Veterans Affairs Hispanic Association

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Veterans Affairs Hispanic Association Working with the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce, promoting diversity and synergy.

VAHA activities DO NOT represent official activities of the VA

10/15/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Thursday, October 15, 2026. 🌅
Today's Motivational Quote
"Sometimes even a glimpse of another person's world can change how we see, understand and care for them." — Marie Augustin Herold, DNP student
As we close out the week and this meaningful month, today's story is a powerful reminder that empathy is something we have to actively step into — not just something we assume we already have. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today we reflect on what it means to truly understand a Veteran's experience, and we close out National Hispanic Heritage Month with gratitude.
🧠 Walking in Their World
VA West Palm Beach public affairs specialist Alvaro Galan recently went through a dementia simulation exercise — goggles, gloves, and headphones designed to mimic the sensory and cognitive challenges Veterans with dementia face every day. For a few minutes, he couldn't see straight, couldn't hear clearly, and couldn't make his hands do what he wanted. Then it ended, and he took the equipment off.
That's the part that stuck with him: his experience was temporary and built to end. For Veterans living with dementia, there's no off switch. The training, led by nurse educator Dianne Ragno and DNP student Marie Augustin Herold through the Office of Professional Development, has participants attempt simple tasks — picking up coins, recalling instructions, navigating with obstructed vision — followed by a debrief connecting the experience back to Veteran care. Reactions ranged from "this was harder than I expected" to "it makes you think about what the patient is experiencing." As Herold puts it, even a glimpse of someone else's world can change how we care for them — a reminder that understanding isn't just for clinical staff, but for every one of us who interacts with Veterans.
🎉 Closing National Hispanic Heritage Month
Today marks the final day of this year's observance. This year's official theme, "Unidos, Somos Más" — "Together, We Are More" — was created by Meleny Gomez and Kirby Quiles-Brown for the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers. Over the past month, we've honored Veterans, employees, and leaders across VA whose Hispanic heritage and service have shaped this agency and this country — from Mexican Independence Day celebrations to stories spanning WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and today's active-duty generation. Thank you to everyone who took part, shared a story, or simply paused to reflect. Together, we truly are more.
🧼 Global Handwashing Day
A simple but important reminder today — proper hand hygiene remains one of the most effective tools we have for preventing illness, in hospitals and at home alike.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Thursday.
— William

10/14/2026

🍂 The Fall 2026 Edition of the VAHA Quarterly Member Newsletter is here!

I’m excited to share another edition of the VAHA Member Newsletter, which I have the pleasure of creating and editing as the VAHA Executive Secretary and Newsletter Editor!

This edition highlights the people, stories, and initiatives that make our VA community special. From celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month and recognizing the accomplishments of our members to exploring employee well-being, cultural celebrations, and professional development opportunities, there’s so much to share!

One of my favorite parts of putting this newsletter together is finding meaningful ways to recognize others, amplify their stories, and create opportunities for connection and learning.

To me, a newsletter is more than just sharing updates. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our people, foster a sense of belonging, and remind one another of the impact we make every day. 💙

A special thank you to everyone who contributed their stories, ideas, and time to help bring this edition to life!

View Newsletter/VAHA Podcast Here: https://new.express.adobe.com/publishedV2/urn:aaid:sc:US:0946a82f-1fb8-5271-8b09-81564b73d0d1?promoid=Y69SGM5H&sdid=C4SZ2FYJ&mv=other

