VAnguard outlook

January/February 2008

New Secretary Peake Adapted Housing Grant Program Five Years of My HealtheVet VA and the New Deal January/February 2008 1 VAnguard

Features FY 2009 Budget Proposal: $93.7 Billion 6 Seamless transition, compensation and pension initiatives top priorities Honoring Distinguished Service in the Pacific 7 Coast Guard commandant visits Punchbowl to dedicate memorial ‘Granting’ Independence 8 6 Adapted housing program for seriously disabled veterans is growing In Tribute to America’s National Shrines 11 Author publishes book on VA national cemeteries Celebrating Five Years of My HealtheVet 1 2 More than 500,000 users are now registered on VA’s Web health portal On the Cusp of a Breakthrough 14 Dr. David Vesely’s cancer research is showing real promise VA and the New Deal 16 8 WPA helped construct Baltimore National Cemetery Taking the Reins 18 An interview with new Secretary James B. Peake, M.D. The Dream Cutter 22 L.A. barber donates services to lift the spirits of his fellow veterans Helping Veterans on the ‘Road to Recovery’ 23 VA employees lend their expertise at Disney World event ‘Wreaths Across America’ 24 Veterans buried in national cemeteries remembered at the holidays 22 Celebrating the Holidays VA-Style 25 Holiday happenings at facilities around the country VAnguard VA’s Employee Magazine Departments January/February 2008 3 Feedback 30 Medical Advances Vol. LIV, No. 1 4 From the Secretary 31 Heroes Printed on 50% recycled paper 5 Outlook 32 Have You Heard 26 Around Headquarters 34 Honors Editor: Lisa Respess Gaegler Photo Editor: Robert Turtil 29 Introducing 36 Holiday Wreaths Photographer: Art Gardiner Staff Writer: Amanda Hester

Published by the Office of Public Affairs (80D)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs On the cover 810 Vermont Ave., N.W. The sixth Secretary of Veterans Affairs, James Washington, D.C. 20420 B. Peake, M.D., is the first physician and the (202) 461-7427 first general to lead the department. A E-mail: [email protected] combat veteran of the Vietnam War, Peake is www.va.gov/opa/feature/vanguard a former Army surgeon general. He was sworn in by Vice President Cheney at VA Central Office on Dec. 20, with President Bush looking on. photo by Robert Turtil

2 January/February 2008 VAnguard feedback

Where Are the Gloves? logical safety cabinet. He was remember a poster that was Correction I always enjoy reading the wearing a lab coat (yea) but sent from the VA Office of VAnguard, but this time I do not gloves (boo). Research and Development in In our article on page 29 of have a comment about one of One of the most difficult which a charming young lady the November/December issue your photos. I am a safety parts of a safety officer’s job in was pipetting radioactive ma- about the special edition professional (in Research and research is reminding folks to terial. She wore a lab coat and Cheerios box featuring 12 Development) and was dis- protect themselves, and their goggles—no gloves again. gold medal winners from the mayed to see the photo of products, through use of ap- Corinne Gajdusek, Ph.D. 2007 National Veterans David Wofsy, M.D., on page propriate personal protective R&D Safety Officer Wheelchair Games, the name 35 of the November/Decem- equipment (gloves, gown, VA Puget Sound HCS of one of the athletes, Wayne ber issue, working in a bio- goggles, etc., when required). I Seattle Field, was misspelled.

We Want to Hear from You Have a comment on something you’ve seen in VAnguard? We invite reader feedback. Send your comments to [email protected]. You can also write to us at: VAnguard, Office of Public Affairs (80D), De- partment of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20420. Include your name, title and VA facility. We won’t be able to pub- lish every letter, but we’ll use representative ones. We may need to edit your letter for length or clarity.

EMERSON SANDERS Veterans Day 2008 Poster Contest Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England presents the Rob- ert Dole National Award for Service to VA Deputy Secretary Attention artists, graphic designers and photographers. Gordon Mansfield as VA Secretary Dr. James Peake, left, and Sen. Dole look on. The Veterans Day National Committee is seeking submis- sions for the 2008 national Veterans Day poster. High Honors for Mansfield The poster is distributed to more than 110,000 schools nationwide, military installations around the Deputy Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield was named the world, and to federal agencies in the nation’s capital. It also first recipient of the Robert Dole National Award for Ser- graces the cover of the official program booklet for the vice on Jan. 28 during the annual conference of the Mili- Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. tary Health System, which provides health care for the The committee will convene in May to review all submis- Department of Defense. sions and select a finalist. The award was established in Dole’s name to recog- The final poster must be 18x24” at 300 dots per inch, nize veterans who continue to serve the nation through but please scale down submissions to 9x12” and submit public service. Mansfield described the former Kansas electronic versions as JPEG images or PDF files via e-mail senator as “one of my personal heroes.” to: [email protected]. Alternatively, send copies of artwork or “I cannot think of anyone, in my experience, who has a CD with artwork files to: Department of Veterans Affairs done more [than Senator Dole] for the military and veter- (002C), 810 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., ans health care systems,” Mansfield said. “As a patient 20420. Please do not send originals. and as a proponent in Congress, he did everything he The deadline for submissions is May 1. To view Veter- could to improve the care we provide for our active-duty ans Day posters from previous years, please visit personnel, our veterans and their families.” www.va.gov/vetsday and click on “Poster Gallery.” Last year, Dole served as co-chair of the President’s Submissions should include sufficient information to Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded demonstrate that the image is the work of the artist and is Warriors, a landmark look at ways to improve VA’s and not copyrighted material (i.e., photos and concepts). The the Defense Department’s help for injured service- committee may select a particular submission but ask the members returning to civilian life. artist to make modifications to the original design. Addi- tional changes may be required prior to printing.

January/February 2008 3 from the secretary VAnguard

Charting a Course Forward to Serve Our Veterans James B. Peake, M.D. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Though VA Central Office is I have had the opportunity to the continuum of care our therapies and the spectrum of only a block from the White witness firsthand the compas- nation’s veterans deserve. traumatic brain injury impair- House, it is a rare event for a sion of federal, state and local The Dole-Shalala report ment—vital issues for our President to pay a personal partnership displayed at the the President commissioned newest generation of veterans. visit. I can’t tell you how Washington, D.C., VA Medi- gives us a powerful blueprint Access to care is a domi- proud I was to be introduced cal Center’s Winterhaven to move forward in partner- nant issue for veterans. as Secretary of Veterans Affairs Stand Down for homeless ship with DoD and other fed- Whether our veterans live in by President Bush and sworn veterans. I also had the op- eral agencies. I intend to cities or rural areas, we need in by Vice President Cheney portunity to visit with our strengthen our current rela- to ensure their access to care right here in Central Office staff at the D.C. VAMC, tionships and joint ventures with compassion, timeliness on Dec. 20. where our clinicians demon- with Defense and forge new and without hassles. Our The President’s visit hon- strated the power and prom- ones that work for service- community-based outpatient ored all of us working in VA. ise of our electronic health members and veterans alike. clinic program will grow, new His remarks underscored his records. As I told Secretary of Defense medical centers will open, and belief in the importance of During my first visit to Gates on Dec. 20, I don’t older facilities will be modern- your work and the priority of our Richmond polytrauma want “seamless” to be a ized and expanded. We will le- the VA mission. center, I was able to see first- buzzword—I want it to be the verage technology and serve “Our nation has no hand the progress of a patient way we do business. more veterans through tele- higher calling than to provide for those who have borne the As I look at history, I cannot think of a recent time with cost of battle,” he said. “I am confident in the future of this more focus on our veterans or more in-depth looks at department because I have veterans’ programs. seen firsthand the dedication of the men and women who injured in Iraq who came to I will closely follow work medicine and monitor their work here.” us several months ago as a on developing a joint DoD/ health through the Internet. I can only echo those quadriplegic, and is now us- VA disability rating system As I look at history, I words. I am privileged to join ing his upper body, breathing that will reduce time, paper- cannot think of a recent time a great team deeply commit- on his own, and looking for- work and confusion for appli- with more focus on our veter- ted to veterans and to a mis- ward to joining us at the up- cants. We must address the ans or more in-depth looks at sion that I, too, deeply believe coming Winter Sports Clinic. time required to provide ben- veterans’ programs. This pro- in. I have visited our staff at efits through reproducible, vides us the opportunity to I join VA at a critical pe- Walter Reed Army Medical thorough and accurate ratings. chart a course forward to serve riod in the history of this de- Center and Bethesda Naval VA is in the midst of a the needs of the new genera- partment. Our nation is at Medical Center and was im- major expansion of its mental tion of veterans returning war and many new veterans pressed with their hard work health treatment resources. A from Iraq and Afghanistan are leaving the battlefield and on behalf of our returning national suicide prevention while honoring our nation’s entering our system. The care servicemembers. I recently hotline with coordinators and commitment to the genera- we provide is the best, but ac- spoke at the Military Health counselors at our medical cen- tions of World War II, Korean cess and administrative issues System annual conference, ters is providing direct help to War and Vietnam War veter- sometimes get in the way. where our own Deputy Secre- veterans and their families ev- ans. It is an opportunity we The transition from ac- tary Mansfield was honored. ery day. PTSD and TBI must pursue. tive duty servicemember to With more than 3,000 health screening of all OIF/OEF vet- I have hit the ground veteran for this newest genera- care professionals in atten- erans seeking VA care is iden- running thanks to the envi- tion of combat veterans is an dance, the event demon- tifying the sometimes subtle ronment of compassion, ac- important challenge. It is a strated for me there is an symptoms that lead to diagno- tion and success you have cre- challenge we must meet with unprecendented opportunity sis and treatment. Our grow- ated. We have a special mis- renewed energy and new for collaboration with our ing treatment capabilities and sion, and I am delighted to be ideas. colleagues in the Defense De- research will increase our un- part of the VA team. I’ll see In my short time at VA, partment as we work to build derstanding of effective PTSD you on the high ground!

4 January/February 2008 VAnguard outlook

In VA Voluntary Service, the Focus is on Veterans Laura B. Balun Director, Voluntary Service Office

My greatest privilege and re- more than 3,000 volunteers supports the VA mission, and tionwide, in both VA and pri- sponsibility as director of the who participated in a cascad- continually strives to provide vate sector facilities, a renewed Voluntary Service Office is to ing musical performance of the best possible service to vet- focus on improving volunteer advocate for our 86,000 vol- taps on Armed Forces Day erans and their families. recruitment and retention is unteers who selflessly give of 2007 to honor and remember As we reflect on our past critical. themselves to serve veterans America’s veterans; accomplishments, we also look We are excited about and their families. Have you ■ promoted volunteer sup- forward to reaching new mile- these initiatives, and look for- ever wondered what VA port for Advanced Clinic Ac- stones in 2008. We have es- ward to collaborating with our would look like without vol- cess by implementing new tablished four major initiatives volunteers and partner organi- unteers? Most would agree volunteer assignments and ini- that will strengthen the VAVS zations to advance VAVS to a that we would be much less tiatives that improve quality program and improve the ser- higher level of excellence. able to offer so many services and service to veterans; vices we provide veterans: Volunteers sponsor spe- that put the “care” into VA ■ improved volunteer recruit- ■ enhancing the Voluntary cial events throughout the health care. ment and retention by de- Service Timekeeping System year, like the National Salute Volunteers are essential to creasing the volunteer turn- (VSS), which will improve to Hospitalized Veterans each VA and have a positive impact over rate to less than 25 per- VAVS recordkeeping, data col- February, which focuses com- on VA health care. They help cent; lection and overall program munity attention on the vet- lower costs and increase pa- ■ supported the Volunteer management. Plans include erans we care for and on the tient services. Excellent pa- Caregiver Support Network developing a tracking module vital role volunteers play in tient service is just as essential by developing recruitment in VSS for volunteer training that care. This year, up-and- as excellent clinical care. and training materials that and security requirements, and coming young movie actor Without volunteers, the qual- will prepare well-trained vol- automating the Healthcare In- Mike Vogel serves as our Na- ity of programs and services unteers to provide compas- tegrity and Protection Data tional Salute chairperson. designed to enhance patient sionate services to the primary Bank (HIPDB) comparison We will honor our vol- care would be compromised. caregivers who give care to with Health and Human Ser- unteers during National Vol- We thank VA volunteers for veterans in their homes; vices; unteer Week April 27-May 3, their caring and devotion. The VA Voluntary Ser- Without volunteers, the quality of programs and services vice (VAVS) program has given outstanding service to designed to enhance patient care would be compro- America’s veterans since 1946. mised. Our volunteers have donated 689 million hours of service ■ provided support to Opera- ■ supporting Welcome Home recognizing them all, young over the past 62 years. Volun- tion Iraqi Freedom and Op- celebrations, which will help and old, for the hours they teers and their organizations eration Enduring Freedom improve the lives of OIF/OEF give to VA and our veterans, annually contribute $59 mil- (OIF/OEF) veterans and their veterans and their families, but a smile or a sincere thank lion in gifts and donations, families by coordinating Wel- and enhance the services we you from a VA staff member providing vital programs and come Home celebrations and provide them; is reward enough for most resources to veterans that oth- using donations to provide ■ developing resources for pa- volunteers—something to re- erwise would not be available. lodging and other services; tient feeding volunteer pro- member the next time you VAVS establishes chal- ■ supported the professional grams, which will support the are working alongside one. lenging goals to ensure we re- development of VAVS staff by growing need to recruit and We appreciate the diver- main focused on improving conducting a national training train volunteers to assist with sity and strength of our volun- our services. Looking back conference for program man- patient feeding programs in teer workforce, and hope you over the past year, we worked agers to develop and share VA health care facilities na- will join us in extending your to accomplish a number of new ideas, resources and best tionwide; appreciation to our volunteers priorities. Together, our staff practices in volunteer manage- ■ improving volunteer re- for their tireless efforts, and and volunteers: ment. cruitment and retention. At a for the great service they give ■ supported Echo Taps These initiatives are just a time when health care to America’s veterans and their Worldwide by organizing few examples of how VAVS volunteerism is declining na- families every day.

