The Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) at the Dublin VA hosted a grand re-opening January 10 to show off its new cafeteria facility.

A brief ceremony including an invocation by Pastor Billy Crooms and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance by U.S. Army veteran Floyd Robinson was followed by a ribbon-cutting and the opening of the area so that attendees could take a look and have some lunch and free cake. 

VCS chief Rick Roberts praised those who made the long-awaited renovation possible, including his superiors in the VCS regional office, medical center director Manuel Davila, VA Engineering staff, and his own local team. 

“The support that we receive from our teammates here at the Dublin VA is remarkable. There’s always a positive focus and Director Davila and his folks are so accommodating. And our VCS team here is always ready to do whatever it takes to please our veterans and other customers. I can’t say ‘Thank you’ enough!” Roberts said.

Established by act of Congress in 1946, the Veterans Canteen Service was created to provide merchandise and services at reasonable prices to veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, their families, VA employees, and caretakers. Though a VA entity supported by 4,000 employees, VCS is self-sustaining, receiving no annual appropriations. It operates retail, food, coffee, and vending services in VA medical centers across the country. The $3.5 million Dublin VA project will provide an aesthetically pleasing environment for veterans, visitors, and VA staff to commune while enjoying a variety of meals prepared by certified chefs.

Medical center director Manuel Davila greeted attendees, offering a special welcome to Dublin mayor Josh Kight and city manager Josh Powell, noting the superb collaboration between VCS and his Engineering Service.

 “Such a big project takes a lot of coordination and cooperation and this one serves as a model for effective teamwork. Mr. Roberts, Chief Engineer Fred Williams, Joel Harrison, VCS teammates, and a lot of other folks had to come together to make it happen, and the result is obvious,” Davila said, waving toward the new café 

Kight agreed with Davila and emphasized the economic impact that such projects generated by the VA have on the Dublin-Laurens community. 

“As our largest employer, the VA is a major economic force and an integral partner in our community. I’m pleased to say that our 75-year collaboration is healthier than ever and our veterans and our community benefit from it,” Kight said.

Master of Ceremonies and VA communications director Dr. Frank Jordan affirmed the Dublin VA’s partnership with the Dublin-Laurens community.

“There’s no question that the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center has the best community support of any VA in the nation. Our community is always ready to pitch in and the partnership makes all the difference for our veterans,” Jordan said.