Drago recognizes local Fisher House for their care of veterans and military families

November 10, 2010

Summary

Fisher House allow families to be close while vets receive medical care

Story

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jan Drago presented a Council recognition to the VA Puget Sound Fisher House for the support they provide to families of veterans receiving medical care at the VA Puget Sound, the VA medical center on Beacon Hill in Seattle.

“Our military Veterans have given so much of themselves in service to our country,” said Councilmember Drago, who presented the recognition on November 9. “It is so nice to know that there is a facility like this right here in Council District Eight that does so much to honor their sacrifices and support Veterans and their families.”

Since opening in September 2008, the VA Puget Sound Fisher House has hosted over 1,500 military families, including families of veterans as well as active duty military personnel and their families with loved ones hospitalized at other medical facilities in the region.

The VA Puget Sound Fisher House, located on the grounds of the VA medical center on Beacon Hill, is part of the network of 48 Fisher Houses throughout the nation and overseas. All Fisher Houses provide free housing to military families, who often travel long distances to receive specialized medical care at military hospitals and at VA medical centers.

“We are very grateful to Councilmember Drago for this special recognition, and for helping us share our story with the community and let them know what we are doing to support our veterans,” said Cecile Bagrow, Manager of the VA Puget Sound Fisher House. “Fisher House is a special place where military families can find the support and peace of mind they need to help their loved one on the road to recovery. Councilmember Drago’s support of us and our mission is truly appreciated.”

The VA Puget Sound Fisher House is operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and supported in part by The Friends of VA Puget Sound Fisher House, a local non-profit charitable organization.

The Seattle VA Fisher House was built through the generosity of the national Fisher House Foundation, a charitable organization that supports Veteran and military families. The concept for Fisher House grew out of the program started in 1990 by Zachary Fisher and his wife Elizabeth to meet the pressing need for family housing near military medical facilities. Annually, the Fisher House program serves about 10,000 families, and have made available nearly 3 million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990.

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RECOGNITION

WHEREAS, Thursday, November 11, 2010 is Veteran’s Day; and

WHEREAS, the VA Puget Sound Fisher House on Beacon Hill supports the families and loved ones of veterans receiving care at VA Puget Sound Health Care System facilities and also supports active-duty personnel and their families who have loved ones in other King County medical facilities; and

WHEREAS, since opening in September 2008, the VA Puget Sound Fisher House has served over 1,500 families with free lodging, allowing them to be close to their loved ones while receiving medical care, saving these military families an estimated $2.6 million in lodging costs; and

WHEREAS, the VA Puget Sound Fisher House is part of the network of 48 Fisher Houses in operation at military bases and Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers throughout the nation and overseas; and

WHEREAS, the VA Puget Sound Fisher House and the larger Fisher House program honor and recognize the sacrifices made by America’s military veterans by providing veterans’ family members the opportunity to be close and participate in the recovery from injury or illness;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jan Drago, on behalf of the Metropolitan King County Council, recognize

THE V.A. PUGET SOUND FISHER HOUSE

for tireless work supporting America’s military veterans and their families at a time of need.

DATED this ninth day of November, 2010.

Councilmember Drago meets with Cecile Bagrow, Manager of the VA Puget Sound Fisher House.

The Council recognized the support services provided at the Fisher House to families of veterans receiving medical care at the VA Puget Sound, the VA Medical Center in Seattle.