VA Photos of the Week: February 7, 2020

The Martinsburg VA Medical Center was selected as one of 50 recipients for the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Community Leadership Award for 2019. It is the first VA medical center to receive the award since its inception in 2007. Photo via Martinsburg VA staff.

The Salle Auriol Seattle Fencing Club hosted five Veterans for VA Puget Sound’s first Parafencing Clinic. Veterans were taught skills and techniques by fencing instructors Chris, Eric, and Kundry. Parafencing is a Paralympic sport that is based on traditional able-bodied fencing, with the main difference of a stationary fixed distance between the athletes. This is one of many adaptive sports opportunities offered by Recreation Therapy at VA Puget Sound. Others include curling, kayaking, cycling, climbing, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and more. Photo via VA Puget Sound.

Houston VA Medical Center Director Frank Vazquez visits with World War II Army Veteran Robert Dvorak, 100. Mr. Dvorak was a second lieutenant stationed at West Point during the war. He served as post organist, composer, and assistant band master. His wife, Donna, said his positive outlook keeps him young. “He has an indomitable spirit,” she said. We are honored to care for him and thank him for his service. Photo via Houston VA staff.

Army Veteran Ledell Bowman stands in front of the statue of the South Texas VA hospital’s namesake, Audie. L. Murphy. Bowman, a Purple Heart recipient, will be one of the members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart honoring the hospital as an official Purple Heart Facility during a ceremony. It is only the third recognition of its type in the VA healthcare system. The nomination comes from providing outstanding service and Bowman says it is well deserved. “From my personal experience, I’ve visited a lot of VAs. I’ve been serviced by them, and by far, I have to say, that this is the best VA I have ever come to,” Bowman said. Photo by Steve Goetsch, Public Affairs Specialist at South Texas VA.

The Pittsburgh VA hosted the Four Chaplains Memorial Service to commemorate Army lieutenants George Fox (Methodist), Alexander Goode (a Jewish Rabbi), Clark Poling (a Dutch Reformed minister) and John Washington (a Roman Catholic priest). On the night of Feb. 3, 1943, their ship–the Dorchester–was torpedoed by a German submarine. The four chaplains gave their lives helping the men on their ship, calming the frightened, tending the wounded and guiding the disoriented toward safety. Special thanks to the Veterans and guests who attended, members of the American Legion Post 106 and DAV Chapter 53 for their participation, and Catholic organist Dorothy Heneroty. Photo via Pittsburgh VA staff.