January/February 2008 5 feature VAnguard FY 2009 Budget Proposal: $93.7 Billion Seamless transition, compensation and pension initiatives top the list of priorities in President’s request.

eamless transition and com- with the Department of Defense DoD beneficiaries, including the de- pensation and pension initia- through the Compensation and Pen- velopment of secure, interoperable Stives top the list of priorities in sion Records Interchange project that electronic medical record systems; the President’s 2009 budget proposal grants VA greater online access to ■ improve the timeliness and accu- for VA. New VA Secretary Dr. James DoD medical information as more racy of claims processing; and B. Peake testified before Congress categories of DoD’s electronic records ■ ensure the burial needs of veterans Feb. 4 to give an overview of the re- are made available. and their eligible family members are quest, which totals nearly $93.7 bil- The President’s request for 2009 met and maintain veterans’ cemeter- lion—$46.4 billion for entitlement will allow VA to achieve performance ies as national shrines. programs and $47.2 billion for discre- goals in four areas critical to the Highlights of the request include: tionary programs. achievement of its mission: ■ medical care: $41.2 billion, an in- The total request is $3.4 billion ■ provide timely, accessible, and crease of $2.3 billion over 2008. above the funding level ■ OIF/OEF veterans for 2008. Secretary Peake health care: $1.3 billion, told Congress that this 21 percent higher than in proposed budget is 17 per- 2008. cent higher than in 2007 ■ mental health services: and is more than double $3.9 billion, a 9 percent the funding level in effect increase over 2008. when the President took ■ non-institutional long- office seven years ago. term care: $762 million, an Peake stated that one increase of 28 percent over of VA’s highest priorities is 2008. to ensure that veterans re- ■ prosthetics and sensory turning from service in aids: $1.5 billion, an in- Operation Iraqi Freedom crease of 10 percent over and Operation Enduring 2008. ■ Freedom receive every- ROBERT TURTIL CHAMPVA: $1 billion, thing they need to make an increase of 17 percent VA officials participate in a media briefing on the FY 2009 budget pro- their transition back to ci- posal in VA Central Office on Feb. 4. Left to right: Principal Deputy Assis- over 2008. vilian life as smooth and tant Secretary for Management Rita Reed; Under Secretary for Health Dr. ■ facility activations: $83 simple as possible. He Michael Kussman; Under Secretary for Benefits Daniel Cooper; Under million, a 19 percent in- Secretary for Memorial Affairs William Tuerk; and Assistant Secretary for pledged to take all mea- Information and Technology Robert Howard. crease over 2008. sures necessary to provide ■ medical and prosthetic them with timely benefits and ser- high-quality health care to the high- research: $442 million, to fund 2,000 vices, to give them complete informa- est priority patients—veterans return- projects. tion about benefits they have earned ing from service in Operation Iraqi ■ general operating expenses: $1.7 through their service, and to imple- Freedom and Operation Enduring billion, $1.4 billion for VBA. ment streamlined processes free of Freedom, veterans with service-con- ■ VBA improve performance initia- bureaucratic red tape. nected disabilities, those with lower tives: $10.8 million. Additionally, he stressed VA’s incomes, and veterans with special ■ NCA operations and maintenance: priority of improving delivery of com- health care needs; $181 million. pensation and pension benefits to all ■ advance collaborative efforts with ■ IT: $2.4 billion, an increase of 19 veterans in the coming year with the the Department of Defense to ensure percent over 2008. hiring of an additional 3,100 new the continued provision of world-class staff and by working more closely health care and benefits to VA and By Jose Llamas

6 January/February 2008 VAnguard feature Honoring Distinguished Service in the Pacific Coast Guard commandant visits the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to dedicate the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Veterans Memorial.

ommandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen Cjoined other federal, state and local officials at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu Jan. 18 to dedicate the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Veterans Memo- rial. More than a thousand former and active duty members of the Coast Guard, their families and other guests were on hand to witness the unveil- ing of a memorial plaque honoring their distinguished service in the Pa- cific. Cemetery director Gene E. Castagnetti was master of ceremonies for the program, welcoming the crowd and introducing Allen as the event’s keynote speaker. During his remarks, Allen praised JAMES MESSNER the men and women of the Coast Rear Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara, Coast Guard Fourteenth District commander, and Adm. Thad Guard for their service, sacrifices and Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard, help Kahu Kordell Kekoa conduct a traditional Ha- dedication to duty. He traced the waiian blessing of the memorial plaque. Coast Guard’s wartime record from Munro, the Coast Guard’s only Medal The driving force behind the me- Pearl Harbor, only 10 miles from the of Honor recipient, died there rescu- morial was Coast Guard Capt. Barry site of the new memorial, through ing a group of Marines. A stone from Compagnoni, commander of USCG current deployments and maritime in- Guadalcanal is the centerpiece of the Sector Hawaii. terdiction missions in the Middle new memorial. “For more than 217 years, the East. Allen highlighted the service’s The crowd also heard remarks United States Coast Guard has served vital role in World War II during from Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, Sen. our nation with distinction and landings throughout the Pacific. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Honolulu honor, yet no single memorial at the “It was in the ships and landing Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and Rear National Memorial Cemetery of the craft of the amphibious landing forces Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara, the com- Pacific marked the significant role of where the Coast Guard played one of mander of the Coast Guard’s Four- our service in the Pacific,” he said. its most important roles in the Allied teenth District, which covers the Pa- “On a visit to the cemetery in the victory, bringing the assault troops to cific region. Retired Coast Guard spring of 2007, my father-in-law, who the beaches and providing reinforce- Cmdr. Douglas Sheehan, Munro’s is a Coast Guard veteran, recognized ments and support,” said Allen. nephew, was in attendance as well. this oversight and I pledged to him One of the first places the Coast The ceremony included a na- that we would correct it.” The cap- Guard distinguished itself in World tional anthem performance by Jim tain put together a team of more than War II was at Guadalcanal. The ser- Nabors (TV’s Gomer Pyle), wreath- 40 volunteers to recognize and vali- vice landed Marines on the island in layings, a three-volley rifle salute, the date the service and sacrifice of the the Solomon chain in August 1942, playing of taps, an HH-65 rescue heli- Coast Guard veterans. the beginning of a six-month cam- copter flyover and music by the Ma- paign. Signalman 1st Class Douglas rine Forces Pacific Band. By Jim Rich

January/February 2008 7 feature VAnguard ‘Granting’ Independence VA’s Specially Adapted Housing grant program allows seriously disabled veterans to design, construct and modify homes to meet their needs.

ots and pans clank together as disability” are eligible for the benefit. was recently established by a new law Jeanne Neff retrieves them from A grant may be used to build a new and is available to eligible veterans Ptheir storage drawer to prepare home with appropriate adaptations or who are temporarily living in or in- dinner. “Bzzzz.” She turns and heads to modify an existing one to meet the tend to temporarily live in a home to the laundry room to move a load of veteran’s needs. owned by a family member. This whites from the washer to the dryer. In fact, VA has three types of change allows veterans who may not On her way back to the kitchen, she adapted housing grants available to yet own homes to have access to the calls to her daughter, Julie, asking her qualified veterans. The Specially adapted housing grant program. to take a break from her homework Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, cur- VA has averaged about 1,000 and music to set the table. rently limited to $50,000, is generally adapted housing grant applications a It’s a scene played out countless used to create a wheelchair-accessible year over the past 10 years. Since the times across the country every day. It home for those who may require such program began in 1948, it has pro- occurs so often it is taken for granted. assistance for activities of daily living, vided more than $650 million in That’s not the case in the Neff as it did for Jeanne Neff. grants to about 34,000 seriously dis- household, though. Neff smiles to her- A second type is the Special abled veterans. self with appreciation and satisfaction Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant. “The goal of all three grant pro- at the ease with which those simple Limited to $10,000, it is generally grams is to provide a barrier-free liv- daily activities have been accom- used to assist veterans with mobility ing environment that offers the plished from the seat of her wheel- throughout their homes due to blind- country’s most severely injured veter- chair—her silent partner in her fight ness in both eyes, or the anatomical ans or servicemembers a level of inde- against the debilitating effects of loss or loss of use of both hands. pendent living,” said Secretary of Vet- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), A third type, the Temporary erans Affairs Dr. James Peake. or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant, The increased independence is Neff, a 14-year veteran of the Air Force Reserve and West Virginia Air National Guard who was called to ac- tive duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, received a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant from VA to build a home that accommo- dates her needs. “It makes me independent,” she said. “You have no idea what that means. If you have never been where you have to depend on somebody else … it is not a good feeling. But here, I can function and I can function well. Because of this house and the help I got from the VA, life at home is really, really good.” Veterans with service-connected RAND BARNES disabilities who are entitled to com- A grant may be used to build a new home with appropriate adaptations or to modify an exist- pensation for a “permanent and total ing one to meet the veteran’s individual needs.

8 January/February 2008 VAnguard feature not limited to the veteran. Jeanne’s teenage daughter Julie also benefits from knowing her mother is in a safe environment. “Whenever I decide to go some- where, I know that she can take care of herself and I am not worried about her tripping, because everything is flat,” Julie explained. “When you’re handicapped, your child has to do a lot of things that other kids do not have to do,” admits Jeanne. “The VA has made it possible for me to be as independent as I can be and that means she can just be a normal kid.” Getting these adaptations is a complex process involving paperwork and numerous details most of us don’t have to think about, but Neff said the end result is well worth it. This is where VA’s expertise pays big dividends. VA works closely with METRO TELEPRODUCTIONS INC. veterans, contractors and architects DONALD NUNNALLY throughout the entire process to de- Home adaptations like a wheelchair-accessible shower allow seriously disabled veterans to sign, construct and modify homes to live as independently as possible; inset: Jeanne Neff says similar adaptations in her home make it possible for her to raise her teenage daughter, Julie, “in a home we can enjoy and I ensure the individual veteran’s or can function in.” servicemember’s needs are met and grant money is spent properly. You need room to move around, to to raise my daughter in a home we Neff encourages those who may turn around. The grant makes that can enjoy and I can function in.” be overwhelmed by the prospect of possible.” Neff is equally enthusiastic about the challenge to get help. “You can VA pays special attention to the the help she received from her VA do it and life is so much easier. You’ve bathroom to ensure ease of function contact through the whole process, just got to work through it.” for the veteran no matter what the Hugh Alley at the Huntington VA People who design or build their challenges. Regional Office in West Virginia. own homes know the challenges and “I would have built differently,” “I think that was their whole myriad decisions that must be made Neff admits, “if [VA] had not been in- goal, to make me as independent and about every detail of the home’s con- volved and I’m glad they were, be- comfortable and normal as I can be struction. To make those same deci- cause things like the sink, you need to and they’ve done that,” said Neff. sions while considering the needs of be able to pull up to it so you can get “They’ve taken care of every need someone who may have one or more [the wheelchair] under it. I would and made life easy.” physical limitations takes an experi- never have done that, because in my The same holds true for Harry enced eye and a caring heart. head I’m not handicapped. But they Currie, a Vietnam-era veteran who “It’s the little things that nobody knew that I would need that and I was stationed in Korea. Currie has else thinks about, like drawers in the do.” been paralyzed for more than 20 kitchen instead of cabinets that you After making hundreds of draw- years, but waited to use the grant un- have to open and climb under to get ings and numerous changes, her joy til he was certain where he wanted to into them,” Neff said. and satisfaction are evidenced by her settle. He chose Phoenix. Neff, who designed the house ready smile and enthusiasm for life. “I thought it would be a long, dif- herself, remembers her surprise and “I got to watch my dream come ficult process, but after I met with the initial resistance to advice she re- alive,” Neff said. “They built what I case worker here in Phoenix, Sally ceived to “build it big.” Looking back, drew and it was wonderful. It was a Driscoll, it went rather smoothly,” she now advises others to “make wide long, hard process, but it was exactly said Currie. “I applaud her for the doorways, big showers and big rooms. what I drew on paper. I’ve been able project. She was there when I picked

