In January 1944, with WWII still raging, the newly constructed Newton D. Baker U.S. Army Hospital began receiving wounded service members. Located 90 miles from Washington D.C., the hospital was built in just 11 months and consisted of 100 buildings and 3,000 beds. Robert Leckie Later renamed the Martinsburg VA Medical Center, the campus now marks 80 years of continuous service to the nation. When a young Marine named Robert Leckie arrived in 1945 to recover from wounds, no one could have guessed he would write about Martinsburg in one of the most powerful and famous autobiographies to come ou ..read more

Long before construction begins on any part of VA medical centers, clinics or other facilities, VA’s Simulation Learning, Evaluation, Assessment and Research Network (SimLEARN)’s specialized Simulation-based Healthcare Design Testing (SbHDT) team gets to work. The team uses carefully constructed, highly realistic blueprints and full-scale models to spot flaws early in the design phase to avoid future renovation costs. The team prioritizes access, safety, workflow and quality of care in their design testing, and include administrators, architects and designers in their simulations. But the most ..read more

Beginning June 10, families of deceased and cremated Veterans can apply to receive commemorative plaques or urns from VA if they do not want to inter their loved ones in a VA National Cemetery or receive a government-furnished headstone, marker or medallion for placement in any cemetery. Commemorative urns are used to hold the remains of a deceased, cremated Veteran, and commemorative plaques are designed to hang on a wall. Both the urns and the plaques honor a Veteran’s service and serves as a lasting tribute to the individual’s status as a Veteran. Eligible family members can request one or ..read more

As part of our ongoing effort to support the hiring of military spouses, VA recently became the first federal agency to sign the 4+1 Commitment in support of policies aimed at helping military spouses find meaningful employment. Developed by Blue Star Families, Hiring Our Heroes and Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), the 4+1 Commitment is a voluntary pledge by employers to adopt at least 1 of 4 important employment policies designed to expand employment and career opportunities for military spouses: Facilitate job transferability. Offer remote or telework o ..read more

We often refer to things that sound great as being “Music to our Ears.” This saying became reality when an inpatient Veteran at Eastern Oklahoma VA was presented with a guitar by members of the Whole Health team, Highly Innovative Transformation Team (H.I.T.T.) and Guitar Heroes group. It all started when Aida Berrios, nursing assistant, found joy in watching Veterans in her unit engage with others during the weekly Guitar Heroes segment. Guitar Heroes was developed by Lee Mclain, Patient Experience officer for H.I.T.T., when he saw the impact music was having on Veterans. He started playing g ..read more

Hundreds of Veterans from across the Central Savannah River Area and beyond gathered at Augusta Tech recently for a crucial event aimed at providing support and assistance through the VA PACT Act. More than 500 Veterans registered for the event with over 300 in attendance, underscoring the importance of accessible benefits and resources among the Veteran community. There were  28 new enrollments, 17 additional consultations and 13 Veterans screened for toxic exposure. Among them was Lawanda Boswell, Army Veteran with 20 years of service. “I greatly appreciate the valuable information and ..read more

Nurses are at the center of VA care. Anywhere you find us caring for Veterans, you’ll see a nurse stepping in to provide the kind of care those who served our country deserve. When we see how our nurses tirelessly provide the highest quality care to Veterans, we are humbled by their commitment and perseverance, and we encourage anyone with a passion for health care to consider a nursing career at VA. The work may be demanding, but the rewards are many when it comes to employment benefits. That starts with up to 26 days of paid leave, 13 sick days annually, and 11 paid federal holidays each yea ..read more

Live music, food and family fun brought more than 1,000 Texas Veterans and their families together on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in April at Houston’s VetFest 2024.  Suicide prevention staff at VetFest Staff from Michael E. DeBakey VA in Houston were front and center at the event, educating Veterans about PACT Act benefits, assisting them with health care enrollment information and just taking the opportunity to thank them for their service.  “Participating in events like VetFest allows us to meet Veterans where they are in the community and bring them into the VA system,” said Cor ..read more

The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering. In 2023, a record number of post-9/11 Veterans found meaningful employment with their American Corporate Partner (ACP) Mentor’s assistance for free, with an average starting salary of more than $93,000. ACP can help you find a new position, get promoted and grow your civilian network. How to get started Visit https://www.acp-usa.org and fill out a short online application. Answer questions about yo ..read more

How would you finish the sentence: “Today, I am …”? Would you say you’re hopeful, motivated, anxious, lonely, indifferent or something else? Ideally, how would you like to end that sentence? During Mental Health Month in May, VA is sharing stories from Veterans like Bridget and Greg who describe how their lives and perspectives have improved since receiving professional mental health care. Each story completes the thought, “Today, I am …” and includes information about the treatments that helped each Veteran process their past, manage their symptoms and map out their future. Today, Bridget is ..read more