Supervisors to create a Military Families Commission

The Board of Supervisors on Jan. 23 approved a board matter by James Walkinshaw (Braddock) to create a Commission on Military Families.

The commission would help military families and veterans engage with the county and help county leaders understand their issues.

The county executive will present recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in mid-March on the commission’s purpose, bylaws, and structure.

Fairfax County is home to more than 45,000 active-duty military and reserve members and an estimated 65,000 veterans.

More than 14,500 public school students are connected to the military, and 18 Fairfax County schools are recognized Purple Star Schools, including Canterbury Woods Elementary School in Annandale.

The county recently created a veterans coordinator position to connect veterans, active-duty members, retirees, and military families with resources.