January/February 2008 9 feature VAnguard

out the lot until the closing.” Ettin was the beneficiary of an- these, approximately 3,900 veterans Currie not only made use of the other change in the recent law that have been determined eligible under $50,000 SAH grant to make the brought the TRA into being. Before the new law, and more than 200 home wheelchair-friendly and suited the change, eligible veterans and grants have already been awarded. to his needs, he also used a second, servicemembers could receive spe- Martin Burrell is another vet- Home Improvement and Structural cially adapted housing grants from eran who was recently approved for a Alteration (HISA) grant from VHA VA only once. Now they may use the second SAH grant. At age 19, while to add a walkway that gives him a benefit up to three times, so long as serving as a member of the Army smooth path to the garage on the the total grants stay within specified Combat Engineers during World other side of the home. limits. Ettin purchased the generator War II, Burrell lost both legs in a In addition to making the inside with a subsequent grant from the tank attack on a German battlefield. of the home user-friendly for the vet- SAH program. He returned home determined to eran, regardless of the disability, VA “This change ensures that every live a full life. He used his GI Bill specifications also ensure the veteran eligible veteran and servicemember benefits to earn degrees in math- can easily and safely exit the home in has the chance to use the maximum ematics and physics and enjoyed a case of an emergency. However, not amount afforded to them,” said Loan long and rewarding career in teach- all emergencies require leaving the Guaranty Service Director Judy ing and at Lockheed and NASA. He home. Caden. “To ensure all previous recipi- married and raised two sons and a One veteran, Harold Ettin, who ents are aware of this opportunity, VA daughter with his wife, Jennie. depends on respirator equipment and mailed more than 16,000 letters to Burrell used his first $10,000 an electrically-powered bed, used eligible veterans.” The letters are SAH grant to build an adapted SAH grant money to add a back-up aimed at those who used only a por- home in Macon, Ga. The second generator to his home’s electrical sys- tion of their grant or who decided not $40,000 grant will be used for adap- tem. When a storm knocked out to use the grant after initially qualify- tations to his current home in power to his neighborhood, his gen- ing. Hiawassee, Ga. erator kicked in within 10 seconds, The response over the past year Specially adapted housing means providing the needed power to keep has been dramatic, with more than just that—houses modified to meet the equipment operating. 4,600 applications received so far. Of the needs of the individual veteran. Whether it’s extra grab bars around the house and a sit-down shower for What Types of Grants Are Available? Squire Turner, who retired from the There are three types of grants available through the Specially Adapted Housing Army in 1965 after 20 years of service grant program. and suffers from blindness and the ef- ■ The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant is generally used to create a fects of a stroke, or an elevator for wheelchair-accessible home. This grant, currently limited to $50,000, is available James Latham, an Army veteran of to both veterans and active duty servicemembers. the war in Iraq whose injuries left ■ The Special Home Adaptations (SHA) grant is generally used to assist in him paralyzed, to reach the second adapting homes for those who are blind or lost use of both hands. This grant is level of his home, VA grants are currently limited to $10,000 and can be used on a home owned by a family mem- available to help seriously injured vet- ber. It is available to both veterans and active duty servicemembers. erans live as safely and independently ■ A Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant is now available to eligible as possible within their own homes. veterans temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member. Veterans It’s not just the money that eligible for an SAH grant would be permitted to use up to $14,000 and veterans makes these modifications possible. eligible for an SHA grant would be permitted to use up to $2,000 of the maximum It’s the people—VA’s team of caring grant amounts. Currently, active duty servicemembers are not allowed by law to and committed staff who ensure these use the TRA grant. life-enhancing adaptations are done These grants can be used to help construct, purchase or adapt a home to properly and meet the needs of the meet the individual’s needs. Other VA adaptive housing benefits are currently veterans for whom they are designed. available through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service’s “Inde- It’s like the television ad. Spe- pendent Living” program, the Insurance Service’s Veterans Mortgage Life In- cially Adapted Housing grant: surance program, and the Veterans Health Administration’s Home Improve- $50,000; A veteran’s renewed sense of ment and Structural Alterations grant program. More information about grants independence: priceless. and other adaptive housing programs is available by calling 1-800-827-1000. By Jim Benson

10 January/February 2008 VAnguard feature In Tribute to America’s National Shrines Author Tom Ruck publishes a book on national cemeteries, with the proceeds going to scholarships for veterans’ children.

Coffee table books” have been America’s veterans, raise awareness of manager of comedian and military around for decades. Topics have VA’s national cemeteries and educate supporter Bob Hope. Unfortunately, “included nature, art, sports, and future generations about the service Grant passed away last January, but nearly anything else visually appeal- and sacrifices made by our military not before putting Ruck in touch ing. The TV show “Seinfeld” even of- members. Although many such ideas with several notable figures who were fered up the idea of a coffee table never make it past the idea stage, enthusiastic about the project. book about coffee tables. NCA granted permission and recom- Former Sen. Bob Dole provided a Now you can add VA’s national mended dozens of cemeteries to be foreword. Essays on honor and sacri- cemeteries to the list of subjects cov- photographed. fice were provided by prominent citi- ered by such a book. The author recruited volunteer zens like astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Im- In November, author Tom Ruck photographers from around the coun- portant speeches and quotes, such as released his book Sacred Ground: A try to photograph VA’s national cem- President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Ad- Tribute to America’s Veterans, which eteries through the change of seasons, dress, are scattered throughout the features 189 extra-large glossy pages to include Memorial Day ceremonies book to remind readers of the sacri- and about 200 full-color photographs and traditions in May 2007. fices of America’s men and women in of some of America’s and VA’s most uniform. strikingly beautiful national shrines. Tom Ruck with his book on Deputy Secretary Gordon H. The idea to publish the book national cemeteries. Mansfield presented Ruck with a grew out of Ruck’s fondness for Commendation Award in a small cer- Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, emony at VA Central Office Nov. 6. where his father, a Navy veteran of Ruck also signed copies of the book at World War II, was buried when Ruck VACO’s canteen during his Washing- was in seventh grade. In the years ton visit. that followed, Ruck made frequent All royalties from the book are visits to Jefferson Barracks National being donated to the Freedom Alli- Cemetery. His mother later remar- ance Scholarship Fund, which pro- ried, to another World War II Navy vides educational scholarships to the vet Ruck calls his “second father.” His children of Americans in the armed mother and both fathers are now in- JURITA BARBER forces who have been killed or terred at the St. Louis cemetery. wounded. Since its founding, the fund The book was really a “way to In all, 36 photographers partici- has raised more than $600,000. show appreciation to the part the vet- pated. In some towns, several photog- The author is quick to share eran has played in upholding Ameri- raphers came forward, including four credit for the book. can values, with the cemeteries as a in his hometown of St. Louis. “My name may be on the book,” vehicle to say ‘thank you,’” said Ruck. The hard part, said Ruck, was Ruck said, “but it was very much a “I wanted the citizens of this country getting a publishing house interested team effort—NCA, all of the cem- to realize what beauty and serenity lie in the idea. “Some said it wasn’t eteries, and everyone who wanted to within VA’s national cemeteries. ‘high-volume’ enough. Others wanted recognize vets, help kids, and increase Americans need to know how well to know what celebrities I had lined awareness of our national cemeteries. their veterans are being cared for in up to provide commentary.” It is obvious from my visits to these these national shrines.” After some recommendations cemeteries that the people who main- In the summer of 2006, Ruck, a from other publishers, Ruck found tain them truly understand and re- sales and marketing executive, ap- Washington, D.C.-based Regnery spect the jobs they have—keeping proached the National Cemetery Ad- Publishing to support his vision. In hallowed grounds.” ministration with a proposal for a November 2006, Ruck was intro- book that would be a tribute to duced to Ward Grant, the longtime By Jim Rich

January/February 2008 11 feature VAnguard

More than 500,000 users are now registered on the Web Vietnam veteran and volunteer Melvin Marks is a champion of My HealtheVet at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center health portal, where they can in Charleston, S.C. get anywhere, anytime access to health care information.

Celebrating Five Years of My HealtheVet CHRIS BAROODY ioneering. Innovative. Ambi- access to health measurements and a their caretakers and caregivers will tious. Award-winning. All one-stop shop for VA benefits, any- soon have access to personal, secure, Pwords used to describe VA’s where, anytime Internet access to VA convenient and informed personal personal health record, My health care improves patient satisfac- health information not only to im- HealtheVet, a Web health portal tion and enhances quality health prove their health but to become launched nationwide on Veterans care. partners in their health care as well,” Day 2003. Celebrating its fifth anni- My HealtheVet currently con- said VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake. versary this year, My HealtheVet will tains data entered by health care con- My HealtheVet has begun testing expand a number of features to en- sumers, both veterans and employees, “secure messaging,” providing almost hance patient-provider relationships who have harnessed the power of anywhere, anytime Internet access to and continue integrating into VHA’s online access to health care informa- VA health care staff, at VA medical much-lauded electronic health record. tion. As VA celebrates five years of centers in Boston, Bay Pines, Fla., More than access to online online access, veterans can look for- Portland, Ore., and Washington, D.C. health information and a gateway to ward to accessing key portions of the This new online tool will allow regis- online benefits and services, My electronic health record, extracted tered My HealtheVet users who have HealtheVet enhances veterans’ com- and integrated securely into the gone through the in-person authenti- munication with their primary health patient’s personal health record. In cation process (IPA) at a local VA fa- care team and allows them to become the near future, patients will be able cility to correspond directly with their active partners in their health care. to delegate access to one or all parts primary health care provider teams. With more than 500,000 users now of the record to another person (such With secure messaging, registered registered at www.myhealth.va.gov, it as a health care provider, family mem- patients with an IPA, or upgraded My is clear that the integration of features ber or advocate). HealtheVet account, will not only like online VA prescription refills— “With the 2008 enhancements to communicate non-urgent and non- which tops searches on www.va.gov— My HealtheVet, America’s veterans, emergent issues with their health care

12 January/February 2008 VAnguard feature

provider teams, their online conversa- the in-person authentication process with the username and password set tions have the potential to integrate at their local VA medical center or up, but after that, they are self-suffi- into their existing electronic health outpatient clinic, and watch for addi- cient. His generation and younger record, which health care providers tional announcements of this exciting veterans are more comfortable with see as part of VA’s Computerized Pa- new feature,” said Hancock. computers and have an easier start at tient Record System (CPRS). “Our But don’t take her word for it. the registration process. goal is to increase the number of vet- Veterans like Melvin Marks know “The IPA registration is key to all erans with an IPA VHA-wide this firsthand that My HealtheVet is “… the features My HealtheVet can pro- year so they can get the full benefit of about living my life.” As a dedicated vide,” said Marks. “With IPA registra- their online personal health record,” volunteer at the Ralph H. Johnson tion, you get full access to health cal- said VA Undersecretary for Health VA Medical Center in Charleston, endars, your own information, and Dr. Michael J. Kussman. S.C., the Navy veteran supports My soon lab information and even mes- Secure messaging is expected to HealtheVet by helping to spread the saging with your health care team.” be released nationally during the year word as he processes ID cards for fel- Marks personally uses My with a strategic, integrated and incre- low veterans. Marks assists in process- HealtheVet to order his medications mental approach, according to My ing approximately 30 to 40 in-person each month, which helps him in- HealtheVet Program Director Theresa authentication registrations per struct other veterans. He also uses the Hancock, with VHA’s Office of Infor- month. graphing functions for his high blood mation. “That’s why we encourage all A Vietnam veteran, he acknowl- pressure, pain and diabetes. veterans, their caregivers and care edges that World War II veterans He printed out the diabetes chart providers to register by completing have some trouble getting started to take to his doctor, who adjusted his medication to eliminate the peaks and valleys in the blood sugar read- Some Reminders ings. Now, Marks’ blood sugar re- mains fairly normal. ■ Web site visitors may access patient health education content through the Marks has even become part of site’s evidence-based health information libraries without registering or logging the local My HealtheVet “road show.” in. Susan Haidary, the My HealtheVet ■ My HealtheVet registration is required before users can access additional point of contact at the facility, takes program features. Initial registration is accomplished using a Web-based form him along to new employee and pa- on the site, and complex passwords are required to safeguard user information. tient orientations, as well as service- Once registered, users have access to self-entered information features such as level briefings on My HealtheVet. health journals and health e-logs. Marks recently prepared a presen- ■ To enable the inclusion of personally identifiable health information from the tation for nurses using My electronic health record, “heavy proofing” is required through in-person authen- HealtheVet’s online library of health tication (IPA). To accomplish information. “Melvin is definitely a this level of authentication, key champion at Charleston and the veterans must present at a Savannah CBOC, and he also helps VA facility or VA-designated train physicians on My HealtheVet,” location and display a photo said Haidary. ID or a new Veterans Identifi- From veterans and volunteers to cation Card (VIC). Valid photo the network of My HealtheVet points ID may include a driver’s li- of contact throughout VHA, the por- cense, passport or other gov- tal owes its success to innovation, ernment ID. communication and collaboration. My HealtheVet registra- “I’ve been a user of the My tion then initiates a transac- HealtheVet ‘pilot’ for quite some tional process to match the user’s information with the VA Master Patient Index time,” said Geoffrey S. Parker, of (MPI), using the Social Security number as a key identifier. This matching is criti- Dunkirk, Md. “I am still impressed cal to connect the patient to functions like prescription refill (which is available with the access it provides to my now) and health information extracts (which will be available later this year). VA health records and other informa- medical centers that have satellite clinics are encouraged to ensure that staff tion.” members are available to perform IPA at the clinic. By Stacie M. Rivera

January/February 2008 13 feature VAnguard

Dr. Vesely in his lab. The Tampa VA re- searcher is on the trail of a possible groundbreaking treatment for cancer.

