VA Photos of the Week – August 16, 2019

Veteran Julia turned 109 years at the Topeka VA Medical Center, and Mr. Will McClammy was present on behalf of VA Eastern Kansas. Happy Birthday and thank you for your service! Photo via Topeka VA Medical Center staff.

United States Marine Corps Veteran David Grimm moves around the kitchen and makes an open-face breakfast sandwich as part of his occupational therapy at the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP) at the Dallas VA Medical Center. Grimm says this is his first time standing on two legs cooking since his accident that resulted in an above the knee amputation. “It feels really great to cook out of my chair,” said Grimm. “I didn’t think I’d have the endurance to stand so long today. It feels really good.” The program includes specialization in the care of the amputee in pre and post prosthetic phases of rehabilitation.
Photo by Jennifer Roy, Public Affairs Specialist at VA North Texas Health Care System.

Carolina Panther Top Cats Kayla and MaeAnn (short hair) were joined by the team’s mascot, Sir Purr, during their recent visit to the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center. Photo by Bob Hall (USMC Ret), Public Affairs Specialist at the Columbia VA Health Care System.

Atlanta VA Health Care System Veterans joined the Atlanta Falcons’ Military Appreciation Day for a special open practice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug 4. This full-pads practice was the final open practice of the 2019 Atlanta Falcons’ training camp. It gave the public an opportunity to watch the Falcons practice in their home stadium. Photo via Atlanta VA staff.

VA employees from around the country participate in Houston VA’s decontamination exercise. The three-day training taught participants what to do in case of biological, chemical, or radiological exposure. Photo by Todd Goodman, public affairs specialist at Houston VA.

VA North Texas Social Worker Donna McCollum leads a self-defense demonstration at the Veterans Recovery Center (VRC) Whole Health Workshop held at Dallas VA Medical Center. McCollum is a 3rd degree blackbelt and taught a 16-week self-defense class to Veterans at the VRC. The workshop had guest speakers to education Veterans on whole health and pain management and offered breakout sessions for both Veterans and their friends and family members. Photo by Jennifer Roy, public affairs specialist at VA North Texas Health Care System.

Members of VA North Texas Health Care System’ Community Partnership Committee pose briefly for a photo with Whitney M. Young Jr. Elementary School Principal Shabranda Mathis (left-center) and School Counselor Tiffani Hall (right-center) after delivering more than 50 backpacks and several boxes of school supplies to the school. In its third year, the backpack drive was started by two staff members, Patrick Smith and Ahrielle Jackson, as a spin-off of their efforts of mentoring South Dallas school children. The drive brings in more than 300 backpacks and hundreds of pounds of school supplies each year that are shared with five South Dallas schools from elementary to high schools. Photo by Michael Cole, public affairs specialist, VA North Texas Health Care System.

Warrior Canine Connection brought puppies to VA Central Office lobby for employees and visitors. Warrior Canine Connection utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to help recovering Warriors reconnect with life, their families, their communities, and each other. Photo via Tass Mimikos, audiovisual production specialist for VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.