Spring is in the Air at the Texas State Veterans Homes
The Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) has eight Texas State Veterans Homes across the state. These homes provide affordable, long-term skilled nursing care for Texas Veterans, their spouses and Gold Star parents. They are designed to enhance quality of life with a caring and dignified setting appropriate to those men and women who have served our country with honor.
The staff at our homes work incredibly hard to provide the residents with special activities and celebrations to show them all how much they are loved. Here are a just a few of the events that have taken place this past March and April.
Ussery Roan Texas State Veterans Home
Residents from the Texas State Veterans Home in Amarillo enjoyed a sunny, Sunday afternoon at a West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) Baseball Game in Canyon, Texas. The resident’s enjoyed a winning game as the #18 Buffs outscored the Kingsville Javelina’s 11–6. Our Veterans were joined by Veteran residents from the VA Community Living Center. WTAMU was generous in providing 29 tickets for our Veterans and team members to enjoy the game.
On Sunday, April 29, members of VFW Post MG 6 visited the residents on their back patio.
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Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home
On Thursday, March 29, the Texas State Veterans Home in Big Spring commemorated Vietnam Veterans Day. The event featured a Welcome Home Pinning Ceremony for thirty Vietnam Veteran residents and honored more than fifty additional service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Featured speakers included the Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home Administrator, Natalie Rolling-Edelbeck (USA Ret.), West Texas Veterans Affairs Director, Kalautie JangDhari, and West Texas Veterans Affairs Quality Manager, Rosa Mancha. Cake and punch were served after the ceremony.
On Friday, March 30, the Veterans Home hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for the residents, staff and their family members. There were 10,000 filled eggs to hunt for!
Some of the residents enjoyed continued equine therapy thanks to Horses, Hearts and Hands on Tuesday, April 10.
Many thanks to the students from Western Texas College who stopped by in April to help our Veterans with their vegetable gardens. The traditional unit now has four raised beds and the Memory Support Unit has three raised beds.
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Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home
On Wednesday, March 28, Footsteps and Fingerprints visited the Texas State Veterans Home in Bonham to dye Easter eggs with the residents.
Thanks to Willie Holcomb for stopping by the Veterans Home in his yellow Corvette. The residents loved it!
On Friday, April 6, the residents visited the Fort Worth Stockyards to see the Fort Worth Herd Daily Cattle Drive and enjoy a BBQ lunch.
On Monday, April 9, 76 students from the Berkner High School JROTC presented a special program for the residents and then toured the Veterans Home to visit with the residents.
On Tuesday, April 10, the residents were invited to VFW Post 4852 for a day of fishing and a hot dog cookout.
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Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home
On Wednesday, March 21, the residents at the Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville thoroughly enjoyed listening to the New Mexico Military Institute Regimental Band and Concert Choir. There were over fifty musicians who came all the way from Roswell to perform patriotic music; they even played the New Mexico State Song!
Congratulations to John Morgan, a Veteran and artist residing at the Floresville Veterans Home. He recently won 3rd place at the Veterans Visual Art Exhibit sponsored by the Seguin Art League. Several residents enjoyed showing their artwork during this exhibit at the VFW Post 8456 in Geronimo, Texas.
On Thursday, April 19, the antique car club of Wilson County shared their wonderful antique cars and trucks with our Veterans who reminisced and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
The Wilson County Republicans brought fruit and cookies and visited with the residents, while the Veterans Home team members grilled hot dogs and sausage wraps. Everyone had a roaring good time!
Follow the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home on Facebook.
Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home
On Wednesday, March 7, the residents at the Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen enjoyed a kitchen band performance and some pet therapy on a beautiful spring day.
On Wednesday, March 14, the Veterans Home welcomed a group of about fifty motorcycle riders who commemorated the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. On this annual ride, Vietnam Veterans from across Texas drove along U. S. Highway 83 from Perryton to Brownsville. During the last leg of their journey, the riders stopped at the Veterans Home to pay tribute to our resident Veterans. Many thanks to the McAllen Monitor for covering this story.
On Saturday, March 24, seven Women Veteran residents were presented with certificates to honor the contributions and sacrifices they made while serving our country, and recognized as honorary members of Veteran Females United.
On Wednesday, April 18, our residents enjoyed a great performance by the Cathey M.S. Jazz Band.
On Thursday, April 26, the Veterans Home hosted the 2018 Annual Military Ball 2018, which had a 1950’s theme. Many thanks go to the volunteers including the Boy Scouts and the Knights of Columbus. All the residents and their family members enjoyed themselves and loved the music. Everyone dressed up and the ladies looked gorgeous in their poodle skirts!
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William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home
On Thursday, March 29, at the Texas State Veterans Home in Temple, the In Country Motorcycle Club recognized Vietnam Veterans on this special anniversary. The residents also had a competitive game of Connect 4 and Bowling for Bucks.
On Thursday, March 8, nine Veteran residents from the Veterans Home visited The Wall That Heals at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Some of them found the names of those they had served with and one resident found a family member.
In April, some of the residents raced remote-controlled cars, while others tended their vegetable gardens. Rehab residents enjoyed planting their herbs.
Follow the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home on Facebook.
Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home
Thursday, March 29 was a quiet and somber day as the Vietnam Veterans at the Texas State Veterans Home in Tyler came out to be acknowledged on Vietnam Veterans Day. Scott Vorous, the home’s administrator, gave the Veterans a powerful speech and a certificate to thank them for their service. They held their heads high as they were saluted.
In April, the Veterans Home were treated to a day of fishing and an outdoor cookout. This event was hosted by the gracious members of American Legion Post 15, from Lindale, Texas. ‘Stories’ were told around the campfire and many fish were caught. Hamburgers and hot dogs were enjoyed by all. The weather couldn’t have been better! A great day for our Veterans.
Follow the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home on Facebook.
Because the VA subsidizes much of a Veteran’s cost to stay at a VLB Texas State Veterans Home, daily out-of-pocket rates are well below average and include the cost of medications for Veterans. Residents can choose between a spacious private or semi-private room based upon availability. Alzheimer’s units at each home provide highly specialized care, including beautifully landscaped, secure courtyards. Like all VLB programs, the Texas State Veterans Homes are self-supporting and cost Texas taxpayers virtually nothing.
For additional information on VLB Texas State Veterans Homes and Cemeteries, and land, home and home improvement loans, call 1–800–252-VETS (8387), or visit TexasVeterans.com. Follow the Texas Veterans Land Board on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Read more blogs at TexasVeteransBlog.com and listen to The Dog Tag at TexasVeteransPodcast.com.