SAM KITTNER On the Cusp of a Breakthrough The loss of his wife spurred Dr. David Vesely to expand his research from heart disease to cancer. And now that research is showing real promise in the fight against cancer. hen Dr. David Vesely’s cusp of a major breakthrough in the peptide hormones in his research). wife, Clo, died of breast battle against cancer. He recently The peptides have been used to W cancer in 2002, it led the completed laboratory tests showing help reverse congestive heart failure heart and gland physician and re- that certain heart hormones are suc- in humans. They also have proved to searcher at the James A. Haley Veter- cessful in combating human cancer- help ameliorate renal failure in ani- ans’ Hospital in Tampa to expand ous growths in mice. mals, with the tubules in the kidney part of his research to include cancer. Vesely’s early research led to the regenerating after six days of treat- After successfully focusing his re- discovery of three peptide heart hor- ment. search on congestive heart failure and mones in 1987. (Since his original His shift from heart and gland re- kidney failure, Vesely may be on the discovery, he now uses three other search to cancer research came about

14 January/February 2008 VAnguard feature after his wife’s death, when his son thesis to keep the cancer cells from merit review research program, which Brian, then a high school student multiplying and spreading. The heart helps physician-scientists more than who had been working in his dad’s lab hormones also work to destroy the any other funding source to investi- to earn credit for graduation, sug- cancer cells. gate programs directly related to a gested he expand some of his labora- His initial laboratory test results person’s health, and because of the tory research to include cancer. over the past five years on cancerous sacrifice of our veterans—one of my “I wanted a way to help Brian cells in test tubes showed that up to close friends was killed in Vietnam,” deal with his grief,” Vesely said. “I was 97 percent of human pancreatic, pros- Vesely said. intrigued by the fact that these hor- tate, breast, colon, ovarian and kid- Vesely is now the Tampa VA’s mones prevented heart cells from ney adenocarcinomas were eliminated chief of endocrinology, diabetes and growing too big. If they could regulate within a 24-hour period. metabolism. He also serves as a pro- normal cell growth, I found myself Vesely published his most recent fessor of medicine, molecular pharma- wondering whether they could alter research results in the May/June 2007 cology and physiology at the Univer- cancer cell growth.” issue of the medical journal In Vivo. sity of South Florida. Working in his lab with Brian, The title of the article is “Elimination “The VA has been very support- the two made cultures of human can- of Up to 80 Percent of Human Pan- ive of my research, providing me with cer cells and mixed in the heart hor- creatic Adenocarcinomas in Athymic research funding for more than 20 mones. Brian was to observe them un- Mice by Cardiac Hormones.” The key years in the form of peer-reviewed der a microscope and make note of finding published showed that deadly merit review awards,” Vesely said. any changes. Brian’s first observation human pancreatic cancer tumors im- “Without the support of VA for this was that the cancer cells looked planted in mice were completely research, it would not have been pos- blown apart after they had been eliminated in up to 80 percent of the sible.” mixed with the hormones, but he did mice, and in all treated mice the tu- One newspaper article noted that not realize how different that was un- mors were reduced in size to less than his accomplishments “are equated to til he compared those cancer cells to 10 percent of the size of the tumors in picking a winning lottery number— untreated ones. untreated mice. twice. First, he found new pathways To their amazement, Vesely and In recognition of his work, Vesely for treatment of heart and kidney dis- his son observed about a 97 percent recently was awarded the Service to ease, then he found pathways for obliteration of cancer cells within 24 America (“Sammie”) Career treatment of cancer.” hours. And even more amazing—the destruction of human cancer cells was “There are millions of people with cancer we taking place in all cancers! After receiving VA funding and may be able to help if these tests prove other seed money from the private successful.” sector, Vesely expanded his research. He hired additional scientists, and he Achievement Medal medical research The next steps for his research moved from testing the hormones on award given annually to a federal em- will be to have clinical trials on hu- human cancer growth in test tubes to ployee by the Partnership for Public mans, which he hopes could begin testing them on mice that had been Service, becoming the first VA em- within a year as soon funding is ob- injected with cancer cells. ployee to win the honor. tained from a biotechnology firm to They conducted test after test us- A Nebraska native, Vesely once which the cardiac hormones have ing the heart hormones on various dreamed of playing shortstop for the been licensed. forms of cancers the mice had been St. Louis Cardinals. He was good “We’re excited about moving injected with—including the deadly enough for the Cardinals to offer him ahead with these clinical tests,” pancreatic cancer. One breakthrough a big-league contract. But his father Vesely said. “There are millions of after another occurred. was a dentist and his parents wanted people with cancer we may be able to “The results were incredible,” him to go to dental school. After help if these tests prove successful.” Vesely said. “The mice that had been three years in dental school, he Finding a successful treatment for injected with cancers lived to a ripe switched to medical school. cancer is a long way from playing old age, and they did so without any He began his VA career in 1985 shortstop for the Cardinals. Vesely return of the cancer or any side ef- at the Little Rock, Ark., VA Medical may be on the verge of winning the fects.” Center; he’s been at the Tampa VA World Series of Cancer Research. The heart hormones work inside since 1989. cancer cells by preventing DNA syn- “I first went to VA because of its By William Outlaw

January/February 2008 15 feature VAnguard VA and the New Deal

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the New Deal, the comprehensive social and economic programs instituted by President Franklin Roosevelt immediately following his election in the wake of the Great Depression, to the early years of World War II. New Deal programs, including the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Writers Program (FWP) and many others put millions of unemployed citizens, mostly men, to work during one of this nation’s darkest times. Many know about the great work done constructing parks, stocking fish in rivers, and funding arts projects. Few realize that the WPA also had a direct effect on the Veterans Bureau, predecessor to the Veterans Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which oversees what are now historic medical campuses. Many national cemeteries—at the time run by the Army, and transferred in 1973 to what is now the National Cemetery Administration—also saw improvements thanks to WPA la- bor. Veterans Health Administration and National Cemetery Administration historians are actively researching the role the WPA played in VA’s past. From renovating buildings and grounds at the Augusta, Ga., hospital, to landscaping at the Salt Lake City hos- pital, to raising and realigning headstones at Los Angeles National Cemetery, to commissioning unique artwork for the Albuquer- que, N.M., hospital, the New Deal legacy lives on at VA. This article provides details on one rare WPA project—the construction of VA’s Baltimore National Cemetery. - Kathleen Schamel, VA Historic Preservation Officer

n the 1930s, the United States all wars. As a result, approximately 5 of the rolling estate, legend has it that was in the midst of the Great De- million new veterans were eligible for in 1814 the invading British fleet sail- Ipression. To stimulate the econ- interment in a national cemetery, ing into Baltimore Harbor was first omy and fight the high unemploy- many of whom served during World spotted from the house. A messenger ment rate, which surged past 25 per- War I. was sent into Baltimore to warn the cent at times, President Franklin In response, the War Department populace of the invading British Roosevelt established a series of pro- began a systematic expansion of the forces. Subsequently, the bombard- grams collectively known as the New national cemetery system. From 1933 ment of Fort McHenry during the Deal. to 1941, seven new national cemeter- Battle of Baltimore inspired Francis The Works Progress Administra- ies were established near large cities, Scott Key to pen “The Star-Spangled tion (WPA) was one of the largest including New York, Minneapolis and Banner.” and most comprehensive of these San Francisco. WPA laborers contrib- During the 19th century, Cloud work-relief programs. Established in uted to the development of many of Capped was sold multiple times until January 1935, the WPA employed these new national cemeteries. In par- Blanchard Randall purchased it in more than 3 million men and women ticular, WPA laborers played a large 1890. A prominent Baltimore lawyer, before it ended in 1943. The War De- and unique role in the development Randall used the estate as his country partment collaborated with the WPA of Baltimore National Cemetery. residence while maintaining a house for improvement projects in many na- The property that became Balti- in downtown Baltimore. Over the tional cemeteries, including the con- more National Cemetery was histori- years, multiple additions to the house, struction of new outbuildings, the re- cally known as “Cloud Capped.” Im- including an Italinate tower and a habilitation of cemetery lodges, and mediately following the American Beaux-Arts wing, transformed it into the cleaning, raising and realignment Revolution, the property was owned a sprawling, eclectic mansion. of headstones. by Charles Carroll, a signer of the By the 1930s, it became apparent During this period, the War De- Declaration of Independence. Carroll that more space was needed in the partment was under increased pres- sold the property in 1810, and around Baltimore area for the interment of sure to create more burial space for this time the original Federal-style veterans. At the time, the only na- veterans. On April 15, 1920, Con- house at Cloud Capped was con- tional cemetery in the Baltimore area gress enacted Public Law 66-175, structed, with two stories, four rooms, was Loudon Park National Cemetery, which extended the right to burial in and an attic. which totaled 5.2 acres in size and a national cemetery to the veterans of Located on the highest elevation was running out of burial space. Local

16 January/February 2008 VAnguard feature veterans organizations recognized the by grading and developing the site into a lodge for the “assistant superin- gravity of the situation, but no under supervision from War Depart- tendent,” a position not found in progress was made until the Baltimore ment staff. other national cemeteries. It was un- chapter of the American Legion be- The War Department considered usual for the War Department to re- gan lobbying Sen. Millard E. Tydings the hilltop mansion too large to use older buildings on a site pur- (D-Md.) to create additional cem- maintain as the cemetery chased for a cemetery and more so, as etery facilities in Baltimore. superintendent’s residence. The WPA Tudor Revival buildings are rare Initially, the War Department demolished it in the summer of 1937, within the national cemetery system. planned to expand Loudon Park Na- salvaging building materials from the Over the years Baltimore Na- tional Cemetery, but no suitable adja- oldest wing, the original brick Fed- tional Cemetery has evolved, but it is cent parcel of land was available. In eral-style house. The WPA used the historically significant because the 1936, after conducting a thorough salvaged materials in the construction WPA played a larger role in its devel- evaluation of sites in the area, the of the original two-story, five-bay opment than in any other national War Department purchased the 72- house with a full front porch. The cemetery, and because of its unique acre Cloud Capped estate, located new lodge was placed close to the historic buildings. In a larger context,

COURTESY OF NCA HISTORY PROGRAM OFFICE

COURTESY OF NCA HISTORY PROGRAM OFFICE

Clockwise from above: Modern view of the lodge at the Baltimore Na- tional Cemetery; Works Progress Administration laborers dismantling the Cloud Capped Mansion in 1937; WPA laborers raising the flagpole at Bal- timore National Cemetery. two miles west of Loudon Park Na- Frederick Avenue en- tional Cemetery along Frederick Av- trance to the cemetery, enue. A local newspaper reporter en- marked by formal gran- COURTESY OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND LIBRARIES visioned the new facility to be ite and iron gates com- Maryland’s “Little Arlington.” pleted in 1938. it is significant as one of seven na- The War Department sponsored From 1938 to 1940, the WPA tional cemeteries to be established in the WPA to develop Baltimore Na- continued to develop the cemetery metropolitan locales between the two tional Cemetery. Under this arrange- infrastructure, including the rehabili- World Wars, during the largest expan- ment, the War Department applied tation of two large Tudor Revival- sion of the national cemetery system for project funds from the state WPA style outbuildings. A large stable was since the Civil War. administrator. Once the WPA ac- rehabilitated and remodeled into a The NCA History Program is cepted the project, the War Depart- maintenance-utility building contain- currently in the process of developing ment generated plans for the land- ing a garage, shops, chapel and a National Register of Historic Places scape design and construction. The morgue. Salvaged materials from the nomination for Baltimore, with other WPA provided the labor for building mansion were used in this effort. The intra-war cemeteries to follow. these projects from work-relief rolls cottage, which served as a residence beginning in February 1937, starting for domestic help, was rehabilitated By Alec Bennett, NCA Historian

January/February 2008 17 cover story VAnguard

Taking the ReinsROBERT TURTIL oon after being sworn in by Vice President Cheney at VA headquarters as the nation’s sixth Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. James B. Peake sat down for a wide-ranging interview Scovering his background, leadership style, and goals and priorities for the department. The former Army surgeon general becomes the first physician and first general to lead VA. Peake, who retired from the Army in 2004 as a three-star general, is a board-certified thoracic sur- geon. A native of St. Louis and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the new Secre- tary attended medical school after serving in Vietnam, where he earned the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. Q: At your swearing-in ceremony, President Bush said, for action. What is being done to implement them in “Doctor Peake takes office at a critical moment in the VA? history of this department.” Why is this a critical mo- A: We’ve been working on those recommendations for ment for VA? some time. Many of the recommendations don’t require A: It’s been awhile since we have had a war where we legislation and I am pleased that VA has already made have significant numbers of soldiers in harm’s way, many much progress in accomplishing many of them. returning to the United States with significant injuries. It We’re hiring the federal recovery coordinators recom- is this population that we are going to be dealing with in mended by the commission. They are actually in training the VA for years to come. And so it is important that we this week (Jan. 14-18) and that program is really moving get their care and services right, now. forward. The idea of providing better care by reaching out

Q: You’ve referred to the Dole-Shalala commission (the Above: President Bush traveled the short distance between the White House and VA headquarters for Peake’s swearing in on Dec. 20. President’s Commission on Care for America’s Peake’s wife, Janice, and daughter, Kimberly, joined him for the cer- Wounded Warriors) recommendations as your blueprint emony. “We had a long ride over here, Jim,” the President joked.

