Veterans Day, always celebrated on Nov. 11, is a time to thank men and women who have served in the military. (Memorial Day in May honors whose who have died while serving their country.)

The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas) thanks veterans for their contributions and urges them to learn more about service-connected disabilities. These are injuries or diseases incurred during military service; they can be physical or mental. Veterans and their families may not be aware of the Service-Connected Disability initiatives from U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) that may entitle them to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. With the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and other community partners, DOH-Pinellas is spotlighting this alternative for veterans.

A brochure with information is posted at http://www.pinellascounty.org/veterans/pdf/Service_Disabled_Benefits_Brochure.pdf.

Veterans with specific questions can contact the Pinellas County Veterans Services staff for assistance at VeteranServicesInquiry@pinellascounty.org. Their website, http://www.pinellascounty.org/veterans/, has information on other benefits available for veterans and their families.

Veterans can also visit an outdoor park dedicated to honoring them. These are three locations in Pinellas:

• War Veterans’ Memorial Park, 9600 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg
• Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch at Lurie Park, 5500 N. 62nd Ave., Pinellas Park
• Purple Heart Park, 300 Main St., Dunedin

For information about DOH-Pinellas, go to www.PinellasHealth.com or call (727) 824-6900. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Nextdoor for the latest agency updates.

For more information about DOH-Pinellas, go to www.PinellasHealth.com and follow us on Twitter @HealthyPinellas.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.