Airmen visit, assist medical center's veterans

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
  • I.G. Brown Training and Education Center
Airmen assigned to the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center here visited veterans recently at the Mountain Home Veterans Administration Medical Center in northeast Tennessee.

Master Sgt. Raymond Harris, TEC network manager, said that they went to deliver donated cookies, coffee supplies, dominoes, pill containers, clothing, backpacks, crossword books and candy. They spent time with the veterans too, and they toured the facility in uniform.

"We also donated $375 in cash, collected from our holiday party fundraiser," said Harris.

Harris drove nearly two-hours north to get there, along with Master Sgt. Jeela Matthews and Tech. Sgt. Jacob Sutton, both instructors for the Chief Master Sergeant Paul H. Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center.

"It is incredibility beneficial to our residents and in-patients," said Stephanie Justus, with the VA's voluntary services office. "It uplifts their spirits."

Justus showed them around. She said that it's not the first time that the training center's staff visited the VA. They make regular visits and donations.

"When they come in uniform it always brightens up the day for our residents," said Justus, who also serves part time with the National Guard. "We have a community living center that has Hospice and rehabilitative programs for our veterans, and we have inpatient wards, where they are all so appreciative when service members visit."