Yesterday at the White River Junction, Vermont VA

[Silver Gaia]

24. Thank you for this post, demorank. My husband is a disabled Vietnam veteran.

He has recently gone through a prolonged (successful!) bout of chemo and radiation treatments for throat cancer. I went with him to every treatment, as I have always done with his other medical appointments at the VA. (He also has service-connected skin cancer, so there have been many, many visits.) I, too, have seen these men (and women), and have listened to their stories. Like you, I do what I can to help, whenever or wherever I can, whether it's helping them manage the new technology, or just listening. It is always humbling, and they touch my heart in so many ways. I feel grateful for the opportunity to give something back to them, however small the gesture may be, for their service and their sacrifice.

Recently, my husband's medical visits have taken us to a large military hospital at a local Air Force base, where I have met many young, active duty service men and women, and I have been impressed by these young people as well. They go out of their way to help the older veterans in their midst politely and respectfully, whether it's just to help navigate the base or the hospital, or to lend a needed hand with something. We never even needed to ask for help. Someone was always there asking if we needed help, even before we knew we needed it. I am grateful to them as well.

Thank you, again, for your post, for sharing your stories with us. It meant a lot to both me and my husband. We thank you.