Dayton & Southwestern Ohio Chapter
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Welcome to Blue Star Families of Dayton and Southwestern Ohio!
I am Dr. Geri Lynn Maples, Chapter Director for our portion of the Buckeye State! I served as a National Guard spouse for 15 years and have been serving as my husband’s caregiver for the past 14 years. I am super excited and honored to welcome you to our Chapter. You will see me traveling across the entire Dayton/Cincinnati region serving on behalf of military and Veteran families in our community. I welcome you to say “Hello” and introduce yourself!
It is my pleasure to invite you to share ways I can make you feel more welcome, encourage your participation at events, generate engagement on our Facebook page, lend a helping hand as a volunteer, and invite others to join us. If you want to see a stronger presence of Blue Star Families in your area, remember – I cannot do it without you!
We are working to bring you resources and programming that interests you. Please take a few minutes to fill out the brief survey below to help us best serve you.
Hey Dayton, What Interests You?
Warmest regards,
Geri Lynn Maples, Ph.D.
Dayton & Southwestern Ohio Chapter Director
[email protected]


Join us in the Blue Star Neighborhood
Blue Star Neighborhood is our new online community exclusively for Blue Star Families members and the newest way to connect with other military spouses and families. You'll find all the latest information about your chapter there as well as access to signing up for events, perks, and exciting exclusive content.

Town Hall series
Our Homefront & Frontlines Town Hall Series features high-profile speakers covering topics of key importance to military members, Veterans, and their families.

STARBUCKS: More than a Cup of Coffee
Together with Starbucks, we are committed to strengthening military and Veteran families and connecting Americans to those who serve through opportunities like regular Coffee Connects for military spouses, welcome to the community events, and Yellow Ribbon Trees.
Help build community by sharing your local favorites or signing up to volunteer.

Campaign for Inclusion
All Blue Star Families programming is informed by our research. For this reason, research and advocacy is a key pillar of our Campaign for Inclusion. While all Blue Star Families research in the future will continue to look at data through a racial equity and inclusion lens, our groundbreaking study: The Diverse Experiences of Military and Veteran Families of Color provides unparalleled insight into how military families experience military life.
Help sustain our community building efforts or volunteer!
Check out the following national and local resources to empower your family.
LOCAL
COVID-19 and Vaccine Resources
- Ohio Public Health Advisory Information
- Ohio Department of Health
- Ohio Department of Health – Vaccine Location Finder
- Dayton & Montgomery Health Department
- Hamilton County COVID-19 Resources
- Hamilton County Vaccine Location Finder
- Dayton VA Medical Center COVID-19 Vaccine
- Cincinnati VA Medical Center COVID-19 Vaccine
Racial Equity and Inclusion Resources

We are listening and working to ensure you have the chance for a fulfilling career during your military journey.