VA Bedford Healthcare System

Attendees at the rally

Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital (Bedford VAMC) held a rally to energize more than a hundred volunteers arriving to Salute Veteran Patients. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Salute to Veteran Patients gives all Americans a chance to thank Veterans for their service by sending Valentines, taking the extra step to visit our heroes, and volunteering to serve them.

"Today's event demonstrates the true community partnership Bedford VAMC enjoys in support of Veterans," said Christine Croteau, Bedford VAMC's Acting Director, who welcomed all to the rally.

Bedford VA Community partners were present at the rally, but more importantly they are present day in and day out at the Medical Center. Local VA Voluntary Service Representatives, Hanscom Air Force Base Commander, Colonel Lester Weilacher and family, Senior Master Sargeant Joseph Huberty, Brigadier General (Ret) Oscar DePriest IV, Representatives from the American Legion, Jewish War Veterans, Daughters of the American Revolution, Oddfellows, Vettes to Vets, MIT Lincoln Labs, New England Patriots, Lowell Spinners, Concord Carlisle Varsity Cheerleaders, and other volunteers delivered Valentines, visited and thanked the Veterans for their service.

Of special note, Medal of Honor recipients Thomas J. Hudner, Jr. and Thomas G. Kelley also attended to Salute our Veterans patients and were kind enough to offer a Meet and Greet following their visits with Veteran patients. At the Meet and Greet, Veterans of all eras expressed what a great honor it was to be saluted by a Medal of Honor recipient and stood in line to secure the recipients' autograph and personally thank them for their service.

"Bedford VAMC is your son's and daughter's VA," said Croteau. "We are a national leader in Peer Service programing with Veterans making up a large percentage of our staff who deliver healthcare services. Our Veteran staffing empowers us to offer uniquely specialized care for our youngest returning Veterans to our most vulnerable homeless population."

During the rally, Secretary Coleman Nee, Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services delivered Governor Deval Patrick's Proclamation. "Caring for and supporting Veterans is a responsibility we all share," said Nee. "In Massachusetts we are fortunate to have a solid partnership between VA, the Patrick-Murray Administration, our cities and towns, and our veteran service organizations to accomplish this mission. We salute all those who work day in and out to care for our Veterans and we thank all of those Veterans and their families for the sacrifices and service they have made for our Nation."

With our military returning from service, the number of young women and men Veterans continue to rise, increasing demands for healthcare. Together with our community partners, Bedford VAMC offers a holistic approach meeting Veteran needs such as employment services, education and home ownership benefits, compensation for service-connected medical conditions, as well as high-quality, gender-specific healthcare.

Bedford VAMC extends deep appreciation to the Veterans who selflessly served our nation and the volunteers who support Veterans. To find out more about Bedford VAMC volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.bedford.va.gov/ and click on Volunteer or Donate.