/comedy-show-october-2026/)**. The flyer has a red theater-curtain background with a lighted “Comedy Night” marquee and vintage microphones.

**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 a Vet Center and American Legion Post 247 “Trunk or Treat” family event featuring a chili cook-off, games, treats, and more. The event is Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at American Legion Post 247, 90 Pawtucket Blvd., Tyngsborough, MA. The flyer says “Fun for the whole family!” To RSVP, call **978-453-1151** and ask for Tiffany or Belle. The Halloween-themed design features two vintage pickup trucks filled with pumpkins, along with bats, stars, and fall decorations.

**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.

**Alt text:** Flyer for Veterans Inc.’s 2026 Run4Veterans 5K Run & Walk, celebrating 35 years. The event takes place November 8, 2026, with a 10:00 a.m. start at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts. Veterans register for free. The flyer features runners carrying American flags outside Polar Park and includes Veterans Inc. and sponsor logos. Register using the QR code or visit **[https://www.veteransinc.org/events/run4veterans/](https://www.veteransinc.org/events/run4veterans/)**.

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

**Alt text:** Flyer from Strongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center promoting a Man O’ War Project research opportunity for veterans with PTSD. Eligible participants are military veterans ages 18–70 who are fluent in English and have a PTSD diagnosis or significant PTSD symptoms. The study consists of eight weekly 90-minute experiential group treatment sessions featuring unmounted interactions and activities with horses; trauma is not explicitly discussed. Potential benefits include building trust, increasing emotional awareness and regulation, improving communication, and increasing self-confidence. Sessions run October 26 through December 19 at Strongwater Farm, 500 Livingston Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876. For registration or information, contact Program Director Jane Kirby at **[jane.kirby@strongwaterfarm.org](mailto:jane.kirby@strongwaterfarm.org)**. The flyer features a background photo of a veteran interacting with a horse.

Veteran Hiring Events, Career Workshops, and Trainings

**Alt text:** Flyer for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Squadron 7 Zulu Division, offering a year-round youth program for middle school students in grades 5–8 and high school students in grades 9–12. The military-style leadership program develops leadership, teamwork, cooperation, confidence, and resilience, with cadets wearing Navy uniforms. Meetings are held two Sundays per month from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at Quincy & Bridgewater, MA. Activities and advanced training include aviation, boat building, Coast Guard operations, cybersecurity, firefighting, forensic science, homeland security, medical training, robotics, sailing, scuba diving, search and rescue swimming, and more. Some drills are held at Joint Base Cape Cod and aboard the USS Salem. For more information, visit **[www.7Zulu.org](https://www.7Zulu.org)** or contact **[throughton@squadron7zulu.org](mailto:throughton@squadron7zulu.org)**.

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.