Happy Holidays from VA

Here’s how VA medical centers throughout the United States are embracing the holidays.

Toys for Tots for the 75th Year

Toys for Tots

This year’s Toys for Tots campaign was a huge success. Staff across G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA collected nearly 100 toys, 15 bicycles, and a check for $1,000.

Representatives from the Marine Corps League collected the overflow of toys and bikes.

This year, Toys for Tots celebrates 75 years of delivery hope and the magic of Christmas. To date, the organization has distributed more than 627 million toys and supported more than 281 million children.

Decorating for the holidays

A World War II Veteran living at the Community Living Center at Tuscaloosa VA decorated the center on his own. Staff consider him pretty special. He has taken the role of chair of the Veterans Advocacy Council and leads several initiatives and support for the center.

Mele Kalikimaka

On Dec. 14, Pacific Islands VA’s Community Living Center held its third annual Holiday Parade. The event kicked off with the blowing of Shofar horns. The Home Church choir (pictured above) performed, singing traditional Christmas carols. Then, Veterans’ families and VA staff drove through in cars, motorcycles and horses that were decorated for the event.

Director Dr. Adam Robinson led the parade with his wife in the lead car. Associate Director Devin Woods, dressed as Santa Claus, and Assistant Director Katherine Kalama rode on horses. Smiles lit up the faces of Veterans and staff alike as the music filled the air amidst the circling cars.

“All my Vietnam buddies called me and told me how great the parade downtown was for the anniversary of Pearl Harbor,” said resident Army Veteran Michael Langan. “I felt a little left out not being able to go to that parade, but now I get to be here at my own parade.”

“First day with tears of joy.”

The Cost of Freedom

Atlanta VA serves 24,000 women Veterans throughout the year. A community partner this year wanted to show its appreciation for those who have unselfishly protected all of us.

The Cost of Freedom, a Veterans Service Organization, gifted the Atlanta VA’s Women program with $2,500 in gift cards to provide support to Women Veterans this holiday season. Five Veterans were selected to receive a $500 gift card. They were able to offer Christmas presents and holiday meals to their families.

One pregnant mother of three children bought gifts for her kids which brought her to tears.

“I just wanted to say thank you so much again,” she said. “I’ve been spending a lot of times in tears lately and today was the first day that they were tears of joy. I’ll be able to bless my family for Christmas thanks to you and the women’s clinic. Thank you for taking one of my boulders off my back.”