AEDC pays tribute to veterans at annual VA picnic

  • Published
  • By Shawn Jacobs
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  Sunny skies and warm weather provided the perfect setting for the annual VA Picnic hosted Oct. 6 by Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) at the Arnold Lakeside Center (ALC).

Approximately 95 veterans, along with their caregivers, were treated to hot dogs and hamburgers with all the trimmings and had an opportunity to sing along or dance to karaoke, take a boat ride on Woods Reservoir or a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. The veterans, ranging in age from 52 to 88, came from the Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Medical Center and the Tennessee State Veterans home, both in Murfreesboro.

Tech. Sgt. John Bankston helped Tech. Sgt. Michael Hurley organize the event with assistance from Master Sgt. Patrick Lazarus. Sergeant Bankston said 42 volunteers from AEDC and a number from the surrounding community helped activities run smoothly. He thanked the people and organizations who donated the food and gifts for the veterans.

"It's unreal the amount of gifts they brought, and all those gifts [were] divvied up into individual bags and donated to each visiting vet," Sergeant Bankston said. "Whatever there was no room for we boxed it up and put it in the back of the buses when they were leaving. I was impressed and shocked at the same time with the amount of gifts. It was a lot.

"The AFSA [Air Force Sergeants Association] provided a lot of the financial backing as far as paying the club. Every professional organization on base, whether directly or indirectly, had something to do with that event. That includes the Arnold Top IV, the Junior Force Council and the CGOC [Company Grade Officers Council]."

The Arnold Community Council, area chambers of commerce, business and individuals also donated to the event.

Sharon Stephens, a recreation therapist at the York VA Medical Center, said the veterans look forward to the picnic every year.

"It is one of their favorite outings," Stephens said. "Being on the water and having boat rides and horse and buggy rides is not something they get to participate in on a regular basis.

"Just being told 'thank you' means a lot to them. When we arrived the people welcomed them by clapping as they entered the building."

Karla Mages, another recreation therapist at the VA, said the picnic was therapeutic for many of the veterans.

"It brings many reminiscing opportunities for our vets, especially with the men and women in uniform giving recognition and personal attention to each vet," Mages said. "It makes them feel special and appreciated ... and brightens their day. I have several vets who are still talking about that day."

Sergeant Bankston said connecting with the older veterans seemed to come naturally to the local Air Force personnel.

"Personally, it was sobering," Sergeant Bankston said. "There were folks from the Korean and Vietnam wars and just to be able to kind of connect with them, even in a two-minute conversation, was pretty surreal. Sometimes you do think alike. They're not really that much different than us; they're just older."