PROVIDENCE, RI - On December 11, 2024, Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services (RIVETS) announced key accomplishments made in 2024 that have strengthened the agency’s commitment to serving Rhode Island’s military heroes and their families.

“Rhode Island is forever indebted to the brave men and women, and their families, who have served our country selflessly,” said Governor Dan McKee. “These heroes represent the best of our state, and I’m grateful to the Veterans Services team for helping us honor their service, support their day-to-day lives, and provide our veterans access to care and resources they need to enjoy the lives they deserve.”

“Your Veterans Services team is proud to come to work every day and advocate for our Veterans and their loved ones,” said RIVETS Director Kasim Yarn. “In 2024, we teamed up on projects that make Rhode Island a viable place for Veterans to work, retire, and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. We’re heading into 2025 with renewed optimism to continue finding new ways of serving our military families.”

RIVETS highlights include:

RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery Expansion 

Expansion efforts are underway at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery (RIVMC) in Exeter. Nearly 300 acres are dedicated as a solemn resting place for our Veterans and family members. Staff assists in approximately 100 monthly burials with an eye toward future growth and capacity. RIVMC applied for and received a $3.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to construct a new columbarium wall for 2,100 “niches,” or small compartments that hold urns. As cremation becomes more practical, the cemetery has built more niche walls to accommodate our military heroes' urns. Construction will finish in 2025.

RI Veterans Home Improvements  

The Vets Home is Rhode Island’s premier long-term health care facility for more than 140 war Veterans on Mt. Hope Bay in Bristol. In 2024, a pharmacy expansion nearly doubled the square footage and improved the workspace to service the increasing pharmaceutical needs of our Veteran residents. Security gates were also added to the property at the front and rear entrances to enhance safety for residents, families, and staff. In addition to this, RIVETS was awarded a $47,500 grant by the Department of Veteran Affairs to promote the hiring and retention of nurses. Separately, planning is underway for a job fair to recruit nurses and certified nursing assistants at the Veterans Home as the office looks to open more available beds for our deserving Veterans.

Veterans Café Offers Healthy Meals and Social Opportunities 

In July 2024, RIVETS launched the Veterans Café in partnership with Meals on Wheels of RI and the Office of Healthy Aging. The Veterans Café, at its core, offers an opportunity for Veterans over the age of 60 to share a nutritious meal, socialize, and connect with much-needed benefits like those provided by the Department of Human Services and VA Health Care in Providence. Café locations rotate monthly between locations in Woonsocket and Warwick. 

New Veteran Service Officers Across the State 

Eight new certified community behavioral health clinics now offer Rhode Island residents and military families access to Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) in different regions across the state. These newly trained VSOs are equipped to help Veterans, and their families navigate access to benefits in addition to being able to provide mental health and substance use services. RIVETS has worked on the health clinic rollout in partnership with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, and the RI Department of Children, Youth, and Families. For more information and to find a CCBHC near you, click here. 

Mental Health Awareness

Mental health awareness and suicide prevention are important pieces of overall health care in the Veteran community. RIVETS is a key partner with the Department of Health in coordinating services between local, state, and federal agencies working on behalf of the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant ($750,000). RIVETS and RIDOH produced “Ask the Question” training statewide to educate community organizations on best practices for collecting and utilizing military service information. “Help for Veterans” brought Veteran specific mental health resources to Veteran households. After a mass mailing effort to raise awareness of the program and reduce mental health stigmas, a dedicated website was visited more than 48,000 times.

Approximately 60,000 Veterans, active duty, guard, and reservists call Rhode Island home. Visit vets.ri.gov for information about programs, benefits, and services for Veterans and military families.