Veterans Receive Recognition During Pinning
Tomah VAMC Ambassadors Keith Nelson, Scott Robinson, Frank Smith and Steve Minor receiving certificates of recognition from Vicki Brahm, Tomah VAMC Director and staff.
“To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”
First spoken by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, these words have become the Department of Veteran Affairs’ motto and words many at the Tomah VA Medical Center live by each day.
Recently, Medical Center Director Vicki Brahm recognized a group from the Ambassador Program that is dedicated to the VA motto.
“Coming in the door, it is really important that you guys are there to help people. You help them when they are lost, you help them get around the medical center and find their way,” said Brahm. “I want to thank you for helping us, for having our backs, for helping your brothers and sisters [that were] in the military and for doing this every day.”
With two years at Tomah VAMC, Steve Minor enjoys the people he meets daily.
“Meeting very good people 99.9%, getting to help people and trying to tell them we’re Vets, we’re helping Vets. To me that means a lot,” added the Vietnam Navy Veteran. “I get to meet so many people … World War II Vets that are 100, 104, 102 years old and taking to them, listening to their stories and what they have to tell. They went through way more than what I went through in Vietnam.”
Each Ambassador was presented with a lapel pin and certification during the recognition.
Frank Smith started nine years ago, on the 3rd floor in podiatry, taking people back and forth to the pharmacy.
“It’s a different challenge every day. You meet different people with different attitudes, different mood swings. You have to adapt and overcome to be in a positon to help, to say words that heal and not hurt.”
Smith, a Marine Veteran, believes it’s a daily reward to serve fellow Veterans. “For me, it is a privilege and a golden opportunity that I cherish every single day of my life because helping them helps me,” he said.
The Ambassador Program is one of many ways employees assist and give special care to those that served.
“This program is really important for the Veterans that come into the medical center because it is important that they know who is here to help them,” said Brahm.
