LOS ANGELES, CA (October 31, 2025) —The Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) and local veteran partners recently worked together to bridge a gap in benefits and dignity—turning one act of kindness into a model for collaborative veteran support.
When Mary Heiss, the surviving spouse of Vietnam War Army Veteran James Heiss, came to the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA), she needed help applying for survivors’ benefits. After losing her son in 2021 and her husband in April 2025, she was struggling financially and unable to obtain her husband’s death certificate or remains because of a balance owed to the mortuary. Without those documents, she couldn’t move forward with her claim.
The MVA team quickly mobilized to connect Mary with community partners who could help. Within the same day, Commander Maria McKinney of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 12034 in La Verne and President Alan Stelzer of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 446 in Pasadena stepped in to help.
The VVA paid the full balance owed to the mortuary, allowing Mary to bring her husband home. The VFW provided relief funds, purchased a special urn, and offered to host a ceremony to honor James’s life and service.
The collaboration between MVA, the VFW, and the VVA showed how local veteran organizations can come together to support families in need. As President Alan Stelzer shared through the VVA motto, “Never again will one generation of Veterans abandon another.” Commander Maria McKinney emphasized the VFW’s mission to “ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made.”
“It takes a community, and this story shows how MVA and our partners across the veteran network can come together to make a real difference for those we serve.” emphasized Jim Zenner, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
This joint effort not only helped one surviving spouse take the next steps toward receiving her benefits but also demonstrated the strength of community partnerships in serving those who have served.
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Article by: Layla Romero, Communications Specialist, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA)
