FORT SILL, Okla. -- April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), an initiative to encourage people to express their health care wishes by completing living wills and health care powers of attorney.

Fort Sill's event, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is a joint effort of the staffs of the Fort Sill Legal Assistance Office and Reynolds Army Community Hospital (RACH). It will be on the first floor of RACH in the out-patient mall by the main pharmacy.

Judge advocates will be present to draft legal documents for any military ID card holder. Any Soldier, spouse, retiree or family member can receive a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care.

"Living wills and health care powers of attorney are extremely important documents," said 1st Lt. Tom Howe, a legal assistance attorney. "You have the ability to decide ahead of time how you would like to be treated in certain health care scenarios and who you would like to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make these decisions yourself."

Living wills are documents written in advance of serious illness that state your health care choices. Durable powers of attorney for health care name someone to make health care choices for you if you are unable to do so.

"It's important to educate yourself on end-of-life decisions," said Howe. "These documents express your wishes when you yourself are not able to do so. When you're healthy is the best time to make these decisions. If you wait until the last minute, it's often already too late and the window of opportunity may have passed you by."

As long as a person is of sound mind, he or she may revoke a living will or durable power of attorney for health care at any time. He or she may also update or recreate either document as needed.

Each person or couple who attends NHDD will have a one-on-one session with a judge advocate. Depending on which services are requested, the session should not take longer than 30 minutes.

"We will do what it takes to get every person seen that day," said Howe. "I will stay as long as I need to ensure everyone who walks in by close of business leaves with the documents they requested in hand."

Walk-ins are encouraged. Those military ID card holders who would like a will can make an appointment with legal assistance by calling 580-442-5058/5059. Appointments are free. People who want to create a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care but are unable to attend NHDD may make an appointment with the legal assistance office to accomplish these documents at a later date.