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GREETINGS FROM COMMISSIONER LOREE SUTTON, MD Trim: 11.5 Veterans’ Day . . . Once a year, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Americans take time to celebrate the service of those men and women who, throughout the history of our nation, have taken the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. At the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs (MOVA), every day is Veterans’ Day. Under the leadership of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Team MOVA is honored to live our gratitude for New York City veterans and their families every day of the year. At MOVA, our mission is to improve the lives of our 225,000 veterans and their loved ones – spanning all of the boroughs, all generations of veterans, all components—active, reserve, and national Guard members, and all services. Since assuming duties as MOVA Commissioner in September 2014, MOVA has truly been on the move . . . And, as of last month, I am delighted to inform you that we have actually moved to our new office complex – come visit us at the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building on the 22nd floor at 1 Centre Street. As we continue to build our team (thanks to the support of the Mayor and the Speaker), MOVA is growing from its histor- ic ‘squad’ level of support to its unprecedented Citywide full team of capable and committed professionals . . . 2016 is truly set to be a banner year! Lastly, we are delighted that so many are able to join us for the New York City Veterans’ Day Parade . . . Please join us also in a moment of tribute to our beloved fallen comrade, Pat Gualtieri, whose legendary vision, wit, perspicacity and heart truly transformed our parade into America’s Parade . . . Rest in peace, Brother. Loree Sutton, MD Brig General, US Army (Ret.) Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs SALUTING NYC VETERANS! Connecting veterans with resources We Have Moved! Visit Us in our NEW Office Space: City of New York Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs One Centre Street, 22nd Floor, Suite 2208 New York, N.Y. 10007 (212) 416-5250 Web: nyc.gov/veterans Twitter: @NYCveterans THE UNITED WAR VETERANS COUNCIL America’s Parade is produced by the United War Veterans Council, a 501(c)19 non-profit dedicated to mobilizing our communities to honor, support and serve America’s veterans. UWVC is dedicated to ensuring that the public always embraces its commitment to provide all veterans and their families with the care, recognition and opportunities they have rightfully earned. It works to achieve this goal by supporting and promoting a wide range of initiatives that provide vital services to our veterans community, including health, education, em- ployment, housing, mental wellness, and family counseling, raising positive awareness and increase understanding of the needs of our veterans, military service members and their families through major public events and promotional activities, and uniting veterans groups, community organizations, city, state and federal agencies, local businesses, major corporations and the general public behind efforts to serve veterans of all eras. Originally founded by veterans of the War of 1812, the current United War Veterans Council was reactivated in 1985 to revive NYC’s traditions of honoring and serving its veterans. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the UWVC provided much-needed services to the veterans community, including opening Borden Avenue veteran’s shelter, hosting regular “Stand-Down” outreach events, and other initiatives. In addition, by first salvaging and then massively expanding the traditional New York City Veterans Day Parade (this year’s “America’s Parade”), UWVC ensured that the veterans community would always possess a highly visible platform for receiving recognition ORING SERVICE HON and raising awareness. Today UWVC continues and expands on its work to provide services to New York City’s veterans while serving as a spotlight and loudspeaker for the veterans community across the country. It is currently working to engage and integrate the latest generation of veterans, ensuring that it will continue to serve veterans and the broader community for years to come. NOVEMBER 11, 2015 5