 Dayton Daily News -- The Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to work to make a department-wide history center a reality on the Dayton VA campus, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins said Tuesday, July 7 in a visit to Piqua.
But for a center to be fully realized, it will need Congressional support, Collins said.“It’s gotta be (appropriations),” he said when asked what the department needs Congress to do. “We’re doing what we can with what we have. I know there’s been a lot of discussion. Congressman (Mike) Turner and some others have been active in that. We don’t stand in the way of that. We support whatever they want to do with that.”
He said he supports having the center there. “That’s a congressional issue they’re going to work on.”
Collins added that he wants “better access” to VA records and archives in general.
“Me being military, I was a staff officer,” said Collins, a former Georgia congressman and Air Force Reserve chaplain who served in Iraq. “We had historians. They provided after-action reports. That was one of the things I saw that was sort of lacking when I got in. Let’s say you had an issue that developed a few years ago. Well, how did you handle it then?”
U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, is sponsoring a new bill to establish a VA history center in Dayton, his office announced in May.
Turner’s office said he introduced the legislation with fellow Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Cincinnati, to formally establish a VA History Office with a national center focused on preserving the records and artifacts of the VA and its predecessor organizations.
It was the latest salvo in a multi-year effort to have Congress codify the establishment of the center. In January 2024, again with Landsman, Turner introduced a similar bill as then-Sens. Sherrod Brown and JD Vance moved to advance a companion bill in the Senate.
The new legislation builds on existing VA efforts, including a VA directive which established the direction for the program, Turner’s office said.
 Collins made his remarks after a closed-door meeting with area Veterans at the Chaney-Graef-Pitsenbarger Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4874 in Piqua Tuesday, meeting them with U.S. Rep. Mike Carey, a Columbus-area Republican.
Collins also visited the Dayton VA Medical Center Monday. He praised the center for its recent implementation of VA’s new electronic health records system, which went live at the Dayton and Cincinnati VA medical centers June 6.
“They’re amazing. Freakin’ rock stars,” the VA secretary said of the Dayton VA. “I mean, Michigan and Ohio. This is something the previous administration basically killed. We spent billions of dollars and got nothing for it.”
After fitful starts and stops, the VA deployed the new system in several Michigan medical centers in April. In all, 13 VA centers are scheduled to adopt the Oracle-powered system this year, the Southern Ohio centers among them.
Collins added: “You need to shout this out for Dayton and the rest of them: Michigan and Ohio have the led the way, and they are going to be in years to come — this history thing you’re talking about — it’s going to look back on them and say, ‘When the VA modernized its electronic health record system, Dayton and the others in Ohio and Michigan led the way.’”
He also said Dayton will implement an expedited hiring process to bring on new employees faster. “It’s going to cut down on the amount of time to hire, which is really going to help us out a lot.”
Collins said from Ohio he’ll be heading to Indiana to visit VA sites in that state.
Veterans and caregivers enjoy a day at Grotto Gardens. Wednesday, the Caregiver Support Program teamed up with Grotto volunteers for a tour of the Grotto. Veterans and caregivers learned about the history of the Grotto and how it’s maintained today. The Caregiver Support Program meets in person on the second Wednesday of each month for different activities like garden planting, fishing trips, and card making. The activities are a chance to connect and support each other.
VA Police are now locking the North Liscum and Gettysburg vehicle gates at 8:00 p.m. every day, and unlocking them at 5:00 a.m. The South Liscum gate (close to 35) will remain open 24/7. This is strengthening physical security on our campus due to some recent activity in the area.
MOVE! is a weight management program for Veterans. The goal of MOVE! is to empower Veterans and enhance their confidence to make healthy behavior, nutrition, and physical activity changes that support even small weight losses and weight self-management. Veterans interested in joining the program can call (937) 268-6511 ext. 1699.
The Farmers Market is every Thursday through October 15th from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the picnic pavilion. There will be food trucks and vendors too. The Farmers Market is open to the public.
