Air Force Captain John Schutte, Stanley Reddy, MD, Mina Barrett, Ph.D., Margie Miller, Thomas Demaria, Ph.D., and Air Force Captain Eries Gibson on the steps of Pentagon. During a special invitation from the United States Federal Government's Department of Defense to tour the Pentagon, South Nassau Hospital's Behavioral Health Department leadership, led by Garden City resident Thomas Demaria, Ph.D., and staff from the World Trade Center Family Center visited with soldiers wounded in the war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The Department of Defense supports only one special trip a month to visit the soldiers and we felt honored to have been selected for this opportunity, " said Thomas Demaria, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President, Behavioral Health Services and founder of the World Trade Center Family Center, South Nassau Hospital. He was joined by Stan Reddy, MD, (Chair of Psychiatry), Minna Barrett, Ph.D., Director of Training and Research at the WTC Family Center, and Margie Miller, (Family Outreach Coordinator WTC Family Center).

Just days after returning to South Nassau, the team received personal letters of gratitude from two high ranking officials of the Department of Defense. Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England thanked Dr. Demaria and the team for visiting the wounded soldiers and stated, " We'll never forget 9/11. " Brigadier General John E. Wissler, Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, noted that our " selfless visit builds a unique bond between those directly affected by September 11th and the men and women in uniform who have been wounded while prosecuting the Global War on Terror. The WTC Family Center is a valued partner with the Department of Defense in our efforts to recognize and appreciate the service of our men and women in uniform! "

Air Force Captain Eries Gibson and Air Force Captain John Schutte served as the team's escorts throughout the visit, which included a personal tour of the Pentagon, where the team was greeted by Brig. Gen. Wissler" who expressed great praise for our 9/11 programs and expressed his admiration for the work we are doing at South Nassau," said Dr. Demaria.

The highlight of the tour of the Pentagon was the viewing of the 9/11 Memorial and the Medal of Honor room. Following the tour of the Pentagon, the team visited wounded soldiers who are being treated at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Mologne House (a residential center where soldiers stay after being discharged from Walter Reed) and the National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda, MD).

"The soldiers smiled when we talked with them and we were humbled by their praise for our efforts following 9/11," said Dr. Demaria. "We also encountered many of their family members who expressed their appreciation for our work. Despite their injuries, the soldiers expressed their desire to return to active duty to continue to serve our country and to support their fellow soldiers. Their resolve, dedication and determination were truly inspirational. We felt privileged to have been permitted to bring them a brief respite from their suffering."