18 January/February 2008 VAnguard cover story and embracing the families of these wounded men and We don’t know all we need to about PTSD and TBI women is happening right now, as I saw during my visit to and where they might overlap. We want to break down the Richmond VA Medical Center polytrauma unit this the stigma around both of these issues. We want to be week. I’ve seen it with our own people at Walter Reed careful of labeling people for the rest of their lives with Army Medical Center as they interface with the families something that may not really be an issue for them as they of soldiers there, so I know that this commission recom- move forward. I want to make sure we are at the forefront mendation is already moving along. of understanding that and doing the right thing by our I think the opportunity for simplifying and improving veterans. the veterans disability system looks very promising now with all the different commissions that have looked at this Q: That’s a difficult challenge, to educate everybody issue coming together as we move into a new era. The op- who’s concerned. portunity to take these studies and those done here at VA A: Sure, and there are employers out there that worry and bring them together creates momentum behind the about it too. We don’t want unnecessary barriers for our Dole-Shalala commission work and its recommendations. veterans who really are perfectly able to go back to work created by some artificial label that may not even be Q: What are the key elements necessary to create a meaningful when it comes to what they’re able to do. truly seamless transition for today’s military men and women as they leave the service for civilian life? Q: During your confirmation hearing you cited four A: This is a complex issue. It characteristics VA health has to do with the incentives care should possess: com- and the perceptions—the passion, quality, timeliness cultural issues that the sol- and freedom from hassle. dier and his family face in VA has been praised for the new environment they the quality and compassion find themselves in. I’ve met PAULA BERGER of its health care, but has with soldiers and their fami- been criticized for its time- lies at Walter Reed, and I’ve liness and red tape. How met with Walter Reed staff can these issues be re- and our VHA and VBA staff solved? that work there. The VA- A: I’m impressed by the military staff interplay there compassion that I’ve seen. is really important and be- I’m impressed with the qual- gins to break down cultural Secretary Peake talks with former Sen. Bob Dole at his Sen- ity. But we’re a big organiza- barriers as trust is built be- ate confirmation hearing; moving forward with the recom- tion and we always have to tween VA, the military and, mendations of the Dole-Shalala commission is a top priority, be on the lookout for im- the Secretary says. most importantly, with the ROBERT TURTIL proving our quality—moni- veteran. toring it, measuring it and It’s an important thing for a wounded soldier to see making corrections in a large system operated by a quarter VA staff there working in a military setting. We want of a million people. We can’t just rest on our laurels. them to know we’re going to be there for the long run, Timeliness is related to the hassle-free goal and it af- even if they return to military service. Many of our ser- fects the veteran’s family as well. We need to work on this vicemen with serious wounds are actually going back into in all areas; it’s not just a benefit claims issue. However, I the service, but someday they’ll come to us and we want want us to really understand the various pieces of the to make sure they know we are there for them. claims process and know where to put the resources to make a difference. We must move the claims process into Q: Mental health conditions, including post-traumatic the modern era of automation. We’re already hiring new stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, are major is- people to work in VBA and I think initiatives like the sues in the treatment of OIF/OEF veterans. What are Benefits Delivery at Discharge program and the work of your goals for VA mental health treatment? Under Secretary for Benefits Daniel Cooper to centralize A: There are a number. First, I want access for those who certain claims functions will allow things to move more need counseling because we know these conditions are quickly. treatable. The earlier you get people engaged in treatment All of these changes are important, and now we are and they actually accept their condition and deal with it, looking at the disability system, itself. How do we simplify the less likely long-term consequences are. it? Everybody who’s looked at it says we’ve got to make it

January/February 2008 19 cover story VAnguard simpler and easier for the veteran and the Secretary Peake stops to adjudicator. When it takes three years to speak with Marine Cpl. train somebody to adjudicate a claim, that Kenny Lyon during his tour of the Military Advanced suggests to me that there’s an issue we Training Center at Walter need to deal with. This is something we Reed Army Medical Center need to work on with all of our stakehold- on Jan. 14. ers—with Congress, with our committees, the veterans service organizations.

Q: We’ve talked about issues and initia- tives driven largely by OIF/OEF veter- ans. Yet VA is charged with caring for all our veterans. A: Yes, I was a soldier once and young, and I say that because different groups have different needs. I believe we have a tri- modal patient population in terms of needs. We have great heroes of the Great- est Generation—World War II and Ko- rea—approaching the twilight of their years. We want to make sure that geriatric care is there for them, that we can provide WRAMC all the things to allow them to enjoy their old age, and that we give them the appropriate tribute to gether. I have a lot of contacts there that I have tremen- their years in service. dous respect for and collegial relations with. So I think I We have the Vietnam veterans, my generation, now can work across the organizational lines and help VA to approaching retirement and starting to discover health is- work as a member of a great federal team. sues they didn’t deal with or things related to their service I guess having spent 38-and-a-half years in the Army, they want to bring forth that they have not dealt with be- I bring a passion—I care deeply about these kids. These fore. We need to be able to deal with that because they’re are America’s finest. They are our soldiers, men and entering a different period of their lives. women we’ve put in harm’s way, and it is a blessing for me And our youngest veterans—I’ve seen them coming to continue to be a part of their care. back to us at Walter Reed and VA polytrauma centers and From a physician’s perspective, I would say that when I’ve had the privilege of knowing them and training those it comes down to touching the individual, a big chunk of kids on active duty. They want to get back into society. what we do really relates to health care. That’s why we They want to come back and take care of their families. have Mike Kussman, an absolutely superb leader, as VA They want to get into the driver’s seat of their own lives. Under Secretary for Health. When he comes to me with They’ve got their lives ahead of them, so they’ve got a dif- issues, I understand them. We’ve been on the same team ferent set of needs and expectations that demand a differ- before and we share an understanding of the health issues ent environment of care. That’s part of our challenge and of soldiers. As a heart surgeon, I’ve dealt with an older it’s part of the great opportunity that we have to really be population as well. So I think that will help inform my a world-class system that spans all ages. support of VA health care too. I think it’s a good combi- We must do our best for all of them. Someday these nation. young kids, even though they’re invincible now and don’t believe it, they’re going to look like me, and we will be Q: And you’re no stranger to VA. there for them when they do. A: True. For about 10 years I had the privilege of being a member of the VA Special Medical Advisory Group. I was Q: You are the first physician and the first general to here when Ken Kizer was doing the great work of re-struc- hold the position of Secretary of Veterans Affairs. How turing VHA and really putting us on this road to excel- will your past medical and military leadership help you lence continued now under Dr. Kussman’s leadership. lead VA? A: I understand today’s military. I’ve done a lot of work in Q: You come from a medical family, but started your the joint military environment. Health care has brought military career as an infantry officer. Was your interest great pieces of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines to- in medicine there from the start, or did it come later?

20 January/February 2008 VAnguard cover story

A: Actually, I was on my way to Vietnam and had a it’s the leaders below the Secretary that are so crucial in a couple of weeks of leave during which I interviewed with big organization. a number of medical schools. I was accepted into medical school while in Vietnam, but I got shot and made my final Q: How would you describe your leadership style? decision while I was a patient at the 8th Army Field Hos- Who’s inspired you as a leader? pital. A: I’ve had the great privilege of working for a lot of ex- cellent leaders, from company commanders in Vietnam to Q: So medicine was always your career goal? surgeons general of the Army, and I’ve had a lot of senior A: Well, my dad was a Medical Service Corps officer, my noncommissioned officers that have mentored me along mom an Army nurse. I tell people I’m a genetic defect, so the way—great leaders. Leadership isn’t necessarily posi- I had no choice. tion-dependent. You asked about my style. I believe in people—that’s Q: Your Army career took you to the top of Army what makes this organization run. In VA, it’s 250,000 of medicine, where you served four years as Army surgeon them out there doing good work every day, and I believe general before retiring. Later you served as executive you need to engage them. I talked before about leader de- vice president and chief operating officer for Project velopment because it’s the leaders that wind up really Hope. What leadership lessons did you learn from that making things happen. What you want are leaders at all unique position? levels synched with what you’re trying to do from the stra- A: I think running a big organization across the board of- tegic perspective. I believe my style amounts to a combi- fers common lessons, and Project Hope was an interna- nation of engagement and trying to provide quality direc- tional organization—I worked in 24 countries in 22 tion and example. months with them, including six trips to Iraq. The lesson I learned there is you’ve got to get out and see the troops— Q: During your confirmation hearing, a few of the com- get out on the ground and talk to people. Understand mittee members made no bones about saying you’ve got what’s really going on at the grass roots level and then be a limited amount of time to get things done at VA. able to step back from that and understand strategically What gives you confidence about meeting those expec- where to direct the organization to solve problems locally tations? but from the larger perspective. A: I share their sense of urgency, but what gives me confi- I’ve been so pleased to see some of the leadership de- dence is the people I’ve met—the leaders we have in velopment programs at VA, some going back to Max place and their desire to move forward—so I’m comfort- Cleland, who I had the privilege of meeting when he was able that we can make progress. the VA administrator. They are very important because Q: What is your message to VA employees as Secretary Peake talks with inpatient Timothy Hailey, you take the reins of the department? a post-Vietnam era Army veteran, during his visit to A: This is what I said at my confirmation with the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center on Jan. 3. the President beside me: I believe in them and I care about them and I know that together we can do the right thing by our veterans. I just absolutely believe that.

Q: And to our veterans? A: As one of them, I absolutely appreciate their service. I see it and feel it every place I go. At the Richmond VA Medical Center the other day, I stopped and talked to a gentleman in a wheelchair wearing a baseball cap that said World War II and Korea and Vietnam. And we had a chance to chat a little bit about where he’d been in each of those conflicts. That’s so- bering. And when I went later to Walter Reed, I talked to a young woman who showed me her prosthetic arm. That’s sobering. These are the best of America. I appreciate them and I am ROBERT TURTIL sworn to take care of them.

January/February 2008 21 feature VAnguard The Dream Cutter L.A. barber Tony Bravo donates his styling services to lift the spirits of his fellow veterans.

he going rate for a haircut at Tony Bravo’s California hair Tsalon is $50 to $200. When you walk into his mobile hair salon at the VA Greater Los An- geles Healthcare System, it’s a flat fee—no charge. The 62-year-old master stylist has been cutting veterans’ hair for free for the past 10 years. He keeps his red, white and blue trailer parked in the parking lot of the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. Once a month, Bravo shows up with his son and other stylists from his hair salon for two or three days to offer free haircuts to some 100 veterans. He pays his stylists $100 a day to help him. “I think the veterans really look forward to it,” he said. PAULA BERGER The veterans—both male and fe- Master stylist Tony Bravo, right, at work with his son, Tony Jr., in their mobile hair salon male—line up to get their hair done parked on the grounds of the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. Bravo and his staff pro- during Bravo’s monthly visits. He said vide free haircuts once a month to some 100 veterans seeking treatment at the facility, includ- the most popular cuts requested by ing Andre Theus, seated, and Hank Bin, waiting his turn in the background. the male veterans are a businessman’s Greater Los Angeles, and offered to ments. haircut, a short military haircut, and a come to the hospital to offer free hair- “I can afford to do this,” he said. high and tight fade. For women, the cuts. Davis said she took him up on “I know how it is when you have your most popular cut is a low mainte- his offer since her facility could no hair done and someone pampers you. nance, high reliability haircut that longer afford contract barber services I saw that this was more than just a can be washed and blown dry easily. at $35,000 a year. haircut. It was bringing something to Bravo started the program after a “Not only has Tony saved the VA their lives. It was bringing their spirits number of veterans wandered into his this annual expense, but he has pro- up.” hair salon—Bravo Haircutters—lo- vided solace, comfort and compan- Bravo is the son of Native cated on San Vicente Boulevard just ionship in his unique, vet-friendly en- Americans from the Yaqui and two blocks from the West LA VA vironment,” Davis said. “Tony is on a Apache tribes. His Native American Medical Center. mission to help his fellow vets, and name is “Dreamer.” “Usually they can’t afford the up- we are so lucky that he chose our site “I call myself the Dream Cutter,” scale prices,” he said. “I just thought to carry it out.” he said. “Your dream can come true there was a definite need to go take Bravo is a veteran of the Army and I’m here to help you not lose that care of them.” Reserve, having served from 1966 to dream.” He contacted Marianne Davis, 1967. Today he earns a living through chief of Voluntary Service for VA his hair salon and real estate invest- By Renee McElveen

22 January/February 2008 VAnguard feature Helping Veterans on the ‘Road to Recovery’ VA employees lend their expertise to assist severely wounded OIF/OEF veterans and their families.

n December, Mickey Mouse from national, regional and local of- patient advocates, federal recovery hosted some special guests at “the fices in VHA and VBA sacrificed coordinators, vet centers, dependent Ihappiest place on earth.” Ap- their weekend to lend their expertise and survivor benefits, general com- proximately 150 severely wounded to the five-day event. pensation, adaptive housing and fam- Operation Iraqi Freedom and Opera- “The Road to Recovery Confer- ily readjustment. tion Enduring Freedom veterans, ence and Tribute owes so much of its Along with staffing multiple along with their families, participated success to VA, a loyal partner in plan- breakout sessions, a team of vet cen- in the 4th Annual Road to Recovery ning the annual event since 2004,” ter counselors were on hand to pro- Conference and Tribute held at the says Tom Palma, general manager for vide one-on-one counseling sessions Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort at the Coalition. “The VA sends its top to conference participants. Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, officials and experts to deliver key Orlando Vet Center team leader Fla. The event is sponsored by the programming and educational courses Bill Sautner coordinated Readjust- Coalition to Salute ment Counseling Service America’s Heroes Veterans and their families were Region 3A’s participation (CSAH), a nonprofit or- treated to a Disney World vacation at the event. A total of six ganization. as well as information on benefits counselors were on site and services available to them. Participants were providing a total of 57 treated to an all-expense scheduled counseling ses- paid trip to Disney World sions to veteran partici- with their caregiver or pants and their families. spouse and their family Additionally, several after- members. In addition to hours emergency counsel- the vacation, these ing sessions and informal wounded servicemembers sessions were provided to attended informational meet the emotional needs and breakout sessions on of the participants. their rehabilitation, VA During the sessions, benefits and career goals. veterans could speak For the first time, about any of their family Deputy Secretary Gordon problems or challenges ac- H. Mansfield spoke at the cessing VA benefits. The annual conference to the MYCHAL WATTS counselor provided them a audience of recently in- pointKAREN of contact at their jured veterans, who had an array of we offer there. Plus, the conference is local vet center,JOHNSTON scheduling them an disabilities and represented all the only place where these families appointment with that counselor for branches of service, with ages ranging are under the same roof with so many when they returned home. Now, from 20 to 50. VA officials at the same time. Year af- these veterans can receive ongoing Mansfield gave an emotionally ter year, we always hear back from the support for the VA services in their charged speech that reached the audi- attendees that they are grateful for local communities. ence on a personal level. He took the opportunity to ask VA staff ques- “This generation is resilient,” said questions from the group and received tions, address issues and learn about Sautner. “The earlier we can inter- a standing ovation at the conclusion resources.” vene and help our new veterans, the of his remarks. VA employees held breakout ses- better the outcome … and that’s what VA employees provided a sub- sions on topics that included voca- we did here this week in Orlando.” stantial amount of the conference’s tional rehabilitation and employment programming. An army of employees benefits, adaptive sports, transition By Richard Olague

