Each year, National Salute to Veteran Patients Week is a time to recognize and uplift Veterans receiving care in VA medical facilities. At Soldiers’ Angels, this week reflects the steady, compassionate work our VA Hospital Representatives and volunteers carry out all year long in VA hospitals across the country.

VA Hospital Representatives are trained Soldiers’ Angels volunteers who work directly within the VA healthcare system to coordinate programs, patient visits, special events, and donated goods for Veteran patients. They collaborate closely with VA staff to ensure support is meaningful, appropriate, and consistent—meeting Veterans where they are, often during some of their most vulnerable moments.

This National Salute week, our VA Hospital Reps are once again showing what it means to serve with heart, humility, and deep respect for Veterans’ experiences. Here’s a look at what’s happening in communities across the country and the powerful moments that make this work so impactful.

San Antonio, TX

Cathy Miller, VA Representative – San Antonio VA

In San Antonio, Cathy Miller has spent more than four and a half years as VA Representative, and more than a decade connected to Soldiers’ Angels as a volunteer, AmeriCorps VISTA, and staff member. During that time, she’s seen countless meaningful moments. One day stands out in a way she’ll never forget.

“Two different people came up to me on the same day, and they both had Soldiers’ Angels tattoos. One was a longtime supporter, and the other was an Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran who had received care packages and coffee from us. He told me how much it meant to him, so he decided to get the tattoo.” For Cathy, it was a powerful reminder that our support leaves a lasting mark.

Cathy’s work in San Antonio has helped launch and sustain a wide range of programs, including Food Pantries and Food Distributions, baby showers on local Air Force bases, therapy gardens, monthly lunches and BINGO events, coffee distributions, and patient visits. This National Salute week, San Antonio will host a Coffee Cart event on February 9th at the VA North Central Federal Clinic, complete with giveaways from both the VA and Soldiers’ Angels.

Reflecting on her service and her Military-connected family, Cathy noted, “I am a proud spouse of a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, a sister to an Operation Desert Storm Veteran, and I have several family members who have served.” As she prepares to relocate later this year, her impact on the San Antonio VA community remains deeply felt.

Sacramento, CA

Christopher Leonardini, VA Representative – Sacramento

In Sacramento, National Salute to Veteran Patients Week will include Soldiers’ Angels distributing Books-A-Million coffee to Veteran patients in the VA hospital lobby and during patient visits. For Christopher Leonardini, who has volunteered as VA Representative for three years, the week is another opportunity to show up in meaningful ways for Veterans receiving care.

One of Christopher’s most memorable moments came after successfully re-establishing monthly luncheons for a PTSD peer support group that had paused during the pandemic.

“A Vietnam Veteran named Pedro had been instrumental in getting the luncheons restarted because of how much they meant to the group,” Christopher shared. During one of the first luncheons back, Pedro surprised him. “He stood up, got everyone’s attention, and presented me with a medallion as a thank you. We shook hands, and both got a little teary-eyed. It was more than a thank you—it was reassurance that these efforts had truly touched their lives.”

Though not a Veteran himself, Christopher’s commitment is rooted in family service. “My father served in the Marine Corps and the National Guard and completed two combat deployments,” he said. “That background is what prompted me to give back to Veterans, and I feel privileged to do that through Soldiers’ Angels.”

Buffalo, NY

Mary Ellen Tomaszewski, VA Representative – Buffalo VA

At the Buffalo VA, National Salute week includes activities planned throughout the week, with Soldiers’ Angels hosting a lobby table to distribute hats, gloves, blankets, snacks, and coffee to Veteran patients. For Mary Ellen Tomaszewski, a Soldiers’ Angels volunteer since 2019, these moments are about connection and consistency.

“I love going to the VA hospital and seeing all the familiar faces of the Veterans I’ve come to know over the years,” Mary Ellen shared. Through BINGO games, football parties, patient visits, and giveaway tables, she has built relationships that go far beyond one-time interactions. “Because we wear name tags, the Veterans often greet me by name,” she said. “They are so grateful for the thoughtful items we bring, and I love being able to show them how much we appreciate everything they’ve done for us.”

Fresno, CA

Bob Voss, VA Representative – Fresno

In Fresno, National Salute to Veteran Patients Week will include an opening ceremony, patient visits, a BINGO event with the Community Living Center, and coffee distribution in front of the VA hospital. Bob Voss, a retired Army Veteran who has volunteered for a year and a half, finds patient visits to be especially meaningful.

One recent visit stands out. “I was talking with a 93-year-old Veteran who didn’t seem very happy and didn’t talk much,” Bob recalled. “Somehow we started talking about golf, and he opened up and talked for about fifteen minutes. We even discovered I had played with his son before.” The impact of that short conversation extended beyond the moment. “Afterward, a nurse told me she’d never seen him talk that much. Seeing a Veteran brighten up after a short visit is incredibly rewarding.”

West Palm Beach, FL

Mai Vu, VA Representative – West Palm Beach

Mai Vu has served as the Soldiers’ Angels VA Representative at the West Palm Beach VA since 2022, coordinating a robust calendar of events that connect VA DOM Veterans with both hospital staff and the surrounding community. “Most of our team members work full-time during the day, so we volunteer early mornings, nights, and weekends,” Mai shared. “I work around everyone’s availability because being present for Veterans is what matters,” Mai says.

During National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, the West Palm Beach team will be especially active both inside the VA and throughout the community. Alongside regular activities—such as driving Veterans to appointments and labs via golf cart, transporting food bags from the food bank, and restocking refrigerator food lockers for Veterans enrolled in Warrior Wellness programs—Mai and her team have several special events planned. These include an Ice Cream Cart Social in the atrium, free clothing distribution for Veterans, a Baby Shower at the VA MRI/Imaging Center, a National Salute cake celebration in the atrium, and a Valentine’s Day photo booth with candy distribution. The week concludes with a free breakfast for Veterans at the American Legion.

Mai sees these events as lifelines for Veterans who need comradery and connection. “During one of our Soldiers’ Angels Talent Shows, one homeless Veteran burst into tears during the singing and said it felt like a second chance,” she said. “Veterans always thank us, hug our team, and tell us how much it means that we show up.”

That sense of belonging has led Veterans to give back as well. “One of our DOM homeless Veterans began volunteering with us as a DJ after she stabilized her health and housing,” Mai shared. “She loves what we do and wanted to be part of it.” Through partnerships with local law enforcement, community organizations, and hands-on outreach—including bringing home-cooked food to homeless Veterans who are unable to cook—the West Palm Beach Soldiers’ Angels team continues to meet Veterans where they are, especially during National Salute week.

A Week of Salute, A Year of Service

National Salute to Veteran Patients Week highlights what Soldiers’ Angels VA Hospital Representatives and volunteers do every day: show up, listen, and care. Through patient visits, coffee carts, shared meals, and simple conversations, they remind Veteran patients that they are not alone and that their service is seen, honored, and deeply appreciated, this week and throughout the year.

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About the Author

Ashley Ray has been a member of the Soldiers’ Angels communications team since 2013. She supports blog writing and social media and loves telling stories of Angel volunteers, Service Members, and Veterans.

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