Old habits die hard.
In a small room at the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center on Monday, a dozen old soldiers sat in wheelchairs to one side of the podium. It took awhile to get everyone situated, and politicians to talk. But these guys learned the finer points of “hurry up and wait” a long time ago.
Soon, the Veterans Day ceremony began. A color guard of JROTC students from San Francisco’s Washington High School brought in the American flag.
Michael O’Neal pushed up from his chair and stood on his only remaining foot.
After a bit, everyone sang the national anthem. O’Neal raised his hand to his face and held the salute. A tear formed at the corner of his only remaining eye.
I am going to say something which cries out to be said:
Please believe me when I say that there is no lonelier place for a hospitalized veteran…..man or woman…..to be in than a Veterans’ Hospital, but such places come alive on Veterans’ Day. I know, because I’ve been a patient in one. I was a patient at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, CA, for eight and a half months from 1975-1976.
They are very lonely places during the Christmas Holidays……especially for older veterans whose families who often live far from the hospital where their loved ones are cared for.
So I ask you all: Please, try to find time in your busy schedules to visit hospitalized veterans…..especially during the holidays…..and try to brighten their lives a little. It means so much to them!
I will second (and third…) the suggestion of brogher Cennydd (who by the way is a certified HERO!!!).
Please go visit (as I will be doing at the DC-Veteran’s Hospital) our vets this Holiday season (and before and after). Trust me, the time effort and expense (gas, transit fees, etc) you spend will be PAID BACK TO YOU SEVERAL-FOLD.
Again, veterans aka HEROES!!! Thank you for your service.