Operation Just Cause... ...for as long as it takes
Sent in by Laura
Dear Veterans,
Thanks for your military service to our country.
I am not a veteran. I grew up during the Vietnam period.
As a senior in high school in 1969 and class president, our student government sent "shoeboxes" of goodies to soldiers fighting in Vietnam. I recall thinking that on the TV the Vietnam would never end.
It made me sick to my stomach to see the list of casualties that were scrolled on the news screen each evening. I just couldn't comprehend how so many young people, close to my age, were being killed and why it continued. I never thought it would end. I was on the other side of the world watching like it was a "BAD DREAM."
I was acutely aware of the protesting and horrible way some people were showing disgust with the American soldiers when they came home from Vietnam. I knew of people who opted for Canada. I prayed for loved ones serving at that time in Vietnam. I was just a teenage girl who was affected vicariously by this Vietnam. I was so ashamed and embarrassed by the treatment I saw of Vietnam veterans. I think this unwarranted ill treatment of veterans was so wrong. It hurt my heart.
As I grew older and became a teacher, I found out that children did not know the meaning of the word "Veteran" or why we have holidays to honor all veterans. That made me cry . I was so ashamed and embarrassed again. This time, I felt like I could do something to rectify that ignorance.
Thus was born the Veterans for a Change - teaching children the meaning of the word "Veteran". I strongly believe that children must be taught the sacrifices of great men and women who served this nation. No better way than to have the veterans come to class and teach the children.
I also believe that children should learn "service to others" and that is done by collecting "change" during each month of October (for past 7 years) and then donating all that change to local veterans to help brighten the days of veterans in Illinois V. A. Hospitals...specifically Danville and Quincy.
In 7 years, this "CHANGE" has added up to over $12,500.00 and all of it has been donated to veterans. It pales in comparison to the wonderful rapport and lessons that the veterans have taught us all.
This money is used by our local veterans to buy the veterans in V.A. Hospitals, "self care items"…this includes socks, shaving materials and various other personal items not provided by the hospital. I felt helpless watching Vietnam as a young girl. I lost friends there . I also lost an uncle in WWII. Life is so precious. Freedom is not free. Never in my life did I ever think that Vietnam veterans were properly thanked.
This little Veterans for a Change project at the K-8 school just makes the children aware of what veterans and their families endured . All veterans. All conflicts. We have been so blessed to get to know these veterans. We have been talking about and honoring fallen soldiers that we will never get the honor to meet here on Earth. I am hopeful that these lessons will give our young people an eye into the making of our precious freedoms.
To all veterans, I say thank-you.
Even in my ignorance, I have always appreciated you. I receive hundreds of emails from veterans via my Veterans for a Change website.
Military men and women, we are proud of you. May angels always sleep on your pillows!
Thank-you Veterans, Laura Lincoln, Illinois Veterans for a Change
