Bedford VA Veterans Win Medals and Ribbons at National Veterans Golden Age Games

Submitted by Robert Cook, Public Affairs, Bedford VAMC

Three Veterans from the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital (Bedford VA) won multiple gold medals and ribbons at the National Veterans Golden Age Games this month.

Richard Pulkkien, 85, won gold medals for badminton and table tennis and captured a silver medal for cycling.

Susan Paul, 68, won two gold medals for swim events, two gold medals for badminton, and finished in fourth place for the javelin and the discus.

Charles Bevilacqua, 85, won three ribbons and finished in 5th place in swimming.

Congratulations to all of our Golden Age Games Veterans!

The National Veterans Golden Age Games is the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States, and the only national multi-event sports and recreational seniors’ competition program designed to improve the quality of life for all older Veterans, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. The games are also the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and personal investment in physical fitness and wellness.

The VA challenges and encourages senior Veterans to be proactive in embracing a healthier lifestyle. The Bedford VA’s adaptive sports program offers regular Golden Age Game clinics in which Veterans are able to learn or build upon existing skills and endurance.

The games are open to Veterans, ages 55 or older, who receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2015 National Veterans Golden Age Games were held from Aug. 8 to Aug. 12 in Omaha, Neb.