Vox Pop - Don’t let veterans feel alone on Valentine’s Day

Vox Pop

Dear Editor: This Valentine’s Day, many Veterans who fought to preserve our freedoms will be hospitalized, receiving the medical care they earned, but separated from the homes and communities they defended. No one should be alone on Valentine’s Day, and with the help of our grateful community, no Veteran needs to be.

I would like to personally invite every one of your readers to show their love and appreciation to Veterans by contacting the Tomah VA Medical Center as part of the National Salute to Veteran Patients Feb. 11-17.

During National Salute to Veterans Week, I encourage your readers to consider showing love to Veterans by scheduling a visit with the VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) office. By scheduling your visit, you can show your appreciation for the many sacrifices our Veterans have made and remind them their sacrifices are not forgotten.

However, the love doesn’t have to end on Valentine’s Day. Many of our Veterans are coming to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with special needs and challenges that require the hearts and hands of a new generation of VA volunteers. Tomah VA Medical Center invites all citizens, young and old, to join us in honoring our Veterans year-round by learning more about VA’s volunteer program as well.

Everyone can impact the life of a Veteran patient. Visits from community groups do so much to lift the spirits of our patients. I invite every member of our community to participate.

Call our CDCE office at 608-372-1727 or ext. 61727 to schedule a visit and learn how to join the VA’s National Salute to Veteran Patients.

— Karen Long, VAMC Director, VA Medical Facility