The following is the opinion
and analysis of the writer:
Maria Nguyen
On Veterans Day, we celebrate nearly 250 years of freedom to honor the courage, sacrifice, and service of America’s Veterans. As a nation, we are all grateful for those who have worn the uniform of our armed forces to defend the freedoms we all cherish.
On the 11th hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, our nation paused to mark the end of the Great War and to honor the Veterans who served during this trying time in our history. What began as Armistice Day grew into Veterans Day — a day to honor all who have worn the uniform of this great country, in peacetime and in war.
More than 40 million Americans have served in uniform, leaving behind family, comfort, and certainty to defend freedom at home and abroad. Their sacrifice and the sacrifices of their families have written the story of America.
The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) has been caring for our nation’s heroes since 1928. For over 97 years, our health care system has provided the highest quality of care to our Veterans. Over the years, our health care system has expanded across southern Arizona to provide services to over 65,000 Veterans. The SAVAHCS offers a wide range of healthcare services that meet the unique needs of the Veterans from primary care, mental health, and specialty care services. We provide Veterans with health care services at 10 locations in southern Arizona. Facilities include our Tucson VA Medical Center and seven community-based outpatient clinics, and three Rural Health Coordination Centers in Casa Grande, Green Valley, Safford, Sierra Vista, Tucson, and Yuma.
We are on the cutting edge of medical research to advance health care for our Veterans and the nation. We are a teaching hospital with over 67 academic affiliations that support the educational mission of VA to prepare the next generation of well-rounded, highly skilled medical providers to meet the needs of our Veterans and community.
We would like to invite all of our Veterans to attend the upcoming in-person Veteran Health Fair on November 14, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Tucson VA Medical Center at 3601 South 6th Avenue, Tucson.
On behalf of the more than 3,000 employees of the SAVAHCS, we will continue to honor the service of the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms by providing high-quality healthcare services to the Veterans of Southern Arizona and across the nation.
Additionally, VA offers 24/7 confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Dial 988, then press 1, or for more information, visit the Veterans Crisis Line webpage.
At the SAVAHCS, every day is Veterans Day. It is a privilege for us to serve our Veterans, their families, and caregivers. We believe that there is no other profession more rewarding than caring for our nation’s heroes.
To all Veterans, thank you for your service.
Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star.
