The Connecticut state legislature, on Feb. 23, held a public hearing to discuss a bill that would designate Veterans Day as an official state holiday. If the legislation passes, public schools would be required to cancel classes for the occasion. The decision to observe the holiday is left to individual school districts.

The holiday originated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1926 Congress officially recognized the end of World War I with a concurrent resolution calling for an annual commemoration of the day. And, in 1938, Nov. 11 became a national holiday. Today, the day honors all American veterans for their willingness to serve and their sacrifice for the common good.

Joseph Nolan, a Vietnam War veteran and resident of Waterbury, Connecticut, believes that if this holiday is not recognized by local schools, its significance will be lost on future generations.

"I think people need to know what happened," he told NBC Connecticut. "We need to stop having a war every generation. And so I think the more we talk about, the more we discuss this, keeping this holiday a holiday in my mind is paramount."

Currently, some schools stay open on the day but honor veterans with special assemblies and parades, reported the Hartford Courant. In 2014, only about 75 of the 200 school districts in the state held classes on Veterans Day.

The committee has not yet made a decision.

The Florida Legislature, on Feb. 24, passed legislation that will allow disabled veterans to park at all airports in the state free of charge, reported the Miami Herald. The legislation passed unanimously and will soon cross the desk of Gov. Rick Scott. Ex-servicemembers who wish to take advantage this proposed law would have to acquire special-issue disabled veteran license plates. Additionally, the parking would only be free for week-long time spans. This is the legislature's second attempt to give local veterans free parking at local airports.

"It's just another bill to make Florida the friendliest state in the nation for veterans," State Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, one of the 115 legislators who passed the legislation, said in an interview with the Herald.

According to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, 1.6 million veterans live in the state. It is also home to approximately 41,000 former military members with disabled veteran license plates.

Taking another shot
Last year, Gov. Scott signed into law a bill that ostensibly granted ex-servicemembers free parking privileges at metered parking lots throughout the county, reported the Tampa Bay Times. However, area airports, all of which are designated independent districts and invulnerable to local law, refused to allow veterans to park for free. Sarasota County Marine veteran Lou Hockel experienced this firsthand when he attempted to park free of charge at Tampa International Airport.   

"They told me, 'We don't have to honor that,'" he said in an interview the Times.

Spokespeople for the transportation hub said it only provided free parking to disabled individuals who drove vehicles with specialized equipment such as wheelchair lifts or ramps. 

In light of Hockel's ordeal, state legislators in November of last year moved quickly to introduce stronger legislation that would apply to airports. State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, volunteered to sponsor the new bill, called Senate Bill 222. 

"We're going to fix that," she told the Times. "We should be able to give them the well-earned privilege of some free parking for what they have sacrificed for us."

The legislation quickly passed through the Florida House of Representatives and the State Senate, and now awaits Gov. Scott's signature. If signed, the law would go into effect July 1. Tampa International Airport has already changed its own policy. Disabled veterans can now park at the facility for free.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has disciplined two top administrators in the middle of a recent scandal at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, reported ABC affiliate WCPO.

Network Director Jack Hetrick , on Feb. 25, retired from his post. The agency suspended Dr. Barbara Temeck, acting chief of staff at the hospital, from all medical duties and plans to take further disciplinary action against her. The VA indicated that both could be subject to criminal investigations, reported Cincinnati.com.

"We are committed to sustainable accountability," Dr. David Shulking, the agency's undersecretary of health, said in a news release. "We will continue to use VA's statutory authority to hold employees accountable where warranted by the evidence. That is simply the right thing to do for veterans and taxpayers."

Earlier this month, over 30 employees from the Cincinnati VA Medical Center told reporters at WCPO and the Scripps News Washington Bureau that Hetrick and Temeck were mismanaging the facility. Further investigations revealed that both administrators had instituted cost-cutting measures that greatly impacted care. Additionally, reporters uncovered documents that showed Temeck was illegally prescribing hydrocodone and Valium to Hetrick's spouse. Temeck does not have a controlled substance license.

Soon after these revelations, the VA launched an internal investigation. The actions taken against Hetrick and Temeck are a result of that probe. The former network director will receive a full retirement package. Temeck will continue to receive a full salary and benefits.

The VA and federal legislators intend to further investigate the conditions at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.

"Our work is not done," Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, told WCPO. "I look forward to bringing Secretary (Bob) McDonald to the Cincinnati VA to hear directly from whistleblowers, and I will continue pressing for a quick and thorough investigation so we ensure the problems they brought to light do not continue and veterans get the highest quality care."

Many businesses across the country are more than happy to hire veterans, but nonetheless it can sometimes be difficult for former servicemembers to find the right job. To that end, many communities occasionally organize job fairs for veterans in the hopes of connecting employers with very skilled men and women who need the work.

