Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center

This year, the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center was represented by the Recreational Therapy Department through our local veteran, Mr. Edward DeMundo.

Celebrating its 32^nd year, the National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG) offer sports and recreational competitive events for Veterans 55 years of age and older who receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The NVGAG is the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States designed to improve the quality of life for all older Veterans. The NVGAG include ambulatory, visually impaired and wheelchair divisions, with each divided into age categories. Competition events include air rifle, badminton, boccia, bowling, cycling, track and field, golf, horseshoes, shuffleboard, swimming and many more. It is the largest sports and recreation competition for this age group of military Veterans in the world!

This year, the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center was represented by the Recreational Therapy Department through our local veteran, Mr. Edward DeMundo. He was born and raised here in Clarksburg and is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served in Korea and has now participated in eight of the last nine annual NVGAG. He has also faithfully served his fellow Veterans as a Volunteer at the Clarksburg VA for thirty-four years and is still volunteering to this day. Over the years, Mr. DeMundo has won over ten medals and countless ribbons. This year in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he competed in six events bringing home the Silver Medal in shuffleboard.

Nine years ago, Mr DeMundo was encouraged by recreational therapists to attend the NVGAG. He now practices on site and in a grassy field in North View in preparation for the games. Mr DeMundo encourages any veteran 55 and older who is interested in improving their health, meeting new people and enjoying the camaraderie of competing with fellow veterans to participate in this unique and exciting program. Next year, the event will be held in Anchorage, Alaska.  Mr. DeMundo wanted to acknowledge and thank the VFW and Eagles Ladies and Men’s Auxiliary from Clarksburg for their support as well as his coaches: Recreational Therapists’ Frank Blake, Mike Andrews, and Tom Perrine.

For more information please contact our Recreational Therapy department at (304) 623-3461 Ext. 3475.