Veteran Tax Relief Sparks Heated Debate
During the March 17 meeting, comments from Commissioner of the Revenue Tim Demeria ignited strong reactions from residents and veterans. Demeria raised concerns about the increasing cost of tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans, pointing out that some beneficiaries own high-value homes and luxury vehicles. His remarks led to backlash from veterans, including Zach Murphy, who viewed them as dismissive of their service and sacrifices.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
As Stafford County prepares its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, officials and citizens alike are raising concerns over the mounting financial burden of a state-mandated tax exemption for disabled veterans. The issue, discussed at the March 4, 2025, Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting, has sparked debate over the program's sustainability and impact on county taxpayers.
Mayausky: "A Worthy Program, But an Unfunded Mandate"
Stafford County Commissioner of Revenue Scott Mayausky detailed the rapid growth of the veteran tax relief program, which has significantly expanded since its inception in 2011.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
From delivering meals to providing emotional support, Simply Angels Veterans Outreach has become a vital resource for hundreds of veterans living with disabilities in Virginia. Simply Angels Veterans Outreach, a nonprofit organization that supports disabled and homebound veterans, has been serving six Virginia counties for nearly 40 years.
Founded by veteran Susan Purks, the group began when she helped a severely burned veteran regain his passion for life. Over time, Purks expanded her efforts to assist other disabled veterans, focusing on career plans tailored to their physical and emotional needs.
Andrea Graham said, âThe name came about from the clients themselves who often referred to their visitors as âSimply Angels.ââ
Today, Simply Angels provides services in Hanover, Caroline, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Louisa, and King George counties. The organization has grown from assisting one individual to supporting 300 veterans, with many more on a waiting list. Volunteers deliver food, provide companionship, and assess veteransâ needs, including home repairs, transportation, and crisis intervention. Graham said, âwe often respond to emergency situations in the middle of the night if the veteran canât sleep, has a medical crisis, or simply didnât make it to the bathroom in time. We build relationships and teach the clients to build relationships and become active in the community again.â
Many clients face barriers to accessing traditional food banks, so the group delivers canned goods and prepared meals directly to veteransâ homes. The drivers are trained in recognizing and dealing with PTSD, emergency mental health crisis care, and protecting the personal information of homebound veterans, who can be easy targets for criminal activity, Graham said.
New clients and those in crisis receive weekly visits, while others are visited monthly. Simply Angels also offers 24/7 support via a dedicated phone line for emergencies or other needs.
Referrals often come from friends, neighbors, firefighters, and social services. Volunteers initially visit veterans with a meal in hand, working to build trust and address their specific needs. If the first visit is refused, Graham said, volunteers will visit again until the meal makes it onto the kitchen table.
âMany [veterans] need food, and all need to know they have not been forgotten and that they matter,â Graham said. âLoneliness, not PTSD, is the major cause of suicide among vets.â
To expand their impact, Simply Angels collaborates with nonprofits, churches, and fraternal organizations. âWe never try to duplicate services but love to join forces,â Graham said. They exchange canned goods with local food banks to provide veterans with easier-to-open containers. Churches have also donated kitchens for meal preparations, and fraternal groups have led food drives and provided financial support.
This year, Simply Angels became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making contributions tax-deductible. Their current project is the annual Christmas meal, which will provide three meals each to 200 veterans. Volunteers are needed to assemble the meals on December 21 at 7 a.m. at Travelers Rest Baptist Church in Spotsylvania.
The group is also seeking long-term volunteers for fundraising, food collection, and specialized roles such as marketing and pet sitting for veterans who are hospitalized. Donations of canned goods, small appliances, and monetary support are welcome. Interested individuals can connect with Simply Angels through their Facebook page.
âWe can find a job for anyone,â Graham said, noting the organization is happy to have any and all volunteers. Volunteers can help with fundraising, collecting canned goods, or even shopping thrift stores for crockpots, coffee pots, and other appliances veterans may need.
Graham also said they are looking for volunteers with marketing and media skills, as well as pet sitters to assist when veterans are hospitalized.
The ultimate goal of Simply Angels is to eliminate the waiting list and ensure that all referred veterans receive immediate support. Volunteers, many of whom are former clients, remain unpaid, with all donations going directly to veteran services.
