Stories
Read about what's happening in our VA Salt Lake City health care community.
Six legs trod across a sandy arena. Hooves and feet sink in the dirt as horse and Veteran move as one. It’s called a “Trust Walk,” but where the Veterans are going isn’t as important as why they’re there.
![Retired Army National Guard warrant officer Barton Jeffs embraces his horse, Rebel.](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2020-08/Equine_therapy_1.jpg)
Six legs trod across a sandy arena. Hooves and feet sink in the dirt as horse and Veteran move as one. It’s called a “Trust Walk,” but where the Veterans are going isn’t as important as why they’re there.
![Barton Jeffs with his horse, “Rebel.”](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2021-08/horse_therapy_1_480x330.jpg)
Utah lost a hero this week. World War II Veteran and 75-year legionnaire William E. Christoffersen will always be remembered as a man who fought for his country and his fellow Veterans. It was his life’s mission.
![World War II Veteran and legionnaire William E. Christoffersen smiles in front of the state Veterans home that bears his name.](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2021-08/christoffersen_legion.jpg)
It was late March and the grip of COVID-19 had frozen the nation. Businesses closed, residents hunkered down, and the world stopped. But for the second time in a year, Eduardo Cardenas was running toward the danger.
![Eduardo Cardenas with a group of medical people](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2021-08/eduardo_07.jpg)
Thirteen stars speckle a blue ribbon resting below his gray, neatly trimmed beard. Beneath them, an eagle’s talons clutch a gold bar engraved with “VALOR” from which hangs a five-pointed star.
![Brian Thacker](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2021-08/Brian_Thacker_DN1.jpg)
Standing in front of a long stainless-steel table at the inpatient kitchen at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, U.S. Army Veteran Arthur Saenz readies for the lunch rush.
![Arthur Saenz](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2021-08/Arthur%20Saenz.jpg)
For the last six months, Karl Baylor had been waiting to find out whether he’d live or die. His heart was failing. It was only a matter of time.
![Army Veteran Karl Baylor singing](https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/content.www.va.gov/img/styles/2_1_medium_thumbnail/public/2021-08/Karl%20Baylor%20singing.jpg)