Veterans Voices

09/18/2024

KCVA is hosting the annual Stand Down for Homeless Veterans event!

Friday, September 20, 2024
At the KCVA Honor Annex
4251 Northern Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64133

This event is only open to Veterans with a valid ID. or DD-214. Only one caregiver or family member per Veteran is allowed.

Veterans will have the opportunity to receive;
- Vision and medical exams.
- On site employment services
- Community service agency resources.
- Free lunch is provided.
- And so much more.

Additional parking and shuttles will be available on site!

Hope to see you at the event!

See you there!!

06/29/2024

If you have a that served in the wars between the War of 1812 to World War 1, check for information on : https://buff.ly/3XEHDFf genealogy

04/25/2024

Veterans Voices magazine has published veterans' stories since 1952. Over the years, veterans share many of the same experiences and concerns. From our 1954 archive:

By: Charles Drainer, VA Hospital Chillicothe

INSPIRATION

I softly whisper your dear name, when I am feeling blue, when wretched doubts assail my soul, and comforts are so few.


For you possess that kind of faith, that's solidly engrained, A sweet and tempered way of life that's true and calmly trained.

A radiance of softly spun gold, a comfort without fame, that's why, when I am feeling blue, I always call your name.

Veterans submit your story or art for possible publication at veteransvoices.org

04/18/2024

Veterans Voices magazine has published veterans' stories since 1952. Over the years, veterans share many of the same experiences and concerns. From our 1954 archive:

By: Toonis B. Williams
College Park, Georgia

MORE OF THE SAME

As a friend and I were driving through the piney wood section of the deep South, we came to a modern highway which had recently opened up a remote back-woods settlement.

Near his home, a life-long resident had built a filling station and lunch room. There we stopped for dinner and enjoyed very much areal home-cooked meal, which consisted only of the products of his farm.

It was plain food, but there were huge platters of country ham and fried chicken; large dishes of turnip greens, snap beans, okra, corn, tomatoes, and other garden-fresh vegetables; homemade jam, jellies, and preserves of every fruit and berry in his orchard. It was all placed, family style, on a large table where everyone could help himself.

Although my friend had generously sampled everything in sight, he asked the owner who was passing through the room, "What have you for dessert?" After casting a puzzled glance down the table, the old gentle­ man replied, "Wal, I hardly know; Maggie has some mighty fine biled cabbage back thar in the kitchen".

Veterans submit your story or art for possible publication at veteransvoices.org

04/12/2024

Veterans Voices magazine has published veterans' stories since 1952. Over the years, veterans share many of the same experiences and concerns. From our 1954 archive:

By: Alvin E. Youngquist
Veterans Administration Hospital
Denver, Colorado

AND SO PASSED THE SIXTH DAY

And so passed the sixth day of the week. Then came the Sabbath, Sunday, the day many look forward to a drive through the mountains in high-powered automobiles, a trip to the beach, a round of golf, or perhaps just a quiet day at home relaxing, enjoying a visit from the loved ones and those dear to them. My most cherished wish today is to know someone will come to see me.

There was a time in my life when I thought and even remarked that people, friends, and enemies alike, were just a matter of fact. I took them for granted. "Do you want to see a picture of my sweetheart?" I would ask my friends. Then I'd show them a silver dollar or whip out a fifty dollar bill and say there is the best friend I ever had, in fact, my only friend. That's all very well and I have learned these material friends and sweethearts are not the real stuff after all. They come and go and are very fickle; they let you down when you most need them.

Today I re-read the two previous paragraphs and came to the conclusion that the only important words in them are in the last sentence in the first paragraph: "to know someone will come to see me".

Editor's note: Alvin Youngquist died at the hospital in Denver on March 24th, 1954. Before his death, he was informed that his short article had won two writing awards.

Veterans submit your story or art for possible publication at veteransvoices.org

04/09/2024

Veterans’ Voices magazine has won the Association for Women in Communications’ 2023 Clarion Competition Award as Best Overall External Magazine. Veterans’ Voices joins a distinguished fraternity of Clarion Competition winners including Voice of America, Associated Press, Huffington Post, the BBC, Ken Burns documentaries and more. See issues of Veterans’ Voices magazines and subscribe at veteransvoices.org

04/04/2024

Writing and graphic arts can help veterans process thoughts, feelings, and ideas they otherwise keep hidden, sometimes masking PTSD. Seeing their writing and art published in Veterans’ Voices magazine builds self-esteem and helps heal. Veterans’ Voices magazine is devoted exclusively to prose, poetry and art created by veterans. Veterans submit your story or art for possible publication at veteransvoices.org

11/16/2023

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and KCVA Whole Health team has partnered with Traveling Turkeys to give out frozen turkeys, roastings pans, and more for Veterans and their families next Monday, November 20.

Traveling Turkey baskets will have a complete Thanksgiving dinner that consists of the following:

• Frozen turkey
• Crescent rolls
• Bag of potatoes
• Stuffing
• Yams
• 2 cans of vegetables
• Cranberry sauce
• Gravy mix
• Green bean casserole fixings
• Plates and napkins
• Holiday themed dish towels.

Location: Honor Annex Clinic ( 4251 Northern Ave, Kansas City, MO 64133)
Time: 12pm until all goods have been distributed.

Come out and grab a turkey and a dinner basket while supplies last. For more information, please call (816) 861-4700 ext. 59651.

08/31/2023

Creative Arts Competition

Join KCVA’s Creative Arts team for their finalist Art Showcase September 8th! Please check out the flyer below for more details.

05/03/2023

The May 2023 VFW magazine is now available.

Audio-Reader's "Good Works in the Heartland" podcast celebrates the organizations and individuals improving the lives of others throughout Kansas, Missouri and the Midwest. Each episode focuses on one

04/05/2023

Are you a ham radio enthusiast?

📶 Calling all amateur radio operators and enthusiasts!

The Museum and Memorial is teaming with area amateur radio operators on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to remotely host special event station WW1USA. During this time, station operators will contact hundreds of other amateur radio operators across the world. Are you a short-wave radio operator? Join us remotely!

Find out more: https://www.theworldwar.org/events/ww1usa-amateur-radio-station-april-2023

03/16/2023

Kansas City VA Medical Center Creative Arts Competition Coming Fall 2023!

This event is new to Kansas City VA Medical Center in 2023 and is aligned with VHA’s National Veterans’ Creative Arts Festival.

All submissions must be created after October 1st, 2022 to be entered into this year’s competition. Finalists’ pieces will be forwarded to the National Veterans’ Creative Arts Festival. Artists of all skill levels are welcome!

If you are interested in submitting your own creation for this exciting competition, contact:
Paula Newton
[email protected]
(816) 392-1106
or
Christopher Swan
[email protected]
(816) 861-4700 Ext. 52025