âThe biggest thrill for Simply Angels is when clients progress from needing services to becoming volunteers, which has happened on more than one occasion,â Graham added.
Simply Angels can be reached through their Facebook page, which also provides information about volunteers opportunities and contact emails.
The organization provides free, comprehensive assistance beyond securing a job through tailored programs and services, offering veterans and military spouses the tools and guidance needed to thrive in their new careers.
Since its inception, Hire Heroes USA has celebrated over 100,000 job placements and confirmed hiresâa testament to its transformative impact. âEach hire is more than a statisticâit represents a life change, a family stabilized, and a community strengthened. This is the heart of our mission,â said Ross Dickman, the organizationâs CEO.
In-demand industries such as IT and healthcare dominate Hire Heroes USAâs placements and confirmed hires nationwide. From January 2023 to November 2024, these fields accounted for over 15% of all hires, with healthcare emerging as the top industry for military spouses, representing nearly 17% of spouse hires.
In the Woodbridge area, the landscape is slightly different. Defense contracting and government roles are the most common industries for veterans, followed by IT. Banking, finance, and insurance are also prominent, particularly for military spouses. The organizationâs $942 million economic impact is measured by multiplying the number of confirmed hires by the average salary, which for Hire Heroes USA clients stands at an impressive $69,263âwell above the national average.
The average Woodbridge client is 41 years old with 16 years of military service. Among them is Ashley Bethea, who found her footing in a new career with Hire Heroes USAâs help.
Bethea, a military spouse and a U.S. Air Force veteran, shared, âThanks to Hire Heroes USA, I not only got help with my resume but also guidance on how to approach interviews confidently. Today, Iâm thriving in a job that supports my career aspirations while allowing flexibility for my family. â
âAfter transitioning out of the military, I struggled to find a job that matched my skills,â said James Thompson, a Marine Corps veteran who also benefited from the program. âHire Heroes USA not only guided me but connected me with a career that has given me purpose and stability .â
Betheaâs new role as an AF Strategic Transportation Support Manager allows her to leverage over two decades of logistics expertise from her Air Force service. âBy providing a platform to further develop my skills in logistics within a dynamic industry, Iâm able to directly contribute to National Security,â she explained.
Hire Heroes USA holds virtual career fairs, resume workshops, and mentorship programs.
The American Legion Post 10 is hosting its annual Veterans Day ceremony in the City of Manassas Saturday (tomorrow) at the Harris Pavilion.
The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, but attendees should be seated in the pavilion by 9:30 a.m. There will be several performances this year by the following:
- Osbourn High School Marching Band;
- Unity Reed High School Air Force JROTC;
- Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe Band;
- The Young Marines; and
- The Boy Scouts.
And several people will give their remarks at the ceremony:
- M.C. Gunnery Sgt. M. Lewis;
- Steve Botello (Chaplain, American Legion Post 10);
- Douglas Keen, Manassas City Police Chief/Interim City Manager;
- Rick Raskin (Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7589);
- Cmdr. Stan Moore (American Legion Post 10);
- Lt. General Dan OâDonohue (USMC retired); and
- Rebecca R.Neiss.
Post 10 was formerly charted in 1986 and is named for Robert âBobbyâ Vincent McMaugh, a member of the Marine Security Guard at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 18, 1983. According to the Post 10âs website, McMaugh was killed with 16 other Americans and dozens of Lebanese citizens when the embassy was attacked.
If youâre going:
- What: Veterans Day Ceremony by the American Legion Post 10
- When: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.
- Where: Harris Pavilion (9201 Center St., Manassas)
Fredericksburg will host its annual Veteranâs Day procession on Monday, November 11 at 10 a.m. The walk will begin at Memorial Park (also known as Kenmore Park) on Kenmore Avenue and end at the Fredericksburg Area War Memorial on George Street.
The procession will travel down Washington Avenue from Mary Ball Street to George Street, ending around 10:30. The Veteranâs Day Commemoration will begin at 10:45 at the War Memorial. Streets will not be closed for the procession, but a rolling police escort will accompany the walkers.
