On Saturday, July 23, more than 1,600 Veterans and their families and countless community members came out to welcome returning Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan home at the largest Welcome Home event yet.
The Erie VA Medical Center once again partnered with the Erie SeaWolves baseball team to host the annual event to welcome home returning Veterans, to say thank you for their service, and to connect them with the health care they deserve.
The event started with a picnic in the Jerry Uht Park, followed by an Erie SeaWolves baseball game. Two returning Veterans threw out the first pitches of the game to start things off right. Erie VA staff were also on site to thank Veterans for their service and to answer questions about health care, benefits, and more.
“This year’s Welcome Home event was a huge success,” said Richard Moore, Special Programs Coordinator at the Erie VA Medical Center. “We were able to reach out to more than 1,600 Veterans and their families, provide them with information about health programs and services available to them, and offer assistance to these Veterans and their families during their transition back home.”
The program for returning Veterans, known as the Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) program, serves as a one stop shop for returning Veterans and service members. Each Veteran is screened for traumatic brain injuries, posttraumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma and depression. The goal is to identify issues early to ensure Veterans have the best chance for recovery. After the initial visit, the OEF/OIF/OND program then connects Veterans with the Post Deployment Clinic for further health care services.
This Welcome Home event is part of our commitment to serving Veterans. The Erie VA Medical Center would like to thank the Erie SeaWolves, the United States Marine Corps Color Guard, the 316th ESG Army Reserve, the Erie community, Veterans and family members for making this a memorable event for all.
Check out the Erie VA Medical Center Facebook page to view more photos from the event!
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