Tomah VA holds first centenarian celebration

In a moving ceremony on July 3, Veterans were joined by their families, friends, community members and VA staff as Tomah VA saluted area Veterans over 100 years of age at its first centenarian celebration.

Director Karen Long (above) presented six Veteran centenarians a framed and hand-signed letter of appreciation and a special VA challenge coin from VA Secretary Denis McDonough. Five centenarians who had not already received a Quilt of Valor were also recognized and awarded with a personalized hand-made quilt by the Prairie Du Chien Pickett Fence Patriotic Piecers.

Veterans that were honored also took time to share moving stories about their experiences during World War II. They expressed how grateful they were to be recognized for their service to our nation. After the ceremony, Veterans, their family members and members of the community had time to enjoy each other's company as well as some refreshments.

The centenarian program is a special initiative to honor Veterans who have reached the age of 100. Since August 2023, VA's Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) began coordinating these celebrations to honor our Veteran centenarians, and they have awarded almost 400 centenarians and special recognitions for those Veterans in their late 90's across the country.

According to Jennifer Conzemius, chief of Tomah VA CDCE, "Here at Tomah VA, the CDCE has just initiated the program in June 2024 and our July 3rd honorees were the first to be celebrated. We have roughly 20 more Veterans scheduled to celebrate and recognize in the upcoming months."

A special thank you to Holmen VFW Post 7908 for co-hosting this event with Tomah VA and Valley View Mall for their partnership and use of their community room.

The Tomah VA encourages any organization or family that knows of a Veteran who will be turning 100 or has already hit that milestone to reach out to the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement office at (608) 372-1727 to make sure they are recognized.

If you have a Veteran who will become a centenarian or is already a centenarian, contact your local VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement office.