Groups are encouraged to register online to participate. Veterans who are unable to complete the walk may travel on a VIP bus provided by Trolley of Fredericksburg. The VIP bus is for veterans only, and seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
On Friday, November 1, at 1 p.m., Manassas Park City held its annual Veterans Flag Ceremony outside City Hall, paying tribute to the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Led by the Manassas Park Honor Guard, the event commenced with reverence and respect as the American Legion Post 10âs Color Guard presented the colors, marking the beginning of a solemn yet celebratory occasion.
Interim City Manager Keith Nguyen welcomed attendees. Alisha Morkaâs rendition of the national anthem followed as voices joined in unison to celebrate the freedoms the veterans fought to protect.
A significant moment in the ceremony came as Commissioner Charles Ziegler, the Virginia Department of Veterans Services commissioner, took the stage. A retired Navy veteran with 31 years of service, Ziegler spoke poignantly about veteransâ sacrifices and the American flagâs enduring symbolism. âThe American flag has been the symbol of our nationâs unity, as well as a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens,â he remarked. âEvery pledge of allegiance we take, and every flag-raising we witness is a celebration, and it honors the deeper meaning of how we live our lives and what we believe.â
Reflecting on the origins of the Pledge of Allegiance, Ziegler emphasized the importance of patriotism and unity in todayâs world, drawing a parallel to historical efforts to instill loyalty and respect for the nation. âWith all the distractions that we have today, how many of us think about patriotism?â he asked the crowd. âThe raising of our flag and our pledge of allegiance embodies patriotism, sacrifice, devotion, security, and loyalty.â
The Honor Guard formally raised the veterans flag, followed by remarks from Constantine Ferssizidis, Board Member of the Northern Virginia Veterans Association, and Josh Himan, a combat-injured Marine and Hylton High School graduate. Himan shared his personal story, highlighting his journey from civilian life to the Marine Corps and his experiences in Afghanistan, where he sustained severe injuries. He credited the support of Semper Fi & Americaâs Fund with helping him and his family through his recovery. âThey were always with me from the very beginning,â he said. âIâm proud to say that Semper Fi has grown to help all branches, supporting over 33,000 veterans across this nation.â
Councilmember Laura Hampton offered a local perspective, sharing stories of veterans from the Manassas area and underscoring their essential role in the community. âVeterans are the very lifeblood of a thriving and vibrant community,â Hampton stated, adding, âThe best way to honor veteransâ service is to speak their names, share their stories, and remember their contributions to our country.â She recounted a meeting with local veterans, including Harry Humphrey, a Vietnam veteran who served in the 293rd Engineer Battalion Transportation Company. She called it an honor to witness and share their legacy.
The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Nguyen, who expressed deep gratitude to all veterans present and nationwide. âAs we gather here today, may we continue to honor and support those who served and remember that the freedoms we enjoy are owed to their sacrifices,â he stated.
The Manassas Park Veterans Flag Ceremony poignantly reminds the city of its dedication to honoring its veterans, recognizing their contributions to national security and their integral role in the community. In Manassas Park and Prince William County, veterans make up a significant part of the population, strengthening local businesses, enriching community values, and shaping future generations with their resilience and service.
@ManassasParkGov hosts #Veterans Flag Raising Ceremony outside city hall today. pic.twitter.com/Xby0TO4NRa
â Potomac Local News (@PotomacLocal) November 1, 2024
From Stafford County Government:
In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Stafford County announced plans to illuminate the George L. Gordon, Jr., Government Center and the Stafford Armed Services Memorial green from October 24 â November 11 as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort uniting counties to support military veterans. The initiative, led by the National Association of Counties (NACo), raises awareness about the unique challenges faced by many veterans and the resources available at the county, state, and federal levels to assist veterans and their families.
Residents can help honor veterans in two ways â by shining a green light or by posting on Staffordâs social wall.
Press Release:
Sheriff Roger Harris is honored to host our 3nd annual celebration in honor of Veterans of all military branches. The event will be held on November 9, 2024, between 10am and 2pm at the Spotsylvania Public Safety Building located at 9119 Dean Ridings Lane, Spotsylvania, Virginia 22553. Please join us at the opening ceremony at 10 am. A variety of guest speakers will help kick off our event. There will be performances by the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and the Kena Highlanders Pipes and Drums Team.
Multiple military equipment displays and various presentations from other military vendors will be on hand for attendees along with all military recruiter branches. This event is open to the public and we hope you and your family can join us to honor our military veterans.
