Bay Pines VA RN, Army Reserve Lt. Col. Exhibits Gratitude with Delivery of Patriot Award
Sherrie Sanders wears many hats; wife, mother, and eldest child to name a few. At the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, she serves as a registered nurse and care manager within the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) team.
In the U.S. Army Reserve, she serves as a lieutenant colonel and in the coming days, she’ll exchange her scrubs for fatigues to embark on a 400-day deployment in an unknown environment.
Despite being occupied with preparations for this transition, Sanders ensured that the colleagues who support her felt the depth of her appreciation before they said farewell. On Nov. 28, Joann Correira, Tamara Casareto, and Rebecca McAllister each received a Patriot Award during a surprise presentation.
“They’ve all come forward and asked if there’s anything they can do to help me get ready and encouraged me to take the time off that I need to prepare; it’s emotional, it really is, because you don’t get that in a lot of places,” Sanders shared.
The Patriot Award illustrates the efforts made by individual leaders of a Guard or Reserve member to support them and their loved ones before and after the service member’s deployment. The award was administered by a representative of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), which is a subsect of the Department of Defense.
“Today was one of those days where I was starting to feel burned out. Being honored this way just renewed my faith,” said Bay Pines VA Assistant Chief Nurse of Geriatric and Extended Care Joann Correira. “I just really appreciate Sherrie; she’s the one who’s being mobilized but, she’s giving us awards. That’s just beyond selfless. She’s the type of person who we want here, representing the heart of VA.”
For Sanders, serving others is a rite of passage. The 25 years she’s dedicated to the Army can be credited to her father, who served in the U.S. Navy for 34 years and often deployed for nine months at a time.
“Of course, I missed my father when he was away, but his absence made my mom, my siblings and I all more self-reliant,” Sanders shared. “I think I’m a stronger woman because of my father’s service.”
The O‘ahu, Hawaii native’s father inspired her to join the military, but it was her upbringing that led her to pursue a career in nursing. Sanders shared, “I’m the oldest of five siblings, with four brothers so the want to take care of people has always been with me.”
Sanders initially joined the VA team in 2013 but after a year, she accepted a position elsewhere in order to be closer to her husband, who was still serving at that time. In keeping with the selflessness that lies at her core, Sanders wanted to get back to serving those who’ve served and in 2019, she accepted a position with Bay Pines VA’s HBPC team.
“Taking care of Veterans, is wonderful! They are so appreciative of the care they receive,” Sanders said. “One day, I’m going to be part of the patient population I serve, and I want to make sure that we’re providing the best care that we can.”
Sanders continued, “In the 30 years I’ve worked in nursing, out of all the assignments I’ve had, this is the most rewarding. I’m so grateful to have a supportive team who is doing everything they can to support not only me, but my family.”