Commission For Military Families, Veterans Approved by Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to create a Veterans and Military Families Commission that will focus on the needs of veterans and military families in the county.

Fairfax County is home to more than 45,00 active-duty military, selected reserve members, and an estimated 65,000 veterans. More than 14,500 Fairfax County Public School students are connected to the military, and 18 Fairfax County Schools are recognized Purple Star Schools.

Supervisor James Walkinshaw, who represents the Braddock District, which is home to several Purple Star Schools, introduced the proposal to create the commission as part of his board matters Tuesday morning.

“Mr. Chairman, as you’re aware, we have 84 Boards, Authorities, and Commissions (BACs) made up of community members who advise us on just about every topic that affects residents in the County,” Walkinshaw said in his board matter. “To date, no BAC exists to represent the issues and challenges faced by veterans, members of the armed forces, and their families.”

The annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey by the nonprofit Blue Star Families indicates that only 30 percent of active-duty family respondents felt a sense of belonging to their local communities. Additionally, one-third of active-duty spouses responded that they are not working due to childcare costs, which contributes to a military spouse unemployment rate that is four times the national average.

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“As a premier destination for our military families to relocate because of the amazing resources the county has to offer, and recognizing the value that military families bring by being active in their local communities, we would greatly benefit by establishing a BAC that focuses on the needs and the interests of veterans and military families,” Walkinshaw said.

Under the board matter approved by the Board of Supervisors, the county executive’s office will work with the county’s Veterans Coordinators on the establishment of the commission. County staff are expected to review similar commissions in other jurisdictions and craft a resolution for the board’s consideration by March 19.

According to the board matter, the county executive will be expected to develop the Veterans and Military Families Commission’s purpose, bylaws, structure, and parameters for membership.

Fairfax County recently created the Veterans Coordinator position to connect veterans, active-duty members, retirees, and military families with resources. The coordinator assists with eliminating barriers to services and improving care connections for the military community.

In 2023, Walkinshaw led instituting real estate tax relief for the spouses of service members who died in the line of duty, bringing their taxes to the lowest allowable amount, $0.01 per $100 of value.