Reunited in Motion: Veterans Find Healing and Home in VA Recreation Therapy

At the Richmond VA Medical Center, the recreation therapy program has become a lifeline… one of VA’s hidden gems. A place where old comrades reunite, new friendships form, and healing happens in motion rather than in a chair.

For Andre Holcomb, the journey started after both of his knees were replaced and he later learned he had a spinal cord injury and PTSD. He was introduced to recreation therapy in the mid‑1990s and never looked back. Over the years, he has tried almost everything the program offers: fishing, horseback riding, cycling, air rifle, archery, shuffleboard, boccia, and table tennis. What kept him coming back was the feeling he got on those early‑morning cycling sessions, first on stationary bikes and then outside on real roads. Being back on a bike, surrounded by fellow Veterans, reminded him that he could still move, still push himself, and still belong. 

“I love this program,” Holcomb said. “It keeps me motivated, it keeps me happy, focused, and gives me the opportunity to be myself.”

Ricky Logan’s path into the program came later. A brain bleed and stroke dramatically changed his life, and chronic leg and shoulder problems meant he needed to rethink how he stayed active. He had been coming to VA for more than two decades before he discovered recreation therapy. Once he did, he threw himself into it. On a trike‑style bike, at the bowling alley, or leaning over a pool table, Ricky has found a way to work within his limits without feeling limited. What stands out to him isn’t the scores; it’s the support. In this group, nobody is judged for a gutter ball or a missed shot—if you show up, try, and cheer others on, you’ve already succeeded.

Michelle Washington came to the program on the advice of her primary care provider after health issues forced her to step away from full‑time work. When her doctor asked what she liked to do, she said bowling and playing pool—and admitted she was very competitive. Recreation therapy turned out to be a perfect fit. Michelle quickly discovered a community of Veterans who had been through similar deployments, challenges, and transitions. With a monthly calendar full of options, she has started trying new things she once only thought about, like cake decorating, and is now preparing for her first National Veterans Golden Age Games alongside the men she calls her “brothers.”

What makes this group especially unique is that many of them share a history that predates the program. Andre, Ricky, Michelle, and several of their fellow participants—Michelle Bibbs, Ira Crawford, Ken Turner, and Charles Allen—once worked together at Fort Lee, Virginia. Years later, they found themselves reunited at the Richmond VAMC, this time not in formation or on duty, but in a gym, on bikes, on the lanes, and around pool tables. Those chance reunions have turned therapy sessions into something that feels like coming home. Old ranks don’t matter here; what matters is that they all showed up.

Cornell Bynum, another long‑time participant, has watched the program evolve over the years, but he says the heart of it has never changed. What stands out most to him is how closely the staff pay attention to the Veterans they serve. 

“These therapists notice when someone walks in a little quieter than usual or seems off,” Bynum said. “They pull them aside, check in, and listen.”

Andre Holcomb remembers a sergeant major who initially sat in silence, not talking or smiling. After a few sessions of cycling and group activities, the Veteran slowly began to relax, open up, and connect. For this group of Veterans, that transformation captures what recreation therapy does best: it brings people back out of their shells and reminds them they are not alone.

The program is also a launching pad for national adaptive sports events that many Veterans never knew existed. Opportunities like the National Veterans Golden Age Games and the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic give participants the chance to travel, compete, and test themselves in new environments alongside peers from across the country. Andre has competed in the Golden Age Games multiple times and credits those experiences with keeping him motivated and focused. Michelle is getting ready for her first Games.

“I am excited and a little nervous,” she admitted, but is bolstered by the encouragement of teammates who have gone before her.

For Veterans managing PTSD, chronic pain, or the invisible weight of transition from military to civilian life, traditional talk‑based groups can sometimes feel repetitive or limited. Recreation therapy offers a different type of space where healing is woven into movement, laughter, challenge, and shared experiences. Whether they are trying a new activity from the monthly calendar, volunteering at the medical center, or simply sitting with friends between frames, these Veterans are building routines that keep them active in body and mind.

Ask any of them what keeps them coming back, and a common theme emerges: there are no failures here. There are only Veterans who show up, try something within their abilities, and support one another. In a health system filled with essential clinics and services, the Richmond VA’s recreation therapy program may be one of its best‑kept secrets. A place where former colleagues from Fort Lee cross paths again, where new friendships form, and where each mile pedaled, ball rolled, or game played becomes another step toward thriving after the uniform has been put away.

Veterans interested in these kinds of activities can talk with their primary care provider about a consultation for recreation or music therapy. Asking for a referral is the first step to getting connected with these programs and discovering what they can do for you.