Event Schedule

COVID-19: We strongly encourage contacting listed POCs to verify events are proceeding as scheduled.

Have an event you would like added to our schedule? Click here to submit your event!

The below are veteran-related events either hosted, facilitated or sponsored by Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, or the State of Iowa. We try our best to capture and promote veterans events throughout the state- sponsored by any non-partisan veteran-supporting organzation - on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs. Please friend us and/or feel free to 'share' your event there to help us all reach the widest audience possilbe! If you would like assistance coordinating or promoting your veteran-supporting event, please let us know by contacting us here at https://va.iowa.gov/contact/event  
Disclaimer: Please check your event request for errors prior to submission. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs is not responsible for errors submitted.

Iowa Veterans Commission Winter Quarterly Meeting  

When: January 4, 2023 at 10 a.m. 

Location: Camp Dodge, (Bldg. TBD)

POC:  Polly Roll (polly.roll@ivh.state.ia.us) at (641) 753-4309 or Karl Lettow (karl.lettow@iowa.gov) at 515.252.4698

Details: TBD. Agenda forthcoming. www.facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs

Iowa Veterans Day on the Hill - IN PERSON and Virtual

When: January 18, 2023; tables open at 9 a.m, speakers at 10 a.m.

Location: In-Person at the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda, and virtual here 

POC: Karl Lettow, 515.727.3442, karl.lettow@iowa.gov

Details: Our Annual Veterans Day on the Hill event will return for our traditional in-person ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda this year, AND broadcast live on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs for those who can't make the event. We encourage ALL veterans to contact their State Legislative Leaders throughout this legislative session and the year, by writing or voicing your support of our shared Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs Legislative initiatives which will be posted once approved. These can be downloaded to email as an attachment, copy and pasted into an email, or used as a script/talking points for a phone call, voice message or personal conversation. Link here to Find Your Legislator and their contact information.  

Event Flyer; Legislative Initiatives; Media Advisory

Iowa Veterans Commission Spring Quarterly Meeting  

When: April 5, 2023 at 10 a.m. 

Location: Iowa Veterans Home, 1301 Summit St, Marshalltown, IA 50158

POC:  Polly Roll (polly.roll@ivh.state.ia.us) at (641) 753-4309 or Karl Lettow (karl.lettow@iowa.gov) at 515.252.4698

Details: TBD. Agenda forthcoming. www.facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs 

Iowa Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day  

When: Monday, May 8th, 2023

Location: Iowa Vietnam Memorial Wall - Capital Grounds, Capital Grounds, Des Moines, Iowa

POC:  Dan Gannon, 515.991.5257; gannonbx@aol.com

Details: TBD

Memorial Day at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery - In-person and Virtual Ceremony

When: Monday May 29, 2023, 8 a.m.

Location: Iowa Veterans Cemetery, IDVA Facebook Page at https://facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs/

POC: Karl Lettow, 515.727.3442, karl.lettow@iowa.gov

Details: Our annual official state observance returns to a traditional in-person ceremony, also broadcast live and recorded on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs for those who can't attend.

Iowa Veterans Commission Summer Quarterly Meeting 

When: July 5, 2023 at 10 a.m.

Location: TBD, Camp Dodge

POC:  Polly Roll (polly.roll@ivh.state.ia.us) at (641) 753-4309 or Karl Lettow (karl.lettow@iowa.gov) at 515.252.4698

Details: TBD. Agenda forthcoming. www.facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs

Iowa Agent Orange Awareness Day - Click HERE for VVMF "In Memory Program" Info 

When: August (TBD), 2023 pm

Location: Iowa Vietnam Memorial Wall - Capital Grounds, Capital Grounds, Des Moines, Iowa

POC:  Dan Gannon, 515.991.5257; gannonbx@aol.com

Details: Click HERE for VVMF "In Memory Program" info! or visit www.vvmf.org/In-Memory-Program

Veterans Day Parade at the Iowa State Fair

When: August 14, 2023 11 a.m.

Location: Iowa State Fair Grounds

POC: Karl Lettow, 515.727.3442, karl.lettow@iowa.gov

Details: This parade recognizes our Iowa sons and daughters who’ve borne the ultimate risk for our country on the sea, in the air, and on the land, wearing the cloth of our nation in harm’s way ‘over the horizon,’ ‘down range’ and here at home.  This we honor our past, by serving in our present, and protecting our future. Join us to celebrate their selfless service, and encourage new generations to follow in their footsteps, without which, our way of life would fade.

Iowa Veterans Commission Quarterly Fall Meeting 

When: October 4, 2023 at 10 a.m.

Location: TBD

POC:  Polly Roll (polly.roll@ivh.state.ia.us) at (641) 753-4309 or Karl Lettow (karl.lettow@iowa.gov) at 515.252.4698

Details: TBD. Agenda forthcoming. www.facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs 

Veterans Day at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery

When: Nov. 11, 2023, 8 a.m. 

Location: Iowa Veterans Cemetery

POC: Karl Lettow, 515.727.3442, karl.lettow@iowa.gov

Details: We'll observe Veterans Day at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery ( 34024 Veterans Memorial Dr, Adel, IA 50003) Nov. 11th at 8 a.m. We'll also broadcast state-wide on our facebook page at facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs where it can also be viewed later.

Wreaths Across America at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery

When: TBD Dec. 2023

Location: Iowa Veterans Cemetery

POC: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/16068/Overview

Details: REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom. On December 18, 2021 at 11:00 am, Wreaths Across America will be at Iowa Veterans Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud. Please help our location lay wreaths at as many graves as possible by clicking the red "Sponsor" button. Or, if you would like to volunteer to participate in the wreath laying ceremony, please click the “Volunteer” button next to the cemetery name below, and don't forget to click the "Invite" button to invite your friends and family to join you. Thank you so much for supporting Iowa Veterans Cemetery and Wreaths Across America! For details, go to https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/16068/Overview.

For 24-hour counsel, call the National Veteran Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255