Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Veterans and visitors to Chicago's Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (VAMC) were welcomed by the hospital's new "Wall of Honor" this Memorial Day weekend.

The wall includes the official seals of the five military branches – Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard – each custom-made and nearly four feet in diameter. Above the seals reads, "Honored to serve... those who served."

"I think it's a terrific way to honor Veterans and act as a reminder that the VA is here for those that have served," said Joe Bazil, assistant chief of Environmental Management Service at Jesse Brown VAMC. "What a great way to have it installed over Memorial Day weekend."

Construction and installation of the seals were paid for by the medical center's commitment to recycling.

Each month the medical center receives refund checks for cardboard, food grease, paper products and other materials that are collected and redeemed at a local recycler. The money is deposited into a recycling fund which was used to pay for the project.

Jesse Brown VAMC is a recipient of the 2011 Practice Greenhealth Partner Recognition Award for efforts to make the medical center more sustainable and environmentally friendly.