WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, DC, will honor returning combat veterans with a unique outreach and education event on Saturday, June 14, 2008 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Welcome Home Celebration will be held on the hospital grounds at 50 Irving Street, NW, rain or shine.

The Welcome Home Celebration offers enrollment and eligibility services, health and mental health screenings, benefits advice and a wide variety of other services to military personnel and veterans residing in the metropolitan area who recently served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Global War on Terror (GWT) theaters of combat.

The program is designed to provide valuable information, education, and support that will assist combat veterans and their families in transitioning into civilian life. A wide range of community service agencies specializing in employment and housing assistance, vocational training, spiritual support, family counseling and recreation will be represented, these include: AmeriCorps, Troops for Teachers, University of the District of Columbia Upward Bound, Peoples Involvement Corps, Small Business Administration, Army Wounded Warrior, Access Housing and Team River Runners.

Organizers expect that the Welcome Home Celebration to attract over 1200 combat veterans and their families, including combat veterans and active duty service personnel now receiving care at both Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. A Marine Corps Administrative Muster is scheduled to be held concurrently with the Welcome Home Celebration.

The Celebration will include music and entertainment for the families, a continental breakfast, snacks, a barbecue lunch, and many giveaways. Family friendly entertainment includes a moon bounce, clowns and balloon designers. Service personnel should pre-register if they wish to attend. Information about the Welcome Home Celebration and a registration form are available on the Medical Center website, www.washingtondc.va.gov.

Mr. Fernando O. Rivera, Medical Center Director, considers outreach to this new generation of combat veterans a priority. "It’s our duty to provide timely, excellent, comprehensive care to these, our newest combat veterans. We consider it an honor to serve them and their families. This event provides a convenient, one-stop shop, to begin educating OEF and OIF combat service personnel and veterans on the many services available to them through the VA Medical Center and the community."

For additional information about the Washington DC VA Medical Center’s Welcome Home Celebration and to lend your support to this event, contact the Voluntary Service Office at 202-745-8230 or the Public Affairs Office at 202-745-4037.