In Honor of Military Appreciation Month, NYC Health + Hospitals and NYC Department Of Veterans’ Services Announce Upcoming Veteran Pop-Ups
The events help veterans like Melissa Johnson-Collado get the needed paperwork to access veterans' benefits
May 14, 2025
In honor of Military Appreciation Month, NYC Health + Hospitals and the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services today announced upcoming monthly Veteran Pop-Ups across the health system. The events offer one-on-one support for accessing benefits from the US Department of Veterans Affairs and are open to health system staff and members of the community who have served in any branch of the military. The Pop Ups have served over 300 people since launching in early 2024. Military Appreciation Month celebrates all members of the military, including people currently serving and those who have already served, during the month of May.
The Veteran Pop-Ups recently helped Melissa Johnson-Collado, Assistant Coordinating Manager at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, access her DD 214, the essential document officially recognizing her as a US military veteran. For over twenty years, Melissa struggled to obtain her DD 214. Despite numerous attempts, she faced frustration, doubt, and even disbelief from others, with some questioning the legitimacy of her service due to the lack of documentation.
“I had lost hope. It was starting to haunt me,” said Johnson-Collado. “But when I attended the Veteran Pop-Up at Queens Hospital, I never expected the process to move so quickly. Within 24 hours, they found my DD 214. I finally received closure and became an officially recognized veteran.”
With the DD 214 in hand, she is now entitled to military benefits. These benefits may include burial rights, retail discounts, a veteran designation on ID, access to veteran-specific financial resources such as Navy Federal or USAA, a VA housing loan, education benefits, VA health care, VA compensation, and more. However, for Johnson-Collado, the greatest benefit was feeling proud of what she had accomplished and sharing that with her children, husband, and even visiting her veteran grandfather’s gravesite.
Johnson-Collado’s journey began at the young age of 16, when she enlisted in the military in search of a better future. “I was the first female on my mother’s side to serve in the military, and this meant a great deal to me and my family. I promised them that I would complete at least my training, but after being injured, I couldn’t,” she explained. “Not being able to prove my veteran status left me feeling lost for a long time.”
Many veterans miss out on their hard-earned benefits without the needed paperwork. Over 200,000 veterans live in New York City, and roughly 500 self-identified veterans work at NYC Health + Hospitals. Additionally, spouses, children, and parents of veterans often attend the pop-up events for information to pass on to their veteran relatives.
“I love how this program has grown and succeeded in bringing life-changing resources to veterans across NYC,” said Cristina Ponsell, Director of Language Access & Support Services at NYC Health + Hospitals. “We offer these events every month at sites across the city, ensuring that their veteran staff, patients, and community members are met where they are.”
“Melissa’s story reflects exactly why our agency launched the Veteran Pop-Up initiative—to meet veterans where they are and connect them to the recognition and care they’ve earned,” said Michael Bocchini, Senior Executive Director of Veterans’ Support Services at the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services. “These events are about restoring trust, unlocking access, and affirming the dignity of service. We’re proud to partner with NYC Health + Hospitals to ensure no veteran falls through the cracks.”
Upcoming Veterans Pop-Ups at NYC Health + Hospitals
- NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
2601 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11235
Friday, May 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lobby
Register Here. - NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
79-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, NY 11373
Wednesday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the H-Lobby
Register Here. - NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
1400 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY 10461
Tuesday, July 29 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Building 8 Atrium
Register Here. - NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
506 Lenox Avenue, New York, NY 10037
Wednesday, August 27 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Mural Pavilion
Register Here. - NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
451 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203
Monday, September 29 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the D-Building Lobby
Register Here. - NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
3424 Kossuth Avenue, Bronx, New York 10467
Tuesday, October 28 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Main Lobby
Register Here. - NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
82-68 164th Street, Queens, New York 11432
Monday, December 15 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Auditorium
Register Here.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services
The Department of Veterans’ Services’ mission is to connect, mobilize, and empower New York City’s veteran community to foster purpose-driven lives for U.S. military service members — past and present — in addition to their caregivers, survivors, and families. The department assists New York City’s veteran community members on issues that include, but are not limited to employment, housing, food security, wellbeing, benefits, culture, and targeted advocacy. For more information about the Department of Veterans’ Services, New Yorkers can visit the Department of Veterans’ Services’ website, call (212) 416-5250, email connect@veterans.nyc.gov, or follow the agency on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
