Veterans Resources Newsletter
June 2026
📬 From the Editor
🇺🇸 In Tribute to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice. 🇺🇸
June arrives this year carrying both celebration and grief, and I want to honor both honestly.
This edition includes a tribute here to Rhyen Simon Valdez, a U.S. Army veteran and Fresno State student who passed away on May 14, 2026, at 29 years old. He slipped away peacefully in his sleep the night before he was set to graduate with a degree in history. He was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, the Fresno State Rugby team, and the Student Veteran Organization. He had plans to become a high school history teacher. He was, by every account, someone who made people feel seen and who gave generously of himself to everyone around him.
In the days following his passing, Fresno State and the City of Fresno announced plans to rename the Veterans Resource Center after him and to declare a day in his honor. A GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and keep his memory alive has been created. If you can contribute, you can find it at Honoring My Brother’s Memory.
I share his story here because it belongs to this community. He served. He came home. He built a life, earned a degree, and was one day away from walking across that stage. His story reminds us that our veterans carry things we cannot always see, and that the road from service to the next chapter is never truly finished just because someone looks like they are doing well.
June is PTSD Awareness Month. It is also a month full of events, milestones, and reasons to gather. I want us to hold both of those things at the same time. Celebrate loudly. Check on each other quietly. And if you or someone you know is struggling, please use the resources listed in this newsletter. They are there. So are we.
Rest easy, Rhyen. We have your six.
Jessica M. Hanna, Editor
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Mental Heath and Crisis Support
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. Support is available now.
Veterans Crisis Line Call or text 988, then press 1.
VA Central California Mental Health (559) 225-6100
VA VITAL Program – Fresno State Student Veterans (559) 225-6100 ext. 6249 V21FREVital@va.gov
Fresno County Behavioral Health (open to all community members) Behavioral Health Access Line, available 24/7: (800) 654-3937 Lifeline: 988
NAMI Fresno Free support groups, education, and advocacy for veterans, families, and community members in Fresno, Madera, and Kings Counties.
Highlights
June opens with the 82nd anniversary of D-Day on June 6, honoring the Allied forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy in one of the most consequential military operations in history. On June 11, the California Department of Veterans Affairs hosts its Women Veterans Reception and Trailblazer Awards at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles, celebrating the service and leadership of women veterans across the state, followed the next morning by the 3rd Annual L.A. County Women Veterans Summit offering a full day of professional development, benefits navigation, and community connection. June 13 brings the 5th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Run/Walk to Woodward Park in Fresno, a community race whose proceeds fund scholarships for college-bound youth and whose 5-mile distance carries its own history, inspired by the legacy of Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth. Flag Day and the U.S. Army’s 251st Birthday fall on June 14, carrying special weight this year as the nation continues its Semiquincentennial celebrations. The Juneteenth Experience returns to Fresno June 19 through 21, presented by The Freedom Groups, with a flag raising ceremony, the Black Men’s March and Parade, live entertainment, health and financial literacy resources, and more than 10,000 attendees expected across multiple venues. June is also PTSD Awareness Month, with June 27 designated as National PTSD Awareness Day, and that same weekend the Central Valley Veterans Dental and Vision Clinic opens its doors at American Legion Post 509 in Fresno, offering free dental and vision care to veterans and their families on June 27 and 28. Looking ahead to November, the Central Valley Veterans Star Spangled Ball returns with a Hollywood Nights theme at Fort Washington Country Club on November 7.
D-Day Anniversary — 82nd
June 6, 2026 | National Observance
“We will accept nothing less than full victory.”
Those were the words General Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered to Allied forces on June 6, 1944, as more than 150,000 troops crossed the English Channel to begin the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation. The operation, code-named Neptune, came at an enormous cost. More than 4,000 Allied soldiers lost their lives on that first day alone. Eighty-two years later, we pause to remember what was asked of them and what they gave.
The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, dedicated on June 6, 2001, bears the inscription that still says it best: “In Tribute to the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of Allied Forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944.” On this 82nd anniversary, we remember them.
CalVet Women Veterans Reception and Trailblazer Awards
Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 4:00 PM — 8:00 PM Bob Hope Patriotic Hall | Los Angeles, CA
The California Department of Veterans Affairs Women Veterans Division hosts this annual evening dedicated to honoring the service, leadership, and impact of women veterans across the state. The 2026 reception will also celebrate the CalVet Women Veterans Trailblazers, those whose advocacy, innovation, and service have strengthened support systems for veterans and their families throughout California. Women veterans across the Central Valley who are able to travel are encouraged to attend.
Register: tinyurl.com/calvetwv
3rd Annual L.A. County Women Veterans Summit: Expanding Horizons
Friday, June 12, 2026 | 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM Bob Hope Patriotic Hall | Los Angeles, CA
Hosted by the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, this full-day summit brings together women veterans for keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking focused on benefits navigation, career development, wellness, and professional growth. Now in its third year, the summit has become one of the most substantive women veterans gatherings in the state. Those attending the CalVet reception on June 11 can make a full weekend of it.
