Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Robert Gonzalez, from Chicago's Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, takes aim during the air rifle competition at the 26th National Golden Age Games in St. Louis. Nearly 800 Veterans nationwide participated in this year's games.

Twenty-one Veterans from Jesse Brown VA Medical Center joined nearly 800 Veterans from 40 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands to compete in the 26th National Veterans Golden Age Games in St. Louis from May 30 through June 5.

Medals from Jesse Brown VAMC Veterans included, Harold Bellamy who won a gold medal in air rifle and a silver medal in bowling; John King won a silver medal in shot put and a bronze medal in 9-ball; and Herbert Adams won a bronze medal in horseshoes.  

Sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) and Veterans Canteen Service (VCS), the National Veterans Golden Age Games is an exciting national sports and recreation competition. Competitors are required to be age 55 or older and compete in four events, and must be receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games serve as a qualifying event for competition in the National Senior Games in a number of competitive events. The National Senior Olympics are a community-based member of the United States Olympic Committee and recognize senior athletes as the best athletes in their respective age groups in the United States.

The Jesse Brown VAMC participants extended their sincere "Thank You's" to everyone in the medical center for their support in buying popcorn, supporting their rummage sale, purchasing taffy apples, raffles tickets, as well as everyone's generous donations.