Veterans Navigation Network

06/23/2026

Last week’s RED Friday at Ox Axe Throwing was a blast.

We had a great group, plenty of friendly competition, and a whole lot of axes, knives, and stars flying in the right direction… mostly. 😉

More importantly, it was exactly what RED Friday is meant to be: veterans, families, and supporters getting together in a low-pressure space, sharing some laughs, and building community.

Thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a fun evening!

We’ll be taking a break from axe throwing in July, but keep an eye out ~ RED Friday at Ox Axe Throwing will be back!

06/22/2026

With just over a week to go, we still have 51 time slots available for ages 18+, as well as still needing able-bodied assistance with set-up (7/1/26 at 8AM) and take-down (7/5/26 at 2PM).

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044EA8AF23A0F4CE9-61608130-thewall #/

To sign up for set-up or take-down, email [email protected].

Too early to say definitively, but it's still looking like we *MIGHT* have nice weather for it too! Happy 250th, America!!

06/22/2026

🚨 **9 DAYS LEFT for the June Bonus Drawing!** 🚨

https://www.veteransnavigation.org/store/side-by-side-raffle

If you buy a VNN Side-by-Side Raffle ticket before the end of June, you are automatically entered for our **special June drawing**:

🏕️ **Super Camping Weekend Package**
Includes an all-terrain wagon, 2 camp chairs, 6-man tent, lantern/spotlight, headlamp, Thermacell mosquito repellent, and Mountain House meals.

And here’s the best part:
Your ticket **goes right back in** for the main raffle prizes in September:

🚙 Honda side-by-side
💵 $1,500 cash
🧊 Yeti package

We’ll draw the June winner **Facebook Live at noon on July 1**.

Get your tickets now and support Veterans Navigation Network’s no-cost work with veterans and families.

https://www.veteransnavigation.org/store/side-by-side-raffle

Enter to win a 2025 Honda Pioneer 520, cash prizes, and monthly giveaways in VNN’s Side-by-Side with Our Veterans raffle supporting Montana veterans.

06/22/2026

The Wall That Heals - Billings, MT
A 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be in Billings Montana the first week of July!
Along with the memorial, there will be a Mobile Education Center in which you can view multiple artifacts and join a guided tour.
All of this, is only possible with our volunteers. Please join us!
For those that wish to take part in the assembly on July 1st or the disassembly on July 5th, please reach out to TJ Rogers [email protected]
For those interested in our daily time slots roles, please use the Sign-Up Genius website.
The Wall That Heals will be open day and night to the public.
We need volunteers on site at all hours.
Training is provided, but nothing about it is hard.
We just need you to assist visitors and ensure everyone has a good experience.
Click this link to view the schedule and find a role that fits you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C044EA8AF23A0F4CE9...
🗓️ Daily Events
▪️June 30th - Motorcycle Es**rt, led by American Legion Riders - Billings Heights #119 . KSU 12pm at Love's Truck Stop (Laurel), es**rting to Will James Middle School. All riders are welcome to join.
▪️July 1st - 8am - Volunteers assemble the memorial, open to the public upon completion. From there, the Memorial is open to visitors until closure at 2pm on Sunday July 5th.
▪️July 2nd - Guided tours at 9am, 11am, 1230pm, and 2pm.
6pm Opening Ceremony
▪️July 3rd - Guided tours at 9am, 11am, 1230pm, 2pm and 6pm.
930pm Candlelight Vigil
▪️July 4th - Guided tours at 9am, 11am, 1230pm, 2pm, and 6pm.
▪️July 5th - Memorial closes at 2pm. Volunteers disassemble the memorial and it embarks to the next city on the 2026 tour.
Thank you to our countless supporters and fellow veterans. It is only with a strong community that we are able to make this happen for Billings! 🇺🇸

Motorcycle Es**rt - June 30th
for
The Wall That Heals - Billings, MT
July 2nd - July 5th 2026
Before the memorial is assembled at Will James Middle School, we begin its journey with a Motorcycle Es**rt from Laurel to Billings on June 30th, and we're inviting all riders to join us.
We want our community to know about this memorial, and there's no better way to honor its significance than with a strong and visible presence on the road.
Whether you ride with a club, a group of friends, or on your own, your participation helps show support, remembrance, and unity.
A special thank you to Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. for sponsoring the es**rt and helping make this event possible.
Join us and help make this es**rt one to remember.
If you can't join the es**rt, then please show your support by gathering along the route and welcoming The Wall That Heals.
Please contact David Walters for additional information about the Es**rt.
American Legion Riders - Billings Heights #119
[email protected]

06/22/2026

We’re proud to receive funding from the for our work in helping meet needs for our veterans.

