On this episode of The Dog Tag, Matt Elledge talks with Deputy Director, John Berkely, and Program Administrator, Kathy Johanns of the Texas State Veterans Homes. The VLB Texas State Veterans Homes provide affordable, long-term nursing care for Texas Veterans, their spouses and Gold Star parents. Located across Texas, each first-class facility is designed to enhance quality of life with a clean, caring and dignified setting appropriate to those men and women who have served our country with honor. Matt, John and Kathy discuss the origin of these special homes, eligibility requirements, associated costs, quality of life and much more. John Berkely, a Navy Veteran with 23 years of experience in long-term care administration, took on the role of Deputy Director for the Texas State Veterans Homes at the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) on Monday, May 12, 2014. Kathy joined the Texas Veterans Land Board in 2015 and has almost 20 years of experience in the field of long-term care. Her father was a U.S. Air Force Veteran who served in both Korea and Vietnam and she is also the spouse of a U.S. Air Force Veteran. Kathy, and her colleague, Sara Rodriguez, a registered nurse who also works for the Texas State Veterans Homes, developed and teach the Post-Traumatic Stress Program to every staff member at all eight Texas State Veterans Homes. The VLB is extremely fortunate to have these very compassionate and dedicated people on our team serving Texas Veterans!