Kicking It With Kindness

To show appreciation for their military service, the team interacted in small groups throughout the medical center engaging in spirited conversations with many Veterans.

“This is something that’s very special [and] this is really important for us to be able to do,” said Josie Rix, Assistant Coach of the University of Florida Women’s Soccer team. “It’s especially endearing to me because, we get to do what we get to do, because people are doing things that we don’t have to do.”

Prior to their arrival, Chaplain Melvin Lane, Chief of the NF/SG VHS Chaplain Service, provided a general overview to the team and informed them of some background information on some of the Veterans the team would interact with.

“You just never know what something like this can do for our Veterans,” said Lane.

While smiling, laughing, and sharing numerous meaningful moments, Veterans were able to engage with the young team about their experiences when serving in the military.

“It’s like playing on a team, this is your family,” said Air Force Veteran and Malcom Randall VAMC inpatient Greg DeNoyer. “Mostly, I miss the guys [and] you understand the camaraderie. You’re there to watch their back and they’re there to watch yours.”

While addressing the team, Rix indicated that perhaps the hardest thing the soccer team did up to that point of the day was weightlifting, “and if that’s the hardest part of your day, then you’re blessed by God. Hopefully, you guys play with that same kind of passion that [Veterans] gave every day that they served.”

For more information on the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, please visit https://www.va.gov/north-florida-health-care/locations/malcom-randall-d….