the building of a new veterans regional health center in Wilmington. McIntyre was awarded National Legislator of the Year in 2008 and the All-American Hero Award in 2009 and 2013 for work advocating on behalf of veterans, including support of an annual Military Construction and VA Appropriations bill that adequately meets the needs of veterans. He supported the authorization for the construction nationally of five new polytrauma centers and three Centers of Excellence in Mental Health, and was also an original co-sponsor of the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which was passed by the U.S. House and provides outreach, education, and training to VA staff to ensure that veterans are receiving adequate mental health care. NASA McIntyre has always been a supporter of NASA and the space program, stating the following: "Not only does space exploration inspire and excite, but it also has numerous practical benefits to people everywhere: from GPS to pacemakers; from microwave ovens to highly advanced computing systems; from water purification to search and rescue missions; from cancer therapy to robotics; from lightweight, durable metals to power generation of energy and telecommunications; from solar cells and batteries to recycling and waste management. Technological improvements affecting weather predictions, storm monitoring, agricultural production and global transportation have greatly affected our lives and helped our environment on earth. Fascination with the vastness of God's creation and the make-up of the universe is a never-ending discovery that always inspires us and advances our ingenuity and imagination and increases greatly our education in so many fields of learning and human endeavor. Indeed, there are no limits to space exploration and the discoveries made by the human spirit." Senior citizens McIntyre was recognized with a pair of boxing gloves from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare because of his advocacy work on behalf of senior citizens. He also received the M.V.P. Award for the entire Congress from the TREA Senior Citizens League in 2004 and later received the Seniors Advocate Award for his legislative leadership on behalf of seniors in 2012. Youth sports Advocacy for youth sports was a priority during Mike McIntyre's congressional career. He coached youth sports in Robeson County for several years in T-ball, baseball, football, and basketball, including three All-American Drug-Free teams. McIntyre was the first volunteer coach in the county to be certified by the National Youth Sports Coaches Association and the first to