Operation Welcome Home & Recovery  

During the Persian Gulf War, local veterans and volunteers

from the Greater Rochester New York metropolitan area believed that a successful reintegration into civilian life begins with a successful homecoming experience – thus, the establishment of Operation Welcome Home (OWH). OWH became a project of the Veterans Outreach Center in 2003.

OPERATION WELCOME HOME & RECOVERY (OWH&R)

volunteers greet and thank returning service members from the Greater Rochester Metropolitan Area (including counties of Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston and Orleans) at the airport, bus terminal, train station and their homes. Greetings are planned and scheduled based on requests from service members' families and can be provided for all military personnel, whether their service was overseas or stateside. These servicemen and women are presented with a service commendation from the community and literature detailing the Veterans Outreach Center’s programs and services.

The mission of OPERATION WELCOME HOME & RECOVERY (OWH&R) mirrors the outreach philosophy of the Veterans Outreach Center, Inc. Both identify and bridge the gaps in support services required by veterans and their families. OWHR will make contact with veterans and their families, identify their needs, then mobilize new and existing community resources to assist.

Success is defined as creating a level of support required to assist veterans and their families within New York State that replicate services provided military members and their families on or near active duty military bases.

OPERATION WELCOME HOME & RECOVERY (OWH&R) encourages the community to provide continuing support for our military personnel as they make the adjustment back to civilian life. The Veterans Outreach Center is a valuable resource to help our community accomplish that goal.