Northern Arizona VA Health Care System

Embry Riddle students participating in National Salute to Veterans Week - distributing Valentine's cards to Veterans

Students from local schools send in hand-made Valentine’s cards that are distributed to our Veterans for Valentine’s Day.

Voluntary Service and Recreation Therapy come together during this week and make the activities and events memorable for our patients. This year NAVAHCS even has a special guest; Mr. Mike Vanderjagt, former NFL kicker for the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys. Mayor Mengarelli and Phil Goode from the City of Prescott and Mayor Skoog from the City of Prescott Valley will be here to meet Veterans as well as the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and ERAU students.

During the same time, Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) hosts the Creative Arts Festival for Veteran artists. The competition has been a part of the VA for over three decades. Veterans are judged in 50 different fine arts, applied arts and craft kit categories. A special commemorative category entitled “The Military Combat Experience” will be offered as well. In addition, this year Veteran artists will have the opportunity to enter into a national competition in which their art work could be used on the Veterans Day Posters which are distributed nationwide each year.

The first place winners in each category will move on to the regional competition, with the possibility of graduation to the national competition, which will be held during the month of October in Buffalo, New York. The artwork of seven Veterans from NAVAHCS placed in the top three at the national level in last year's Creative Arts Festival.

The art will be displayed starting on Wednesday, February 15 at 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. and again on Thursday, February 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and on Friday, February 17 f rom 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The Award Ceremony for the Creative Arts Festival is on February 17 at 1 p.m. in the Theater, Bldg. 15 at the main hospital in Prescott.

If you are interested in assisting with National Salute to Veterans Week, please contact Voluntary Service at (928) 776-6013 and if you don’t have time to stop in but still want to help our Veterans, cards are always welcomed.