News from
The Adjutant General's Department

CONTACT:
Sharon Watson
Director, Public Affairs Office
Work: (785) 274-1192
Cell: (785) 806-4063
http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   October 19, 2007

No. 07-161

KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD TO RECOGNIZE VA EASTERN KANSAS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR HELPING GUARDSMEN AFTER DEPLOYMENT

Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, Kansas adjutant general, will present awards of appreciation to representatives of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System for its exemplary work in helping to reintegrate Guardsmen into their homes and communities following long-term deployments and for outstanding support of the Kansas National Guard.

Bunting will present the award on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m., at the State Defense Building, 2800 S. Topeka Blvd., Topeka. Receiving the award will be Dr. Peter Almenoff, Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network 15; Dr. James Sanders, chief medical officer, VISN-15; Marie Weldon, director, VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System; Warren Hill, associate director, VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System; Dr. Rick Selig, program director of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Outreach Team, and Kathy Zima with Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Outreach Team.

"Even though they may not show it, readjusting to home, family and community can be a difficult and stressful transition for some Guardsmen who have been away in a combat zone," said Bunting. "In those areas, the troops have had to adjust their mindset to one way of dealing with the world and now they have to make a readjustment to home life again. The readjustments can be challenging for the family, too. Spouses have had to adjust to new responsibilities and roles, and children have had many experiences since they last saw their deployed family member and learned to rely on one parent."

"The members of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System have been very proactive in helping Guardsmen and their families make the adjustments when they return home," Bunting continued. "This is the only system in the country that sends staff out to the military posts that the Soldiers come home to, be it in Kansas or another state, so they can get an early start on this process of readjustment and reintegration. This award is just a small token of our thanks for concern they demonstrate for the welfare of our Soldiers and their families."

VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System is comprised of the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center, Topeka; the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center, Lawrence; and 13 community-based outpatient clinics. Its primary service area consists of 43 counties in Kansas and Missouri. Veteran population in these counties totals over 104,000. VAEKHCS provides care to approximately 34,500 veterans.

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