REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- From cholesterol screenings to hearing aid information, from pharmacy services to medical equipment reviews, from Land Trust recreational offerings to Madison County's Project Lifesaver, there were plenty of health options on display Sept. 19 during the Retiree Appreciation Day Health Fair at The Summit.

Sixty-one vendors were on hand to talk with military retirees about medical and health services meant to improve their quality of life. As an added bonus, retirees could get a free flu shot at a drive-thru lane set up in the parking lot of the nearby Overlook.

The event was hosted by Fox Army Health Center. Sheila Derochemont, health promotions coordinator at Fox, has been planning the Health Fair for about three months.

"Our retirees have been waiting for this. They started coming in this morning before we were even opened up," she said.

"They look forward to this every year because it's all about them. It's all about giving them what they need and taking care of retirees. We want them to know they are special to us."
Derochemont worked to include a variety of vendors that could offer lots of different services to retirees.

"Our main goal is to be able to bring screenings to them that they usually don't get. We want them to be more aware so we're trying to bring health awareness to them. We want to ensure good care for them," she said.

"We want them to know we will be here for them no matter what."

In his presentation at Saturday's information sessions, Fox commander Col. David Carpenter said military retirees represent about 80 percent of the patients seen at Fox. About 350 flu shots were given at the drive-thru.

"We put you at the center of what we do," he told the retirees.