 It took an act of Congress and almost 60 years, but retired Marine Maj. James Capers Jr. now has the Medal of Honor. A Force Reconnaissance Marine, his actions in Vietnam have been spoken of with reverence for decades. He received the medal on June 18, and is the first Black Marine Corps officer to receive the nation’s highest military decoration.
***Click here to read story: https://vaww.insider.va.gov/freedom-250-marine-recon-legend-maj-james-capers-receives-medal-of-honor/
We are over a month in with the new Electronic Health Record (EHR). We are still going through some growing pains, and we appreciate your patience during this transition. These changes are designed to improve coordination and continuity of care for Veterans. If you get your health care here, thank you for trusting Dayton VA with your health care.
 Attention Veterans!
Do you use My HealtheVet on VA.gov to schedule and cancel your appointments?
To get ready for the deployment of the Federal EHR, in May we had to turn off your ability to schedule, cancel, and request VA or community care appointments in My HealtheVet on VA.gov and the VA Health and Benefits mobile app.
*Right now, you can cancel your appointments online again
*On July 21, you will be able to request or self-schedule your appointments online again
But, if this is your first appointment with this provider since June 6, you need to call us to schedule. This is because we need to reestablish the relationship between you and your provider before you can schedule online with that provider.
If you need to schedule an appointment, you can always call us at 937-268-6511.
A free monthly fitness program at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
See flyer below for more details.
The Women Overcoming & Winning (W.O.W.) social group meets the first Monday of each month. The next meeting will be, August 3rd, from 6:00-7:30pm in building 305. Women Veterans are encouraged to attend.
The next Coffee Club meeting will be on Tuesday, August 11th. Dayton VA Medical Center Outreach Team will be in attendance. See information below.
Show your support for Veterans in their fight against suicide on Saturday,
September 5th at the Springfield Silent Watch.
 Less scroll, more soul. Taking time away from screens can help you reconnect with what matters most: your health, your relationships, and your daily life. Spirit and soul are an important part of your well-being. What helps you reconnect?
***Click here for more information: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/circle-of-health/spirit-soul.asp
 Dayton VA Veterans, staff and retirees have free access to more than 100 live, online Ompractice classes weekly, an on-demand video library & new programming every month.
**Click here for video library: https://app.ompractice.com/videos
Register with Ompractice for free: https://app.ompractice.com/Veteransaffairs
Veterans, if you can't make your appointment, call and cancel so another Veteran can take it.
The Coffee Hour and 12 Step Meetings are offered by Mental Health to all Veterans in recovery, even if not engaged with Mental Health.
Open to active duty, Veterans, National Guard, Reservist and widowed families Thursdays 10am - 2pm and Mondays 6pm - 8pm.
See details below.
 Make this refreshing berry lime banana sorbet your summer staple: It’s naturally sweet, packed with nutrients, and a great way to stay cool in the summer heat.
***Click here for recipe: https://tinyurl.com/mvht7k7h
The Dayton VAMC now has a Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) with Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO). They will be offering civil legal services for all Veterans that qualify. They will be on site every Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 2pm in Building 409, first floor, Homeless Program. Walk-ins are welcome or they can reach out directly to LAWO by phone at (888) 534-1432 or online at www.legalaidline.org.
To make it easier to contact our scheduling line directly, we developed direct extensions for each specialty. If you need to schedule or re-schedule your appointment, please contact (937) 268-6511 and enter the extension for the specialty below:
Dental, ext. 7155
Nutrition, ext. 7154
Rehab, ext. 7156
Medicine, ext. 7153
Surgery, ext. 7157
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Free valet service is available at the Dayton VA. Veterans, make sure to use valet parking for your convenience.
National Observances/Historical Dates for July
Alopecia Month for Women
Herbal/Prescription Interaction Awareness Month
National Disability Pride Month
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
National Park and Recreation Month
Sarcoma Awareness Month
UV Safety Awareness Month
July 1 IRS Established (1862)
July 1 Medicare Anniversary (1968)
July 2 U.S. Constitution Implemented | 
