VA Photos of the Week – April 26, 2019

“VA Photos of the Week” highlight the connections made between our employees and the Veterans they serve every day at VA medical centers, regional offices, and national cemeteries across the country.

This week, photographers from Texas and Pittsburgh shared their best images with us.

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Veteran Thomas Henderson walks with his new above-knee prosthetic leg during his final fitting at VA North Texas. Thomas is receiving the Endolite Linx system, a microprocessor knee and ankle prosthesis with hydraulic technology. Thomas had to walk at various speeds, up and down an incline and stairs as calibrations were made to his leg. Thomas served with Marines as a hospital corpsman and suffered injuries while deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Photo by Jennifer Roy

Michael James McGrath, 64, of Big Spring, Texas passed away in his residence on April 8, 2019. McGrath was a U.S. Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War. Over 150 Big Spring citizens gathered to help lay to rest an American hero who did not have any family. West Texas VA Employees also gathered along Gregg Street waving American flags as the funeral procession line passed by the VA.

Photo by Kelli Kay Stolle

Registered Nurse and ZUMBA instructor, Wanda Frey leads a ZUMBA class at VA North Texas Health Care System in support of Pathways to Excellence and employee health. “Employee wellness is one of the key aspects of Pathway to Excellence designation, and I’m happy to do my part. It’s a bonus that I get to combine my love of nursing and love of fitness in this way – helping my fellow nurses and Veterans increase their activity level and relieve stress in a fun way,” says Frey. Wanda, a native of Puerto Rico, has worked at VA North Texas for more than 20 years and has been a ZUMBA instructor for 5 years for a local Dallas fitness center.

Photo by Michael Cole

The Veterans Experience Team invited all employees to participate in the first celebration of Patient Experience Week. West Texas VA Health Care System is devoted to recognizing the importance of the customer experience in all our daily activities, to honor those who serve and support our #Veterans, family members and caregivers, with the highest degree of professionalism and #ICARE values. Every employee that works for the VA is Patient Experience. Pictured is Aaron Roe, utility systems repairer operator at West Texas VA Health Care System.

Photo by Kelli Kay Stolle

Spring has sprung at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s H.J. Heinz III campus in the hills of Aspinwall. Regardless of the pollen and spring allergies, the flowers are beautiful to look at.

Photo by Hope Nelson