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“Thank You for Trusting Us”: VA Puget Sound Leaders Visit Inpatient Veterans During National Salute Week

Two women, a man, and a patient in a hospital bed.
VA Puget Sound leaders visit Veteran and his wife at the Seattle VA Medical Center's inpatient rehabilitation wing.

By Hunter Gordian, Public Affairs Specialist

During National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, VA Puget Sound Health Care System senior leaders visited Veterans receiving care at the Seattle VA Medical Center’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.

These visits strengthened connections between senior leaders and Veterans receiving care while highlighting the compassion and quality of care delivered across VA Puget Sound. 

"It’s truly an honor to spend time with our Veterans,” said VA Puget Sound Executive Director Dr. Thomas Bundt. “These visits allow us to share some warmth and see firsthand the important work our staff does every day.” 

Army Veteran Lawrence Spooner was one of several Veterans leadership met during the visit. When asked about his experience at VA Puget Sound, Spooner said, “they take great care of you here.” He added that he enjoys the food, noting, “I don’t even have to take my wife out to dinner when she visits.”

Each Veteran received a token of appreciation, including a military branch pin and VA lanyard. 

“We just wanted to say thanks,” Dr. Bundt added. “Thank you for trusting us with your care.”

VA Puget Sound also hosted other activities during National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, including Valentines for Veterans — a VA tradition started in 1978 that invites the community to send Valentine’s cards to Veterans through the local VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement (formerly known as Voluntary Service) — and a distribution of free National Park Service passes at the Seattle VA Medical Center. 

“National Salute to Veteran Patients Week is just one of the many ways we actively support our Veterans,” said VA Puget Sound Acting Deputy Executive Director Rhonda Lewis. “Visiting and spending time with our Veteran patients is a powerful reminder of the gratitude we owe our nation’s heroes.”

Observed annually around Valentine's Day, National Salute to Veteran Patients Week encourages communities to honor Veterans by volunteering at VA facilities. VA Puget Sound’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement coordinates donations and volunteer activities throughout the year in support of Veteran patients and their caregivers. 

To learn more about volunteering, donations, and sending Valentine’s cards to Veterans at VA Puget Sound, contact pugvoluntaryservice@va.gov