In Eugene, Oregon, just such a job fair was recently held at a large hotel in the city, and attracted a lot of interest from local veterans, according to a report from the Eugene Register-Guard. Of the roughly 80 former servicemembers – of all ages and military backgrounds – who showed up, many were able to file applications and even sit down for job interviews with 10 different companies that wanted to hire veterans specifically.

"I think veterans are an overlooked pocket of people," Linda Wagner, the human resources director at Oregon Supported Living Program, which had a booth at the job fair as well, told the newspaper. "Often vets need employers to be supportive. We understand the transition."

Wagner noted that her group placed more than 9 out of 10 veterans who enrolled in its programs last year into some sort of job, the report said. However, joblessness among veterans remains quite high, roughly 33 percent higher than the unemployment rate for the entire U.S.

Having a job can be crucial to helping veterans keep a sense of normalcy and positive self-worth. For this reason, it is important for employers to get over the unfair stigma that sometimes follows veteran applicants and consider hiring former servicemembers just as they would anyone else. These people can provide may job skills that they learned during their service, even if it's not a "traditional" job.

Nationwide, the fight against veteran homelessness has been under way for some time now, and is generally going well in all states trying to combat the problem. Now, a new measure in Hawaii would turn special attention in this battle to dealing with female veterans, as they are unfortunately among the fastest-growing groups in homeless populations across the country.

Specifically, the bill now being considered in the Hawaii legislature would create and fund a position in the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services for a full-time counselor to deal particularly solely with female former servicemembers who served active duty, according to a report from Stars and Stripes. Originally, this position was built into the budget request for the government agency, but it was denied. Now, with growing recognition of the problem, lawmakers are stepping in.

In addition, now that the military allows women to fight on the front lines, it's expected that the number of female veterans coming home with physical or mental scars will increase, the report said. To that end, adding this position now may help the Aloha State to get out in front of what could become a major issue. Further, anecdotal evidence suggests that female servicemembers don't always know about the veterans benefits they may have available to them.

"They're a growing minority," Ann Greenlee, Hawaii State Director for the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service, told the newspaper. "I would hope that in 10 or 20 years, we wouldn't need the position because women wouldn't be considered a minority."

Hawaii is hardly the only state dealing with this issue, and the more that can be done to meet it head on, the better off female veterans are going to be across the country going forward.

He's donated thousands of dollars to veterans over the years, from earnings he's made selling cups of lemonade and he isn't even closed to being finished yet.

Raising money has always been a part of 15-year-old Matthew Ott's life since he was only nine, according to Stars and Stripes. During his first lemonade stand, he ended up making $53.75 which he donated to veterans. This high school student is back at it again, but this time he has a much larger number to reach in mind. He is hoping to collect around one million dollars for veteran patients in VA hospitals and the women's center, direct support and medical services, ABC27 News stated.

Ott has always been inspired to do these good deeds particularly geared toward veterans because of his mother, Army Spc. E-4 Patricia Suella Ott, a veteran who passed away when he was only a baby, Stars and Stripes reported. He also has the support of his father Spc. E-5 John Ott, who insists his son is the one who does most of the work. This seems to be evident by his past endeavors, setting up lemonade stands, raising $10,000 and generously giving to local families of veterans suffering financially, ABC27 News mentioned.

Through determination and hard work, Ott has come a long way since his first lemonade stand.This time it's bigger than ever and he's been able to gain recognition through the media.

In an interview with ABC27, Ott said, "We want to get $10 from 100,000 people…We will reach out to corporate sponsors, it's important that our men and women get what they need."

Ott hopes to meet his goal through donations via Facebook or mailed directly to him.

It's an exciting time for the Library of Congress because 100,000 narratives written by veterans have been collected, in just 16 years. This compilation was all made possible because of the veterans who served in World War I as well as those serving up through the most recent activity in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to Military Times. This library-sponsored program, known as the Veterans History Project, was created by the U.S. Congress in 2000, the Library of Congress stated.

The Veterans History Project was built to be cherished and shared by all. Catch a glimpse into the life of a veteran at war while reading their moving words regarding first-hand experiences while serving our country. These memorable stories are available in the library's archive to be seen by current and future generations who will be able to grasp a better understanding for what these veterans went through.

In an article from the Military Times, director of the Veterans History Project, Robert Patrick said, "There are more than 22 million veterans still living in the United States, and it is our hope that even more volunteers will come forward to interview the veterans in their lives and communities and also submit original photographs, letters and other correspondence to be preserved for researchers now and to inspire future generations."

