Legion donation helps veterans in Colorado

Through Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), The American Legion donated more than $3,300 worth of items to the Grand Junction VA Medical Center in Colorado. Included in the items were four new trail bicycles to be used in the facility’s recreational therapy program for patients dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"It’s very meaningful, because I think it opens up the ability for (veterans) to further integrate into things that will help their treatment, regardless of what that treatment is," Grand Junction VAMC Director Marc Magill said. "I think it’s been proven the recreational therapy – whether something as simple as model building or whether it’s riding a mountain bike – that’s where some pretty outstanding outcomes can occur.

"Good health is not always achieved in the medical center. It can be achieved on a mountain. That’s what that type of donation means. It’s something that the veteran and/or their family may not have access to. It’s very meaningful."

The donation also included six portable DVD players, 30 plastic modeling kits, clothing and hygiene items for the hospital patients in the Community Living Clinic, and specialty items for the women’s health clinic.

Department of Colorado Legionnaires, including some from Post 200 in Grand Junction, helped facilitate the donation. Post 200 Commander Dallas Hanson and Adjutant Jim Park were on hand April 27 to make the donation.

"It’s honestly amazing," said Hanson of making the donation. "Knowing that we have the ability and capability to be able to provide like this to our VA and help our veterans here, it’s awesome."