Happy Holidays! On behalf of the more than 1,500 dedicated employees at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), I wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

These past two years have certainly been a challenge across our state, our country and the world, as we have continued to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, MDVA has adjusted, and our team has demonstrated resiliency. We did not allow the pandemic to deter us from our mission of “serving Minnesota Veterans, their dependents and survivors by connecting them with the federal and state care and benefits they have earned.”

I invite you to learn more about our service to Minnesota Veterans with our newly published /mdva/assets/2021-mdva-annual-report_tcm1066-511949.pdfFY 2021 Annual Report featuring the theme of resiliency. Our fiscal year for 2021 ran from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, so our report is primarily focused on accomplishments from that timeframe.

Overshadowing this entire period was the coronavirus. I’m proud that our dedicated team allowed MDVA to remain “open for business” to serve Minnesota Veterans and their families. Two areas of particular focus included providing 4,720 COVID grants totaling $6.2 million to Veterans in need; and adopting increased safety protocols in our five Minnesota Veterans Homes to protect the health of both Residents and staff.

There have often been comparisons between COVID-19 and the Spanish Flu of 1918, a pandemic that hit during the last year of World War I. The virus was pervasive and deadly, with 500 million people infected and 50 million killed. It was a dark time. Those who lived through it also demonstrated resiliency.

We can be inspired by those who have lived through the challenges of past decades and even centuries. And find solace in the touching moments that occurred at that time, such as the Christmas Truce of 1914. The Christmas Truce occurred on and around Christmas Day 1914, when the sounds of rifles firing and shells exploding faded in a number of places along the Western Front during World War I in favor of holiday celebrations. During the unofficial ceasefire, soldiers on both sides of the conflict emerged from the trenches and shared gestures of goodwill.

I hope we can practice our own holiday truce, demonstrating goodwill to all by doing our part to stop the current spread of the pandemic. Celebrate safely.

The state is encouraging Minnesotans to take the following steps:

• Get Vaccinated. Minnesotans age 5 and up can be vaccinated. Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones this holiday season—especially those who can’t be vaccinated and children under 5. Find vaccines for the whole family.
• Get Tested. Even if you’re not experiencing any symptoms, test before holiday gatherings to make sure you’re not spreading the virus to loved ones unknowingly. Take advantage of one of the many free testing options the state has to offer, or head to your local clinic or pharmacy. Make an appointment at a community testing site. NOW is also a great time to order a free test through the at-home testing program to ensure you have one on-hand ahead of the holidays, or use a test if you have one already.
• Get Boosted. All adults 18 and older should get a booster when they are due (6 months after receiving Pfizer and Moderna, and 2 months after receiving Johnson & Johnson).
• Stay Safe. Wear your mask in indoor public settings, wash your hands, and do your best to avoid crowded indoor spaces before getting together with family and friends—especially high-risk loved ones and children under 5 who can’t be vaccinated.

As always, if you need information or support on any Veteran issue, please visit our website, contact your County Veterans Service Officer, or contact LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.

Thank YOU for your service!