Happy Veteran's Day!

My husband pointed out to me that I should have perhaps waited a day to thank the rescue personnel. I really do think I just get too enthusiastic sometimes...

I appreciate our Veterans and think that they should be remembered more than a couple of times a year. Me and the kids used to volunteer at the VA Hospital about 2 hours away. Veterans Day, Christmas, and Valentines Day are BIG days at the VA. So many people show up with gifts and food- it's really great. Even performers come for Veterans Day. But, the rest of the year, the vets might as well not exist. The volunteers try to make them feel special every day, true. But, many of the vets expressed to me that they felt like the recognition on the one day was more for the people doing it than for them.

I wasn't sure what they meant at first, but it was explained, and seemed pretty evident after- the folks showing up, many of them were doing it to make themselves feel good. Or they were campaigning. Or trying to win a bid. Or a scholarship. As soon as the program was over, so many of them were "outta there!" like scalded cats.

At first, I thought the vets were just being fussy, but I watched how they were talked down to- you know, like some people do with children- speaking very slowly with false cheerfulness & with their eyes belying the fact that they were disgusted and thought the vets were really less than they were.

Though, the ones who truly cared, the vets really thought highly of. The little old ladies who came every week with toiletry baskets or coffee. The folks that went room to room to just talk with the vets or bring magazines.

We thought about relocating closer to the VA so we could volunteer more, but expenses are much higher there. I hated not being able to keep it up. We did it for nearly a year. And yes, it was in the patient library. The kids learned the organization really well and could direct the vets to the books they were looking for. The vets really loved the kids. There was a mutual respect there.

You know, as the holidays draw closer, we are reminded of people we'd forgotten through the year. We try to make up for it with cards or gifts. All the times we put off calling or writing, or even texting come to mind. But, why are we here? For personal gratification? That's the reason we usually put off visiting or letting somebody know we care- we don't have time because we do not TAKE time. See, time will waste and time will flow by like the James River and we are left with nothing to show for it but being the best at quoting scores, news, or reruns. To take time, we must step into the river and embrace the chill. We must for a moment give up our personal preferences for something lasting and substancial.

I hear the "but I don't have money" thing as often. And I'm a bad one for it myself. But, it costs no money to call for most people on nights and weekends. It costs no additional money to send an email. It costs what, 35 cents? to mail a letter. How much would it brighten your day to recieve something besides bills and catalogues in the mail?

Let us try to remember our veterans throughout the year. A kind word goes a long way with them. "Welcome Home" and "Thank You" are ones that the vets I know have really appreciated. And they are surprised by them. Isn't it nice to give someone a pleasant surprise?

You don't need me to tell you what these brave men and women have to go through. Most have joined the service to help keep our country free for all the rest of us. And I won't even go into what the media has done to them over the last 4 or 5 decades. But again, I will say "Thank you and Welcome Home" and thank you and thank you again.

God Bless America and God Bless our Troops!