Delphine Metcalf-Foster (DAV)
The US Veterans Affairs has 1,255 facilities but only a handful are named in honor of women veterans and only two (as of early November) are named after women veterans of color.
To help fix this simple inequity that women veterans face, the veterans service organizations (VSOs) within the Vallejo Vets Building suggested in early 2022 to U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-05) and John Garamendi (CA-03) to name the Veterans Affairs clinic at Mare Island in Vallejo as the Delphine Metcalf-Foster VA Clinic.
The California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) — the collective voice for California’s 23 major VSOs — then collaborated with the California departments of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans to send letters to Thompson and Garamendi. This team effort resulted with the introduction of H.R.9237 on October 25, 2022.
“Delphine Metcalf-Foster has dedicated her life in service to our country, our community, and her fellow veterans,” said Thompson. “Proud to introduce this bill to honor Ms. Metcalf-Foster for all that she has done to better our community and uplift our veterans. She is the epitome of selflessness, and this is well-deserved recognition. I look forward to working to pass this legislation in the House and for President Biden to sign it into law, making this a reality.”
“I am thrilled to join Mike Thompson in recognizing the accomplishments and lifelong service of Delphine Metcalf-Foster. She has dedicated her life to helping others — be it here in the Bay Area or across the globe. I look forward to this bill becoming law, finally recognizing Delphine for her decades of work on behalf of others,” said Garamendi.
So, how can you help with this TEAM effort? Please go to https://www.votervoice.net/iframes/CSCVC/Campaigns/98358/Respond to urge your local congress(wo)men and our two senators to get this bill passed by January 3, 2023.
Author: Nestor Aliga
Nestor Aliga was born in the Philippines and migrated to Vallejo, CA in 1967. He was in the US Marine Corps from 1974 to 1976 then in the US Army from 1976 to 2008. He is a life-member of the Big-Three, www.CALEGION.org, www.VFWCA.org, and www.DAVCAL.org.