2006 Veteran's Administration Hospital Visit
A Veteran’s Christmas
By Jim Clements
Being a Veteran isn’t always what it is cracked up to be. To become a veteran you must serve at least one day in one of the United State’s armed forces. By doing this, many veterans experience solitude on foreign shores, and many sleepless nights away from loved ones. All of the veterans in today’s armed services have made this choice willingly; other older veterans may have had that choice made for them. Unbeknownst to many of us there are many veterans, from both eras, alone today in VA Hospitals around the world. The majority of these veterans were alone during Christmas with nothing but the television to keep them company.
Luckily for the veterans at the Long Beach VA Hospital, several organizations in Rancho Santa Margarita had their sights set on them. 1st Vice Commander Jim Clements, of American Legion Post 862, coordinated the efforts of the Santa Margarita Stake of the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS), and Cub Scout Pack 727 to deliver Christmas gifts to those veterans in the Long Beach Hospital. Dannee Clyne of the RSM LDS was instrumental is encouraging and collecting over 330 customized and wrapped gifts from the Santa Margarita Stake. The Christmas gift boxes contained much needed items to keep the Soldier, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines spirits lifted over the holiday season. The Cub Scouts added 80 gifts to bring Santa’s bag to a total of 410 gifts that contained items like socks, puzzles, candies, magazines, hygiene items, and love; LOTS OF LOVE.
On December 22nd the American Legion, Scouts, and family members divided into two groups of 40 led by VA Hospital Chairman of Volunteer Services Rex Jennings and visited over 200 veterans in six wards to include the Spinal Cord Injury, Psychiatric, Nursing Home, and Hospice wards.
It was a moving experience not only for the veterans, but for the young Scouts and families as well. Many tears, smiles, hand shakes, and hugs were shared by all. When all the gifts were given a young scout was heard to say “Can we do this again next year?”
To find out more about the Saddleback Valley American Legion please visit: www.Post862.org.
Photos from 2006
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