Veterans Connection 4/14/2026

VA has announced $16 million in grants for organizations that provide adaptive sports programs for veterans. Adaptive sports, also known as "parasports," are sports played by individuals with a disability. Access to adaptive sports can be crucial to maintaining the physical and mental health of disabled veterans.

This round of grant funding can go a long way to supporting local organizations, so if you know anyone who participates in a local adaptive sports organization please let them know. Eligible organizations only have until May 13th to apply, so there's not much time to enter an application.

VA has long maintained an adaptive sports program while certain military branches have their own Wounded Warrior programs that integrate parasports into long-term care solutions for severely injured or disabled service members and veterans.

Fox 19 recently ran a story about the Dayton Mobile Vet Center made its way around Butler County to advertise the Vet Center services and to provide support to local veterans.

The Dayton Vet Center is actually located in Kettering, but also has satellite locations in Hamilton, Sidney, Springfield, Urbana, and Wapakoneta. The Mobile Vet Center allows the Vet Center to reach those in-between areas that may not have a regular Vet Center nearby.

While Vet Centers are part of VA, they are not medical facilities and are not part of the VA Hospital system. Vet Centers offer confidential help for veterans, with services such as counseling for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They also offer recreational groups to help veterans connect with one another.

The Vet Center is a vital resource for veterans looking for support. Click the link below to see all the services the Vet Center has to offer.

A new historic market has been unveiled at the Patterson Homestead in Dayton to honor Revolutionary War patriot Robert Patterson. The Dayton chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution was on hand along with Dayton History for the commemoration ceremony.

Robert, grandfather of the legendary NCR founder John Patterson, was an early pioneer in what is now Kentucky and Ohio. He took part in the Illinois campaign led by George Rodgers Clark, where Clark's small militia was able to capture several British forts in what is now Indian and Illinois. Patterson would later survive the Battle of Blue Licks, the last major Revolutionary War battle.

After the end of the Revolutionary War, Patterson would participate in the Northwest Indian War, during which he was severely injured during Logan's Raid. Afterward, Patterson moved north into Ohio and was one of the three founders of Cincinnati.

In 1802 he moved to Dayton and built his homestead, where he continued his military service as a quartermaster during the War of 1812. A large portion of what is now Dayton was once part of the homestead. The preserved grounds, with the house, now functions as a historic museum operated by Dayton History.

The Dayton Daily is running an article about the reunion of the 4950th Test Wing airmen, to be held on May 5–8. The 4950th Test Wing operated as a cutting-edge flight testing unit at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base between 1971 and 1994.

In 1981 the group suffered a tragedy when a ARIA 328 crashed in Maryland after departing from Wright-Patt. A key event for the reunion will be a memorial ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and a meetup afterward at Rip Rap Roadhouse.

Check out the Dayton Daily article below for a more detailed history of the 4950th. If you were once a member, you can register to attend using the email link below. Registration closes on April 15th, so not much time is left.

Looking for a job or maybe a change of career? Wright-Patt is hosting a "Hiring Our Heroes" event on April 23. Over 40 employers will be attending with thousands of open position. Opportunities are available in many fields including cyber/IT, defense contracting, aerospace, project management, administration, and healthcare.

From 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the event will consist of job seeker workshops. From 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. there will be a job fair.

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to land your dream career.

Veteran Deals