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Freedom 250 Event Serves Veterans, Celebrates Milestones

Group photo of 11 people standing next to a blue banner in a gymnasium.

The VA Maryland Health Care System, as part of the Veterans Chesapeake Alliance, hosted a special Veterans Benefits Fair at the Edgewood Recreation and Community Center on May 14, 2026.

The event marked America’s 250 years of independence and the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA’s) 80th anniversary of providing health care to our nation’s Veterans. The focus of the event was two-fold: to educate and enroll Veterans in the care and benefits they deserve while simultaneously celebrating these significant milestones. 

More than 120 Veterans attended the fair, taking advantage of the opportunity to get one-on-one assistance filing or following up on VA benefit claims and/or applying for enrollment in VA health care. Veterans were also able to connect with representatives from a variety of VA Maryland Health Care System programs, including  Post-9/11 Military2VA (transition and case management), Geriatrics and Long-Term Care, Patient Experience/Consumer Relations, and Suicide Prevention.

A resource area featured information tables staffed by a local VA Vet Center, along with multiple state and county organizations serving Veterans, including the Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families, Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans, Maryland State Cemeteries, and the Harford County Veterans Commission.

In addition to one-on-one assistance and a myriad of information for Veterans, each event attendee received a “Freedom 250 – VHA 80” commemorative magnet.

The Chesapeake Veterans Alliance is comprised of the Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families, the VA Maryland Health Care System, and the Baltimore Regional Office of the Veterans Benefits Administration. To be notified of upcoming events and opportunities, sign up for the VA Maryland Health Care System’s E-News subscription service by going to https://www.va.gov/maryland-health-care and clicking on “Subscribe to VA Maryland health care news and announcements” under “Get updates from VA Maryland health care.”