Student Veterans of America at SCCC

All are welcome.

Please join us on Wednesday, October 16th at 5 PM for a performance of "Theater of War." Translated and directed by Bryan Doerries, this innovative public health project is aimed at generating compassion and understanding between diverse audiences, helping to close the Veteran-Civilian divide. The performance will be followed by a powerful panel discussion.

Event to be held in the third floor auditorium. For more information, please call 518-626-6192.

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for the 2nd Annual Amateur Boxing event to be held at Stratton VA August 20, 2016.

Does your campus need a dedicated place where student veterans can socialize, study and connect? Do you have space on campus for a veteran center, but no furniture? Have you always wanted a veteran center on campus, but lack the resources to build one?

SVA and The Home Depot Foundation are awarding Vet Center Initiative grants to 50 SVA chapters. Learn more and submit your application:

bit.ly/vcisva

Veterans and families at the Stratton VA are in for a treat on Friday November 13th at 1 pm. In partnership with the VFW, country artist Ricky Lee will be performing throughout the hospital.

Ricky Lee has written 300 songs and recorded 42 of them. He has traveled to Nashville, TN and recorded his first full length CD titled “Genuine”. He has entertained thousands of fans across the country in the last few years. A song written in tribute to our female soldiers is his first release off of his album (“She’s An American Soldier”).

Music-4-R-Vets is a program to inspire Veterans through the power of music. The therapeutic value of music has been proven powerful time and time again.

If you're out and about, or happen to be at Stratton for an appointment, stop in and enjoy the show.

FOB softball 2015 B

With a predicted forecast of 87 degrees, low humidity and mostly sunny skies, Saturday May 30th looks like the perfect day to get outdoors and enjoy a FREE amateur boxing event at the Albany Stratton VA. In partnership with USA Boxing, challengers from various local teams will compete in more than 10 bouts. Special guests include pro boxers Shawn Miller, Tony Marshall, Joe Gbolo, and Will Madera.

Seating is limited so bring a lawn chair and plan on an exciting afternoon in support of Veterans. We hope to see you there.

Johanna Baniak, a Stratton VA volunteer since 2002, was honored on Monday April 20th and presented with the Albany County Executive’s Volunteer Service Award. While the Executive’s Office receives hundreds of nominations, only seven people receive this award each year.

Johanna is Chair of the Veterans Committee of the Watervliet Elks Lodge #1500 and is a past Elks Exalted Ruler. In addition to this award, she will also be recognized at the Stratton VA Employee Awards Ceremony where Director, Linda Weiss will present her with a 5,000 hour award.

Johanna is at the hospital every weekend where she and her husband Ed make popcorn and ice cream for inpatient Veterans and their families. This husband and wife team is well known by Veterans and staff. Some of the recent donations made by the Elks post #1500 have supported the installation of television fish tanks and a new Mac Book Pro laptop for our Music Therapy Program. The Elks are also huge supporters of Project Lifesaver, a program specifically designed for “At Risk” individuals who are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering. Johanna is a driving force when it comes to fundraising and volunteer recruitment.

Johanna is just one of over 900 volunteers at the Stratton VA, one very worthy of this honor. She has made the Veterans of Stratton a priority in her life for 13 years and plans on continuing to do so for many years to come. We are incredibly honored to have her and we look forward to her continued service.

Today we spent time with seven wonderful people who give of their time to help veterans, the needy, our community, crime victims and young people. It's really gratifying to me to see people who help without being asked and step up to help, all with a sense of humility and desire to avoid the limelight.

There will be a meeting tomorrow in Elston 236 from 11:20 to 12:20. PLEASE come and help us get set for next year's needs. We will be replacing 3 club officers. We need people to get active to keep this club going. We need ideas to keep moving forward. All military and veteran students are welcome at the meeting.

Home It only takes $25 to provide a women Veteran and her children with safe and suitable housing. Final Salute Inc. is appreciative of every donation it receives, because every donation, whether small or grand, will go towards assisting a homeless women Veteran in need