July 1, 2022: USNA ( US Naval Academy ) Annapolis - HINDU Worship Services

SAMFSN/CMWRC volunteers welcomed the 2022 PLEBE summer cadets at USNA. We started the HINDU worhship services at USNA for PLEBE cadets of 2022. SAMFSN was called by USNA to conduct worship services to PLEBE summer cadets at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis. 

Feb 19, 2022: SAMFSN/CMWRC organized an online Q/A session with Admission officcers from USNA, WEST POINT, and Air Force Training Academy. The online session went well with numerous questions from middle/high school students who are interested in exploring a military career with the DOD. Dr. Ram Bhat from SAMFSN took the lead and organized the event 

Link for Careers in DOD Military Academies

March 16, 2022: WestPoint, NY ARMY Worship Services: SAMFSN and CMRC ( New York) teamed up with the Chaplain Command at West Point, New York to setup the facility, process to conduct worship services for HINDU religion to West Point cadets. West Point has never had HINDU worship servcies conducted on campus in its history. A dedicated place for HINDU worship and process and guidelines to conduct recurring worship servcies has now been established at West Point ARMY training academy

West Point HINDU worship services

SAMFSN - 2021 - Completed Events, Completed Task summary

( Onsite events are still restricted due to COVID 19 restrictions)

Dec 2022 - SAMFSN/CMWRC submitted application to WEST POINT to appoint DRGL ( Distinctive Religious Group Leader ) to conduct onsite worship services. SAMFSN/CMWRC DRGL proposal was accepted by WEST POINT chaplain command. SAMFSN/CMWRC will begin conducting the first ever HINDU worship services for WEST POINT cadets in early 2022

Sept 10 - SAMFSN received permission from USNA to conduct worship services for all HINDU midshipmen at USNA for FALL 2021. SAMFSN volunteers with help from Chinmaya Mission DC are onsite and conducting in person bi-weekly HINDU worship services for all USNA Hindu cadets. SAMFSN team is thereby supporting the USNA chaplain command mission to support the Spirtual Development of all midshipmen at USNA

July 2 - SAMFSN was called by USNA to conduct worship services to PLEBE summer cadets at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis. SAMFSN volunteers with help from Chinmaya Mission DC conducted the first in person HINDU worship services for the PLEBE 2021 cadets. 

May 13 - SAMFSN helped conduct the annual AAPI celebration event at the NAVY Yard, DC. SAMFSN worked with NAVSEA volunteers to plan and conduct the VIRTUAL AAPI event. Team organized in person panel discussion on AAPI issues. Event was live streamed to wide NAVY audience. The panel discussion was attended by NAVSEA and NAVFAC Executive Directors from the NAVY yard

Feb 19 - SAMFSN was contacted by ARMY chaplain command to provide worship support to active duty soldiers. SAMFSN volunteers worked with ARMY chaplain (CPT Gurriell) and active duty soldier on worship waiver requests and helped resolve issues to satisfaction of all parties

SAMFSN - 2020 - Completed Events, Completed Task summary

All onsite events for 2020 have been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions

Jan 2020 - SAMFSN welcomes new members, Ruchir Baskhi, Jay Kalathil to the 2020-2021 SAMFSN board.

July 3 - July 24: SAMFSN was again called to conduct worship services to PLEBE summer cadets at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis. SAMFSN conducted ONLINE worship services for the whole summer

August 26 - SAMFSN was contacted to provide legal support to DOD Veteran Ms. Julie B. SAMFSN volunteers worked to support Ms. Julie B complete required community service and meet her legal requirements

August 7:  - SAMFSN/CMWRC conducted ONSITE worship services at USNA for the PLEBE summer cadets. This was the last summer service for the cadets

Sept 4 :  SAMFSN has scheduled bi-weekly worship services for all DOD veterans, USNA cadets, active duty service members who have chosen the Hindu faith. ONLINE services will be conducted via GOOGLE Meet

Dec 5: SAMFSN conducted Veterans Day online via Zoom. Air Force and Army Veterans were invited to participate online in childrens classes at CMWRC. 

SAMFSN - 2019 - Completed Events, Completed Task summary

Dec 14, 2019 - Annual event to participate in "Wreaths of America" memorial event at Baltimore National Cemetery. This is an annual for SAMFSN youth volunteers to get SSL credit hours.

Nov/Dec, 2019 – SAMFSN volunteers will be participating in multiple CFC awareness events in the NCR region.

Nov 11, 2019 – SAMFSN observed Veterans Day at CMWRC Silver Spring, MD

Oct 26, 2019 - SAMFSN celebrates annual DIWALI event at Cedar Lane Unitarian Church, Bethesda, MD

Sept 5, 2019 - SAMFSN volunteers organized DIWALI "Festival of Lights" celebration at Fort Belvoir, VA

July 5 - Aug 29 - SAMFSN conducts Worship Services for Plebe Summer cadets at USNA, Annapolis

July 5, 2019 - SAMFSN invited to conduct Hindu worship services at United States Naval Academy, Annapolis for Plebe Summer Cadets

May 22, 2019 - SAMFSN supports the annual AAPI cultural heritage month celebration at the NAVY Yard. 

Feb 5, 2019 - SAMFSN provides support for memorial service for Chief Petty Officcer Shannon Kent who was killed in bomb blast in Syria

SAMFSN - 2018 - Completed Events, Completed Task summary

Dec 19, 2018 - SAMFSN participates as an invited CFC charity in the CFC kick off event at US Patent Office, Washington D.C

Dec 15, 2018 - SAMFSN participates in the annual "Wreaths for America" memorial event at Baltimore National Cemetery.

