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Sep 24th, 2024 - 10:45:59 |
The Bleckley County Middle School softball team visited veterans at the Carl Vincent VA Medical Center September 18. They received a tour to see how the VA operates and also met residents living in the Community Living Center (CLC.)
In a VA press release about the visit, head coach Dusty Jones spoke of how inspiring the visits were and how so many of the players had relatives who were veterans.
““The visits are so inspiring. Three-quarters of the team has a family member who is a veteran,” Jones said.
Besides meeting veterans and hearing their stories, players also visited a variety of areas of the medical center with several expressing interest in medical careers. One veteran likened the visit from the girls to visits from his granddaughters.
While at the VA, the team met with interim medical director Chandra Miller, RN, and presented her with a team jersey complete with her name on the back, making her an honorary Lady Baron.
Miller was honored, saying, “It’s wonderful to see young people visit because they can see the price of freedom here and hopefully leave with a renewed sense of patriotism. Keeping our nation strong requires transmitting that sense of patriotism across generations, and meeting those who have sacrificed so much for all of us is always inspiring.”
Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) chief Keith Griffin encouraged others to visit saying, ““These visits not only make our veterans’ day better, they also give us a chance to build community relations that help us care for veterans. Partnerships are crucial for our success, so we love to see groups come though, especially as we do outreach and encourage veterans to get their care at VA.”
Griffin noted that approximately three-fourths of Middle Georgia veterans eligible for VA services were not using them. He expressed a desire for it to change, saying ““We need to reach those veterans. The quality of their healthcare and their lives is of the highest importance to us. We want to be the healthcare provider of choice for America’s heroes.”
Miller said that building relationships was a key part of the VA’s success, saying “At the Dublin VA we believe in people, processes, and partnerships for our success. The partnership part requires that we build quality relationships in Middle Georgia and visits like this one help us do that. I very much want to thank Bleckley County Schools for sponsoring this trip and I hope they come back often!”
Social worker Greg Senters, who assisted in setting up the visit, said he was asked by a veteran why the players were visiting. With a big smile, he responded, saying “to brighten up your day!” as he handed him a team softball.
Senters noted that many of the veterans have limited mobility while some don’t have many living relatives. He said visits from others can contribute to positive healthcare outcomes.
“We know that social supports are a key indicator for positive healthcare outcomes and for quality of life. Receiving visitors has a very positive result.”
For information about scheduling a visit to the VA, contact Keith Griffin, Keith.Griffin@va.gov or 478-272-1210, extension. 72439. You can also find info on their Facebook page, Dublin VA Medical Center.
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by BleckleyProgess.com
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