Veterans

by Janet Seahorn

At first it appeared to be an ordinary Thursday evening in mid-February.  The soldiers of battles-past gathered at the new Fort Collins Vet Center for their weekly group meeting with the professional VA Staff.

They draw together to heal wounds that occurred long ago in a land far from home.  Wounds acquired from serving in Vietnam - a war where few were honored for their personal sacrifice for their country.  The veterans meet to try and understand why their scars linger and are still so painful after so many years.  And they meet to try and find a sense of recognition of what each has experienced in life - both past and present.

It was on this night that several Fort Collins community members presented a “Quilt of Valor” to those warriors who gave much and were given little in return. Through their generous donations, the community was able to acquire a special hand-made quilt for the presentation.

The quilt was one small way of saying “Thank you for your service and sacrifice”.  And, maybe, the quilt would become a symbol of comfort, hope, and honor.  This particular comforter was carefully crafted by Donna Roche and the Quilters of Rogers, Arkansas.  Her group has assembled and mailed over 700 similar quilts to wounded warriors in hospitals in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany and the United States.  Ms. Roche and her group explain the Quilt of Valor in this manner:

“The Quilt of Valor is our wounded warrior award for service, sacrifice and valor in the line of duty. It is our way of saying “Thank you for your service - you have not been forgotten.” Many caring souls are involved in making the quilts; from contributing quilt blocks, finishing the tops, and integrating each section into the final product. Each special quilt receives a “Quilt of Valor” label thanking the injured warrior for his/her dedication and sacrifice. The label contains the name of those involved in the making of each caring blanket.”

The Quilt of Valor is in fact a symbol of renewal.  It transforms the hands of war’s destruction through the caring quilter’s fingers of each blanket’s construction.  It shifts the heart from the darkness of combat to the light of a kinder future.  And, hopefully it moves the experiences of combat trauma to a quieter sense of peace.

On this Thursday evening, warriors who were never honored finally have their Quilt of Valor.  The gratitude in their teary eyes, said it all.  Perhaps, after all these years, others do care.  Perhaps, there is now a sense of acknowledgement of what these warriors gave without hesitation.  You see, it is never too late to say thank you, and the heart is never too old to feel the warmth of such a genuine gesture.

Celebration: New Veteran’s Center

With today’s economic and world issues, it sometimes appears there is little to celebrate.  Last Friday morning was an exception. It was the opening of the new VA Clinic in Fort Collins, CO. The Center is a place where our wounded warriors can go to heal, to obtain support for both emotional and physical problems, and a place to get information. Dozens of VA dignitaries, community members, veterans and their families, as well as delegates representing Mark Udall, Michael Bennett, and Betsy Markey attended the special ribbon-cutting celebration. Unquestionably what made the celebration special were the people; people who have given so much in service of our country. And people who are giving so much to heal them: doctors, nurses, therapists, office workers, and the list grows. There were a few individuals I spoke with who moved my heart. The first was Dan Griffin. I didn’t focus on his rank or even the conflict in which he served. These details just didn’t seem all that essential to me at the time. What drew me to Dan Griffin was his solitary stance of dignity. He wore a uniform and hat filled with medals and ribbons. He didn’t mingle much, just stood in a back corner of the room watching, listening. I walked over to him, drawn by his silence and stature. It was obvious he was a shy person – even told me this himself. I asked a few questions of him and he responded to with a minimum of words. Proudly he mentioned to me that next year he will be the Commander of Post 10 of the VFWs – the largest VFW post in the state of Colorado. Then he went on to talk about last summer’s group reunion in Gunnison. He described how much he liked to fish, especially the lakes with the “Big Ones”! Upon leaving, I gave him a hug. What I really wanted to say to Dan Griffin, but the words were caught in my throat, was how much I honored and appreciated his service, his life, his courage.

Then there was Meg Corwin whose quiet sacrifice few people will ever have to endure.  She had been a military person for over twenty years, recently retired and now serving on Senator Michael Bennet’s staff. Her husband was shot and killed by a sniper two years ago during his second tour of duty in Iraq. Saying “Thank You” for your service and your husband’s sacrifice just seemed a bit passé. How can one truly thank a person who has given so much? I couldn’t. Ms. Corwin showed such strength and dignity during her speech to the group. I questioned if I could be so brave in similar circumstances - whether I could talk about my loss with such control? Truly, I don’t know the answers. What I do know is this; many families have made similar sacrifices. Many families, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses, children, friends mourn their loss silently with wounded hearts and spirits.

The new Veteran’s Center is a place of hope and healing for each of these exceptional individuals. If you know of a veteran or his/her family member, please be thoughtful enough to press their hands and say, “You are special to me. I will try not to forget what you have gone through; what you have given so that America can enjoy her freedom. Thank you.” Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Do everything you can to live this motto:                       

If we send them, then we must mend them.