January/February 2008 23 feature VAnguard

‘Wreaths Across America’ For the second year, veterans buried in VA national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries were remembered with holiday wreaths.

oliday wreaths were placed ans called “Wreaths Across America.” than 1,000 wreaths were laid at Great at national cemeteries across It is the 16th year the company has Lakes National Cemetery in Michi- Hthe nation on Dec. 15. sent holiday wreaths to Arlington gan and more than 2,000 were pre- “This generous and heartfelt ges- National Cemetery. sented to Togus National Cemetery in ture of remembering and honoring Again this year, the Civil Air Pa- Maine and Quantico National Cem- our veterans during the holiday sea- trol organized the wreath-laying cer- etery in Virginia. son is proof that Americans cherish emonies with assistance from local A total of 15,236 wreaths were the service and sacrifices of these he- veterans organizations. All 125 VA donated to VA national cemeteries. roes,” said VA Deputy Secretary Gor- national cemeteries received seven The event at Georgia National Cem- don H. Mansfield. wreaths, one for each service branch, etery attracted Sen. Johnny Isakson This is the second year the one for prisoners and missing in war, (R-Ga.), while Kentucky Gov. Steve Worcester Wreath Company of and one for merchant mariners. Many Beshear attended the ceremony at Harrington, Maine, has sent holiday veterans cemeteries received addi- Camp Nelson. wreaths to VA national cemeteries tional wreaths for gravesite display Six members of Congress at- and state veterans cemeteries to dis- from local public donations. tended events nationwide along with play in a nationwide tribute to veter- Twenty-five cemeteries received many other dignitaries at the state more than 100 and local level. It received coverage wreaths. More in major newspapers like the Los An- geles Times, the Ari- zona Republic and the Left: A volunteer helps place wreaths on graves at Bath National Houston Chronicle Cemetery in New York; below: Cem- and was covered by etery Director Gene E. Castagnetti 48 television stations welcomes visitors to the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Na- around the country. tional Memorial Cemetery of the Pa- The wreaths are cific in Honolulu. KENNETH STEPHENS made and decorated by Worcester Wreath Company employees. Company President Morrill Worcester said he wanted to recognize veterans, active duty military and their families, and—through these ceremonies—remind the public to honor veterans for their ser- vice and teach chil- dren the value of freedom.

JAMES MESSNER By Jim Rich

24 January/February 2008 Celebrating theVA nguardHolidays VA-Stylefeature

VA BOSTON HCS

ONEIL J. LEBLANC

Above: Korean War veteran Anthony R. “Tony” Turco with the 2007 World Series Trophy at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Mass. The Boston Red Sox lent the trophy to the facility for a holiday program in the nursing home care unit on Dec. 20. Volunteers from Raytheon Corporation helped arrange the trophy’s visit; below: Actor Danny DeVito, joined by “Santa’s Helper” Lisa Peace, spread holiday cheer at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System’s annual holiday visitation/gift distribution event on Dec. 21; bottom: Actress and 1940s “pin-up girl” Jane Russell, 86, visited veterans, including Bill Powell, at the Bob Stump VA Medical Center’s Extended Care and Rehabilitation Center in Prescott, Ariz., MICHAEL L. MOORE on Dec. 26. She answered questions about her life and Hollywood career, signed autographs and posed for photos. Her son-in-law, who Top: Nurses on the spinal cord injury unit at the West Roxbury divi- worked at the Prescott VA for more than 30 years, arranged the visit. sion of the VA Boston Healthcare System found a unique way to bring cheer to a patient on bedrest during the holiday season. Gloved and gowned, they made time in their schedules each day to sing Christmas carols at the bedside of George E. Gordon as he ac- companied them on keyboard; above: Army veteran Scott Gillis, his wife, Melissa, and their three young daughters visit with Deputy Sec- retary Gordon Mansfield in his office. After the meeting with Mansfield, Gillis and his family were special guests at the VACO Of- fice of Construction & Facilities Management’s holiday party, where they were presented with gifts and a cash donation from the office staff. They learned about Gillis, who was injured while serving as an Army medic in Iraq, through Social Work Service at the Washing- ton, D.C., VA Medical Center, and wanted to brighten the holiday season for him and his family; below: NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and some of his Miami Heat teammates visited OIF/OEF veterans at the Miami VA Medical Center during a mid-December rehab session.

PETER MITCHELL

January/February 2008 25

LARRY GILSTAD WALT CODY around headquarters VAnguard

2008 Expected to be Another Active Year on the Legislative Front

the finish line to become law. for VA to provide a medallion with the treatment of trau- But Hill said OCLA expects or other device, signifying a matic brain injury and mea- early 2008 to bring a large deceased person as a veteran, sures aimed at providing a package of veteran and to be attached to a privately- “seamless transition” from “Wounded Warrior” legisla- furnished headstone or military service to veteran sta- tion to the President for signa- marker; a measure permitting tus. These include VA-Depart- ture. VA to award operations and ment of Defense joint initia- In late December, Con- maintenance grants to state tives for interoperable health gress enacted VA’s regular cemeteries; and permanent records, and a requirement for funding for fiscal year 2008, and retroactive authority to a comprehensive policy review providing $43.1 billion, ex- provide headstones or markers by DoD and VA on matters ROBERT TURTIL cluding pension and compen- for previously marked graves concerning seriously injured 2007 brought a turnover of sation programs; $37.2 billion at private cemeteries. servicemembers. leadership in the U.S. House of that is slated for VHA. As A large number of veter- The House and Senate in and Senate and an extraordi- occurs every year, Congress ans’ provisions are in the bill 2007 separately advanced leg- nary amount of VA activity on also passed, and the President that sets U.S. defense policy islation on issues across the Capitol Hill, according to signed, a measure to provide a every year, the National De- spectrum of VA programs, but Deputy Assistant Secretary for cost-of-living increase in dis- fense Authorization Act. That as of January these bills have Congressional & Legislative ability compensation and bill, H.R. 1585, has been not gelled into packages that Affairs Christine Hill. She said other benefits programs. passed by both houses of Con- can be made into a single bill the Office of Congressional Laws were enacted in gress, but was rejected by the to pass both houses of Con- and Legislative Affairs 2007 to require a VA veteran Administration because of a gress. Those bills are still in (OCLA) handled a record to- suicide prevention program, non-veteran related provision. play for 2008; different ap- tal of 199 congressional brief- improve disability benefits for OCLA expects the bill to proaches to health care and ings and 145 veteran-related certain visually-impaired veter- eventually become law. benefits will be keenly de- hearings in 2007. ans, expand certain cemetery H.R. 1585 contains an bated. Despite the brisk pace of benefits and programs, autho- extension from two to five “Legislators will seek to VA briefings and hearings be- rize more than $20 million to years of “automatic” health advance these existing bills, as fore the department’s autho- modernize inpatient facilities care eligibility for certain com- well as introduce and move rizing and other committees, at the VA medical center in bat veterans and extends the new ones, promising that VA when the gavel closed the first Atlanta, and name numerous period of eligibility after dis- will have another very busy session of the 110th Congress VA medical facilities. charge for dental care. year working with Congress to in December, only a few legis- Among the national cem- The measure also has nu- advance the interests of veter- lative measures had crossed etery provisions: authorization merous provisions concerned ans,” Hill said. National Cemetery System Leads Nation in Satisfaction Survey

VA’s national cemetery system example of how government faction both in 2001 and tem, which indicates that re- again received the highest rat- should provide services to its 2004. spondents are exceptionally ing in customer satisfaction citizens,” said John Cioffi, se- The ACSI survey polled willing to say positive things for any federal agency or pri- nior consultant with CFI next of kin or other people about VA’s national cemeter- vate corporation surveyed, ac- Group USA, one of the cus- who had arranged for the in- ies. cording to a prestigious, inde- tomer satisfaction survey’s terment of a loved one in a Since 1994, ACSI has pendent survey of customer sponsors. VA national cemetery within been a national indicator of satisfaction. This year’s survey is the the past six months to one customer evaluations of the More than 200 compa- third consecutive one in which year. Three thousand people quality of goods and services nies and most of the federal VA’s cemetery system received received the survey and nearly available to U.S. residents. It sector take part in the Ameri- the top rating in the nation. 600 responded, which is a is the only uniform measure can Customer Satisfaction In- For 2007, VA’s cemetery sys- high response rate for a mail of customer satisfaction for dex (ACSI) survey, conducted tem earned a customer satis- survey. government and industry. by the University of Michigan faction rating of 95 out of a ACSI’s index for “user ACSI allows benchmarking Business School every three possible 100 points. The na- trust” produced a rating of 96 between the public and pri- years. tional cemeteries also ranked out of a possible 100 points vate sectors and between one “VA serves as an excellent number one in customer satis- for the VA-run cemetery sys- year’s results and the next.

26 January/February 2008 VAnguard around headquarters

Secretary’s 17th Annual EEO Awards Presented in Five Categories

Deputy Secretary Gordon H. manager at the VA medical Mansfield hosted the center in Coatesville, Pa., was Secretary’s 17th Annual Equal the winner in Category B, su- Employment Opportunity pervisors and managers Awards ceremony on Nov. 15. through GS-14 (or equiva- These awards are the highest lent). Through her visionary recognition given to VA em- leadership, Simmons helped ployees who have excelled in design the VISN alternative promoting or have made sig- dispute resolution/mediation nificant contributions to the program. department’s EEO program. The winner in Category Awards were given in five cat- C, managers and executives egories; each recipient got a GS-15 and above, was Sande cash award and a plaque. Jones, Veterans Service Center The winner in Category manager at the VA regional A, non-supervisory employees, office in Waco, Texas. Jones was Tammie R. Kierstead, has developed a unified team MICHAEL L. MOORE EEO assistant at the VA medi- spirit in the Veterans Service Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diversity Management & Equal Em- cal center in Oklahoma City. Center, where her vision of ployment Opportunity Susan McHugh, far left, with the Secretary’s As the liaison to the EEO Ad- fairness, respect, appreciation EEO Awards recipients (left to right): Tammie R. Kierstead, Sandra visory Committee, she chal- and valuing of individual dif- Simmons, Sande Jones, Pamela McKinney and Tristen Wendland. lenges committee members ferences is thoroughly com- successful alternative dispute Denver. She recently accepted (and others) to stay finely municated and shared. resolution/mediation program the responsibility of coordinat- tuned to the needs and goals Pamela McKinney, EEO in place at the medical center. ing and managing the Com- of the entire workforce. Her program manager for the The winner in Category ing Home to Work program. enthusiasm and creativity in Oklahoma City VAMC, was E, employees promoting pro- This initiative provides early support of the medical center’s the winner in Category D, grams for disabled veterans outreach and job experience to extensive EEO initiatives help EEO program representatives. and people with disabilities, severely wounded OIF/OEF EEO representatives “think She has been an effective fa- was Tristen V. Wendland, vo- servicemembers awaiting outside the box.” cilitator of dispute resolution cational rehabilitation counse- medical discharge from the Sandra Simmons, EEO and is a key ingredient in the lor at the VA regional office in military. Federal Employees Need to Be Aware of Hatch Act Restrictions

As employees ponder candi- ings or serve as officers of po- Other basic rules apply to democratic process. But they dates during the election sea- litical parties or partisan federal employees. VA em- should know there are rules in son, they should realize there groups; career SES employees ployees may not use their VA place that govern the extent of are limits placed on their in- may not. Most may also man- positions in government to in- their involvement in partisan volvement in certain political age political campaigns, dis- fluence or interfere with elec- political activities. activities. tribute literature (except at tions. Except for Senate-con- For more information, The VA Office of General work), write political articles, firmed Presidential appointees, contact an ethics counselor at Counsel reminds employees or serve as spokespersons for federal employees may never your local Office of Regional that the federal Hatch Act (5 political parties or candidates. engage in political activity on Counsel or VA’s Office of U.S.C. 7321-7326) delineates Again, career SES employees the job, in a government ve- General Counsel. Employees what federal employees, in- are more restricted. hicle, or while wearing an offi- may also review information cluding those working for VA, Federal employees may cial uniform. on the VA OCG Ethics may or may not do in the po- campaign for office in non- For example, federal em- Intranet site at vaww.client. litical realm. partisan elections. Partisan po- ployees may not distribute gc.va.gov/law/employment/ethics For example, federal em- litical activity is defined as ac- partisan political literature at and search “Hatch Act” under ployees may attend political tivity directed toward the suc- work. This also applies to par- “Specific Issues” or visit the events like meetings and ral- cess or failure of a political tisan political e-mail messages. Office of Special Counsel Web lies. Most federal employees party or candidate for a parti- VA employees are encour- site at www.osc.gov. may also be active in and san political office or partisan aged to exercise their right to speak before political gather- political group. vote and participate in the More Information: www.osc.gov

January/February 2008 27 around headquarters VAnguard

Two Top Young VA Researchers Honored by the White House

Two VA researchers—Sterling C. Johnson, Ph.D., and Dr. William S. Yancy Jr.—were among 60 scientists from 11 fed- eral agencies honored recently with the Presidential Early Ca- reer Awards for Scientists and Engineers. The annual awards, established in 1996 by the National Science and Technology Council, recognize top young scien- tists and engineers for their “innovative research at the fron- tiers of science and technology” and for their scientific leader- ship and community outreach. Johnson is a clinical psychologist and neuroscience re- searcher at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wis., and an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He uses brain imaging and neuropsychological measure- ment to study disorders that affect memory and self-aware- JEFFREY ROOT ness. One of his current VA-funded studies involves combat veterans with traumatic brain injury. Yancy is a physician at the Durham VA Medical Center in North Carolina, an investigator at that site’s Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, and an assistant professor at Duke University Medical Center. He studies the effects of diet and exercise on obesity and its complications. A study by his group made headlines in 2004 when it showed that people on a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet lost more weight over six months than people on a low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie diet. The study was the first randomized, controlled trial of an Atkins- style approach to eating. As part of their Presidential Early Career Awards, Johnson and Yancy will each receive $125,000 over five years DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER from VA’s Office of Research and Development in support of Sterling C. Johnson, Ph.D., top, and Dr. William S. Yancy Jr., received their research. Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.

