OMAHA VA MEDICAL CENTER HONORS VOLUNTEERS FOR SUPPORT TO VETERANS, HOSPITAL OPERATIONS

The banquet was one of three held across VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System to honor the service that local Volunteers provide to Veterans through VA NWIHCS’ Center for Development and Community Engagement. Similar luncheons were held earlier in May in Grand Island and Lincoln.

“Make no mistake, our Volunteers are making a real and definitive impact on the lives of countless Veterans every day,” said Dr. Eileen Kingston, VA NWIHCS director. “We appreciate all you do. It doesn’t matter in what capacity you are called on to serve…. you bring a spirit of service and commitment to others with you through your commitment to volunteerism that impacts our Veterans and also our employees.”

“You are an inspiration to us,” Kingston added. “So, tonight we celebrate you for all that you are doing and for all that you represent. We honor you for your accomplishments and for being mentors for future generations and teaching them what volunteerism means.”

Volunteers play an extremely important role within the Omaha VA Medical Center, as well as at the Grand Island and Lincoln VA medical facilities. Some are part of the Veterans transportation network, assisting in transporting Veterans to and from medical appointments. Some staff information desks and provide important information to Veterans and families. Some work in morale and welfare capacities, visiting inpatient wards and providing important support services. Others assist in a variety of other administrative support functions.

The Omaha dinner included recognition of those Volunteers who have achieved significant milestones in the amount hours they have served at the VA. It also included a candle lighting memorial service for three long-time Volunteers – Michael Moriarty, Monte Bratberg, and Sadie Montgomery -- who died over the past year.

Also honored were:

Certificates of Years and Hours of Service:

David Franzen (12 Years; 10,930 hours); Marcia Jones (20 Years; 3, 050.5 hours); Marilyn Robinson (20 Years; 6,100 hours); Michael Rowen III (26 Years; 15,201 hours); and Donald Skaw (7 Years; 3,645.5 hours).

17,500 Hour Award:

Larry Hall Jr. (Unaffiliated Volunteer).

8,750 Hour Award

Lawrence Grimit (Disabled American Veterans); and Richard Harrington (Knights of Columbus).

5,000 Hour Award

Charles Cooper (Disabled American Veterans).

4,000 Hour Award

Jeffrey Caplan (Unaffiliated).

2,500 Hour Award

Earl Berkey (Disabled American Veterans); Robert Bieker (Unaffiliated); Patricia Coenen (Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.); Steven Hamm (Disabled American Veterans); Roger Shaw (American Legion); Yvonne Surber (Disabled American Veterans).

1,000 Hour Award

Julia Anderson (Disabled American Veterans); Duane Carolus (Unaffiliated); Mike Dunn (Disabled American Veterans); Odis Fields (Disabled American Veterans); Alan Guidry (American Legion); Charles Kelly (Unaffiliated); Glen Macumber (Disabled American Veterans); Laurie McMullan (Unaffiliated); Louis Wagner (American Red Cross).

750 Hour Award

Loren Clayton (Disabled American Veterans); Ann Cox (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution); Michael Dunn (Disabled American Veterans); Lois Ferrero (Disabled American Veterans); Janet Haselhorst (Disabled American Veterans); Ronald Ingram (American Legion Auxiliary); Victor Jones (Unaffiliated); Cathy Schraeder (Unaffiliated); Nora Van Cleave (Veterans of Foreign Wars).

500 Hour Award

James Hoy (Guitars 4 Vets); Tommie Hudson (Unaffiliated); Jean Latham (Wounded Warrior Project); Ann Maupin (Unaffiliated); Catherine Schraeder (Unaffiliated); Dorothy Steckelberg (Military Order of the Cootie Auxiliary).

300 Hour Award

Leon Chapman (Disabled American Veterans); Maynard Crispin (Unaffiliated); Tommie Hudson (Unaffiliated); Thomas Lundquist (Veterans of Foreign Wars); Ann Maupin (Unaffiliated); Charlene Pilger (Veterans of Foreign Wars); Gary Wood (Disabled American Veterans).

100 Hour Award

Scott Bates (Disabled American Veterans); Ruben Bera (Disabled American Veterans); Theodore Bissen (Unaffiliated); Gary Connell (American Legion); Linda Davis (Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary); Michael Dickhausen (Disabled American Veterans); Tommie Hudson (Unaffiliated); Alan Johnson (Disabled American Veterans); Gennaro Lervolino (Unaffiliated); Kevin Little (Unaffiliated); Mark Mann (Unaffiliated); Jo Meier (Unaffiliated); Chad Miller (Disabled American Veterans); Robert Mullin (Unaffiliated); Haywood O’Hara (Omaha Public Schools); Cassandra Olmedo (Omaha Public Schools); Linda Olson (Military Officers Association of America); Phillip Perrone (Unaffiliated); William Robert (Disabled American Veterans); John Schmitt (Disabled American Veterans); Irving St. Arnold (Disabled American Veterans); Robert Talsma (Disabled American Veterans); Julie Teegarden  (Unaffiliated); Brian Wells (Guitars for Vets); Gary Wood (Disabled American Veterans).

100 Hour Youth Award

Christopher VonHagel (Unaffiliated).

Photos of the event can be viewed HERE