February Events

Observe: American Heart Month is celebrated in February to raise awareness about heart disease. During this time, the American Heart Association, along with organizations like the CDC and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), encourages people to focus on cardiovascular health through lifestyle changes, risk assessment, and community involvement. Key activities include getting regular check-ups for blood pressure and cholesterol, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and participating in events like National Wear Red Day on the first Friday of February.

Get Involved: A reunion for Stetson Law alumni who served as veterans clinic students during law school, donors, military alumni, current administration and former clinic director who now serves as chief justice for the US Veterans Court of Appeals. For more information, email Brandon Prescott.

Get Involved: The mission of the Vincent Jackson Family Foundation is to positively impact the quality of life of our community’s veterans through housing initiatives. Over the years, the foundation has completed new home construction for Tampa area veterans, as well as completed rehab/cleanup projects at existing veteran homes. We often work with other local housing and veteran support nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity Gulfside and Operation Code Vet to identify veteran housing projects that need our support. 

Observe: Four Chaplains Day honors four WWII chaplains (Catholic, Jewish, Protestant) who sacrificed their lives by giving up their life jackets on the sinking USS Dorchester in 1943, linking arms in prayer as the ship went down in the icy North Atlantic. The day is observed nationwide with interfaith memorial services. 

Get Involved: A BBQ brisket competition and live country music festival hosted by the Wounded Warriors Ability Ranch.  

Donate: The Leo K. Thorsness Leadership Award honors and recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and outstanding service to veteran communities. It is named after the late Col. Leo K. Thorsness, a Medal of Honor recipient, one of the most highly decorated American airmen of the Vietnam War, and a founding member of the America’s Warrior Partnership Board of Directors until his passing in 2017.  

Observe: The Coast Guard Reserve was established by the passage of the Coast Guard Reserve and Auxiliary Act of February 19, 1941. That act also established the Coast Guard Auxiliary under its present name.

Get Involved: A Golf Tournament to Honor Cpl Michael Estrella . Part of Mike Delancey’s 3/3 Company who was killed in Action in Iraq by the same sniper that caused Mike’s Injuries 3 months later. This is The First WWAR Annual Golf Tournament and it will be held at Bardmoor Golf Club . Sponsorships, Foursomes and Individual Golf players all Welcome . Shotgun Start , Four man Scramble , Beat the Pro competition . Awards and Lunch all included.

Get Involved: This is the Mardi Gras event you won’t want to miss! Join us in your cocktail attire and masquerade masks for an elegant evening filled with flying beads, a second line, and brass playing band to keep you entertained all evening long. Sponsored by Alpha Omega Veterans Services.

Get Involved: Join us in Mimosa Bay – this year’s race will celebrate 20 years of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. As always, all proceeds from the race go directly to The Marine Raider Foundation! The Marine Raider Foundation supports active-duty and medically retired members of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), their families, and Gold Star families (families of those killed in action), as well as WWII Marine Raiders. You won’t want to miss this, so join us to #Run4Raiders. In-Person Registration – Please register by January 30th to guarantee race shirt. In-person runners will be eligible for Top 3 Male and Female Finisher in both the 5K and Kids 1 Mile Run. Virtual Registration – Please register by January 30th to guarantee race shirt.