2025 Golden Games

Dubbed the Palmetto Patriots, the group of Lowcountry Veterans representing the Ralph H. Johnson VA, took home 14 medals in athletic events designed to highlight their skill and competitive spirit. The team was made up of Veterans who volunteered to take part in the events or assist in logistics and organization. 

“I love sports, I love community, but after COVID I think I was fearful of being around people and isolated myself,” said Shannon Flowers, a Charleston area Army National Guard Veteran. “This has been a perfect opportunity to get out and compete again. My recreational therapy group is so motivating, and I really do feel like we’re a family as well as a team. We need each other and I can’t wait to see us in action for the rest of the events!”

Founded in 1985, the National Veterans Golden Age Games serves Veterans ages 55 years and older. Through its “Fitness for Life” motto, the Golden Age Games offers sports competitions and health education sessions to demonstrate the value that sports, wellness, and fitness provide to assist Veterans with living an active and healthy lifestyle. The National Veterans Golden Age Games is a qualifying event for the National Senior Games.

Events included in this year’s games were air pistol/rifle, badminton, bowling, cornhole, pickleball, competitive swimming, and track and field, just to name a few. Some Veterans attending the event this year were well into their nineties, highlighting the commitment to fitness many of them hold. There were accessibility focused brackets of competition, such as the visually impaired division, that cater to the needs of their respective Veterans. 

“I am super proud of my team for never failing to show up,” said Katie Megregian, Ralph H. Johnson VA HCS recreational therapist and coach for the Palmetto Patriots. “Not only am I proud of them for winning several medals, but being good teammates and supporting each other every step of the way.”

Though it can slightly differ between health care systems, VA recreational therapists are often responsible for preparing Veterans for the Golden Age Games and coaching them through each of their events. The preparation and training for these Veterans is a yearlong process and is finalized with attending the games and hopefully winning medals. 

The mission of the Recreation Therapy Service within the VA is to improve and enrich Veteran’s bio-psycho-social functioning through active therapy and meaningful therapeutic activities to maintain or improve functional independence and life quality.  The intended outcome of the state of art evidence-based clinical interventions is independence in life activities based upon the Veteran’s needs and goals.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games for next year is expected to be held in Tampa, Florida. For more information on the Golden Games and the VA in general go to: https://department.va.gov/veteran-sports/national-veterans-golden-age-games/