Young Actor Mike Vogel is the 2008 National Salute Chairman

Popular young film and tele- ties across the nation. involved in supporting veter- vision actor Mike Vogel is The youngest celebrity to ans after his cousin’s husband chairman of VA’s 2008 Na- lead the National Salute, was killed last year while on tional Salute to Hospitalized Vogel brings youthful energy military duty in Iraq. Both of Veterans. to the program at a time when his grandfathers fought in He will lead the the number of young combat World War II. One was a tank department’s annual patient veterans under VA care is commander and veteran of the recognition program that in- growing and VA is looking to Battle of the Bulge, the other vites the public to visit and younger generations of Ameri- a Seabee in the Navy. honor veterans treated in VA cans to replenish an aging vol- Throughout National Sa- hospitals and clinics during unteer force. lute Week, VA medical facili- National Salute Week, Feb. Currently, Vogel has a ties invite the public to visit 10-16. He will also serve as starring role in the feature film hospitalized veterans, honor national spokesman for nearly “Cloverfield,” released in their service and consider the 90,000 volunteers of all ages January. volunteer opportunities VA of- Mike Vogel serving veterans in VA facili- Vogel became personally fers citizens of all ages.

28 January/February 2008 VAnguard introducing

Tommy Monk

Tommy Monk is a man who quality recorded version of it. keeps his promises. The resonating tones inside Twenty years ago, he the bugle create a realistic promised his older brother horn quality. Jimmie, a Vietnam veteran, Monk has performed that he would either dance or these honors himself at about play taps at his funeral. With 50 inurnments at Fayetteville his brother’s health declining, National Cemetery. He ex- Monk has spent the past year plained that many cremated teaching himself to play taps remains are mailed or deliv- on a secondhand bugle he ered to the cemetery and bought for $25 at a thrift oftentimes, family members store. are unable to attend the “I’m very, very proud of inurnments because they can my brother,” Monk said. “Al- no longer travel or they live though I dread the call when too far away. it comes, I don’t know a “I’m not going to bury greater honor that I can ren- any veteran without some der to him as a brother and as kind of honors,” Monk said. a veteran than playing taps at He gathers his small staff his funeral.” and they stop in place, remove Monk, 55, is director of their hats and place their the Fayetteville National Cem- hands over their hearts as he etery in Arkansas. He oversees renders taps on the ceremonial the entire operation of the bugle. Tommy Monk, right, practices taps on his bugle cemetery, including burials, Monk has absolutely no with David Rader, a trumpet player who agreed grounds upkeep, budget ad- musical background or train- to give Monk some lessons to help him perfect ministration, supervision of ing. He did not play an in- what he has already taught himself. MORGAN LINDSEY personnel, and public aware- strument in the marching ness and outreach. band when he attended high pated in Bugles Across the service.” “Live buglers are hard to school in White Hall, Ark. He America. The organization Although he has not find,” Monk said. “We are has been trying to teach him- was founded in 2000 to re- played live taps for any funeral very fortunate to have veterans self to play taps by listening to cruit volunteer buglers services at Fayetteville Na- service organization honor recordings of the song and throughout the United States tional Cemetery, Monk was squads present honors here at then attempting to mimic the and overseas to play taps at called upon to play it at the the cemetery. About one in notes on his secondhand veterans’ funerals. Monk met private funeral of one of his ten has a live bugler.” bugle. trumpet player David Rader, VSO honor guards by the If the honor squad does “I learned really quick whom he describes as “one of family. not have a live bugler to play that this was going to be very the most technical taps players “I sure wouldn’t advertise taps at a military funeral, the hard,” he said. that I have heard,” through myself as a bugler,” he said. the organization. Rader has “I’m not quitting my day job.” “I’m not going to bury any veteran agreed to give him some les- Monk said he is looking without some kind of honors.” sons so he can perfect what he forward to his lessons with has taught himself so far. Rader. squad uses a ceremonial bugle. Monk generally uses his As a cemetery director, “I keep trying to perfect The ceremonial bugle was in- backyard as his open-air re- Monk realizes just how impor- those 24 notes because I made troduced so that a veteran’s hearsal hall. tant it is to families to have a commitment to my brother family can still have that sol- “When the neighbor dogs taps be a part of funeral ser- not only as a brother but as a emn visual image of a bugler begin to howl, it is time to vices for veterans. veteran,” he said. “That is playing taps at the end of their stop,” he joked. “That’s when “It is very important that what we do at the National loved one’s funeral ceremony. I know it’s time to quit.” honors are presented,” he said. Cemetery Administration. It is An electronic insert in the In 2006, Monk played “I think from an emotional all about honoring a commit- bugle enables any individual live taps at Fayetteville Na- standpoint, family members ment to those that serve.” to “symbolically” play taps tional Cemetery with three comment on taps more than through the use of a high- other buglers when he partici- any other activity related to By Renee McElveen

January/February 2008 29 medical advances VAnguard

Blood Pressure Harder to control in the winter and the new technology “has with daily living activities. to Control in Winter should be more vigilant dur- greatly impacted the way we Although the wheelchair Researchers say high blood ing this time, Fletcher noted. perform dentistry.” He noted offers a means of efficient pressure can be more difficult that in addition to reducing transportation over unob- to control in the winter. At a State of the Art Dental the number of office visits re- structed level surfaces, indi- Nov. 5 meeting of the Ameri- Technology at Buffalo VA quired for the patients seeking viduals with SCI and other can Heart Association, re- Dentists at the VA Western treatment, the technology paralyzing conditions need searchers told attendees that New York Healthcare System saves time and expense “given other options for negotiating veterans treated in the winter at Buffalo are using computer- the fact that all of the fabrica- architectural barriers, complet- were less likely to see their aided design/computer-aided tion of the restorations can be ing daily bed, shower or toilet blood pressure come down to manufacturing technology done on site in the dental transfers, and gaining access to a healthy level than those (CAD/CAM) to take care of clinic.” high cabinets that are difficult treated in the summer. their dental patients’ needs. or impossible to reach from a The five-year study fo- The CAD/CAM software and $3 Million Awarded for seated position. Braces, stand- cused on blood pressure read- milling units allow VA dentists Designing Electrodes for ing wheelchairs and even ad- ings for 443,632 veterans with to prepare, fit and perma- Standing, Balance and vanced transportation systems hypertension in 15 cities, in- nently cement a dental crown Stepping address some of these issues cluding Anchorage, Alaska, for a patient in a single sitting. The National Institutes of but have minimal impact on and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The technology uses Health (NIH) awarded a $3 the individual’s physical and Regardless of race or sex, fewer scanning videography and la- million grant to Dr. Ronald J. psychological deterioration of these veterans returned to due to prolonged immobility. normal levels of blood pres- If the nerves below the sure while treated in winter level of the SCI remain intact, months compared to summer they can be excited by small months. amounts of electrical current “We are seeing seasonal delivered by an implanted variation in all of the cities,” pulse generator via electrodes said Dr. Ross Fletcher, re- on or near the nerve, much searcher and chief of staff at like a cardiac pacemaker. This the VA medical center in causes the paralyzed muscle Washington, D.C. Eight per- innervated by the nerve to cent fewer patients returned to contract. By coordinating the a normal blood pressure read- actions of a number of ing during treatment in the muscles, functional move- winter than in the summer, ments can be produced by the according to Fletcher, who led EVANGELINE CONLEY otherwise paralyzed limbs. the study. Lower extremity neuro- About 60 percent of the Water shoots on the porcelain of a dental crown being carved with a prostheses that employ electri- milling device for a patient at the Buffalo VA. patients had a marked change cal stimulation in this way can in blood pressure control in sers to take pictures of the Triolo and his colleagues at help individuals with SCI to the winter. Fletcher said the teeth and digitizes the images the Louis Stokes Cleveland stand and step under the researchers have not figured using a three-dimensional VA Medical Center and Case power of their own stimulated out just what is causing this, software program. The soft- Western Reserve University to muscles, which can improve but it did not seem to be ware, under the direction of optimize the design of stimu- their overall health and inde- changes in temperature or the dentist, constructs the res- lating electrodes to selectively pendence. daylight that occur in the win- toration on the digitized activate the nerves that control The NIH grant is de- ter or the latitude of the city. model and sends the informa- the muscles for standing, bal- signed to optimize the loca- Instead, the trend may be at- tion to a milling device that ance and stepping. tion of contacts within an tributed to the veterans’ carves out the final crown for The activity is part of a electrode that encircle the tar- weight gain, different eating insertion. This process can be continuing effort to enhance get nerve, called a nerve cuff habits and getting less exercise completed during a two-hour the mobility and indepen- electrode. This is being done during the winter. Fletcher office visit, saving up to two dence of individuals paralyzed through a combination of said the data showed the vet- to six weeks of wait time and by spinal cord injuries (SCI) quantitative studies of the erans gained weight during delays using the conventional through the application of anatomy of human peripheral the winter. dentistry techniques. surgically implanted stimu- nerves, computer modeling Veterans should be aware Dr. Guy DiTursi, director lated systems, or neuro- and simulation, and clinical of the possibility their blood of post-graduate studies in prostheses. Some 200,000 testing in a handful of volun- pressure may be more difficult general practice dentistry, said Americans with SCI struggle teers.

30 January/February 2008 VAnguard heroes

injuries. Shakira Bethea, a while Tillman checked the Saving snow-stranded veterans program support assistant at condition of others in the ve- the VARO, asked veterans ser- hicle, staying alert to the pos- vice representative Mary Rose sibility of leaking gas or other Wynn to pull over to help. flammable liquids. Janice Karen Tillman, a secretary at Miles, R.N., and clinical so- the medical center, and Bethea cial worker Alice Jones Joanne checked and treated other vic- Compagna came ran over to one man lying on to the rescue of the ground. Bethea assessed tims until police arrived. After some veterans the victim, minimizing move- briefing the paramedics, the stranded in a New ment to avoid further injury, employees went to work. England snow- storm.

DEBORAH E. OUTING

Joanne Compagna, a vocational rehabilitation specialist in the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program at the VA medical center in Bedford, Mass., was anxiously an- ticipating her own journey home during one of this season’s intense New England snowstorms when she heard that the center’s CWT van driver was stranded miles from the pick-up site of four veterans. She immedi- ately jumped behind the wheel of a VA minivan to re- trieve them. It took her more than an hour to crawl out of Bedford, only to hit gridlock on the highway. Knowing the veterans at the worksite would be distressed, she per- suaded a state snowplow crew to escort her through the FRAN BURKE breakdown lane past a snarling accident. Nearing the (Left to right): VA police officers Francis Shannon, Mark rendezvous point, abandoned vehicles blocked further McGarry, Samuel Robinson, Marlon Harmon and Jacquelyn Rencher. passage. Compagna parked and trudged a quarter-mile through snow piled six inches deep to the waiting veter- ans. She led them back to the van and made the return A veteran’s life saved with AED trip. Her day ended only when she was sure the veterans On Nov. 27, Samuel Robinson, a police officer at the had a bed for the night. Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, con- tacted the VA police dispatcher and requested ER per- sonnel respond to an unresponsive veteran on the medi- Palo Alto, Calif., VA morning shift screening man- Medical Center seamless tran- ager, and told him a fellow cal center’s main drive. Sgt. Mark McGarry and officers sition coordinator Romeo veteran needed help. And help Francis Shannon, Marlon Harmon and Jacquelyn Horvath knew the veteran came almost immediately. The Rencher responded to the scene. Harmon and Rencher and his wife he was escorting couple were front-loaded and provided traffic and crowd control while McGarry as- to the San Jose airport weren’t escorted from the security sessed the veteran in the back seat of his daughter’s ve- going to make their plane checkpoint to their departing hicle. The veteran had no detectable vital signs when when he saw the long lines at gate. They made their flight, McGarry and Shannon removed him from the vehicle and the ticket counter and security and a Merry Christmas was initiated CPR. Robinson quickly retrieved an automated checkpoint. But he wasn’t go- had by all. external defribillator (AED) and McGarry attached the de- ing to let them miss their On the morning of Oct. vice to the patient. CPR and AED monitoring continued Christmas visit home. The 2, a vanpool carrying employ- while the veteran was transported to the ER. The veteran former Transportation Secu- ees of the Atlanta VA Medical rity Administration (TSA) Center and Regional Office regained a pulse and began breathing independently after employee told the couple to came upon the scene of a advanced medical intervention. This was the first time po- “hang on” while he called a four-car collision leaving nu- lice at the Houston medical center had used an AED. former co-worker, the TSA merous victims with serious

