Within months of beginning my term, I was approached by two constituents about putting together a Veterans Service Advisory Board. I was surprised we did not have one for Palm Beach County. As a new commissioner, it was a great opportunity for me to navigate the inner workings of county government for a fantastic cause.
I come from a family of veterans and know they are unique in their needs. Many nonprofits, government departments and private organizations do fantastic work for our veterans but often work in silos. The approach was to bridge the gap.
I learned Palm Beach County is home to the state’s largest veteran population without an active base. So many wonderful things are happening here; I wanted to help put them together.
At our Aug. 22, 2023, Board of County Commissioners meeting, we made this idea a reality with unanimous support from the board. The Veteran’s Service Advisory Board (VSAB) has been approved, and we hope to have its first meeting by Veterans Day this year.
I want to thank Chief Duren and his staff for their work in creating this board. It went back and forth several times, but I believe we have put together something truly special. I hope to see this duplicated in other areas.
The board will consist of 11 members from public and private organizations that assist veterans. They must live in Palm Beach County and know about local veteran support services, including mental health/substance abuse, housing, financial assistance and employment. For more information and/or how to serve, contact us at (561) 355-2204.
Thank you, Grey Team CEO and U.S. Army Reservist David Kirkland and Boynton Beach Vice Mayor and Navel Reservist Thomas Turkin for bringing this to my attention and speaking to the board at our meeting. This is exactly the type of work I hoped to be part of during my term as your commissioner.
OTHER LANGUAGES