Black Mountain veteran among the first to receive COVID-19 vaccination

Virginia Dixon, a 101-year-old veteran, celebrated her birthday with one of North Carolina State Veterans Home Black Mountain's first COVID-19 vaccinations.

Dixon was born into the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation on Dec. 29, 1919, before later training as a nurse in Knoxville, Tennessee. She served at Walter Reed General Hospital during World War II and as a nurse in the 8063rd MASH unit during the Korean conflict.

Following her 15 years of service, Dixon moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, where she met her husband. After marrying in 1953 and having two children, Dixon worked as a stay-at-home mother.

Once her children were older, Dixon worked at a Black Mountain-based rehabilitation center from 1977-81. She has been a patient at the local State Veterans Home since 2018.

The State Veterans Home is among the many in-state long-term care facilities in the process of inoculation. Residents and staff of these facilities are among the first to receive the vaccine in the state.