Butler County Veterans Service Commission

09/08/2026

WHO DESERVES TO BE BUTLER COUNTY’S 2026 VETERAN OF THE YEAR? 🏅

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Butler County Veteran of the Year!

We are looking for an honorably discharged Butler County veteran whose service continued long after taking off the uniform. This recognition honors veterans who have made a meaningful difference through service to fellow veterans, leadership, community involvement, special projects, advocacy, or a lifetime of giving back.

You do not have to belong to a veterans organization to be nominated or to submit a nomination.

For 2026, nominations will be independently scored by veteran volunteers from our community using a standardized 100 point evaluation process. Commissioners and staff are not part of the selection process.

Think about the veterans you know. Sometimes the people most deserving of recognition are the ones who would never nominate themselves.

📅 Nomination Deadline: October 10, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.

The complete nomination packet, eligibility requirements, and instructions are available here: https://ow.ly/QwUw50ZKEHY

Help us recognize a Butler County veteran whose continued service deserves to be celebrated.

09/08/2026

The Butler County Veterans Service Commission will hold its next regular meeting:

📅 Tuesday, September 15, 2026
🕤 9:30 AM
📍 City of Hamilton Council Chambers
345 High Street, Hamilton

Commission meetings are open to the public. Veterans, family members and members of our community are welcome to attend and learn more about the work of the Veterans Service Commission.

💻 Can't attend in person? Watch the meeting live on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/

09/07/2026

Here’s a benefit worth knowing about: free valet parking is available for veterans at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.

If you’re headed to the main medical center for an appointment, take advantage of the complimentary valet service at the main entrance, Monday through Friday.

For veterans with mobility concerns, those who have difficulty walking longer distances, or anyone who simply doesn’t want to deal with finding a parking space before an appointment, it can make a trip to the VA a little easier.

🚗 Free Valet Parking
📍 Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Main Entrance
📅 Monday through Friday

09/07/2026

Our office is closed today, Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, for normal business hours.

We hope our veterans, families and community have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day.

09/06/2026

Join Us for CALM Conversations Training

What do you do when you’re concerned that someone may be at risk for su***de? How do you start that conversation? And how can reducing access to lethal means during a crisis help save a life?

Join us for CALM Conversations, a FREE 90 minute su***de prevention training provided by the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.

CALM stands for Counseling on Access to Lethal Means. This practical, interactive training focuses on how to talk with someone who may be at risk and how temporarily creating time and distance from lethal means, particularly fi****ms, can help keep someone safe during a crisis.

This training is for everyone. Veterans, family members, community members, first responders, service providers and professionals are welcome. No prior mental health or su***de prevention training is required.

📅 Thursday, October 22
⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 The Liberty Collective
6735 Lakota Lane, Liberty Township
💲 FREE
🍕 Pizza will be provided

Space is limited, so please register in advance.

👉 Register: https://ow.ly/HsKv50ZJXkL

Sponsored by the Butler County Veterans Service Commission.

09/05/2026

September is National Su***de Prevention Month. Every one of us has a role to play in supporting Veterans. Swipe for signs to watch for, ways to help, and resources to share ❤️

If you need to get in contact with the Veteran Crisis Line, help is here 24/7.

📞Dial 988, then press 1
📲Text 838255
💻VeteransCrisisLine.net

09/04/2026

Some veterans won’t tell you they’re struggling.

They may still show up to work.
They may still crack jokes.
They may still answer, “I’m good.”

That doesn’t always mean they are.

As we begin Su***de Prevention Month, make it a point to check in with the veterans in your life. Not because you think something is wrong, but because staying connected matters.

Ask how they’re really doing. Give them time to answer. Listen without immediately trying to fix anything.

And sometimes, check on the person who is usually checking on everyone else.

📱 Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then Press 1
💬 Text 838255
📞 Butler County Crisis Line: 1-844-427-4747

Connection can make a difference!

09/04/2026

September is ***dePreventionMonth. If you or someone you care about is a veteran who may be in crisis or needs avenues to help, please go to our website’s Mental Health page that includes links to the Veterans Crisis Line (988) and other key services for former service members and their families:
https://dvs.ohio.gov/resources-for-veterans/more-resources/mental-health

09/04/2026

You can help our nation's Veterans by simply checking the petition link to see if your Representative has signed on. If they have not, please reach out to your Representative to get them to sign on.

Link for petition signatories: https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2026052122?Page=3
This is an important milestone. After months of work by NACVSO Members, the VSO community and veterans are now closer than ever to finally securing a floor vote. Securing that final signature this week would start the procedural clock on the discharge petition and put us on a path to passing MRSA in the House before Veterans Day.

The Major Richard Star Act is a bipartisan legislative proposal designed to permit combat-injured military retirees with fewer than 20 years of service to concurrently receive both their full Department of Defense retirement pay and their VA disability compensation without any offsets. Under current federal law, these veterans suffer a "dollar-for-dollar" drawdown, meaning their military retirement pay is reduced by the exact amount they receive in disability benefits—a policy advocates call the "wounded warrior tax"

You can help our nation's Veterans by simply checking the petition link to see if your Representative has signed on. If they have not, please reach out to your Representative to get them to sign on.

Link for petition signatories: https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2026052122?Page=3

This is an important milestone. After months of work by NACVSO Members, the VSO community and veterans are now closer than ever to finally securing a floor vote. Securing that final signature this week would start the procedural clock on the discharge petition and put us on a path to passing MRSA in the House before Veterans Day.

The Major Richard Star Act is a bipartisan legislative proposal designed to permit combat-injured military retirees with fewer than 20 years of service to concurrently receive both their full Department of Defense retirement pay and their VA disability compensation without any offsets. Under current federal law, these veterans suffer a "dollar-for-dollar" drawdown, meaning their military retirement pay is reduced by the exact amount they receive in disability benefits—a policy advocates call the "wounded warrior tax"

09/03/2026

Eight veterans. Eight stories of hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to building a stronger future.

Join us on Thursday, September 17 at 10:00 a.m. as we celebrate the graduates of the Middletown Municipal Court Veteran’s Treatment Court and recognize the work they have put in to reach this important milestone.

Graduation is more than the end of a program. It is an opportunity for our community to stand behind these veterans, recognize their accomplishments, and celebrate what comes next.

Veteran’s Treatment Court Graduation
📅 Thursday, September 17, 2026
🕙 10:00 a.m.
📍 One Donham Plaza, Middletown, OH 45042
🏛️ Courtroom 1, 1st Floor

Family members, friends, treatment providers, mentors, community partners, and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Come help us fill the courtroom and give these eight veterans the recognition they have earned.