10/14/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Wednesday, October 14, 2026. 🌅
Today's Motivational Quote: "I can actually go out without freaking out. I'm getting my life back." — Veteran Lisa Maloney
As we move through the week, today's story is proof that healing doesn't always look clinical — sometimes it has four legs and a wagging tail. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today's featured story shows the profound difference connection and compassion can make in a Veteran's life, and tomorrow we close out a meaningful month of honoring Hispanic heritage and service.
🐾 'These Dogs Are the Reason: They Keep Going' Marlyn Lee, a critical care clinical nurse educator with over 25 years at VA Greater Los Angeles, created the Veterans Service and Therapy Dog Program after recognizing how deeply animals can support people living with trauma. Lee relates to the Veterans she serves on a personal level — surviving a difficult childhood with the emotional support of a pet rabbit and goldfish gave her firsthand insight into why these dogs become lifelines.
Lee works with rescue dogs, carefully selecting calm, affectionate breeds for intensive training. Her current pack includes Bella, a retired breeder and certified therapy dog who visits patients across medical and mental health units, and Pearl, her own psychiatric service dog. Through weekly training sessions, Lee empowers Veterans to support both their own healing and their dogs' development — benefits that extend to VA staff as well, helping address burnout.
For Veteran Lisa Maloney, 15 years of service left her with PTSD, hypervigilance, and anxiety. After losing her service dog, she retreated into isolation — until two abandoned German Shepherd puppies showed up on her property. She enrolled them in Lee's program, and now her dog Luna, fully certified, gives her the confidence to go out in public again. "I'm getting my life back," she says.
🎉 One More Day of Hispanic Heritage Month: Tomorrow marks the final day of this year's observance. It's been a meaningful month honoring the Veterans, employees, and leaders whose Hispanic heritage and service have shaped VA and the nation — more on that to come tomorrow as we officially close it out.
👩‍⚕️ Emergency Nurses Day: Today also honors the emergency nurses who provide critical, life-saving care under immense pressure — a fitting nod alongside Marlyn Lee's own nursing background.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Wednesday.
— William

10/13/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Tuesday, October 13, 2026. 🌅
Today's Motivational Quote
"He wasn't done serving." — on Medal of Honor recipient Jack C. Montgomery
As we move through the week, today's Freedom250 story is a reminder that true service rarely ends with a single act of courage — it becomes a lifelong calling. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today we honor a Cherokee Nation hero whose bravery on the battlefield was matched only by his decades of quiet service afterward.
🎖️ The Unstoppable Jack Montgomery
Before earning the Medal of Honor, Jack C. Montgomery was a running back at Bacone College and a member of the Oklahoma National Guard's 180th Infantry Regiment — nicknamed the "Thunderbirds," a unit that drew Native American soldiers from more than 50 tribes. At the Battle of Anzio, facing a heavily entrenched German force just 50 yards from his platoon, Montgomery crawled forward alone with a r***e and grenades, took out multiple machine gun positions, and by midday had accounted for 11 enemy dead and 32 prisoners — a one-man assault that changed the course of the fight. He was wounded that same night helping a neighboring unit and received the Medal of Honor from President Roosevelt in January 1945.
But Montgomery's service didn't end there. He returned to Oklahoma and spent decades working for the Veterans Administration at the Muskogee Regional Office, retiring in 1972 — and even then, he kept showing up, volunteering more than 750 hours shuttling fellow Veterans from the parking lot to the hospital. The medical center where he gave so much of his time was later renamed in his honor: the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, the first VA facility named for a Native American.
🎉 Hispanic Heritage Month Draws to a Close
Tomorrow marks the final day of this year's observance. Thank you to everyone who shared stories, heritage, and pride with the team over these past four weeks — from Mexican Independence Day to the many Hispanic Veterans and VA employees we've honored along the way. "Unidos Somos Más — Together, We Are More" has been more than a theme this month; it's been a lived reminder of what this team represents.
⚓ Navy Birthday
Today also marks the Navy's founding, honoring generations of sailors who've served with the same dedication we've celebrated all month.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Tuesday.
— William