Register: tinyurl.com/3wvsummit
Juneteenth Freedom Run/Walk — 5th Annual
Saturday, June 13, 2026 | 8:00 AM Woodward Park, Fort Washington Parking Lot | 7775 N. Friant Road, Fresno
Now in its fifth year, the Juneteenth Freedom Run/Walk is a Fresno tradition rooted in both history and community. The 5-mile distance is intentional: it is twice the distance that Opal Lee, known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, walked to collect signatures to make Juneteenth a national holiday. The initial 2.5 miles represent the two and a half years it took for enslaved people in Texas to learn they were free after the Emancipation Proclamation. Participants can choose between the 5K or the 5-mile distance. Proceeds fund scholarships for college-bound youth. Open to all ages and abilities.
Register: juneteenthfreedomrun.com
Flag Day and U.S. Army 251st Birthday
Sunday, June 14, 2026 | National Observance
June 14 carries two significant observances this year. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes on June 14, 1777, by the Second Continental Congress. The United States Army also celebrates its birthday on this date, marking 251 years of service in 2026. Both observances carry particular weight this year as the nation marks its Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The Juneteenth Experience — “Stronger Together”
June 19 — 21, 2026 Fresno City Hall | Fresno Convention Center | West Fresno Campus, Fresno City College
Presented by The Freedom Groups, The Juneteenth Experience is Fresno’s largest Juneteenth celebration, drawing more than 10,000 community members across multiple days and venues. The 2026 theme is “Stronger Together.” Events include a flag raising ceremony at Fresno City Hall, the Black Men’s March and Parade through downtown Fresno, live entertainment, a health zone, financial literacy workshops, cultural exhibits, vendors, food, and family activities. Veteran-serving organizations are expected to be present throughout the weekend.
fresnojuneteenth.com | (559) 402-3494
National PTSD Awareness Day
Saturday, June 27, 2026 | National Observance
June is PTSD Awareness Month, and June 27 is National PTSD Awareness Day, established by the U.S. Senate in 2010 in honor of Staff Sergeant Joe Biel, a National Guard soldier who took his own life after two tours in Iraq. The designation exists to encourage veterans and all who have experienced trauma to seek support without stigma. Resources are available through the VA and community partners. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day: call or text 988, then press 1.
Central Valley Veterans Dental and Vision Clinic
Saturday — Sunday, June 27 — 28, 2026 | 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM each day American Legion Post 509 | 3509 North First Street, Fresno, CA 93726
Free dental and vision care for veterans and their families, provided by Central Valley Veterans in partnership with Healing California. No appointment or pre-registration is required for patients. Services are first come, first served. Dental services include exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, and extractions. Vision services include eye exams and prescription glasses issued on site. VA, Fresno County VSO, CCLS, and EDD representatives will also be present. Note that patient intake may close at noon on Sunday, so arriving early is strongly encouraged. Volunteers are still urgently needed, including dental professionals, vision professionals, medical staff, and general support volunteers.
Volunteer contact: Gina Bustamante | (559) 360-2671 | Reg2busta@gmail.com
Volunteer registration: volunteers.healingca.org
Event details: healingca.org/upcoming-clinics/fresno-062026
Dates: Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day
Location: American Legion Post 509, 3509 North First Street, Fresno, CA 93726
Admission: Free
Save the Date — Central Valley Veterans Star Spangled Ball: Hollywood Nights
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | Red Carpet Opens 5:00 PM Fort Washington Country Club | Fresno, CA
The Central Valley Veterans annual gala fundraiser returns this November with a Hollywood Nights theme. Join in your best Hollywood glam for an evening supporting veterans in the Central Valley. Corporate sponsorships and tickets are now available.
Ongoing Events
Veterans Fall-In
Veterans Fall-In provides recurring opportunities for veterans to access employment, education, housing, and benefits support at the VA Auditorium throughout the year.
POC: Chris Mirales (559) 299-0471
Veterans Job Club
Provides employment-focused support for veterans, including job search assistance, training resources, and workforce readiness guidance through regularly scheduled Job Club sessions.
Bret Thomas
Central California Legal Services
Provides free civil legal assistance for eligible veterans through scheduled legal clinics, including support with benefits, housing, consumer issues, family law matters, and discharge upgrades.
Email: VJSP@centralcallegal.org
Contributing Organizations
Central Valley Veterans CVV)
Nonprofit coordinating veteran support services and community-based events across the Central Valley.
Clovis Veterans Memorial District
A community district dedicated to serving veterans and providing a venue for memorial and community events (celebrating 80 years of service).
Workforce Assistance Center
A regional hub providing employment services, training, and job search resources for job seekers and employers.
Fresno VA / VA Central California Health Care System
Provides comprehensive health care and supportive services to veterans in Central California and across the US.
Kings County Veterans Services
A government agency providing assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining state and federal benefits.
Fresno County Veterans Service Office
A county office that assists veterans in navigating the VA system and securing earned benefits.
The Student Support Services Veterans (SSSV) program provides a comprehensive support network for first-generation, low-income, or disabled student veterans transitioning to academic life. Participants receive specialized benefits, including individualized academic counseling, priority registration, and access to exclusive supplemental grant aid. This initiative fosters a strong community through peer mentoring and dedicated resources, such as private computer labs and textbook loans.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter curates publicly available information from veteran-serving organizations across Fresno County, the Central Valley and the state of California to improve coordination, visibility, and access to services. All events and programs are hosted by the organizations listed and many more.
Feedback & Suggestions
Have an event, update, or correction to share? Submissions are welcome to help keep this information accurate and useful.
Editor: JMHANNA
Community coordination, accessibility, and instructional design support
Contact: jmhanna.ca@gmail.com | LinkedIn | Website