It’s not often you find something that makes staying in shape fun, but that’s exactly what veteran and retired VA employee Mary Bader says she has done.
A veteran of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bader recently competed in her fourth National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG) event, earning a silver medal in bowling, and placing fourth overall in the one-mile power walk.
The National Veterans Golden Age Games is the only national multi-event sports and recreational seniors’ competition program designed to improve the quality of life for older veterans with a wide range of abilities and disabilities, according to the Veterans Administration.
Known as one of the most progressive and adaptive/rehabilitative senior sports programs in the world, the NVGAG also serve as a qualifying event for competition in the National Senior Games in a number of competitive events (https://goldenagegames.fusesport.com/.)
Participants compete in eight different age categories in events such as air rifle and air pistol, badminton, basketball, blind disc golf, cycling, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, swimming and tennis.
“I’ve done air rifle, bowling, freestyle swimming, badminton (medaled twice), table tennis (medaled two years in a row), bocce ball, and now they’ve added corn hole,” said Bader.
“You just have to be 55 or older and have a VA primary care provider to compete,” she continued, explaining she first became interested in the games when her father signed up as the first veteran from John J. Pershing VA Medical Center to participate.
The Korean War Veteran won a silver and two bronze medals.
“I went with him and decided right then that when I turned 55, I wanted to do it, too,” she said.
Bader’s father passed away before she could compete with him, “but before he went, he made me promise I would do the games,” she said.
Since then, she has been to Albuquerque, Detroit, and even Anchorage to participate.
“Last year was canceled because of COVID, but this year they decided to do the games virtually, at home, and
then compare scores nationwide,” Bader explained.
Describing the NVGAG’s careful measures to ensure fair competition, Bader said she was required to have multiple local judges, video her performance in each event, and upload the scores to a national database.
“Then we waited for them to tally the results and call to tell us if we’d medaled,” she said.
John J. Pershing VAMC’s Whole Health Program Coordinator and nurse Amy Mekan served as Bader’s coach and supporter.
“Mary is so excited about the games, it’s impossible not to catch her enthusiasm,” Mekan, who is also a veteran, said. “In fact, her love of the games is so infectious, I intend to join her for the competition when I turn 55.”
The experience was different this year, though, admits Bader.
“I couldn’t compete in the events that required another person, like badminton or dominoes, because no other veterans in my area participated. But the biggest thing I missed was the camaraderie,” she said. “You make friends for life at these things – everybody cheers everybody else on, and we tell our stories to each other. We’ve got each other’s six!
“Then, we look forward to seeing each other the next year – it’s like a reunion. And between events at the games we do other wellness stuff together or have meals together; it’s an amazing experience.”
VA’s goal with the games is to help veterans make physical activity a regular part of their daily lives and provide a way to showcase the preventive and therapeutic value of sports and physical activity, according to a press release from the VA.
Bader said it works.
“Knowing you’re going to compete in the games each year keeps you more aware of the need to make better choices, keep moving, and stay in shape,” she said.
Bader hopes once veterans learn about the National Golden Age Veterans Games, more of them will join her for next year’s event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The games take place in July, but registration begins in March, she said.
“Entry in the games is free but you have to pay your own travel expenses. If you compete in four to six events, you do get a food card, but sometimes our veterans still can’t make that work financially,” she said. “There is a special account with our local VA that collects donations to help with expenses for veterans who want to participate.
“To learn more about that, you would want to contact Dale Garrett in Voluntary Services at 573-778-4275.”
Veterans who want to know more about the National Golden Age Veterans Games can visit www.nationalgoldenagegames.com or contact Amy Mekan at 573-778-9712.