January 18th, 2024
Washington D.C. — Today, Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) introduced Senate legislation to rename the Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic at Mare Island in Vallejo, California to “Delphine Metcalf-Foster VA Clinic.” U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and U.S. Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) introduced the House version of the legislation last year.
A lifelong resident of Vallejo, Delphine Metcalf-Foster is a U.S. Army Reserve Veteran of Operation Desert Storm, who retired as a First Sergeant (E-8) in 1996. She is also a Bronze Star Medal recipient and a retired Quality Assurance Work Leader from the Alameda Naval Air Station.
“By renaming the Vallejo VA clinic after Ms. Metcalf-Foster, we’re honoring her many years of dedication to service and to the nation,” said Senator Butler. “Even after her decades of service in uniform, Ms. Metcalf-Foster has continued to serve her community by volunteering and advocating for veterans at all levels of local and federal government, so it is only fitting that the VA clinic in her hometown bears her name. Veterans and their families in the area will continue to be inspired by her legacy as the clinic delivers compassionate care that all of our former servicemembers deserve.”
“I am thrilled that Senator Butler is sponsoring my bill to recognize the incredible volunteerism and lifelong commitment to service of Delphine Metcalf-Foster, a lifelong resident of Vallejo. After a 21-year Army career, Ms. Metcalf-Foster began passionately volunteering at the local, state, and national levels to improve the lives of countless veterans. Ms. Metcalf-Foster epitomizes the leadership, compassion, and care all veterans deserve. I look forward to this bill becoming law, finally recognizing Ms. Metcalf-Foster for her decades service and tireless work on behalf of our veterans and the Vallejo community,” Garamendi said.
“Delphine Metcalf-Foster has dedicated her life in service to our country, our community, and her fellow veterans. Proud to introduce this bill with Senator Butler and Rep. Garamendi to honor Ms. Metcalf-Foster for all that she has done to better our community and support our veterans. She is the epitome of selflessness, and this is well-deserved recognition. I look forward to working to pass this legislation in the House and for President Biden to sign it into law, making this a reality,” said Congressman Thompson.
Ms. Metcalf-Foster has shown a steadfast dedication to her fellow veterans, serving as the Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Ozie Boler Chapter 21 in Vallejo, DAV Department of California in 2004-05, and DAV National Commander in 2017-18. She is also a life-member of The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2018, she was recognized as one of the “Mighty 25: Influencers Supporting the Military Community.” In 2019, she was selected as the Grand Marshall for the 166th Vallejo 4th of July Parade.
These accomplishments mark Ms. Metcalf-Foster as a trailblazer by any mark, but she continues to volunteer her time and leadership at the local and national levels. She served as a member of the Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, the VA Northern California Health Care System Veteran and Family Advisory Committee, the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, and the VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses.
Renaming the Veterans Affairs clinic at Mare Island honors the legacy and impact Ms. Metcalf-Foster has left on Vallejo and the veteran community. Her passionate and selfless dedication to the nation and to those who served is the exemplar of compassion, understanding, and care all veterans deserve.
Her family history is one of passionate U.S. service. Her father, Joseph Robert Taylor, was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and a 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier. Continuing in her footsteps are her granddaughter, an Iraq-Afghanistan War Veteran, and her great-granddaughter who currently serves in the U.S. Army.
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