By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
Veteran Mike Lamb is ready to move his health care needs to the new VA Health Care Clinic that is opening in Yukon.
Lamb, 73, has lived in Yukon about two years. The Texas native served in the Air Force from 1966 to 1969 in support of the United States Operation Arc Lite in 1969 in Guam.
“We flew B-52s to bomb Vietnam,” Lamb said.
Lamb worked in the support crew on the ground, transporting equipment and supplies for the bombing raids of the Vietnam War.
In modern times, he finds himself needing local health care. He took part in a welcoming ceremony Thursday at the new location for a VA Health Care Clinic in The Commons of Yukon, 1808 Commons Circle. He said he anticipates the opening of the clinic.
Yukon City Councilman Rick Cacini, who is the curator of the Yukon Veterans Museum, spoke on behalf of local veterans during the welcoming ceremony. Cacini is also a board member of the Oklahoma Veterans Committee and works with homeless veterans as well.
“This is a great day for the veterans here. I want to thank our citizens, our city, the state and the federal level for backing up the veterans,” Cacini said. “This is a day where we repay the veterans and it is very important. Our City of Yukon, we support veterans here.
As you know we have a veterans’ museum, we take care of our veterans on the second Saturday of every month with service officers who do their paperwork so they get their disability paperwork in. We also have a coalition for homeless veterans. We take veterans off the streets and get them a home. So our city has really come together and taken care of our veterans.”
“Yukon Salutes” is the theme of a military appreciation month declared by Mayor Shelli Selby through Nov. 11.
Wade Vlosich, VA Health Care Medical Director, said veterans will be served well soon at the clinic. He said a number of veterans are already looking into the new clinic because of the outstanding doctors planning to work there.
“We are so excited about our new clinic here. We have a large veteran population in the City of Yukon. We have about 4,000 veterans who live just around this area. One of the biggest things we needed in this city was a VA Clinic,” Vlosich said.
Lamb said he has spend many years volunteering to help other veterans in need. He said the clinic will be greatly appreciated in Yukon. It is expected to open by the end of the year.
Read more about the new VA Clinic in the Progress Business section.
