Vet-to-Vet:   Special Events
THE ROCKLAND COUNTY JOSEPH P. DWYER
VETERAN PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM
WEEKLY WELLNESS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR VETS


Tuesday, September 2nd through Thursday, September 4th 2025:
2025 Mid-Week Veterans Retreat at Bear Mountain
The Joseph P. Dwyer Vet to Vet Program is pleased to announce the 2025 Bear Mountain Retreat taking place Tuesday, September 2nd through Thursday, September 4th. Each veteran (and a guest if they choose) will have a private room in one the stone cottages at Bear Mountain State Park. The Dwyer Vet to Vet Program will provide meals and activities on Wednesday, September 3rd including a Qigong session on Wednesday morning (calm coordinated body movements for posture, breathing, and meditation) as well as nature walks and paddle boats. The Bear Mountain Car Cruise Car Show will be from 5pm-9pm, weather permitting, please see the link below for more information. https://www.bearmountaincarcruise.org/

For more information about Bear Mountain State Park, please follow the link below:
https://visitbearmountain.com/things-to-do/property-activities-in-bear-mountain-state-park/

This is a 2 night commitment with limited space.  We ask that you commit to staying in your rooms for both evenings. (9/2 & 9/3) Please email or call us if you are able to join us.

Semper Fi,
"Li"
Elise O'Keefe-Edson
Veteran Outreach Coordinator
Joseph P. Dwyer Vet to Vet Peer Support Program
Rockland County, New York
Cell: (646) 250-0294

Veterans Accessible Transportation
BRIDGES offers free door-to-door service to and from VA facilities in Montrose and Castle Point. A two week notice for scheduling or cancellations is required. Donations are welcomed. To schedule or learn more, call 845-624-1366 Ext. 139.

Dwyer Vet-to-Vet Wellness Activities
THE ROCKLAND COUNTY JOSEPH P. DWYER
VETERAN PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM
WEEKLY WELLNESS ACTIVITIES

MEDITATION - Weekly - (M, W & F) - 9-9:30 am. Class elicits deep relaxation and helps reduce stress and anxiety with experienced Instructor Brett Cotter (Stress is Gone Founder and Author of 3 Keys To Managing PTSD). Online virtual event you can experience via Zoom. Meeting ID 983 8404 0455; Passcode: join or Click here for link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/98384040455?pwd=djE3VGhUTDJzRU1HMEJ6bnJxa3E2QT09

VETERANS WALKING CLUB - Weekly - (Wednesdays) 9:30 am at PALISADES CENTER. Meet in front of BRIDGES, 2nd Floor, next door to Autobahn Indoor Speedway. We will walk between 45 minutes to an hour. Join a fast pace group, slow pace group or walk at your own pace for however long you want. The mall offers us a comfortable indoor venue regardless of the weather outdoors where we can gather together in camaraderie and get some fitness and exercise while we are walking.

GENTLE YOGA - Weekly - (Wednesdays & Fridays) - 7-8 pm & again on (Sundays) 10-11:15 am. Virtual session via Zoom. Yoga is extremely beneficial for your physical and mental health. Instructor Mira Stangl is a 500 hour Yoga-Alliance Certified Teacher With Extensive Training in PTSD and Restorative Yoga. If interested in attending email iquintana@vettovetrc.org. Then you'll be registered to get invitations to each session.

QIGONG - Weekly - (Thursdays) from 9-10 am. (Ancient Chinese Exercise). Gentle meditative exercises based on the cultivation and refinement of Universal Life Energy known as Qi. Practicing this exercise reduces pain, stress and anxiety, improves physical fitness and improves immune function and vitality. Instructor Norman Galinsky, MFA has over 36 years experience in the art. If interested in attending or have questions, contact Izzy Quintana at email iquintana@vettovetrc.org

Ismael (Izzy) Quintana
Veteran Outreach Coordinator
Joseph P. Dwyer
Veteran Peer Support Program
Rockland County (Vet to Vet)
Cell: (845) 587-6497

When you think about rural living, you may picture quiet mornings, wide-open spaces, friendly neighbors and a slower pace of life. But just because rural life seems peaceful doesn’t mean it has no challenges. People in rural communities, including Veterans, die by suicide at higher rates than people in cities.

Why? Rural areas tend to have higher suicide risk factors, like greater access to lethal means, higher economic distress, lower quality of health care and remoteness that can lead to feelings of isolation.

