Happy Holidays to you and yours! I hope this season brings time for you to gather with loved ones, enjoy some rest and relaxation, and look forward to the coming year.

I am enjoying meeting with many of the employees at our Veterans Homes this month as we connect over our annual “Cookies and Cocoa” events. A number of senior leaders are traveling to all the Homes during the month of December to visit with employees and express our thanks for the care these dedicated employees provide to our Residents.

After several years of significant growth – adding one new State Veterans Cemetery and three new Minnesota Veterans Homes – we were able to focus more on sustaining and enhancing the programs and services that benefit Veterans.

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During the winter holidays, the Minnesota State Veterans Cemeteries work to create a special environment where meaningful, one-of-a-kind memories can be shared. To honor Veterans and their families, Wreaths for the Fallen and volunteers partner with the four cemeteries to place memorial wreaths on gravesites.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, the cemeteries will host their annual Honor Wreath-laying Ceremony at 11 a.m.

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Major Clemeunt (Clem) Douglass’ desire to serve started early in life, with a role model Marine father who played the trumpet at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a personal Air Force ROTC college experience, where a trip on a C-47 plane made a very strong impression on him. As a young man, Clem also earned the rank of Eagle Scout (the highest level in Boy Scouts), an achievement that required demonstrated leadership, teamwork, discipline, a strong work ethic and a commitment to service. In addition, he lived in India and attended Woodstock School, located in Mussoorie, India for his junior and senior high school years while his father built dams. It was a time during which he learned how to get along with people from all walks of life.

With this combination of skills, background and characteristics, Clem ultimately decided to join the Air Force. He was nominated for admission to the Air Force Academy in Colorado by Alabama Congressman Armistead I. Selden Jr., with whom Clem corresponded for many years thereafter. Clem graduated from the Academy in 1960 (the second graduating class in its history), was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio and Patrick AFB in Florida and then was deployed to Vietnam as a pilot.

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Congratulations to four of the Minnesota Veterans Homes for being named a “Best Nursing Home” for 2026 by U.S. News and World Report magazine.

The Fergus Falls, Luverne, Minneapolis and Silver Bay Veterans Homes all received this recognition. And this is the fourth year in a row that Fergus Falls, Luverne and Minneapolis have been honored!

U.S. News and World Report analyzed data about staffing, patient outcomes and health and safety violations at nearly 15,000 facilities nationwide to identify the Best Nursing Homes for 2026.

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Jeremy Olson has joined the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) as Agency Chief Financial Officer.

Jeremy comes to MDVA offering an extensive background and career in Finance and Accounting that has spanned over 25 years. He has held managerial finance roles for more than 18 years with the State of Minnesota, including Accounting Manager at the Minnesota Judicial Branch, CFO with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and Assistant CFO with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, as well as other financial leadership roles in the private sector. Jeremy provides extensive understanding and expertise in financial analysis, auditing, internal controls and governmental accounting.

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Sometimes you just want to talk to a person and get some answers. If you’re a Minnesota Veteran or family member, LinkVet is just that person for you.

LinkVet is the “call center” for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) staffed by real people who have a variety of information at their fingertips to share with Veterans and their families. Hundreds of connections are made every month as LinkVet receives phone calls, online chats from the MDVA website or email messages.

Topics of inquiries cover all areas including housing, food insecurity, mental health, financial challenges, dental care, optical care, education and employment. “If the LinkVet team does not have the answer, they will find it,” says LinkVet Director Mary Lenz. “We have a large database of information that allows our team to quickly find answers to most questions from our callers. But we are also committed to doing research and connecting with other organizations to get more information if needed.”

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Interested in serving Veterans? Looking to make a difference in your community? Consider a career with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs! Roles in healthcare, nursing, facilities management and program management are featured below. Sign-up to receive our monthly jobs bulletin.

We proudly offer competitive pay, generous benefits as a State of MN employee, welcoming and supportive teams, and most importantly, meaningful careers.

To learn more and to apply, visit MinnesotaVeteran.org/Careers and click Current Jobs.