January/February 2008 31 have you heard VAnguard

Support for Parkinson’s disease caregivers Studies show that VA families prefer to care for their loved ones with Parkinson’s disease in their homes. With that in mind, the San Francisco VA Medical Center’s Parkinson’s Disease Re- search, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) recently sponsored a unique and innovative event conducted totally via video teleconference. Designed to support those who are interested in learning how to better care for their family members or friends with this challenging diagnosis, the event was attended by more than 350 individuals including representatives from all VISN 21 medical centers (including multiple Hawaiian Islands), and it reached across the country to include Minneapolis, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Baltimore. Support for family and caregivers of veterans with Parkinson’s was explored through presentations on Identi- LESLIE KLOPP fying and Managing Psychological Changes in Parkinson’s dis- ease, Identifying and Managing Depression, and Identifying Leon Luzzi, coordinator of the Lebanon VAMC’s Veterans Activity Center, looks at one of the more than 600 cards and letters to Sleep Disorders. OIF/OEF veterans that have poured in from the community. Teaming up to help Alaska’s returning veterans Cards and letters pouring in On Sept. 11, the Alaska VA Healthcare System and Regional The VA medical center in Lebanon, Pa., got more than it MOH headstone for Murphy bargained for when it came up with an idea to honor vet- erans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While plan- On Nov. 27, a Medal of Honor headstone ceremony was ning the facility’s first OEF/OIF Welcome Home Event held held for Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy of Patchogue, on Nov. 3, the committee requested that letters of grati- N.Y. Murphy, 29, is the first recipient of the MOH interred tude be sent to the medical center to be displayed for the at Calverton National Cemetery in New York and is the returning veterans. The request, publicized through let- first Navy SEAL since ters to community groups, local newspapers, radio sta- the Vietnam War to tions and television stations, resulted in an outpouring of receive the Medal of cards and letters from schools, churches and other com- Honor, awarded post- munity groups. The center decided to tape the cards and humously during a letters to giant pieces of paper that extended 35 feet White House cer- down the hallway. After the event, the paper was rolled emony last October. up to be reused for the next OEF/OIF celebration. To date, Killed during a more than 600 cards and letters have poured into the firefight with Taliban center since the original request. insurgents in Af- ghanistan on June 28, 40th anniversary celebration in Florida 2005, he is also one of More than 200 current, former and retired employees celebrated just three servicemen the 40th anniversary of the Malcom Randall VA Medical Cen- awarded the MOH ter in Gainesville, Fla., on Nov. 14. The first director of the fa- since the September cility, Randall, was on hand as the honorary guest. Randall, 2001 terror attacks. whose federal career spans 59 years, has received two of the The 42-inch-tall grave NANETTE FURIO highest awards given by VA—the Meritorious Service Award marker bears a like- The Medal of Honor headstone for Lt. and the Exceptional Service Award. Besides holding the rank of Michael P. Murphy is installed at his ness of the nation’s Calverton National Cemetery gravesite. captain in the Naval Reserve, his military career includes serving highest military on PT boats and battleships in the South Pacific during World honor—a gold, inverted, five-pointed star that graces the War II, being wounded in action, and serving as Air Staff Com- mander of the Naval Air Reserve Unit at Jacksonville, Fla. markers of all MOH recipients. Cemetery director Michael Although in operation since Oct. 22, 1967, as the Picerno said Murphy’s original headstone—which like all Gainesville VAMC, the facility was officially renamed the others at the cemetery has crisp, ebony lettering—will be Malcom Randall VAMC in February 1999. Currently, it is the buried there as a sign of respect. only VAMC named after an employee.

32 January/February 2008 VAnguard have you heard

Building a support network for deployed chaplains ‘Sacking’ homelessness in Ohio The National Chaplain Center and Bay Pines VA Healthcare System hosted a national VA Chaplain Retreat and Workshop last fall in Indian Rocks, Fla. Called “Caring for the Combat Chaplain,” the retreat was the first of its kind, providing an op- portunity for VA chaplains who have served as military reserve or National Guard chaplains in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom to come together and share experi- ences. This group of VA chaplains has all served at least one de- ployment to the Middle East as chaplains providing ministry to servicemembers on the front lines, while back home at VA, they continue to minister to all veterans. Chaplain Michael L. McCoy, associate director of the National Chaplain Center, led the group throughout the retreat. In the future, the center hopes to provide a support network for deployed VA chaplains to con- tinue communication while they are serving. JENNIFER BARTEK Cleveland VA Regional Office employees with the nearly 200 back- packs stuffed with goodies that they donated to homeless veterans during the city’s first Stand Down. Recognition for a furry companion Employees of the Cleveland VA Regional Office helped “sack” homelessness during the city’s first Veterans Stand Skeeter, a six-year-old Pomeranian pet therapy dog at the Down by donating nearly 200 backpacks to homeless veter- VA medical center in Lexington, Ky., recently received top ans. In an event coordinated with the city, VA representa- honors when he won the Kentucky Veterinary Medical tives provided benefits counseling and distributed the back- Association (KVMA) Animal Hall of Fame Hero’s Award. packs filled with socks, clothing, food, bus passes and per- Skeeter came to the facility in November 2006 after his sonal hygiene products. owner could no The drive, known as “Pack a Sack,” was the first orga- longer live alone nized effort of the VARO’s new Outreach Committee. Com- and properly care prised of Veterans Service Center employees, the group for him. He works aims to meet the needs of local veterans. “Two vans were in the nursing so filled with these backpacks that when opened, they liter- home and hospice ally began falling out,” said Assistant Veterans Service Cen- units and was rec- ter Manager Todd Weber. “Representatives of other agen- ognized for his in- cies came up to compliment our efforts. And the veterans credible talents carried our backpacks with a sense of deep appreciation and commitment to and even joy.” More than 400 homeless veterans attended, quality patient receiving food, haircuts and blankets. care. Skeeter gives patients his total, unconditional love. Office and the State of Alaska Department of Military and Vet- In addition, says erans Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding as a Paula Bayer, R.N., commitment to join together to provide outreach to Alaska Na- nurse manager on tional Guard and Reserve troops. Specific goals of the MOU are the nursing home to: ensure seamless delivery of health care services to rural veter- care unit, “His DESTIE STIMES ans; enhance home station reunion and reintegration workshops ability to provide Skeeter the pet therapy dog “is a legiti- for returning Global War on Terrorism veterans to include post- comfort to an end- mate ambassador of goodwill,” says Ed deployment health reassessments; create multidisciplinary mo- stage patient is re- Roberts, Army veteran and nursing home resident. bile outreach teams; and commit to meet regularly to address is- markable. As sues. death becomes imminent, he is always there.” Each year, Due to the growing number of veterans returning to rural Alaska from mobilizations in support of the GWOT, VA staff the KVMA honors animals that exemplify the strength and will join National Guard staff in specific outreach to the Na- value of the bond between animals and people and the tional Guard armories as well as facilitate a monthly community contributions they make to enrich human lives. network meeting to ensure a coordinated effort.

January/February 2008 33 honors VAnguard

ume processed in fiscal year 2003. Geriatrics excellence awards This initiative furthers VA’s goal to improve financial per- formance, and because of their success, Ed Murray, deputy assis- tant secretary for finance in VA Central Office, presented an award to FSC staff. FSC Director Ron Woods and FSC Assis- tant Director Teri Riffel were present for the awards ceremony. Helping returning servicemembers reintegrate Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the Kansas Adjutant General, pre- sented an award of appreciation to staff at the VA Eastern Kan- sas Health Care System for their work helping Kansas National Guard servicemembers reintegrate into their communities after returning from overseas deployments. The award was presented on Oct. 23. On hand to receive the award were Rick Selig, OIF/OEF program manager; Kathy Zima, OIF/OEF case man- ager; Dr. Peter Almenoff, director of VISN 15 (Kansas City); Marie Weldon, director of VA Eastern Kansas; and Warren Hill, associate director of VA Eastern Kansas. SID CRANDALL In an effort to reach out to these returning servicemembers, Dr. Byron Bair meets with veteran Marlin C. Galbraith at the VA a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed with the Salt Lake City Health Care System. Kansas National Guard and VISN 15. VA Eastern Kansas ex- panded the MOU to provide pre-deployment counseling to the The 2007 Marsha Goodwin-Beck Interdisciplinary Awards soldiers and their family members, meet the returning soldiers for Excellence in Geriatrics were presented at the VHA National Leadership Board meeting on Oct. 16. Byron Bair, M.D., associate director for clinical programs with the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, re- ceived the Excellence in Geriatric Clinical Care Delivery Award. Bair has developed creative and innovative model care delivery systems to improve the delivery of health care to aging veterans. He is the medical director of the home-based primary care program at VA Salt Lake, which provides all-inclusive care for high-risk homebound patients. Theodore J. Hahn, M.D., co-director of the GRECC at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, received the Excellence in Geriatric Leadership Award. Due to his leadership, there has been major growth in the availabil- COURTESY OF JOHN WARE ity of quality geriatric care to older veterans VISN-wide John Ware, right, with his Special Olympics gold medal. through the opening of needed geriatric and extended care programs. His effective leadership skills were also Martinsburg’s gold medal athlete evidenced by his successful campaign to win state and federal approval for a unique new state veterans home to A VA employee brought home a gold medal from the 2007 be constructed on the West LA campus. Special Olympics World Summer Games. John Ware, a machine operator at the VA medical center in Martinsburg, W.V., traveled to the People’s Republic of Honors for Financial Services Center staff China to compete in the games. He brought home the VA’s Financial Services Center (FSC) in Austin, Texas, received gold in the long jump. The 34-year-old also finished fourth special recognition for its work to centralize all VHA payments in the 100-meter dash and fifth on the 100-meter relay for common services such as utilities and contractual services— team. Ware, who won gold at the National Games in Iowa also known as “certified payments.” This four-year initiative was and has been named Berkeley County Special Olympics successfully completed in fiscal year 2007, and now 98 percent Athlete of the Year, has participated in track and field, of VHA’s certified payments are processed by the FSC. At the conclusion of this project, the FSC was able to accurately and basketball and volleyball during his 13 years as a member efficiently process more than 900,000 invoices valued at more of Special Olympics. than $6.5 billion in a timely manner; this is four times the vol-

34 January/February 2008 VAnguard honors at the demobilization sites, which, in some cases, were in Missis- sippi, Texas or Wisconsin, and conduct post-deployment out- Native American outreach reach and counseling at the reintegration training sites around the state. Professional honors for Palo Alto investigator Myers Jonathan Myers, Ph.D., received the Michael L. Pollock Estab- lished Investigator Award on Oct. 19 during the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pul- monary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). His selection was in recogni- tion of his many outstanding contributions to cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation as a career investigator with the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Each year, this award is presented to an individual whose ideas, committee work and leadership have benefited the AACVPR organization in a significant way and who has earned national prominence in his or her field with contributions span- ning many years. Myers delivered a lecture to attendees at the JUAN SOLIS annual meeting during the general session as part of the award Dave Mojica, right, OIF/OEF coordinator for the Waco VA Re- recognition program. gional Office, participates in a Native American flag blessing ceremony in El Paso with Simon Sims, left, and Jesse Padilla, tribal councilman. After attending a Native American conference in Albuquer- ‘Caring for America’s Heroes’ que, N.M., a Waco VA Regional Office employee returned to Texas with the impression that there was a lack of infor- Andrew Thurston, a fourth-year medical student at Baylor mation and access to veterans benefits for many Native College of Medicine, won the 5th Annual Major C.W. Americans. He wondered what could be done to address Offutt “Caring for America’s Heroes” Essay Contest, spon- this situation. Through conversations with fellow employ- sored by the Oklahoma ees and management staff, a plan was developed to ap- City VA Medical Center. proach a local Native American tribe to determine the Open to all third- and proper protocols to gain access to Native American veter- fourth-year medical stu- ans on their reservations. dents, the award is de- After meeting with leaders of the Ysleta del Sur signed to promote car- Pueblo (Tigua) Tribe, approval was obtained to conduct ing, humanism and un- outreach on the Tigua Reservation near El Paso. It was dis- derstanding of veterans covered that there were 91 veterans who were members receiving medical care of the Tigua Tribe and only two were receiving VA benefits at VA health care facili- at that time. Today, there are more than 60 Tigua veterans ties. It is presented on receiving VA benefits. In recognition of the initiative taken, the basis of papers writ- the National Congress of American Indians presented the ten about what medical Waco VARO with a Native American Warrior Certificate of students derived from Andrew Thurston Recognition on Nov. 21 in El Paso. caring for America’s he- roes. With career plans to enter the internal medicine field, and ultimately geriat- IT management scholarship for deputy CIO rics, Thurston wrote about his experience getting to know Mona Baggett, deputy chief information officer (CIO) for the a veteran being treated for cancer at the Michael E. VA Health Administration Center in Denver, received the pres- DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston. He wrote about tigious College of Healthcare Information Management Execu- how much “Mr. C” liked to talk: “About the weather, tives’ John Glaser Scholarship Sept. 12. She competed with ap- about the war—about anything and everything as if his plicants from 600 other health care-related facilities worldwide, thoughts were packaged on a conveyer from his mind, both governmental and corporate. The two annual winners of the award are selected on the basis of CIO potential and dedica- and he had to hand off each parcel to someone—any- tion to professional development within the health care CIO one—or else they’d fall from his mouth and shatter. So I field. Baggett plans to use the scholarship to pursue a graduate did what any second-year medical student new to the degree in information technology management. “It is a huge wards would do: I sat in silence, and listened.” honor to receive this award and it will enable me to fulfill a longtime desire to continue my graduate education,” she said.

January/February 2008 35 ‘Wreaths Across America’ Lisa Fountain and her daughter Kayleigh, of Michigan, were among the Civil Air Patrol volunteers who placed holiday wreaths on graves at Arlington National Cemetery. It was the 16th year the Worcester Wreath Company of Maine sent the wreaths to the cemetery. For the second year, the company also sent wreaths to VA national cemeteries and state veter- ans cemeteries to display in a nationwide tribute to veterans called “Wreaths Across America.”

ROBERT TURTIL