10/09/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Friday, October 9, 2026. 🌅
Today's Motivational Quote
"This team really has my back and is involved with my day-to-day." — Navy Veteran David Korst
As we head into the weekend, today's story is a powerful reminder of what it means to show up for someone, even when the road back is long and uncertain. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today we honor a Veteran's journey through recovery, and recognize two Hispanic women whose service and advocacy continue to shape the Veteran community.
🏡 'This Team Really Has My Back'
Navy Veteran David Korst's struggle with addiction began after a bike crash left him with a broken jaw and a prescription for pain medication. What followed was five years of cycling through treatment across three states, homelessness, and addiction to he**in. When he arrived in Sheridan, Wyoming, he was living out of a tent and his car with just his dog, moving between campsites every two weeks.
Korst sought help at Sheridan VA, entering residential treatment for substance use, where he connected with vocational rehabilitation specialist Scott Brooke. A local landlord took a chance on him with a month-to-month lease. From there, Korst entered Sheridan VA's Transitional Work program, rebuilding his work habits and confidence, then moved into supported employment — eventually landing a job in housekeeping at the very VA that helped him. His coordinator, Amanda Bruno, says what set him apart was his resilience and willingness to ask for support even when things got hard.
This spring, Korst bought his first home using a VA home loan. "I am amazed at how I was living out of my car two years ago," he says. He still struggles, and he's honest about that — but now he has a team guiding him back, every step of the way.
🎖️ Celina Baez Sotomayor, Women's Army Corps
During Hispanic Heritage Month, VA's Center for Minority Veterans honors Celina Baez Sotomayor, a Puerto Rican Veteran who served in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. Her work helped keep troops overseas connected with loved ones back home — a reminder that every role contributes to the mission.
🎖️ From Uniform to Unforgettable: Lucy Del Gaudio
Lucy Del Gaudio served 8 years in the Army during the Gulf War Era, proud to have served as a woman at a time when women were underrepresented in the military. She's since dedicated herself to Veteran advocacy, recently stepping into a new role as Women Veterans Coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs. "It shaped who I am, and still guides how I show up for others," she shares.
✉️ World Post Day
Today also marks the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union — a nice moment to appreciate the mail carriers who keep us connected, something Celina Sotomayor understood firsthand.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Friday.
— William

10/07/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Wednesday, October 7, 2026. 🌅
Today's Motivational Quote "Use this day to tell friends, family, and even acquaintances how much their presence means to you." — You Matter to Me Day
As we move through the week, today feels like a good day to slow down and really notice the people around us. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today's featured story and observances center on connection, service, and gratitude — values that show up in how we treat Veterans and each other every day.
🎖️ From Uniform to Unforgettable: Lucy Del Gaudio Lucy Del Gaudio served 8 years in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War Era, proud to have served as a woman at a time when women were underrepresented in the military. Since leaving the service, she's poured herself into advocacy, education, and community work in the Veteran space since 2014 — most recently as Program Manager for the YWCA Northern New Jersey Sisterhood, helping women Veterans transition back into civilian life.
Today, Lucy is stepping into a new role as Women Veterans Coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs. For her, service never really ended. "It shaped who I am, and still guides how I show up for others," she shares. From uniform to unforgettable, Lucy continues to serve, one woman Veteran at a time.
❤️ You Matter to Me Day: A simple but meaningful reminder to pause today and tell someone — a coworker, a Veteran, a friend — how much their presence means to you.
🕊️ International Day of Peaceful Communication: Today encourages active listening, empathy, and diplomatic dialogue in all our interactions — a value that fits naturally with how we approach Veteran care and teamwork alike.
🎉 Hispanic Heritage Month: We're down to the final week of this year's observance, wrapping up October 15. It's been a meaningful few weeks of honoring the heritage, service, and stories of Hispanic Americans across VA — stay tuned for how we close it out.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Wednesday.
— William

