Veterans SITREP

Each November, communities from coast to coast participate in Operation Green Light, a powerful initiative encouraging counties, cities, and residents to illuminate buildings and homes in green. It’s a simple gesture with a profound message: we see you, we support you, and we honor your service. But behind that symbol is a deeper mission — raising awareness of the challenges veterans face and strengthening the connection between veterans and the services available to them at the local level.

Joining us today on Veterans SITREP is Matt Chase, Executive Director and CEO of the National Association of Counties. Under his leadership, NACo has championed Operation Green Light as a nationwide call to action, reminding communities that supporting veterans isn’t just a federal responsibility — it’s a local one. Counties play a critical role in delivering services, expanding access, and ensuring veterans and their families have the resources they need to thrive.

Joining us on Veterans SITREP today is Jacqueline Jules, an award‑winning poet, author, and storyteller whose work has long explored themes of identity, loss, and healing. Her newest collection, Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember, offers a poignant, intimate reflection on September 11th — not through headlines or history books, but through human experience. These poems remind us that behind every moment of national tragedy are individuals navigating fear, hope, and the quiet courage to carry on.

Jacqueline’s voice is one that helps us remember — not just what happened, but how it felt. Her work invites us to pause, to breathe, and to honor the stories that continue to echo through our military and veteran communities.

Today, we’ll talk about the origins of this collection, the emotional landscape she captures, and the role poetry plays in preserving memory. We’ll explore how art helps us heal, how storytelling keeps history alive, and why these reflections matter for veterans, families, and all who lived through that day.

Today on Veterans SITREP, we're joined by Josiah Guthland, President and Lead Instructor of Green Zone Ally Training—a program that’s transforming how campuses, workplaces, and public institutions show up for veterans and military families. Josiah isn’t just teaching awareness; he’s building a culture of understanding, respect, and practical support that goes far beyond slogans and surface‑level appreciation.

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP, is Lindsay Wilson, the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinator for the VA Maryland Health Care System.  Lindsay and her team are on the front lines of prevention, early intervention, and survivor support, working every day to ensure that veterans and their loved ones have a safe place to turn when relationships become unsafe or unhealthy.

Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, a caregiver, or someone who simply wants to understand how to support those affected, this episode offers clarity, connection, and a reminder that no one has to face these challenges alone.

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP, is Crystal Lee Laramore, the Executive Director of Wheelchairs for Warriors and a fierce advocate for those who have sacrificed the most. Under her leadership, the organization has become a national force for mobility justice — stepping in where traditional systems fall short and ensuring that heroes receive equipment tailored to their bodies, their injuries, and their lives.

Wheelchairs for Warriors build highly customized, engineered-for-survival mobility solutions for veterans and first responders whose injuries demand far more than a standard-issue chair. These aren’t just wheelchairs; they are lifelines to independence, dignity, and possibility.

We’ll talk about the mission, the veterans they serve, the engineering behind these custom chairs, and the powerful stories of resilience that drive this work forward. This is a conversation about mobility, but even more, it’s a conversation about freedom.

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is Dr. Siobhan D. Kirksey, Women Veterans Program Manager, VA Maryland Health Care System.   The VA Maryland Health Care System recognizes that building a family is an important part of life for many Veterans.  Fertility challenges can affect both women and men, and they can be deeply personal, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming. The Fertility Services program is designed to ensure Veterans have access to coordinated, compassionate, and evidence-based reproductive care.  They provide comprehensive evaluation, consultation, and care coordination whether services are delivered within the VA or through trusted community reproductive specialists.  Let’s explore the Fertility Services Program and the resources available to veterans and providers.    

On this episode of Veterans SITREP, we continue our conversation with Clarissa Black, the founder and CEO of Pets for Vets, an organization dedicated to pairing veterans with rescue animals specially matched to their needs. Clarissa’s background in animal behavior and her passion for helping those who served have created a program that doesn’t just place pets — it builds healing partnerships, restores confidence, and brings comfort to veterans navigating life after service.  From the science behind the human–animal connection to the stories of transformation that remind us why this work matters, Clarissa has been at the forefront of a movement that gives both veterans and rescue animals a second chance at a better life.  So settle in — this is a conversation about hope, healing, and the incredible impact one idea can have when it’s driven by compassion and purpose.

Today on Veterans SITREP we speak with Clarissa Black, the founder and CEO of Pets for Vets, an organization dedicated to pairing veterans with rescue animals specially matched to their needs. Clarissa’s background in animal behavior and her passion for helping those who served have created a program that doesn’t just place pets — it builds healing partnerships, restores confidence, and brings comfort to veterans navigating life after service.  From the science behind the human–animal connection to the stories of transformation that remind us why this work matters, Clarissa has been at the forefront of a movement that gives both veterans and rescue animals a second chance at a better life.  So settle in — this is a conversation about hope, healing, and the incredible impact one idea can have when it’s driven by compassion and purpose.

Today, we continue our conversation with Jimmy Anderson, Deputy Secretary for the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families.  Deputy Secretary Anderson brings a remarkable blend of enlisted and commissioned Air Force service, national security experience, White House leadership, and private-sector strategy to Maryland’s veterans’ community.  He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, served at the White House advancing the PACT Act and veteran engagement, and now oversees Maryland’s statewide service and benefits programs, cemeteries, memorial affairs, intergovernmental relations, and legislative affairs. 

Veterans SITREP is honored to be joined today by Jimmy Anderson, Deputy Secretary for the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families.  Deputy Secretary Anderson brings a remarkable blend of enlisted and commissioned Air Force service, national security experience, White House leadership, and private-sector strategy to Maryland’s veterans’ community.  He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, served at the White House advancing the PACT Act and veteran engagement, and now oversees Maryland’s statewide service and benefits programs, cemeteries, memorial affairs, intergovernmental relations, and legislative affairs.   Today we’re going to learn more about the very backbone of Maryland’s military and veteran community programs and services.