El Paso VA’s VetFest brought music, fun and excitement

At the end of July, El Paso VA welcomed several hundred Veterans and their families to its first Summer VetFest and PACT Act Claims Clinic.

Signed into law August 2022, the PACT Act expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances.

El Paso VA decided to turn the event into a Veteran family affair and partnered with dozens of community organizations for a day filled with music, giveaways and fun activities.

Full VetFest schedule

The Summer VetFest featured music from Blackberry Jam, food trucks, free face painting and visits with therapeutic horses. The Red Cross, Fort Bliss Aviation Tower, American Legion Post #122, Elevated Horizons and Health Advocacy distributed more than 300 backpacks with school items for children while El Pasoans Fighting Hunger supplied food to 225 families.

Special guest speakers included medical center Director Froy Garza, WACO VA Regional Director Michael Crouse and U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar.

With support from the Waco VA regional office, Texas Veterans Commission, Disabled American Veterans and the El Paso County Veteran Services office, more than 500 claims and 270 intent-to-file applications were processed.

“There are thousands of Veterans and survivors in the El Paso area who are eligible for new health care and benefits, and we will not rest until every one of them gets what they’ve earned,” said Garza. “That’s what our Summer VetFest was all about: educating Veterans, their families and survivors and encouraging them to apply.”