AFSA 1163 supports our veterans

SrA Rebecka Albert visits with veterans at the SLC Veterans Hospital November 17, 2005

Volunteers from the 388th Fighter Wing and 75th Air Base Wing spent an afternoon visiting veterans at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City Nov. 17.

The visit was planned and coordinated by the Air Force Sergeants Association and volunteers from several units on base participated.

“I was interested in talking with people who were in past wars,” said Airman 1st Class Natalie Broussard from the 421st Fighter Squadron. “It was a good opportunity to hear about the kinds of things they went through and it was interesting to compare and contrast how the military is today.”

“It’s good to get insight into other generations of active-duty military and at the same time, it's important to show them that we care,” said Airman 1st Class Clarice Evans, 388th FW Small Computers and one of the organizers of the event. “The Air Force Sergeants Association is big on community service. Part of that is that we are very active with the veterans hospital.”

Airmen talked with veterans about their military service, their hometown and the differences between serving today compared to past generations. Many veterans shared stories from their time at war.

“We talked to one Vietnam veteran whose job was walking in front of convoys to look for mines,” said Airman Evans. “He told a story about a time when he called back to his command post with the description of a mine and they told him to pull it out of the ground and bring it back.”

“He thought they were crazy, but he ended up riding back to his base next to a Russian mine.”

The veterans appreciate having visitors. “It’s good to have somebody to talk to,” said Mr. Richard Crowder, a Navy veteran from Mountain Home, Idaho. Volunteers provide more than just a listening ear.

“The most important thing volunteers provide is the human touch,” said Ms. Valyri Nibley, Volunteer Resource Assistant at the hospital. “So many of our patients are out-of-state veterans, so they don't have family nearby to visit them.”

“When volunteers come by to offer a helping hand and a caring heart, it means a lot to the veterans. It helps them pass the time and gives them someone to talk to,” Ms. Nibley said.

According to a VA hospital public relations representative, the hospital saw 38,620 patients during fiscal year 2005. With numbers like those, the hospital could always use more volunteers said Ms. Nibley. For volunteer information, call 801-584-1241.