Dickenson County Behavioral Health Military and Veteran Services

08/08/2025

💜Today, on National Purple Heart Day, may you pause to remember and honor the over 2 million Purple Heart recipients who received the award by being wounded or killed by an instrument of war in the hands of an enemy, or while prisoners of war. Since August 7, 1782, each of the brave men and women who have received this medal done so by an enormous sacrifice of self. Although this is one of the most recognized and respected honors awarded, it is one that soldiers and families often call "the award nobody wants" due to the cost paid to become a recipient. August is Purple Heart Month! Honor and give thanks to these brave men and women all month long 💜

Did you know.....

James Arness, the actor known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in World War II. He received the medal after being severely wounded in his right leg during the Battle of Anzio in Italy. He was also awarded a Bronze Star for his bravery during the war.
Arness, whose real name was James Aurness, served as a rifleman in the U.S. Army. He was part of the 3rd Infantry Division and landed on Anzio Beachhead on January 22, 1944. During a battle in a vineyard on February 1, 1944, he was wounded by machine gun fire and concussion grenades. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after spending 18 months in military hospitals recovering from his injuries, which included a severely injured right leg. The leg wound caused him chronic pain throughout his life.

08/06/2025

Please keep Ft. Stewart, GA in your prayers. At least 5 casualties have been reported after an active shooter situation on base earlier today. More than 10,000 people – soldiers, family members and Army civilian employees – reside on the post. May we all remember them in our thoughts and prayers today and in the days ahead. The overall pressures and stressors within the military, regardless of PTSD diagnoses, are heavy loads. May we all remember that sometimes the toughest war fought is the one inside us. 🧠❤️🇺🇸

03/30/2025

Today, we recognize National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This annual commemoration is held on March 29 each year to mark the day U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was disestablished in 1975. That same day 50 years ago, the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. These troops fought under challenging conditions, and when their service ended, were not always welcome when they returned home. They were often blamed for a war they didn't start when they should have been commended and celebrated for serving their country with valor. More than 3 million Americans served and over 58,000 men and women lost their lives during this 10-year long war. Today, we remember and thank each one and honor their sacrifices! 🇺🇸

03/20/2025

Come on out or miss out on a night of fun! April 12!

Ridgeview Middle School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is teaming up with Route Clearance for Vets to host the 3rd Annual Second Chance to...

03/20/2025

📣🚨Hello Dickenson County! We need your help! Read and share!

In 2021, Dickenson County had 560 Veteran households with children. In 2023, Dickenson County had 616 total veterans per the census.

Do you have, or do you know military connected children in Dickenson County? Please send those names privately to the admins of this page ( Rozina Edwards Branham or Christopher Cronkhite ) so we can honor them with special recognition throughout the month of April.

April is "Month of the Military Child", a time to recognize and honor the sacrifices of military-connected children. The life of a military-connected child is one of constant change. In addition to the typical stressors of being a kid, a military child faces a unique set of challenges, including separation during deployment and being relocated across the country – or even the world. Being a military child means always having to adjust and adapt to an array of changes, and that’s not an easy task!

Purple is the color that has been chosen to show support for military children, as it is the combination of the colors of each branch of the military and April 23 is "Purple Up Day". We encourage local policy making bodies (town councils, school board, board of supervisors, boards of directors for government agencies), and elected officials to wear purple at their April meetings, post to their social media pages, and tag us, along with the hashtag . We also encourage each town or county office, all businesses, all government organizations, all teachers and school administration, and each family in our county to also wear purple on April 23rd to show support for military children and tag us and !!

Businesses and agencies: Paint the Town Purple!!! Hang purple wreaths, ribbons, bows, etc. on your buildings during Purple
Up month!

03/19/2025

🇺🇸 A huge thanks for this donation to our mission!

Route Clearance for Vets and Dickenson County Behavioral Health’s program for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) would like to...

03/15/2025

5 family yard sale going on now. Happy valley section of Clintwood. 200 Park Place Clintwood

03/13/2025

One of our biggest fundraisers of the year is coming up. April 12! Bring your spouse, partner, best friend, or whoever you can talk into a night of fun! The 3rd Annual Adult Prom! This year's theme is "Rustic Romance" and ticket prices include admission, a prom photo, food, and drinks! Come dance the night away as we raise funds to help our service members, veterans, and their families! Please like and share this post to help us reach our goals!

03/13/2025

Today we pay honor and respect to mans best friends - Happy National K9 Veterans Day!
National K9 Veterans Day recognizes the dedicated K9 units who’ve served since World War II. The official use of dogs for military purposes in the United States began during World War II with the inception of the War Dog Program, or "K9 Corps," on March 13, 1942. The K9 Corps initially recruited civilian dogs and their owners, training these teams for various duties, including sentry, scout, and messenger roles.
More than 1,600 military working dogs now have paws on the ground, serving beside our service members across every branch of our armed forces. These incredible K9s don’t just wake up heroes—they go through rigorous training alongside their handlers to master skills like detection, protection, and search & rescue. Their journey requires endless hours of training, trust-building, and teamwork to ensure they’re ready to serve and protect. Handlers and their K9 partners develop an unbreakable bond, working together in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. From the moment they step into the field, these K9s put their lives on the line to protect their human partners. Whether it’s sniffing out hidden threats or offering comfort during tough times, their unwavering loyalty and dedication are nothing short of remarkable.
From the battlefield to homeland security, military working dogs stand as unwavering partners in mission success. We owe these teams our deepest gratitude for their service and commitment. Today, let’s take a moment to reflect on the courage of these four-legged heroes. Their work may often go unrecognized, but their contributions to our safety and security cannot be overstated. Here’s to all the K9 veterans—thank you for your service! 🐾🇺🇸

Comment below to show your respect!

🚨 Don't forget to hit subscribe! 🚨We sat down with MSG (R) Luke Smith and his retired military malinois K9, SGM(R) Rico to learn about their story and how...

03/10/2025

Are you a veteran affected by the recent floods? You may be eligible for benefits!

In the wake of a disaster, here are some resources available to Veterans and their families.

03/08/2025

If that cross gets a little too heavy
If one night gets a little too dark
If the demons you've been fighting get the drop on a worn out heart
I ain't saying I can make it all better
But when it feels like it can't get worse
And you're thinking 'bout calling it quits
Call me first

276-926-1680
276-926-HELP
276-926-1650
Call or text 988

Tyler Braden - Call Me First (Visualizer)📱 Text me - 334.319.9593Tyler Braden has the gritty powerhouse vocal, the expressive pen and the ability to deliver...