HARLINGEN, Texas – (April 30, 2026) – On March 1, Lucio Gaitan was certified to serve on the McAllen VA Outpatient Clinic’s Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) Committee by the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission.

Gaitan, who served in the Army National Guard, is a life member of The American Legion and currently serves as adjutant and finance officer of Vermund G. Hansen Post 101 in Pharr, Texas.

Central to its mission of providing comprehensive care and fostering community engagement is the VAVS Committee, a group dedicated to coordinating, supporting and expanding the reach of volunteer efforts for the benefit of veterans and their families.

The American Legion has supported and actively participated in the VAVS program since it began in 1946. Today, nearly 7,000 volunteers serve 900,000 hours annually at various VA medical centers, community-based outpatient centers, Vet Centers, nursing homes, state veterans homes and other facilities that support hospitalized veterans.