Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Still Fighting The Good Fight

Steve Young tells of his recent visit to Jewish War Veterans Post 697 in Levittown, PA, to see what the old codgers were up to.

Know what these old coots were up to? For one, anything that has to do with veterans affairs, from writing letters to get more aid for those brothers and sister veterans who will never get out of the hospital to picking up the utensils and feeding those who no longer can manage for themselves. And it's not like they take the easy route.

But hospital visits are just a small part of what the veterans groups stand for. Nationwide, on a daily basis, they continue their battles on the front lines helping their communities; collecting food, clothing, bottle caps and anything else that they might bring hope to those in need. Whether caring for elderly veterans or cradling sick infants, they are on hand helping out at the hospitals and retirement homes. They are at the blood banks, working with the mentally ill, placing flags at the graves of our fallen heros, supporting the Holocaust exhibits, lobbying our lawmakers to not forget those who sacrificed for our freedoms, telling their stories at schools, always available to do whatever needs to be done for those who may not be able to do for themselves, showing that you never need stop being of service, even when you're out of the service.

And while this particular story is about a particular Jewish War Veterans post, the same story applies to all veterans groups; the American Legion, Veteran of Foreign Wars, AmVets and so many others, no matter what war, no matter what belief, no matter actual veteran or auxiliary.

As Abraham Lincoln once said..."To Care for Him who Shall Have Borne the Battle, and for his Widow and his Orphan..." To that I might add, "lest we forget their true worth."

I'm a member of the VFW, the American Legion, and the Marine Corps League. I don't always agree with the leadership on politics, but it never comes up locally. The point is to do something for other Vets and for the community if they'll let you. (That reference is to an ongoing fight with our county to let our VFW post repaint the flagpole at the Vets Building here in town. Bureaucracy = Molasses in January.)

When I was at the VA hospital in Prescott, AZ, the Vet's groups for hundreds of miles around came there to volunteer for all kinds of things, from bedpans to Bingo, to help their fellow Vets. It made a big difference in the quality of life for everyone.

My fellow Vets, if you're not a member of a Vets group, please consider joining one. Screw the rightward lean of a lot of them: it's about service. The old wingnuts can always slip on the ice when you're helping them to their car. Heh.

My personal motto is: "Not so lean, not so mean, but still a Marine."

Still tryin' to fight for what I believe, in whatever way I can.

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