10/06/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Tuesday, October 6, 2026. 🌅
Today's Motivational Quote
"He firmly believed that all Veterans had a right to world-class health care close to home." — Mike Roby, on Command Sgt. Maj. Ray Hendrix
As we move through the week, today's Freedom250 story is a powerful example of what one person's persistence can accomplish for an entire community of Veterans. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today we honor a lifelong Veteran advocate and spotlight a Hispanic Vietnam Veteran whose service didn't end when he left the Army.
🎖️ Veteran Advocate Worked to Bring VA Healthcare Closer to Veterans
Command Sgt. Maj. Ray Hendrix served 42 years in the Army and National Guard, but his legacy is defined by what he did after: nearly six decades of advocacy through the American Legion. Noticing that Georgia Veterans faced hours-long drives for VA care, he personally organized a van transportation service, securing a donated vehicle from the VFW and funding for drivers to connect Veterans to VA medical centers in Augusta and Dublin.
That wasn't enough for Hendrix. He launched a multi-year campaign to bring a VA clinic to his hometown of Statesboro, Georgia, gathering more than 5,800 Veteran signatures and working directly with officials in Washington, D.C. After six years, the Statesboro clinic opened — and Hendrix kept showing up, sitting quietly in the lobby just to make sure Veterans were treated with respect. He passed away in 2015, and the clinic was later renamed in his honor. Today it offers full primary care, mental health, and specialty services — a direct result of one Veteran's refusal to stop advocating for others.
🎖️ Veteran Spotlight: Luis Caltzontzint, U.S. Army
Luis Caltzontzint served in Vietnam in 1969–70 as a Helicopter Maintenance and Crew Chief, keeping aircraft mission-ready in a demanding combat environment. After the Army, he built a career in fire and rescue while co-founding the Tejano Veterans Association and the Vietnam Combat Veterans Association of Houston. He's helped raise funds for the Houston Veterans Memorial Monument and continues helping fellow Veterans navigate service-connection claims today. Thank you for your service, Luis!
🎉 Hispanic Heritage Month Continues
We're now past the halfway point of this year's observance, with just over a week left before it wraps on October 15. Today's spotlight on Luis is a great reminder of the many ways Hispanic Veterans have shaped both military service and civilian advocacy across generations.
🌮 National Taco Day
Since it's the first Tuesday of October, it's officially Taco Day — and Taco Tuesday, all in one. A tasty way to mark the occasion.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Tuesday.
— William

10/05/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Monday, October 5, 2026, 🌅
Today's Motivational Quote
"I'm happy I served, even though the water contamination altered my life." — Samuel Romero, U.S. Marine Corps
As we start a new week, today's spotlight is a powerful reminder that service can leave lasting marks — and that resilience often looks like rebuilding, again and again. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today we honor a Veteran whose story is one of hardship transformed into purpose.
🎖️ Veteran Spotlight: Samuel Romero, U.S. Marine Corps
Born in Brooklyn, Samuel Romero joined the Marine Corps at just 17, leaving a difficult home life behind for the discipline and purpose of military service. Serving during the Post-Vietnam/Cold War era from 1981 to 1984, he later learned his health had been affected by water contamination at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina — leading to infertility and, years later, prostate cancer.
Rather than let that define him, Samuel rebuilt his life from the ground up. He earned his GED, then went on to complete two master's degrees — an MBA and an MSW — before becoming a mental health professional and building his own private practice dedicated to helping others heal. Now a cancer survivor, happily married to his wife Michelle for 31 years, and retired in Malden, Massachusetts, Samuel credits VA for the outstanding medical care and support he's received since 2022. His service left him changed, but it never broke his resolve to help others the same way he fought for himself. Thank you for your service and your resilience, Samuel.
💖 National Do Something Nice Day
A fitting reminder today — take a moment to do something kind for someone, whether a coworker, a Veteran, or a stranger. Small gestures add up.
👩‍🏫 World Teachers' Day
Today also honors educators worldwide — a nod to anyone who shaped the path that led you here, personally or professionally.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Monday.
— William