Our organizations are committed to ensuring our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families have access to the highest level of support and resources they’ve earned. Together, we’ve .

06/21/2026

The best Father's Day gift isn't something you buy.
It's something you do together.
This year, take your dad or your grandpa and sign up for a shift at The Wall That Heals. July 2 - 5 in Billings. A 3/4-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, open around the clock.
Walk it with him. Let him find a name he recognizes. Let your kids ask the questions that deserve real answers. Have the conversation that matters more than any card ever could.
Vietnam veterans are grandfathers now. Many of them came home to a country that didn't say thank you. This July 4th weekend, Billings gets to say it.
Bring grandpa. Bring your dad, your uncles. Bring the whole family. There's a role for everyone.
👉 Sign up for a shift:

The Wall That Heals is a 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. It is coming back to Billings this year, one of only about 20 cities in the nation, and will need volunteers 24/7 during the week that it is in town.

06/20/2026

**How to Actually Use Your VA Home Loan**
You know it exists. Here is how it actually works, step by step.

**Step 1: Get your Certificate of Eligibility.**
This confirms you are eligible and how much entitlement you have available. Your lender can pull it electronically in minutes, or you can request it at va.gov.

**Step 2: Find a VA-experienced lender.**
Not all lenders are equally familiar with VA loans. Choose one who does them regularly. They will know the process and will not slow you down.

**Step 3: Get pre-approved.**
Same as any home purchase -- you want to know your budget before you shop. Your lender will review your income, credit, and entitlement.

**Step 4: Find your home and make an offer.**
Your VA pre-approval letter goes with your offer. A good agent who understands VA loans will help you frame the offer well.

**Step 5: VA appraisal.**
The VA requires its own appraisal to confirm the home's value and basic condition. This is separate from a home inspection, which you should still get.

**Step 6: Close.**
VA closing costs are limited by law. Some costs can be negotiated with the seller. You will know what you owe well before closing day.

One note: if you have a service-connected disability rating, you may be exempt from the VA funding fee. Verify this before you close -- it is not always automatically applied.

Have questions about the process or whether you qualify? One conversation with a VNN navigator is a good place to start.
VeteransNavigation.org | 406-696-3425

06/20/2026

Does your faith call you to serve?
Here's your July opportunity!
The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is on display in Billings July 2 -- 5. We need 400 volunteers to set it up and take it down, and keep it running, day and night.
Bring your small group, your youth group, your congregation. Sign up for a shared shift and serve together. This is exactly the kind of work that makes communities whole.
Anyone 16 and older can volunteer solo. Younger kids are welcome with a parent or guardian.
👉https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044EA8AF23A0F4CE9-61608130-thewall #/

06/19/2026

**VA Home Loan Myths That Are Costing Veterans Money**
The VA home loan is one of the best benefits in existence. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Here are the myths worth clearing up:

**Myth: You can only use it once.**
False. You can use your VA home loan benefit multiple times throughout your life, as long as you meet eligibility requirements and have remaining entitlement.

**Myth: It takes forever to close.**
VA loans close in roughly the same timeframe as conventional loans. This myth has cost veterans deals because sellers assumed a VA offer meant delays. It does not.

**Myth: The home has to be perfect.**
VA appraisals do have minimum property requirements - the home needs to be safe and livable. But this is not the endless inspection nightmare some people describe. Most standard homes pass without issue.

**Myth: It is only for first-time buyers.**
Not at all. The VA home loan is available to eligible veterans regardless of whether they have owned a home before.

**Myth: You need perfect credit.**
The VA does not set a minimum credit score. Individual lenders do, and those requirements vary. Many veterans with average credit still qualify.

**The one thing that is actually required:**
A Certificate of Eligibility, which documents your service and confirms your benefit. Your lender can pull this for you, or you can request it through the VA.

Questions about whether you qualify? VNN can help you find the right resources.

VeteransNavigation.org | 406-696-3425