Inside OEF/OIF at VA

Veteran Isaiah Shaffer throws the first pitch at the Richmond Welcome Home event.

Richmond, Va. — Vets and Their Families Enjoy Baseball at Welcome Home Event

More than 200 Veterans and their family members participated in Richmond VA Medical Center’s annual Welcome Home event for Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans on August 14, co-sponsored by the Richmond Flying Squirrels minor league baseball team. The Medical Center received cash and in-kind donations enabling gifts bags and door prizes for event attendees. Isaiah Shaffer, a three-time Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment Veteran with two purple hearts, who is currently a patient at the McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Va., threw out the first pitch.

Charleston, SC — Welcome Home Event Gives Veterans a Chance to Look for Jobs

More than 500 Veterans and their families attended the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center on the aircraft carrier Yorktown on Sept. 9. The event included a job fair, sponsored by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce and the Charleston Defense Contractors Association, and an information and health fair. Read more about the event.  

New Jersey — Caldwell College Hosts Annual Welcome Home Event

The VA New Jersey Health Care System hosted their annual Welcome Home Event at Caldwell College on August 14. The event featured a the Mobile Vet Center, the VA New Jersey Mobile Health Unit and information on numerous VA New Jersey Health Care System services and Veterans Service Organizations as well as a Job Fair for Veterans, hosted by the G.I. Go Fund. Representatives from over 15 regional colleges were also present to provide information on educational benefits and opportunities for Veterans and family members. Refreshments were provided by the Salvation Army. Read more about the event.  

Danville, IL — Welcome Home Event for Illiana Health Care System

On August 7, VA Illiana Health Care System hosted its 3rd Annual Welcome Home Celebration for returning service members, Veterans and their families. The event was held at a Peoria Chiefs minor league game in Peoria, Il. The event included an informational fair, raffle prizes, a baseball game, food, a fireworks display and a live band performance following the conclusion of the game. The informational fair included VA services, Veteran Service Organizations and educational institutions. In honor of National Purple Heart Day, the Purple Heart recipients in attendance were honored on field during the pre-game festivities.

San Francisco, Palo Alto, Northern California — Three Medical Centers Join Forces for Welcome Home Event

On July 24, San Francisco VAMC, VA Palo Alto Health Care System and the Northern California Health Care System partnered with the Oakland A's to welcome home nearly 1,000 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans and their families. Veterans and their families enjoyed a day at the park, met several Oakland A's players and received information about VA.

Louisville, KY, Welcome Home event

Louisville, KY — VA and Air National Guard Thank Troops and Families

Members and families of the Kentucky Air National Guard enjoyed events, activities and demonstrations for "Family Day" at the 123rd Airlift Wing headquarters and airbase July 17. The event was also a chance for troops to learn about the various programs and benefits VA offers Veterans and their families. Read more about the event.  

Huntington, WV — Welcomes OEF/OIF Veterans and Families

Huntington, WV VA Medical Center and WV National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program recently hosted a Welcome Home Event for newly returned soldiers and their families at Charleston WV Civic Arena. In addition to family-friendly activities, the event was a chance to provide information to Veterans about available resources and benefits.