A majority of the collection is made up of veterans from World War II, followed by the Vietnam War and veterans serving most recently in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with the countless other Americans who have fought throughout the years, Military Times stated. Though the number of collected archives is high, veterans who have served or are continuing to do so, are encouraged to continue submitting their stories so the archives never stop continuing to grow.

Over 30 employees at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cincinnati say the hospital is in disarray, reported ABC affiliate WCPO and the Scripps News Washington Bureau. Many of the allegations center on Dr. Barbara Temeck, the hospital's acting chief of staff. The whistleblowers accuse Temeck of instituting cost-cutting measures that have drastically impacted their ability to serve local veterans.

"Things I've observed at the Cincinnati VA are just not up to standard," Mike Brooks, a registered nurse at the VA Medical Center and Navy veteran, said in an interview with the television station. "It bothers me because I know the veterans who deserve the best care we can give them are being put at risk."

Under budget, underperforming
According to the whistleblowers, Temeck reduced the number of orthopedic services offered at the medical center, cut staffing for emergency airway specialists and forced surgeons to reuse questionable surgical equipment. They say she also illegally prescribed opioids and drew an annual salary of $194,343 as a cardiothoracic surgeon while never performing an operation.

Temeck wouldn't comment on the allegations.

Federal and state intervention
Sen. Rob Portman, R-OH, on Feb. 17 asked the inspector general at the Department of Veterans Affairs to look into the allegations, reported The New York Times.

"These allegations are deeply disturbing. Those who have served their country in uniform are entitled to the best possible medical care," Portman wrote in a letter to the agency.

The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs says it will investigate the hospital, as well.

The administration reacts
The VA on Feb. 13 asked officials at its offices in Pittsburgh to evaluate the veracity of the allegations and expressed concern.

"VA takes any allegations of conduct that negatively affect the care of veterans, or that is against our values, very seriously," the agency told Reuters.

Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., intends to introduce legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would establish a federal organization for studying illnesses caused by toxic combat wounds and developing treatments for veterans suffering from such conditions, reported the Military Times. Walz says the Department of Veterans Affairs would manage the organization that he plans to name the Center for Excellence for Toxic Combat Wounds. Currently, the VA funds three medical facilities, called War-Related Illness and Injury Study Centers, that treat veterans suffering deployment-related physical ailments.

According to the Boston University Medical Center, around 250,000 veterans of the first Gulf War returned home with a debilitating condition caused by prolonged exposure to pesticides and other synthetic toxins. The condition, called Gulf War Illness, damages the immune and nervous systems, and reduces the amount of gray and white matter in the brain.

Another 2.6 million American soldiers were exposed to the caustic herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, reported Pro Publica. The VA has granted extended medical benefits to approximately 650,000 of these individuals since 2002.

In a recent meeting of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Walz, an Army National Guard veteran, advocated for his legislation and touched on the effect toxins like Agent Orange have had on U.S. servicemembers.

"Vietnam veterans are concerned about genetic defects caused by Agent Orange," Walz said. "There's the burn pits, there's depleted uranium. Shame on us for not learning. Every generation is having to come back and fight for all these things."

The VA's existing facilities diagnose, treat and study veterans suffering from illnesses brought on by toxic wounds. However, Walz believes the agency must combine and streamline these disparate centers to better combat the issue of deployment-related illnesses.

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, expressed support for Walz's plan. Dr. Carolyn Clancy, assistant deputy undersecretary for health, safety and quality for the Veterans Health Administration, attended the meeting and also relayed support for such a measure.

"No matter what we call it, it's going to have to be an entity that coordinates what we are doing with Defense, with Health and Human Services and with Congress," she said. "I think that would be great."

This would be the second bill related to toxic combat wounds sponsored by Walz. The legislator, in September 2014, introduced the Veterans' Toxic Wounds Research Act, which called for the VA to establish a national database of veterans exposed to toxins during deployment. That bill is still under review in the House.

Thousands of veterans nationwide need constant care for any number of issues they may face, but not a lot have the option to actually receive such treatment. To that end, veterans in Minnesota are pushing for the construction of a veterans' nursing home in the towns of Montevideo and Bemidji.

In all, the proposed plan would build two separate facilities, each with about 70 beds for veterans who need long-term care, according to a report from the West Central Tribune. The total cost of the project has been advanced by bills in both the state House and Senate. Rep. Tim Miller, a Republican representing Prinsburg, and Sen. Lyle Koenen, a member of the Democratic Farmer Labor party representing Clara City drew up the legislation.

Both Montevideo and Bemidji have large populations of veterans, and Minnesota has a waiting list of more than 1,500 former servicemembers waiting to get into existing facilities around the state, the report said. As many as 144 beds could be added under federal rules with this plan.

Certainly these are issues that many states and municipalities need to monitor closely, especially as they try to tackle some of the most prevalent issues facing veterans today.