10/01/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Thursday, October 1, 2026. 🌅🎉 Happy New Fiscal Year!
Today's Motivational Quote: "This is kind of my guiding flame in life." — VA Police Officer Samuel Yelton
As we close out National Hispanic Heritage Month and step into a new fiscal year, today's story is a beautiful reminder that legacy and mission can run in the family. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today's story shows what it looks like when service becomes a shared calling across generations.
👮 Two Generations, One Mission: When Samuel Yelton graduated from the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, one face in the crowd stood out: his father, William, who stepped away from his own VA Police Fi****ms Instructor Training that same week just to be there and personally pin the badge on his son.
Both father and son served in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division a generation apart — William as an infantryman in the 1990s, Samuel as an artillery forward observer before separating in 2023. After 27 years as a police officer in Asheville, retirement didn't sit well with William, so he joined VA Police last year. Samuel followed about six months later, after visiting his father at work and discovering the job appealed to him too. Now they both report for shifts at the VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina. For Samuel, working alongside his father in service to Veterans is a point of deep pride — and for William, having his son on the job might just be what keeps him going a few more years himself.
🎊 Happy New Fiscal Year 2027! As we turn the page on a new fiscal year, it's a good moment to reflect on everything this team accomplished together and look ahead with fresh energy and purpose.
🎉 Closing National Hispanic Heritage Month: As we wrap up this month-long observance, thank you to everyone who shared stories, heritage, and pride with the team this September and October — from Mexican Independence Day to the many Veterans and VA employees we've spotlighted along the way. "Unidos Somos Más — Together, We Are More" isn't just a theme we close out today; it's one we carry forward all year.
☕ International Coffee Day: And yes — your food and drink days are officially back! Grab a cup today and celebrate accordingly.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Thursday.
— William

09/30/2026

Good morning, Team — and happy Wednesday, September 30, 2026 🌅
Today's Motivational Quote
"There is dignity in work, no matter how humble. There is power in perseverance, no matter how long the road." — Joyce Williams
As we approach the end of the week, today's story is almost hard to believe — a career that spans generations and a reminder of what devotion to service really looks like when it's sustained over a lifetime. Your work matters — every day.
Grounded in our VA Core Values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (I CARE) — today we celebrate a legendary VA career coming to a close and a Veteran whose story shows education and service going hand in hand.
🎉 Service Since World War II: Retiring After 81 Years of Federal Service
At 99 years old, Joyce Williams is retiring from VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System after 81 years of federal service. She began her career in 1945 as a key punch operator with the Department of Commerce, motivated by her father's Army service and her brothers following in his footsteps. She joined VA in 1949 and leaves as department secretary for Mental Health Service at the Sepulveda campus.
Throughout her career, Williams met every era of change with curiosity — mastering punch-card technology in her early years and modern transcription tools decades later. Coworkers describe her as sharp, energetic, and an irreplaceable source of institutional knowledge, always arriving polished and ready to contribute. Last month, Secretary Doug Collins personally thanked her for embodying federal service at its best, inviting her to lunch in Washington, D.C., and a visit to the White House. True to form, Williams isn't slowing down — she plans to continue volunteering in support of Veterans, calling herself genuinely excited for whatever comes next.
🎖️ Veteran Spotlight: Maria Ramirez, U.S. Army
Maria Ramirez served as a Human Resources Specialist in the Army, including a deployment to Iraq, and became the first in her family to graduate from college. After transitioning out, she earned her bachelor's degree and now works as a Military Education Coordinator at the University of Maryland Global Campus, supporting service members, Veterans, and their families. VA supported her every step of the way, including funding her education through the VR&E program. Thank you for your service, Maria!
💪 National Women's Health and Fitness Day
Fitting alongside today's stories, this day reminds us to prioritize women's physical and emotional well-being — a value that echoes in every story of resilience we've shared this month.
Thank you for showing up with professionalism, collaboration, and compassion. Because I CARE, we remain trustworthy, innovative, responsive, and united in our mission to serve every Veteran with excellence.
Wishing you a productive, positive, and inspiring Wednesday.
— William

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