Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced several new impactful assistance programs and events Howard County Government and partnering agencies are launching this Veterans and Military Families Month to support Howard County’s veterans, active, and retired military personnel and their families. Photos from the event can be found on the County’s Flickr website and video on the County Executive’s Facebook page.
The proud son of a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force, our veterans come from every background, every corner of our nation, and every branch of service, united by a shared commitment to protect and defend. Their dedication strengthens not only our military, but our democracy, our workforce, and our communities. This Veterans and Military Families Month, I hope that through these initiatives, we are able to show our gratitude and support towards the more than 20,000 veterans and active-duty members who call Howard County home.
This November, the County has partnered with local area law schools and Maryland Legal Aid to host three free Veterans Legal Clinics for county veterans and their families at the County’s East Columbia 50+ Center. These clinics include a:
- Veterans Legal Tax Clinic on Monday, November 10th from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., held in partnership with the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. During this clinic, the University of Maryland will provide a presentation on veterans and taxes, as well as provide one-on-one assistance.
- Estate Planning and Wills on Monday, November 10th from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., held in partnership with Maryland Legal Aid. During this clinic, Maryland Legal Aid will provide a presentation on estate planning and wills, as well as offer one-on-one consultations for simple will planning and intakes for more advanced work.
Veterans Advocacy Clinic on Wednesday, November 19th from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., held in partnership with The University of Baltimore School of Law. During this clinic, the University of Baltimore will provide a presentation on veterans’ advocacy and offer one-on-one consultations.
“We express our deepest gratitude to all veterans for their service and sacrifice. The University of Maryland Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic looks forward to assisting veterans during the Veterans Legal Clinic,” said Beverly Winstead, Clinical Director with the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
“We recognize that the best results emerge from working closely and collaborating with our client community partners,” said Frank Vitale, Chief Attorney for Howard County Office of Maryland Legal Aid. “At this event, we'll present valuable information on how veterans can prepare for their future and the future of their family. After the presentation, we will have staff and volunteers available to answer additional questions and to open up new intakes for assistance in drafting wills and advance directives. As with all of our services, this is free of charge to eligible applicants.”
“A product of a military family with a generations-long history of military service, including being the daughter of the late Colonel Henry Reed, a career officer in the United States Marine Corps and two-time Vietnam War veteran and a veteran of the first Gulf War, I am proud to lead a law school that has committed to help meet the legal needs of veterans in our state,” said LaVonda Reed, Dean, The University of Baltimore School of Law. “Our Bob Parsons Veterans Advocacy Clinic under the outstanding leadership of Professor Hugh McClean, does important work positively impacting the lives of our state’s veterans and military-connected families. I am happy that the students in our highly ranked clinical program will be a part of the Veterans Advocacy Clinic later this month.”
“These expanded services in Howard County demonstrate a clear understanding of what Maryland’s veterans and military families need most—timely, practical, and community-based support,” said Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families Acting Secretary Ed Rothstein. “By strengthening access to wellness, transportation, and legal resources, local partnerships can directly improve quality of life. “Ensuring that resources are not only available but truly responsive to the evolving needs of our veteran community is vital to taking care of those who have served.”
Staff members from the County’s Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) Office of Veterans and Military Families (OVMF) and Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) will also be on hand at each clinic to provide attendees with information about available County resources and services. In addition to hosting a resource table, OCP will also be conducting a presentation on how the office educates and protects Howard County consumers and tips on how to avoid scams targeting veterans.
“As we recognize Veterans Day this November, our focus goes beyond celebration — it’s about ensuring real support,” said Jackie Scott, Director, DCRS. “Access to legal resources empowers veterans and their families to protect their rights, secure their benefits, and move forward with confidence. Through our Offices of Veterans and Military Families and Aging and Independence, we get to give back to our Veterans on special occasions like this and every day of the year. They’ve sacrificed so much for us. Our commitment is, and will continue to be, to stand beside them every step of the way.”
“The Office of Consumer Protection stands ready to assist our veteran and active member families with their landlord, consumer and scam avoidance needs,” said Tracy Rezvani, OCP Administrator.
Registration is not required to participate in any of these Veterans Legal Clinics. For questions and/or more information about these clinics, contact the County’s Department of County Administration at 410-313-2020.
In addition to these free legal clinics, Ball also unveiled that starting this month, the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks will begin offering county residents who are veterans, active, or retired military and their families, including spouse and children under the age of 18, a 10 percent discount on new annual Center, Fit4U, and Go50+ Memberships. Eligible residents who apply during Veterans’ Week, November 10th to November 16th, will receive a 25 percent discount on their new annual membership.
Recreation & Parks’ Center Membership gives access to the department’s three community centers – Gary J. Arthur, North Laurel, and Roger Carter, providing patrons with admission to each community center’s gymnasium (basketball/volleyball courts) and walking track only.
For residents between the ages of three to 49, Recreation & Parks’ Fit4U Memberships give access to each of the community center’s fitness and aerobics/dance rooms during open, non-class times, use of the gymnasiums during open and drop-in programs and walking track, access to the game rooms, and access to the pool at the Roger Carter Community Center.
Finally, Recreation & Parks’ Go50+ Membership packages are designed to enhance the quality of life for Howard County’s 50-plus adult population. Together with DCRS’s Office on Aging and Independence, the Go50+ Membership packages are designed to give individuals access to the County’s 50+ centers and three community centers to meet residents’ health and wellness needs.
“My entire department would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all active duty and retired military personnel — your courage, sacrifice, and unwavering service inspire us every day,” said Nick Mooneyhan, Director of Recreation & Parks. “As a small token of our appreciation, Recreation & Parks is proud to offer you and your immediate family members a discount on a variety of new center memberships.”
The County’s Office of Transportation has also partnered with the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA) to offer all registered RTA paratransit riders who are U.S. military veterans free rides to the Baltimore VA Medical Center. For questions and/more information about this service, contact RTA’s Customer Service at 1- 800-270-9553.
“I am so proud of this day as we honor our veterans who has served this country with valor, dignity, and courage,” said Clarence Dickerson, III, Administrator, Office of Transportation. “Because of their sacrifice we are providing free paratransit rides to the VA Medical Center in Baltimore. Our veterans have given so much of their lives that we honor them with this.”
Since taking office, Ball’s administration has launched and helped advance several initiatives to recognize, remember, and support our brave military personnel, past and present. Just last November 2024, Ball unveiled the County’s OVMF’s new “Tribute to County Veterans & Military Members” webpage to honor county hometown heroes. Launched by OVMF, with the support of the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families, this website honors county residents who are serving or have served in the U.S. Armed and Uniformed Services since World War I. The website features photos, bios, military histories, and personal updates of service members who were from or at one-time lived in Howard County.
In June 2025, Ball joined the Howard County Veterans Foundation to break ground on the future site of the County’s first-ever Veterans and Military Family monument. Located at Recreation & Parks’ Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey Park in Downtown Columbia, the monument will feature a sculpture made of three symbolic stars. The base star will represent the greater community that supports the military and their families when someone deploys. The blue star commemorates military service members and their families. A hollow gold star embedded in the blue star recognizes the hole left after the loss of service members who have died in the line of duty. A reflecting pond and bench will circle the sculpture and complete the monument, which will be engraved with words and quotes highlighting service, freedom, and democracy. Ball provided more than $1.5 million in County funding toward the foundation’s total fundraising goal of $2.75 million to design, build, and maintain the monument. More details about the project can be found on the Howard County Veteran Foundation’s website.
To learn more about OVMF, its programs and initiatives, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/veterans.