Just ahead of Veterans Day, on the 251st birthday of the United States Marine Corps, local veterans and community advocates will gather in the Bronx to launch a national legislative campaign honoring the legacy of a fallen Marine who fought to keep fellow service members housed.
On December 14, 2020, 32-year-old U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Corporal Yegor Zubarev lost his silent battle after returning home. Moments before his close friend and fellow Marine Gonzalo Duran, CEO of Devil Dog USA, Inc., stepped onto the podium to deliver the eulogy, Zubarev’s mother made a simple request: “Let them know who he was.”
Between 2013 and 2016, Zubarev was a driving force for veterans across the Bronx and New York City. By sharing his personal struggles, organizing veteran town halls, and testifying before legislators, he helped draft the framework for NYC Local Law 119 in 2017 and New York State Executive Law 291 in 2018. That landmark legislation required landlords to recognize the Post-9/11 GI Bill housing stipend as credible income, removing a major barrier that routinely forced student veterans into homelessness.
Now, Duran is fulfilling his promise to Zubarev’s mother to let the nation know who her son was. Through the newly launched Corporal Yegor Zubarev Veterans Bill, Devil Dog USA, Inc. is calling for federal action so that no veteran returning home anywhere in the United States is denied housing because their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are dismissed as non-credible income.
“Yegor spent years fighting to make sure veterans in New York had a roof over their heads while they pursued their education,” said Gonzalo Duran, CEO of Devil Dog USA Inc. “Taking his fight to the national stage is how we honor his life, keep our promise to his mother, and protect the stability and well-being of every veteran returning home.”
Veterans, community advocates, members of the press, and the public are invited to the official launch of the national petition to share stories, hear from guest speakers, and rally support for the legislation. Appetizers will be served.
Event Details
- Event: Hard Launch of the Corporal Yegor Zubarev Veterans Bill Petition
- Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 (U.S. Marine Corps Birthday)
- Time: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
- Location: 1403 Prospect Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
- Petition Link: here.
About Devil Dog USA, Inc.
Devil Dog USA, Inc. is a Bronx-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering veterans and transitioning service members through housing advocacy, community resources, and legislative action.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
