Local VA medical center gets makeover

1,500 employees, volunteers helped rejuvenate Lake Baldwin Outpatient Clinic

ORLANDO, Fla. – Fifteen hundred Lockheed Martin employees and their families rolled up their sleeves Saturday morning to rejuvenate the VA Medical Center's Lake Baldwin Outpatient Clinic.

"It's important to know that they are appreciated and that they're welcomed.  I think that will help them on their road to recovery," said Rita Flaherty, VP Business Development for Lockheed Martin.

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"We're having a great time. A lot of things are getting done and the energy is really good," said Ron Seeling, Lockheed Martin employee.

The company said it's been doing "A Day of Caring" for the last 30 years, but this is the biggest project yet.

"It's important to give back to the community, and when you're working for a company that aspires to be a part of the community, the employees all chip in," said Bill Vickson, employee.

Volunteers also repainted banisters and remodeled an outdoor kitchen, one of 80 small projects that's been going on at the clinic for the last several months.

"It just completely changes the place in just four hours, and it makes you feel really good when you leave. You know you added something, too, and helped some people out," said Ron Seeling, employee.

It's a big project that benefits people who employees said deserve it the most.

"The veterans receive outstanding medical care from the VA medical center, and I think having a beautiful, modernized space is also indicative on the kind of care that they get from the VA medical center," said Flaherty.

"It's time for us to give back to them, and I'm very happy to do that. Feels good," said Thi Nguyen, employee.


About the Author:

Loren Korn is a native Texan who joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2014. She was born and raised in Houston and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Journalism.