VA Medical Centers Welcome Home Events
A working schedule of events and contact information.

The VA has encouraged all of its Medical Centers to conduct these events. The Welcome Home is geared specifically to active military and veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as their family members. Dozens of agencies and organizations are solicited to provide information on such topics as federal jobs, health resources, adaptive sports, current VA research, support groups, and more. Activities for the children are also to be included; such things as face-painting, exotic animal shows, pony rides, a moonwalk, and temporary tattoos. Plenty of great food, raffles, and upbeat music should be included. By all accounts, these events have proven to be very successful and a terrific way to welcome home America's most recent heroes.

All AMVETS Posts/Departments are encouraged to support these events. This is an excellent opportunity to establish a booth as one of the premiere VSO's and share/communicate how AMVETS can be of assistance. Great time to promote AMVETS scholarships and have the necessary forms and contact information. If AMVETS Service Officers are available to be a part of the Welcome Home that would be great, however, at a minimum you should be able to provide AMVETS current NSO contact information. The VA staff in charge, typically the Voluntary Service office also needs extra hands to assist with the logistical side. My experience at the Washington VAMC Welcome Home Event also proved it to be a viable venue for recruiting VAVS volunteers.

Americanism Program – Now is the time to be distributing this information to your schools and youth organizations for the 2009 contests. If you have any questions that can not be answered by clicking on the Americanism link, please give us a call.

Also, this is the ideal time to be promoting the “I Pledge Allegiance Comic Book.” It is an excellent tool to be used in promoting patriotism with the younger grades and it also highlights the benefits of the Americanism program on the back cover of the Comic. It is also a great way to put the AMVETS brand in front of their parents, many of whom may be veterans.

Download Comic Book Order form