VA Photos of the Week: December 20, 2019

Dr. Robert Sproul traded in his scrubs for a fedora hat and suit! From holiday tunes to patriotic anthems, the VA Holiday Salute musical performance brought the community together to honor those who deserve it most━ Veterans. Photo via Orlando VA staff.

Kenneth Turner, Army and Navy Veteran who served from 1970-1973 and again from 1975-1978, recently lost his right leg to diabetes. As part of his recovery and rehabilitation, he was able to use VA Video-Connect to see a Physiatrist located in the Dallas VA Medical Center. Turner would have had to travel to Dallas if not for VA Video-Connect. Katy Price, Physical Therapist, assisted Turner during his appointment, providing updates to the Physiatrist on Turner’s physical therapy and over all progress as well as helping to manage the technology which made the visit possible. Photo by Kelli Kay Stolle, communications specialist, West Texas VA Health Care System

Let’s get physical! Senior Veterans show off their muscles through the Greater Los Angeles Health Care System’s Gerofit program. Physical activity is the most recognized longevity strategy. The Gerofit program provides an individually-tailored group exercise format, based on fitness and balance assessments for elderly Veterans. Gerofit targets Veterans ages 80+ to focus on an exercise program that otherwise would not be available to them. For prehabilitation (getting fit prior to elective surgery), it targets Veterans 65+ who are considered ‘at risk’ and then gets them in the Gerofit program 4-6 weeks prior to surgery (general, colorectal, cardiac, orthopedic). Photo via Los Angeles VA staff.

GuitarsForVets hosted an electric guitar building workshop with Veterans at the Milwaukee VA. With the help of Sammy – he helped set this up as part of his service project for his bar mitzvah – and Denny Rauen, owner of Rauen Guitars, they were able to build studio-ready electric guitars. Photos via Milwaukee VA staff.

The Muldoon Clinic hosted its official holiday tree event with students from Grace Christian School. The students sang some great holiday music and each one gave a decorated holiday card to a Veteran in attendance. The event was finished off with the students decorating our beautiful holiday tree. They did a great job! Thank you Grace Christian School for coming to Alaska VA! Photos via Alaska VA staff.

The holiday spirit is in the air at the San Francisco VAMC! Volunteer Lauren Coberly, top center wearing green antlers, and her group of merry helpers sang Christmas carols to our Veteran inpatients and their families. This wonderful group started this annual holiday tradition in 2007. Thank you for thinking of our Veterans and their families! Photo via San Francisco VA staff.

Presents, Presents EVERYWHERE! This year, Voluntary Service is again coordinating the Holiday Angel Tree Program. The holiday program is designed to provide in-kind gifts to assist Veterans and their families who are in crisis resulting from medical issues, unemployment, homelessness, or other difficult circumstances who otherwise would not have the resources to celebrate the holidays. We are so grateful for the generosity from the Wilmington VA staff, community partners, and Veterans Service Organizations for bringing wrapped gifts to the Voluntary Services office for this year’s Holiday Angel Tree program. Photo via Wilmington VA staff.

At Stowe Mountain Resort, we love it when we can spend the day conquering our fears and learning new skills! Thank you Andy Millick for all of your support for the White River Junction VA, and for physically and mentally helping our crew of women Veterans overcome any obstacle in their way. They had the amazing recreational opportunity to learn a new and rigorous skill. Photo via White River Junction VA staff.