Department President's Project: 

 


The Department President’s Project for this year will be two-fold with any donations received being split 50/50. Trying to encompass veterans of all age groups I have chosen Creative Arts, New York to assist our VA hospitals that sponsor this program in our great Empire State.

The VA has incorporated creative arts competitions for many years into their recreational therapy programs. The annual arts competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through therapy. Participants in the program range in age from 21 year old Iraqi veterans to veterans in their 80’s who fought in World War II. All veterans that receive medical care through the Veterans Administration are eligible to enter the competition.

Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake called the Veterans Creative Arts Festival an extension of the Veterans Administration rehabilitative care. “Creative expression is an important component of healthy living”, Peake said, “This annual competition shows that real healing goes well beyond our patients physical needs. Creative Arts therapy has a key role at the Veterans Administration in rehabilitation and recovery.

This rapidly growing field integrates the arts, including literary, performing, visual arts and design into a wide variety of healthcare settings for therapeutic, educational and recreational purposes.

The Syracuse Healthcare facility averages 125 to 150 entries per year from over 100 veterans and the program grows each year. This facility has been fortunate to have had several National winners that are invited to a weeklong celebration in various places throughout the United States.

One veteran, Larry, entered his wood scape piece after much encouragement. He was hesitant to enter as he felt his limitations of being a paraplegic would be a hindrance in having the art piece “be perfect”. His art piece was fantastic and he went on to win a gold medal at the local show. Larry said “I never thought I would win anything and the compliments that I received from staff is enough to keep me motivated to continue to paint these wood scapes all year as part of my therapy.”

Donations would be used for the cost of ribbons, medals certificates, frames, video productions, program books, production, arts and crafts supplies. These items are not provided by the Veterans Administration.

The second part of the project will encompass our Gulf War Veterans, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans. Their needs go beyond what we have tried to provide under our WFA (Warriors Family Assistance) program.

We will try to assist the Veterans Administration with these funds to provide needed services that fall through the cracks and are not available because of bureaucratic red tape and budget constraints. With the funds we provide we will be trying to fill in the gaps with these veterans. Some items needed include: grocery gift cards, public transportation including metro cards, buses and taxis. Also prepaid cell phones, books and resource materials, baby formula and diapers, food and refreshments during group events. Nicely furnished Family Friendly areas are a necessity in our healthcare facilities.

Many veterans have small children and have been forced to cancel their VA appointments because they are not able to afford day care for their children on a short time basis. This is definitely an ongoing and big problem. The idea of a voucher program to assist these veterans has surfaced but the Veterans Administration has not been able to implement it so far because of many, many rules and regulations. This is definitely something we are working on to see if it can be implemented and provided for through these funds.

With your help the American Legion Auxiliary of the Department of New York will be able to BEE SPECTACULAR by providing these services to our very well deserving veterans in New York.

Thank you in advance for any support you may generate for this project.

Karyn Porempski
President
Department of New York