Welcome Home Celebration
More than 160 Veterans and family members attended the celebration that included face painting for the kids and valuable information on VA health care and benefits. VA Photo: Kevin Lee McIver
A Welcome Home Celebration to honor Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (OEF-OIF-OND) Veterans and their families was held at the Greenville Zoo on May 25.
“More than 160 Veterans and family members attended the celebration that included a BBQ, face painting for the kids, and valuable information on VA health care and benefits,” said Dorn VAMC OEF-OIF-OND Program Manager Faela Maney. “It was great to see everyone join us and it was an honor for our staff to host this event with our partners.”
According to VA, OEF/OIF combat Veterans can receive cost free medical care for any condition related to their service in the Iraq/Afghanistan Theater for five years after the date of their discharge or release.
“Of the 70,000-plus Veterans who receive their health care through the Dorn VA Medical Center and its clinics,” said Maney, “nearly 6,000 are Veterans from our current wars and this event was a great way to introduce them to the benefits VA offers because of their military service.
The event also served to inform Veterans not enrolled in VA programs and services that they may be eligible. “Access to this care may not be needed now,” noted Maney, “but it is important for returning service members to know that VA is here.”
Participating organizations included the Greenville Zoo, the Greenville Veterans Center, the Veterans Benefits Administration, the Dorn VAMC Women Veterans Program, and the Dorn VAMC OEF-OIF-OND Program.
More information VA programs for OEF-OIF-OND Veterans is available on the Returning Service Member web at: http://www.oefoif.va.gov.
Event photos can be accessed via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/VAColumbiaSC.
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