Dear fellow Veterans, advocates, and friends,
As 2021 winds up, I’d like to take this opportunity to pause and reflect on this past year before I tell you more about this holiday edition of the Veterans Voice.
Together, we have weathered a difficult chapter in Nevada history. Sadly, few of us will emerge from the pandemic untouched or unchanged. My deepest sympathies go out to those who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 and to those who have been adversely impacted by the virus in other ways. If you find yourself struggling, we have provided both online and in-person self-care resources (under Health and Wellness in this e-newsletter).
On the flip side, times of challenge can make us stronger, more resolute and more determined to live your best life. I hope you plan to make mental health and wellness a priority in the New Year—I know I am!
Focusing on mental wellness can be tough any time of the year, but especially during the holidays. That is why we have put together this special, holiday edition of the Veterans Voice. It is full of information that will sooth your soul, make you smile, or inspire you. I encourage you to read about the Las Vegas Raiders visit to the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home or learn about the leadership-building youth organization, the “Devil Pups.” Do you like stories with a twist? Then check out Robert Mudge’s story under Honoring Our Heroes. He received recognition from the Coast Guard, decades after retiring. We also have features on Quilts of Valor, the “Veterans in Care” recognition program, and the Veterans K-9 Corps peer support group. And we are recognizing Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day as well as honoring Cold War veterans this month.
Finally, I hope you and your family will be able to join us on Saturday, December 18th, for Wreaths Across America, at either the Northern or Southern Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Check our website at veterans.nv.gov for details or read about this event under Honoring Our Heroes.
As I close, I wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and joyful holiday season. We at NDVS keep the families who have lost loved ones in our thoughts and in our hearts.
Respectfully,
Kat Miller
Copyright © 2026 Nevada Department of Veterans Services
