Tomah VA Medical Center Holds First Centenarian Celebration

Tomah VA Director, Karen Long, presented six Veteran centenarians a framed and hand-signed letter of appreciation and a special VA challenge coin from Secretary of the VA, Denis McDonough. Five centenarians who had not already received a Quilt of Valor were also recognized and awarded with a personalized hand-made quilt by the Prairie Du Chien Pickett Fence Patriotic Piecers. Veterans that were honored also took time to share moving stories about their experiences during World War II and expressed how grateful they were to be recognized for their service to our nation. After the ceremony, Veterans, their family members, and members of the community had time to enjoy each other’s company as well as some refreshments. 
The Centenarian Program is a special initiative to honor American Heroes who have reached the age of 100. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie began this project in November 2020, and current VA Secretary McDonough has continued the program. Since the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) has been coordinating these celebrations to honor our Veteran centenarians, they have awarded 360 centenarians and special recognitions for those Veterans in their late 90’s across the country. Jennifer Conzemius, Chief of Tomah VA CDCE said, “Here at Tomah VA, the CDCE has just initiated the program in June 2024, and our July 3rd honorees were the first to be celebrated. We have roughly 20 more Veterans scheduled to celebrate and recognize in the upcoming months”. 
A special thank you to Holmen VFW Post 7908 for co-hosting this event with the Tomah VA and Valley View Mall for their partnership and use of their community room. 
The Tomah VA encourages any organization or family that knows of a Veteran who will be turning 100 or has already hit that milestone to reach out to the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement office at (608) 372-1727 to make sure that they are recognized.