William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital

Veterans and their families enjoy themselves before the game.

The Madison VAH held its Third Annual Welcome Home Celebration for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans in July.  This family event was held at a Madison Mallards Baseball game.  Over 300 Veterans and family members were in attendance. 

The Madison VAH OEF/OIF Team joined efforts with other VA and community partners to conduct the event.  While Veterans were gathering information about VA health care and the Vet Center, benefits from the federal, state, and local levels, and employment resources, their children were entertained by having their faces painted.   Other pre-game festivities included a ballpark food buffet, and musical entertainment by VA staff member Alan Woodrow. 

The pre-game festivities included the opening pitch featured six female OEF/OIF Veterans and the national anthem with a gigantic U.S. flag unveiled by Veterans on the field.

Special guests on hand to personally welcome our newest Veterans included General Joe Brandemuehl, Army National Guard and  Donna Williams, Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.  

Wonderful comments of appreciation were received from the Veterans that participated and their family members.  Two local television stations and the major daily newspaper of Wisconsin covered the event.