VA Maryland Health Care System

VA Celebration Salutes Maryland's Returning Combat Veterans

September 15, 2008

The Veterans Affairs (VA) Maryland Health Care System is sponsoring its second annual Welcome Home Celebration on September 27, 2008, at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., for military service members throughout the state who have recently returned from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The Welcome Home Celebration is a great opportunity for the VA and local community members throughout the state to say ‘thank you’ to our military veterans who answered the call to duty and selflessly served their country as part of the Global War on Terror,” said Dennis H. Smith, director of the VA Maryland Health Care System. “Our military veterans have made many sacrifices while serving their country in a time of crisis, and we owe it to them to show that we are thankful for their service.”

Entertainment for the Welcome Home Celebration includes a sky diving demonstration and performances by the ZOOperstars (as seen recently on America’s Got Talent). There will also be free meals, games, a family entertainment zone and appearances by players and cheerleaders from the Baltimore Ravens during the event. Various elected officials and military representatives will also be on hand to recognize Maryland’s returning veterans during the Welcome Home Celebration.

Besides free food and entertainment, the VA Maryland Health Care System will have a variety of information tables and staff members available to assist returning veterans and their family members with health-related issues and needs. There will also be a number of information tables sponsored by local, state and federal agencies available to assist veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are interested in learning more about education, disability and employment benefits and opportunities available to them.

“Our main goal is to show these returning veterans that we appreciate their service, and to provide them with information about the services and benefits they have earned,” said Julie Ellis, acting Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom program manager for the VA Maryland Health Care System. “We want them to know the VA is here to help with any health problems they may be experiencing as a result of their military service.”

Since the war on terror began, over 5,000 returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have successfully transitioned from the military to the VA Maryland Health Care System. In effort to assure that all veterans receive the care they deserve, the VA Maryland Health Care System continues to explore new and creative ways to reach out to military veterans throughout the state to provide them with information about their VA health care eligibility. The Welcome Home Celebration is an example of one of the creative ways the VA Maryland Health Care System is reaching out to this new generation of veterans.

The Welcome Home Celebration is being made possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of the employees and volunteers throughout the VA Maryland Health Care System who have worked countless hours to assure that the event is a rewarding and enjoyable experience for Maryland’s returning veterans and their family members. Additionally, numerous community organizations, local businesses and veterans service organizations throughout the state have provided financial contributions to support the event and the needs of this new generation of veterans.

The VA Maryland Health Care System provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, rehabilitative, mental health and outpatient care to returning veterans at two medical centers, one rehabilitation & extended care center and five outpatient clinics located throughout the state. Over 52,000 veterans from various generations receive their care from the VA Maryland Health Care System on an annual basis. Nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and quality patient care, the VA Maryland Health Care System is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans’ health, research and education.

Returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have questions about VA health care or the services available to them are urged to contact the Returning Veterans Program Office for the VA Maryland Health Care System at 1-800-463-6295, extension 7259.