Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Teresa Adams | Retired Army Maj. General and Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - Combined event honors both Army, Air Force retirees along with former service members of other branches.
In years past, Army and Air Force retirees attended separate retiree appreciation days. Now that Joint Base Lewis-McChord has combined Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base, the event is a joint effort open to retirees from each branch of military service.
“This provides a lot of information to augment what the Navy gave me upon retirement,” said Andrew J. Peck, retired Navy commander from Renton. “It was so organized and done on a much larger scale.”
The installation sponsored its first joint Army and Air Force Retiree Appreciation Day May 20, featuring a Madigan Army Healthcare System Health Fair at McChord Field.
On-site services included health screening, assistance with Veterans Administration and Dept. of Defense compensations, legal assistance and many other Army and Air Force programs.
The JBLM Lewis Retirement Services Office and McChord Retirement Activity Office worked with Madigan Army Healthcare System to combine the 2011 health fair with the annual retiree appreciation day. Retirees and their families received physical exams during the health screening portion of the event.
“Last year we had a retiree that received a carotid artery scan and was immediately rushed to Madigan Hospital and received a life-saving surgery the next day,” said Kathi Proctor, assistant officer, JBLM Lewis Retirement Services Office.
A volunteer at the Madigan Health Fair at the pediatrics booth fully supported retirees taking advantage of the health care and post retirement services provided.
“We need to do this more than once a year,” said Sherry G. Smith, a licensed practical nurse employed by the pediatric clinic at Madigan Healthcare System. “This shows that we appreciate all the work that has been done. Freedom isn’t free.”
The guest speaker was a retiree who continues to make a concerted effort to ensure that those who have served are taken care of.
“One of the aspects of Retirement Appreciation Day that gives our retirement community the greatest peace of mind is the access to health screening and health care information,” said James M. Collins, a retired major general and former I Corps deputy commanding general who is now the civilian aide to the secretary of the Army from Washington state.
Retirees and family members in the Pacific Northwest can remain content in the knowledge that JBLM is providing continuous care to those who have selflessly placed their nation’s needs above their own, said Alex Silva, JBLM Retirement Services Office.
For more information about retiree services, contact Silva at the JBLM Lewis Retirement Services Office at 966-5884.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2011 18:03 |
| Story ID: | 71721 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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