Hendrick Health honors veteran employees with new challenge coin initiative

This Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Hendrick Health directors will present to employees who have served in the military a challenge coin to honor their commitment to excellence, both past and present.

“We were looking for a special way to recognize our veteran employees, and a veteran on staff suggested a challenge coin,” said Courtney Head, Hendrick Health vice president for human resources.

According to the U.S. Department of War website, a challenge coin is a century-old American military tradition “meant to instill unit pride, improve esprit de corps and reward hard work and excellence.” Challenge coins have been created to honor individuals and recognize events.

Hendrick Health commissioned a specially designed coin with the healthcare system logo on one side and the seals of the six branches of the United States armed forces on the other: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force.

On Nov. 11, department directors will present the coins to their team members to thank them for their military service. The recipients had self-identified their military or veteran status in their employment records.

With Abilene serving as home to Dyess Air Force Base and many military veterans retiring to the region, recognizing veterans has been an important initiative at Hendrick Health. Last year, the healthcare system started a program to honor employees who served in the military by issuing them a special “veteran badge buddy” that accompanies their employee identification card.

“Occasionally, patients or their family members notice that ‘veteran’ designation, which helps spark a connection,” said Head.

“Hiring veterans isn’t just a workforce development strategy,” she added. “Veterans bring invaluable leadership, resilience and service-minded commitment to Hendrick Health and our community,” said Head.

Brad Holland, Hendrick Health president and CEO, presents the first Hendrick Health Challenge Coin to Laura Whetzel, benefits coordinator in Human Resources, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 2013 to 2019.