Valley Regional Medical Center observed Veterans Day by hosting a patriotic program put on by Warriors United in Arms, a charitable organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for veterans in the community.
Dozens of veterans and their families and even hospital staff attended the indoor ceremony. Many waved small American flags that had been handed out.
Among the event’s speakers was Tony Garcia, CEO of Warriors United, who said “we’re all brothers” and that when one veteran is hurting “we’re all hurting.” Warriors United’s efforts to help veterans relies entirely on donations, he said.
Also appearing at the podium was Dr. Juan Rodriguez, a military veteran and general surgeon who has been with Valley Regional since 1975 and served as chief of surgery and chief of staff. Rodriguez’s voice become emotional when he related how well he’s been treated by the community over the years, and led the veterans in the audience and others present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Also among the speakers was Warriors United member Juan Torres, who read a few lines describing what it means to have served.
“I have been away from my family for a long time so that yours can be safe,” he said. “I have sacrificed a lot in my life so that you may live free. I have done these things because I have sworn an oath to my country, and I will live by this oath until the day I die, because I am and always will be a veteran of the United States Armed Forces.”
Garcia asked all veterans in the audience stand up to be recognized and said that “we are proud to have worn the uniform of the uniform of the United States of America, and we will and we will never forgot those that we lost. For the freedom that you enjoy today and every day, they paid the ultimate price.”
Mariana Tumlinson, the hospital’s director of community and public relations, said she met Garcia and became acquainted with Warriors United a few months ago. She noted that VRMC, an HCA hospital, has a veterans colleague network to support veterans employed by the company. The hospital also collected items to donate to a Warriors United program aimed at helping the community’s homeless veterans, she said.
Tumlinson said that in discussing the program with VRMC CEO David Irizarry, he encouraged an additional donation — this time in cash. The donation was presented to Warriors United during the Veterans Day ceremony in the form of an oversized, photo-op check for $1,000.
Irizarry thanks Warriors United for its efforts and VRMC staff who served in the armed forces.
“It did not end there,” he said. “You have all continued serving and being great members of this community. Their commitment allows us as an organization to carry out its mission. If it weren’t for your sacrifices, for your commitment, we wouldn’t be here delivering that.”
The program ended with Taps, as the veterans present smartly saluted the American flag.
