I am proud to say—I am a VA nurse
By Adam Herr, RN
That’s when I first heard the phrase that would come to define so much of what I do: “my Veterans.” Nurses said it with such love, such a sense of belonging and responsibility. Those words weren’t just a phrase—they were a promise, a bond.
In May we celebrated nurses during National Nurses Week by moments of recognition, collaboration and gratitude throughout the Minneapolis VA Health Care system.
One moment of empathy came in the form of a letter to VA nurses from one of their own. Adam Herr, a retired US Air Force non-commissioned officer, penned a letter to his colleagues explaining where his passion for the nursing profession came from and what it means to him.
My journey into nursing began years ago in the military, fueled by a dream of becoming an officer. At that time, I was a full-time single father, raising two amazing children, carefully charting the path of my future. But in July of 2004, my world shifted in a way I could never have anticipated. Laying on a stretcher, waiting to be medevaced to Landstuhl, Germany, a nurse was beside me, gently working to insert an IV. Through the haze, I remember murmuring something about my plans to go to nursing school, about becoming an officer too. Her response has stayed with me ever since. She told me she was a reservist, but her passion—her "true" calling—was nursing her veterans.
That moment planted a seed in my heart.
When I was in nursing school, I became a student nurse technician at the VA. That’s when I first heard the phrase that would come to define so much of what I do: “my Veterans.” Nurses said it with such love, such a sense of belonging and responsibility. Those words weren’t just a phrase—they were a promise, a bond.
Today, years later, Herr observes that same unshakable pride every day among his colleagues at the Minneapolis VA. He says he has witnessed their quiet acts of kindness: nurses pooling their own money to pay for a taxi to get a Veteran home safely, and Veterans whose lives were touched by such care, their gratitude moved him to tears. He has seen these dedicated professionals persevere through formidable challenges—uprooting their lives and pushing through exhaustion—all for the privilege of caring for "their Veterans."
His letter continued…
To my fellow nurses: I have never been prouder of you. I am proud to stand beside you—not just as a Veteran, but as a leader, and as someone who sees the incredible work you do every single day.
You are there, unwavering, on Christmas mornings, Easter evenings, and every other holiday, showing up for those who need you most. You hold the hands of dying patients, offering them peace in their final moments. You comfort Veterans facing terminal diagnoses, your presence is a light in their darkest hours. I’ve seen you make meals for a homeless Veteran coming in for an appointment, without hesitation or judgment—only compassion.
You do these things not because it’s your job, but because it’s your calling. Because you care.
Serving alongside you is an honor that humbles me every day. I will always sing your praises to anyone who will listen. I will remind the world of your dedication, your kindness, and the depth of your humanity.
To all of you: thank you, from the depths of my soul. You are extraordinary. And you will always have my respect and gratitude.
Adam Herr currently serves as the director of Innovative Technologies for the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.