As I write today, it’s Sunday. I’m watching football in my beautiful house, with my fantastic husband, and I know that I’m a lucky woman. This post is being written a day early because I plan to celebrate Veteran’s Day in the best way possible, with several hundred veterans. I’m lucky enough in life to not have to work set hours, and I choose to spend this special day in service to those who have served us all. I grew up in San Antonio, TX, during the height of our military excellence, so please forgive me if my views differ from the norm. San Antonio, for those who have never been, was once served by 7 military bases. The training base for the Air Force, Lackland, was only 5 miles from my home. I spent my summers on the base, at the library, sometimes in the pool, and walking all over those hallowed grounds. For those with no military contacts, it’s feeling like no other. You become part of a team, even, in my case, as just an Air Force brat. I met some amazing people from all over the world because my dad was in the Air Force. When my big brother graduated high school, he joined the Army. My husband made a career of the military, and now that we live in his hometown, I know that it saved his life to get away from small town living.
I’ve met some amazing men and women who have served our military. Regardless of your feelings about war-mongering, (which is normally done by politicians) the men and women who serve deserve our unwavering gratitude, respect and admiration. I’m old enough to remember sitting in church and being asked to pray for our troops in Vietnam, and hearing complete silence from the civilian congregation. I now have a cousin-in-law who remembers coming home from the living hell of the Tet Offensive and being spit upon. So today, in our nation full of renewed patriotism, I’m grateful that everyone again loves the military.
I’m also grateful for the service animals who have helped our veterans when they come home, battered, bruised, and wounded. I’ve seen a multitude of animals at a variety of military conventions and meetings.
I remember Don Scheckels who came home from Vietnam affected by Agent Orange. His loyal Cocker Spaniel stayed by his side through meetings, and warned him of impending issues in a gentle way. When Don ultimately passed from injuries received while serving our country, that same dog stayed by Jeannie, Don’s wife and full-time caregiver. A short time later, Jeannie’s huge heart could take no more, and we all watched their sweet dog wandering from person to person, wondering who to serve now. I’ve seen Lisa Wilson, another veteran, who is now wheelchair bound due to her service. For a while, Lisa had two service dogs. She’s been in need of help long enough to have a dog age out of service help, but that sweet baby still wanted to stay by mom’s side and train the new pup. And then there was Sherrie Long who suffered a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) while serving in the sandbox. Sherrie is a sweetheart of a woman who now has to live with her mother because she can’t be alone. Sherrie got, of all things, a chihuahua as her service dog. Her little dog wears a pink “service dog” vest and senses when Sherrie is going to have a seizure or go into Ketoacidosis.
Lastly, I’m grateful to the organizations who train the service helper animals. There are so many, because the need is great, even in the civilian world. Without those who train, and then match up dogs, cats, birds, and more, with people in need, the world would be a smaller place for many peple.
My heart is full of gratitude today for those who as my dad would say, “keep the free world free.” So say we all, dad. So say we all. ~noelle~
Some more reading for those interested:
http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2013/08/10/afghan-cat-miss-kitty-is-reunited-with-her-soldier-in-texas/ (who saved who?)
http://cats.about.com/library/weekly/aa062600a.htm (a hospital cat!)
and some purr therapy in Paris
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/parisian-cat-cafe-purr-therapy_n_3980157.html
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