Washington, D.C. — A fleet of 147 red, white and blue vans designed to transport sick and disabled veterans to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals throughout the nation will be donated to VA June 17 by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo D. West, Jr., will accept the vans on behalf of the department from DAV National Commander Harry McDonald at a noontime ceremony in front of VA’s headquarters building, located at 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.
“For more than a decade, disabled veterans and their families have benefited tremendously from this program. VA is grateful to DAV for its generosity,” said Secretary West.
The DAV-sponsored ceremony is part of a four-day national send-off and celebration of the contributions of America’s disabled veterans. The vans will be sent to VA medical centers in 41 states, where they will be used by volunteer drivers as part of DAV’s Transportation Network for veterans needing VA care.
At the ceremony, Joe Ruiz of Deming, N.M., and James B. Taylor of Broken Arrow, Okla., two volunteer drivers who have driven more than 300,000 miles on behalf of their fellow veterans, will be presented with specially designed racing jackets by famed race car driver Dale Jarrett.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
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