None of these things mean a suicide crisis will happen. But because nearly five million rural Veterans are at higher risk, VA is working to make access to care easier. And we’re raising awareness about lethal means safety to make sure rural Veterans know how to create secure home environments.

Breaking down barriers to care
Veterans live in rural communities for many reasons, including more privacy, lower cost of living, and less crowded towns and schools. One thing they may lack, though, is easy access to high-quality health care.  VA’s Telehealth Services ensure you can find care when and where you need it.

Here’s how it works:
If you’re at home: Use your phone or computer to meet with VA providers and share your health information, like blood pressure or glucose levels.
If you’re at a VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic: Connect to VA specialists in mental health, cardiology, neurology, pulmonology and more.
If you’re in a VA medical center: Telehealth brings specialists into your room via video. Services like Tele-ICU and TeleStroke make sure you get expert care, even in emergencies.
If VA can’t offer the service you need in a timely manner, you might be eligible for VA Community Care, where you can see a provider in your local area. Just talk to your VA care team to see what’s possible.

Creating a safe home environment can reduce suicide risk
A lot of people think if someone is in a suicide crisis, they’ll find a way no matter what. But that’s not usually the case.

Most people don’t switch to another method if the one they planned to use isn’t available. For example, if someone is thinking about using a firearm but it’s securely stored in a locked safe with the ammunition stored separately, they’re not likely to try something else. Even if they do choose another method, it’s probably going to be less lethal than a firearm and this increases their chance of surviving.

One of the most effective ways to reduce suicide risk is to put time and space between someone in crisis and a firearm. A suicide crisis is usually brief, so securely storing firearms can be an effective barrier between a suicide impulse and taking action. That’s why VA created the Keep It Secure program

The message of Keep It Secure is straightforward:  Simple actions—like using a gun lock, storing firearms in a locked case or safe, and storing firearms and ammunition separately and locked—can help keep you, your loved ones and your community safer. You can request a gun lock from the suicide prevention coordinator at your local VA medical facility.

Reducing suicide risk for rural Veterans
Rural life offers a lot: connection to land, community and tranquility. With the right tools and support, like Telehealth Services, Community Care and Keep It Secure, it can also be a place where Veterans stay safe and well.

These Veterans have become healthier, happier, and more empowered thanks to mental health treatment.

Hear Veterans share how prioritizing mental health and opening up about their experiences helped them become healthier versions of themselves.
WATCH THEIR STORIES

https://www.maketheconnection.net/recovery/index.html

Watch this episode of theSITREP and learn the easiest way to determine if a Veteran qualifies for VA health care, by  use of VA's list of priority groups.
WATCH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWMCqSd7gco

In this episode of theSITREP, Paul explains the easiest way to determine if a Veteran qualifies for VA health care, by use of VA's List of Priority Groups. For additional information and to see which benefits you or your family may qualify, visit the web links below. To view all our content, visit    / @vamadesimple   To view or listen to podcasts, visit    • #theSITREP | Veterans Benefits Made Simple   Need an immediate answer or help with a situation regarding VA benefits? Call, 24/7, at 1-800-MyVA411 (698-2411) Have a topic suggestion or question you would like to see addressed on a future episode of theSITREP? Email us at theSITREP@va.gov. Please know that VA policy precludes us from being able to respond to personal email, however our team does its best to review and consider each submission. Thank you in advance for contacting us and supporting theSITREP! Want to receive the newest episodes of theSITREP in your email inbox? Sign up for the VetResources email newsletter, which features the newest episodes and also offers Veteran-centric news stories, various deals and discounts, employment opportunities, and much more. To sign up, visit https://news.va.gov/vetresources/

National Day of Service and Remembrance
Patriot Day
September 11, 2025


Join your fellow citizens in honoring our Veterans, families and first responders. Forty-seven victims of September 11 are buried in VA national cemeteries and over 16,000 Veterans from the Global War on Terror are buried by us. Let's honor their service on this solemn day. Register below.

Volunteers clean headstones at a VA national cemetery.
1. Find more information about a cemetery near you: https://www.cem.va.gov/National-Day-of-Service/

2. You can register here: https://www.carrytheload.org/patriot-day-national-day-of-service/

3. Apply for Pre-Need Eligibility at a VA National Cemetery today:
https://www.va.gov/burials-and-memorials/pre-need/form-10007-apply-for-eligibility/introduction

4. Visit NCA's Plan Today, Honor Forever website to learn about VA burial and memorial benefits: Plan Today, Honor Forever Veterans and Families

New York Veterans Cemeteries
Calverton National Cemetery
Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Long Island National Cemetery