Dec 8, 2018 - SAMFSN member/volunteer Major Swati Purohit recognized for her volunteer effort with WTB ( Warrior Transition Battalion)

Nov 20, 2018 - SAMFSN team members celebrate annual DIWALI inter faith cultural event at the Pentagon

Nov 18, 2018 - SAMFSN supports interfaith DIWALI - Festival of Lights at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church, Bethesda, MD

Nov 1, 2018 - SAMFSN participates as an invited CFC charity in the CFC kick off event at NAVAL AUDIT SERVICE at NAVY Yard, Washington

Oct 23, 2018 - SAMFSN team members support the memorial service of  Veteran Mr. Chaturbhuj Gidwani at Arlington Memorial

Oct 11, 2018 - SAMFSN participates as an invited CFC charity in the CFC kick off event at NAVFAC at NAVY Yard, Washington

Sept 29, 2018 - SAMFSN gets approved with TAP (Transition Assistance Program) at Bethesda Naval Hospital to offer USAJobs online training 

May 2018 - SAMFSN supports AAPI heritage month annual event at the NAVY Yard, DC. Event is hosted by major commands ( NAVFAC, NAVSEA) at the yard.

Feb 2018 - SAMFSN gets approved for CFC federation membership with America's Best Local Charities ( http://www.bestlocalcharities.org/home/ )

SAMFSN - 2017 - Completed Events, Completed Task summary

December 16th - SAMFSN volunteers participated in the annual Wreaths of America event at Baltimore National Cemetery

December 5th, 6th - SAMFSN participates in Operation Homefront to prepare gift packages for Military Families.

November 11: SAMFSN supports an interfaith event - "Share and Practice Light" at Goodloe Memorial Church, Maryland

November 2017 - SAMFSN participated in marking Veteran's day at multiple locations in the DC/MD/VA locations.

November 2 - SAMFSN invited to participate in USMC CFC kick off in the Pentagon

October 27 - SAMFSN team helps celebrate annual DIWALI event at the Pentagon

October 14 - SAMFSN participates in the NAVSEAC CFC kick off event at NAVY Yard

October 16 - SAMFSN participates in the NAVFAC CFC kick off event at the NAVY Yard

June 2017 - SAMFSN gets approved as a CFC ( Combined Federal Campaign ) Charity for 2017

May 2017 - SAMFSN provides support to host the AAPI HM ( Asian American Heritage Month ) at the NAVY Yard

SAMFSN - 2016 - Listed below are completed and upcoming Events. Please write to [email protected] if you wish to participate in any upcoming event.

SAMFSN CFC ( Combined Federal Campaign)  ID is 86806. Please consider making a CFC contributon in 2016 for SAMFSN.

Dec 15th - SAMFSN will take part in the Annual "Wreath of America" event in Baltimore Cemetery. We welcome families, kids and volunteers for this solemn, emotional and fulfilling event. We place wreaths and flowers on as many grave stones that we possibly can. 

Nov 30 - SAMFSN has been invited to participate in a Charity Fair  at the DoD- Joint Staff on November 30th  in Washington, DC at Fort McNair .  

Dec 6th - SAMFSN has been invited to participate in the National Forum for AAPI Military Members and Veterans organized by the White House AAPI forum. The event is at Women's Memorial at Arlington Cemetery, VA

November, 2016 - All through November SAMFSN will be taking part in Veterans Day celebrations in multiple locations in MD, VA to honor our veterans and first responders. This is a annual recurring event for SAMFSN. 

Nov 9th, 2016 - SAMFSN was invited and participated in the CFC charity fair at the NAVY Yard, Washington DC

Nov 3rd, 2016 - SAMFSN sponsored and organized the FIRST ever AAPI Cultural Diversity Event "Festival Of Lights" -DIWALI at the NAVY Yard, Washington D.C. Please see our events section for more details and pictures of the event.

Nov 2nd, 2016 - SAMFSN will be organizing the annual DIWALI celebration at the Pentagon, DC

Sept 29, 2016 - SAMFSN was invited and participated in the CFC Charity Fair at Missile Defense Agency (MDA) at Fort Belvoir, VA

June 1, 2016 - Dr. Russel S. Lowe joins SAMFSN as an advisor. Dr. Lowe has 35 years of military service. He has completed a doctoral dissertation focused on the challenges faced by military veterans, returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, as they transition into civil society

May 5, 2016 - SAMFSN participated in AAPI event at Washington Navy Yard, D.C

April 17, 2016 - SAMFSN conducted event to Honor Veterans and First Responders at Greater Baltimore Temple (GBT), Finksburg, MD

April 15, 2016 - SAMFSN got approved for CFCNCA ( Combined Federal Campaign National Capital Area) for FY 2016. SAMFSN CFC ID is 86806.

Jan 1, 2016 - New Board team for FY16 takes over. New board members consist of Dr R.K. Bhat, Rev Justin Oseterman, Mr. B. Dave and TYPUSA ( Youth organization represented on the board)

2015 - Completed Events - Refer to Events section for more details

December 12 , 2015 - Wreaths for America - SAMFSN participated in this event at the Baltimore National Cemetery

November 2015: Veterans Day Celebrations

November 19, 2015: DIWALI celebration at the Pentagon

November 15, 2015: First DIWALI, Cedar Lane UU Church, Bethesda, MD

November 12, 2015: First DIWALI at Fort Meade, MD

July 22, 2015: SAMFSN Online Forum - Resume Coaching

April 12, 2015: SAMFSN Online Forum - Basic Facts About Hinduism