Veteran honors local VA healthcare workers with flags

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through Delaware, a local veteran found a way to honor healthcare workers. Chaplain Al Kraft, aka Mr. Positive, began a mission of honoring his new heroes at Delaware healthcare facilities with framed American flags.

The 72-year-old Vietnam veteran, who served 18 years (1966-83), wanted to find a unique way to honor those fighting the pandemic on the front lines.

“The way many of the people in the healthcare field were sending their kids to other relatives so they did not have to go home with a chance of infecting them, l was really impressed and motivated to do something beautiful and inspirational for them,” said Kraft. 

Kraft started his mission by presenting flags to healthcare workers at Wilmington Veterans Affairs Medical Center and its Delaware Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Dover and Georgetown.

While serving his country in the Navy, Kraft specialized in career and drug and alcohol counseling. Now a chaplain, it is clear helping others is something Kraft has always held close to his heart.

“I have learned, in the short time that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him, that Mr. Kraft has a strong heart, desire and calling to make the world a better place,” said Chaplain Brynn White, acting chief of Chaplain Services at Wilmington VA Medical Center. “While he has already given much to this country, he continues his calling of giving back, but this time by honoring healthcare heroes working on the front lines. His energy to change the world one person at a time is contagious, and we are thankful for Al.”

Kraft is working on knocking out his list of other local hospitals with the hopes of starting a trend and expanding into other states.

Wilmington VA Medical Center provides healthcare services to more than 32,000 veterans through its main medical center and five Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware and southern New Jersey. For more information, visit www.wilmington.va.gov.