Mansfield VA Outpatient Clinic Honors Senior Veterans Beyond Medical Care
By Wira Gernaga, Public Affairs Specialist - Outreach Coordinator
MANSFIELD, Ohio—The David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic has taken a unique approach to caring for its senior Veterans by offering a non-medical service to support their emotional well-being.
Facility Director Stacy Williams said volunteer representative from the Honor Flight program, Bill Herzog, visits the clinic every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to connect with Veterans and share information about the program
"It’s wonderful to be able to help our senior Veterans not only medically but emotionally via the Honor Flight,” said Williams.
Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization that flies Veterans to Washington, D.C., for a day trip to visit military memorials. Locally, flights depart from John Glenn Columbus International Airport 10 times a year—five times each in the spring and fall—at no cost to Veterans. Each participant is assigned a guardian to assist them throughout the day, and medical staff, including a physician and medics, are on board.
“It’s a full and exciting day for the Veterans,” said Herzog, who also serves as a Guardian. “The day entails visits to nine memorials, lunch, dinner and a group photo. We’re currently booking for spring 2026.”
To qualify, Veterans must be at least 65 years old and have served at least one day of active duty outside of basic training or served 20 years in the National Guard or Reserves. Priority goes to World War II and Korean War Veterans.
Applications are available at www.honorflightcmh.org and must include a copy of the Veteran’s DD-214. Submissions are accepted by mail, email or fax.
For Herzog, serving as a Guardian is a way for him to honor other Veterans.
“Being an Honor Flight Guardian is my way of giving back,” he said. “I feel a range of emotions seeing their smiles—especially during the welcome-home celebration at the airport. Around 2,000 people wait to greet these return flights with signs and banners expressing their gratitude for our Veterans. I’m grinning from ear to ear and fighting back tears.”
Williams said the Mansfield clinic continues to work to facilitate more programs and services for the Veterans it serves. The clinic, established in 1998 and having opened a new location in 2014, provides a host of medical services such as primary care, telehealth, optometry, podiatry, radiology, women’s health, nutrition, clinical pharmacists, mental health services, PT, lab, pulmonary function and primary care social worker.
“We are now providing newer medical services for weight management and procedures. Beginning August 2025, we will begin offering neuro medical services," said Williams “We couldn’t continue providing high quality care for our Veterans without the dedicated and wonderful staff we have here at the clinic. They truly place their passion into serving our deserving and delightful Veterans.”
To enroll in VA healthcare, please contact your local community-based outpatient clinic or the Louis Stokes VA Cleveland Medical Center by emailing VHACLEOutreachCommittee@va.gov.