Chiquita Pena is set to compete in the Miss Veteran America competition in Orlando this October.

Pena, of Woodbridge, has been a Virginia resident for 13 years, originally hailing from North Carolina. “The military is how I found my way to Virginia,” Pena said. She served as an Army reservist, working in banking and later as a financial specialist and public affairs professional, with deployments to Afghanistan twice. “I served for 16 years,” she added.

Pena is now a Realtor in Virginia and juggles multiple roles, including government contracting and raising two children. She credits her Army training with her ability to handle diverse tasks.

Miss Veteran America is a competition that highlights the woman beyond the uniform, aiming to benefit women veterans through the nonprofit Final Salute, Inc. “Their sole mission is to provide safe and suitable housing for women veterans and their children,” Pena explained. She shared her personal connection to the organization, having lived in one of their transitional homes after returning from Afghanistan. “My daughter and I were able to make a thriving life with the help of Final Salute.”

Final Salute Inc. operates a transitional home in Alexandria, where women veterans can live for up to 24 months while receiving financial counseling, non-perishable food items, diapers, and other essential resources. Final Salute has assisted over 8,000 families through its services, emphasizing a hand-up approach to help women veterans regain their independence and dignity.

The nonprofit offers a range of supportive services, including transitional housing, financial assistance, and peer support, to help women veterans rebuild their lives and achieve stability.

The Miss Veteran America competition involves various elements, including interviews, advocacy, and a talent portion. “We are measured by our knowledge on Miss Veteran America, Final Salute, and issues surrounding women veterans,” Pena said. She emphasized her advocacy efforts, such as spreading awareness about women veterans’ homelessness and participating in fundraising efforts.

For the talent portion, Pena performed a lip-sync to “QUEEN” by Janelle Monae. She previously won the push-up competition, known as GI Joanne, in 2016. “Whoever reaches muscle failure last is the winner,” she explained.

As she prepares for the competition, Pena hopes to treat her 13-year-old daughter to the sights of Orlando. “Maybe going to the park or Disney would be great before the competition,” she said. She is also grateful for the support of her friends and family.

Pena represents Virginia in this national competition and encourages her community to support her through social media and sponsorship opportunities. “Please go to Miss Veteran America’s website and learn about the competition. Look at Final Salute’s mission and see how you can help,” she urged.

Press release:

The Annual Salute to the Armed Forces event, hosted by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, brings keynote speaker and Paralympian John Register to the Northern Virginia area on Wednesday, October 23rd.

Sponsored by QTS Data Centers, John Register joins Salute as this year’s keynote speaker. A two-time Paralympian, a Persian Gulf War veteran, and a TEDx motivational speaker. Despite facing adversity, Register was able to overcome many obstacles to become a voice for others in similar circumstances.

Each year, Salute honors the military presence in the Northern Virginia area and shows appreciation to our veteran community. The event will include patriotic performances, ceremonial honors and heartfelt tributes. The Annual Salute to the Armed Forces luncheon will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Heritage Hunt Golf & Country Club.

“Each year, I look forward to this exceptional celebration where we honor the brave men and women who served our nation,” said Bob Sweeney, CEO of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. “It is truly rewarding to see members of our community come together to express their appreciation to our veterans.”

The event is open to the public and members of the community to attend the luncheon to show their support for our veterans. All veterans and active-duty military members are eligible for a $10 discount by using promo code SALUTE24. register to attend visit: https://bit.ly/3RQ5TRa.

The Manassas Park Veterans Dinner was held at 6:30 p.m.,  June 27, 2024, at the Manassas Park Community Center. The event provided an opportunity for the city to honor those who served and Gold Star Families who have lost loved ones in the service of the U.S. military. City Manager Keith Ngyuen, an Army veteran, led a champagne toast that honored all branches of military service, including the Coast Guard and Space Force, with a champagne toast. An empty table was placed at the front of the room to remember those who did not come home. One tapered candle burned on the table. Mayor Jeannette Rishell stated that it was the least the city could do to honor veterans' service and sacrifice. The dinner menu included sliced brisket, pulled pork, mac and cheese, and baked beans. The band Velvet Storm played a mix of pop songs and soulful tunes. The group is composed of members from various churches, including the First AME Church of Manassas. The music prompted Councilman Darryl Moore to join the dance floor with recent Leadership Prince William graduate Evelyn Brumar, a social activist and Executive Director. It was the second annual Veterans Dinner in the city.

@ManassasParkGov held its annual #Veterans appreciation dinner. What a great event. Thank you for inviting us. Our story: https://t.co/Ngh5YnDPGj pic.twitter.com/2UYhF0vJUs

— Potomac Local News (@PotomacLocal) June 28, 2024

June 27 is National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screening Day. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers an online screening tool for those who may be experiencing symptoms.

The VA website says it is the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress, and explains “PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatic event.”

The VA reports that 23% of Veterans using VA care have had PTSD, compared to 7% of those not using VA care. In 2021, of the 6 million Veterans served by the VA Health system, about 10% of men and 19% of women were diagnosed with PTSD. The VA suggests talk therapy, medication, and other treatments are available for people experiencing PTSD.

A 2023 study published by the American Psychological Association found that veterans who received service dog placements had better emotional health, improved quality of social interactions, and lower odds of panic attacks.  K9 for Warriors shared the story of Kerry, a Virginia resident, mother, Marine veteran, and former first responder. She received  Bass, her certified service dog from K9s for Warriors,  the nation’s largest shelter-to-service organization, said publicist Olivia Stern.

Kerry had many traumatic experiences in her career and found K9s For Warriors online when searching for help. The organization paired her with rescue-turned-Service Dog Bass, who is specially trained to help PTSD or other war-related traumas that afflict veterans. During their first night together, Bass woke Kerry up from a nightmare.  Kerry said she and Bass are now a team that tackles everyday situations that previously seemed impossible.

The VA encourages those who may have experienced traumatic events to consider taking the self-screening test, reaching out to medical providers, and talking to friends or family. The VeteransCrisisLine is available for veterans and their families.

Kelly Sienkowski is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News. If you’re not getting our FREE email newsletter, you are missing out. Subscribe Now!

A new VA hospital in Spotsylvania County, set to open in March 2025, is generating significant concern about traffic congestion in the area.

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Six veterans graduated from the Prince William County Court's Veterans Docket May 1, 2024.

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Veterans Growing America: “Veterans Growing America held its weekly veteran business pop-up store this past Saturday. This event was graced by multiple military-connected small business owners and an administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman.”

“This pop-up store event was held to aid in accomplishing the administrator’s goal of advocation and promotion for small businesses and the approaching Small Business Saturday.”

“Come support Veterans Growing America in our mission on Small Business Saturday in Woodbridge, VA, at 15001 Potomac Town Pl Suite #130 between 11 am and 8 pm and visit vgapopupshop.com for more information.”

FauquierNow.com: “Despite yet another unforeseen delay in the opening of the long-anticipated Puller Veterans Care Center in Vint Hill, officials remain optimistic about the future.”

“Most recently rescheduled for 2023, the project’s completion has been pushed back to 2024.”

Stafford County Government: "Stafford County will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Armed Services Memorial on the Stafford County Government campus. All veterans and the public are invited to join Stafford in recognizing all who have served our country. As well the ceremony will be streamed on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/staffordcountygovernment."

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