VA NY Harbor Healthcare System

Captain Chaplain Raziel Amar,, Father Andrew Sioleti, Chief of Chaplains, VANYHHS, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Harris, Battalion Commander of the HHC of the 369 Sustainment Brigade, Sister Maureen Mitchell, Education and Martina Parauda, Director, VANYHHS

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Harris, Battalion Commander of the Head and Headquater Company of the 369 Sustainment Brigade, came to personally thank VA New York Harbor Healthcare System and the Clinical Pastoral Education Program offered by the Chaplain Service for training. Chaplain Captain Raziel Amar, a New York Army National Guard Chaplain, who will now serve as the Chaplain for the 369 Sustainment Brigade. Chaplain Captain Amar, the father of five children, recently completed a year-long residency program at VANYHHS. He anticipates leaving for Afghanistan shortly.

The training in which Chaplain Captain Amar participated came as part of the VA/DoD partnership to offer CPE training to military chaplains at VA medical centers. Lieutenant Colonel Harris said Chaplain Captain Amar will soon be serving 2600 troops.

“Soldiers want to see their commanders around, but they feel better when they see their Chaplains around,” said Harris. With much warmth and appreciation, he made a formal presentation of plaques to Father Andrew Sioleti, Chief of Chaplains, and Sister Maureen Mitchell, Education Specialist. He also made a point of explaining the historical symbolism in the design on the commemorative coins that represent his brigade as he pressed one of the 400 minted into the hands of Father Sioleti and Sister Mitchell.

In her welcome, VANYHHS Director Martina Parauda highlighted the 12–year-old Chaplaincy training program created by Father Andrew Sioleti, a social worker, as one among many outstanding training programs offered throughout the Harbor that address the medical, mental health and spiritual needs of Veteran patients.

Chaplain Captain Amar, a warm, enthusiastic man, exuberantly thanked Father Sioleti, Sister Mitchel and neuropsychogist Dr. Arthur Russo, who mentored him throughout his residency. “I am very appreciative of all I learned and will use it with the troops in Afghanistan,” he said.