Jan & Lyle Usgaard

Jan and Lyle Usgaard have been volunteering at the Fargo VA Medical Center for over 23 years, donating over 16,789 hours combined. Jan and Lyle volunteer in such areas as Escort office, Community Health Nursing, Recreation activities and with the VAVS Advisory Committee. Both volunteers are well known to all volunteers and our employees and are highly respected for their devotion, dedication, and unselfishly caring attitude. Both Jan and Lyle have received the Presidential Lifetime Service Award for exceeding 4,000 hours.

Lyle coordinates and plans the annual “Because We Care” activities as well as coordinates the Veterans Day program with his local AMVETS organization. Both Jan and Lyle are always supporting and participating in patient activities, special events and consistently assist Recreation staff with conducting various recreation activities for the patient’s. Jan and Lyle are always there when you need them by serving refreshments during special events and programs, assisting with the VAVS Patient Casino activities, providing bingo activities and the VAVS Patient Christmas programs. Both Jan and Lyle take their volunteer duties seriously as on a couple occasions Lyle has had health issues and is always eager to return to his volunteer duties.

Both Jan and Lyle are consistently providing monetary donations as a memorial to fallen comrades. Lyle has recently been presented the AMVETS Silver Helmet award at the AMVETS National Executive Committee meeting in Washington DC. The AMVETS Silver Helmet award is the highest and most prestigious award the AMVETS bestows. Only one AMVETS member received this award annually. Jan received the AMVETS Auxiliary VAVS National Leadership Award in 2001 for caring and sharing her time and energy on behalf of America's hospitalized Veterans.

Jan and Lyle individually volunteer more than 18 hours every week and are always available for additional projects or activities as needed. You can always rely on Jan and Lyle as they are very dependable and ready to serve and care for our veterans and willing to help our staff in order to accomplish our mission.