National veterans golden age games and national wheelchair games veterans get send off breakfast | va pacific islands health care | veterans affairs

On July 17, 2024, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) held a breakfast for Veteran athletes who will be competing in the National Veteran Golden Age Games, and for Veterans who

will compete in the National Veteran Wheelchair Games. This year, VAPIHCS will send two Veterans to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, and 24 Veterans to the National Veterans Golden

Age Games (NVGAG). VAPIHCS teams will be competing against other Veterans from across the nation.  “For me, my dad was the impetus to my participation in the National Veteran Golden Age

Games,” said Ret. Army Col. Chrissy Gayagas. “He had been competing in the games since 2008, and I saw how invigorating he found it. When I turned 55, I decided to join him. My cousin also

decided to participate, and we’re all on the Hawaii team.”  This year, the National Wheelchair Games will be held July 25, 2024, to July 30, 2024, in New Orleans. July is disability Pride

Month. Disability Pride Month commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. The ADA is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination

against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public. Disability Pride

Month was first celebrated in 1990, coinciding with the ADA’s signing, and has since grown into a movement that highlights the pride, diversity, and culture of people with disabilities. The

National Veteran Golden Age Games (NVGAG) will take place August 24, 2024, to August 29, 2024, in Salt Lake City. The NVGAG is an important annual event that gives Veterans who are 55 and

older a reason to train and stay active. Some of the Veterans have overcome injuries or other challenges. All of them are dealing with the effects of aging, which can often make people

disinclined to participate in sports and physical activity. By keeping Veterans active, VAPIHCS is helping them to live healthier and happier lives. Additionally, the NVGAG gives them

something to look forward to each year.  “I came today to wish the best of luck to our VAPIHCS Hawaii teams as they head out to compete,” said Associate Director Devin Woods. “We are all so

proud of them. I also want to thank the staff that have worked hard to make this happen. Thank you to all for your hard work and devotion to the mission.” The sendoff breakfast was at the

Hale Koa in Waikiki at the Koko at Kalia Restaurant. Trainers and staff emphasized the importance of keeping moving, and how good the games are for the Veteran athletes. They reminded

athletes that VAPIHCS is proud of them and asked them to go to the mainland and bring home gold. Schoen Safotu from the Center for Development and Civic Engagement also emphasized the

importance of the athletes choosing to participate, because Veterans who choose to utilize the services and programs offered by VAPIHCS are why staff have jobs.  Among the athletes, most had

competed in previous games. However, Ret. Army Veteran Peter Tingstrom said it was his first time. His father and brother have competed before, but he said he could never find the time.

After a series of health setbacks, he felt like there wouldn’t be any sports he could participate in. However, when he learned about options like shuffleboard and shooting, he realized he

could be part of the games after all -and chose to participate. Recreation therapy staff said they were proud of all the athletes for finding something they could do, and then working to be

the best they could be in their sport.  “Several of the Veterans have been training all year for this event,” said Supervisor for Recreation Therapy and Creative Arts Therapy Melissa

Crawford. “It’s great for the Veterans, and so many people came together to make sure they got to compete. This all wouldn’t be possible without Primary Care, Fiscal, Supply Chain, and

Physical Medicine and Rehab.” The games are also made possible by community partners that allow the Veteran athletes to train at their locations. The American Veterans (AMVETS), Adaptive

Adventures, Oahu Pickleball Association, Military Adaptive Court Sports, Hickam Air Force Base and Schofield Army Base, Honolulu Parks and Recreation, Leilehua High School, and Barbers Point

Bowling Alley all offered their locations as practice spaces for the athletes. VAPIHCS doesn’t have facilities that allow for Veterans to participate in Recreation Therapy, so partners in

the community who donate space are also a crucial part of making the VAPIHCS sports teams possible.  In addition, the travel for the Veterans attending the National Veteran Wheelchair Games

was paid for by Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and the Challenged Athletes Foundation. VAPIHCS can cover the sports equipment and transportation, but Veterans must be sponsored by an

outside organization to have their travel and hotel stays paid for. The Veterans competing in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games were sponsored this year, but the Veterans competing in

the National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG) will pay their own travel and hotel fees.  “These games aren’t accessible to everyone, and we know that,” said Center for Development and Civic

Engagement Chief Schoen Safotu. “That’s why we have created our own Veteran games here in Hawaii. It’s called the Koa Challenge, and the second annual Koa Challenge event will take place

from November 12, 2024, to November 16, 2024. We hope to do this every year for our Veterans who can’t afford to travel.”  When people hear the phrase “Recreation Therapy,” they might not

understand how important the program really is. However, many of the Veterans in the program have endured serious mental, physical, and psychological wounds during their service. Recreation

Therapy helps them get out and move, which improves overall health and wellbeing. It helps them make friends with other Veterans and feel connected to a community. Competing in the games

also serves a vital role, as it gives Veterans purpose and something to look forward to. Feelings of connections and purpose save lives.  Ret. U.S. Navy Veteran Carolynne Durant-Hall and her

husband Ret. U.S. Army Veteran Karl Hall have been attending the games for several years because it gives them something to do together, and something to look forward to. Ret. U.S. Army

Veteran Renwick Adriano started out in the Move Program, and now he is a trainer in Pickleball for the NVGAG. Ret. Army Col. Ed Gayagas was suffering from Vietnam Syndrome, but he was

determined to become active again, and he said the games help him have a reason to stay active and healthy. All the Veterans at the event spoke highly of the Recreation Therapy program, and

they recounted the many positive effects it has had on them personally.  “We need more Veterans to sign up for this program and for the games,” said Army Veteran Renwick Adriano. “It’s a

reason to get up in the morning, and to care about your health. It helps you develop social skills and make friends. And, getting involved in the VA in general can help Veterans to feel that

we are not forgotten. People care about us. People want to help us, and they appreciate our service and all we did to protect the freedoms that Americans enjoy today. I hope more Veterans

will decide that they want to be part of this.”  Veterans from VAPIHCS who will attend the National Veterans Wheelchair Games:  Ipo Valdez Garret Kawada Veterans from VAPIHCS who will attend

the National Veteran Gold Age Games: Vincent "MOG "Hall Peter "Pete" Tingstrom Robert Jaeckel Jeffrey "Jeff" Foundas Renwick "Ren" Adriano Karl Hall

Ryan Sueyoshi Minerva "Minnie" Allen Robert Damaso Benedict "Ben"Flores Michael "Mike" Langan Philip Pai Wilbert Ihu Brad Baang Clarence Toguchi Glenford

"Glen" Park Linda Watson Edwin "Ed" Gayagas Carolynne Durant-Hall Christine "Chrissy" Gayagas Edna Higa Casey Rogers Antoinette "Toni" Correia Ronald

"Ron" Schaedel  We wish them all the very best of luck!