This was another busy week with my activities split between veteran and senior center visits.
First, I had two veteran activities. One was at the VA hospital in North Chicago. I visited only a few veterans because there was a major bingo game with refreshments on the schedule. The majority of the residents went to play bingo. However, we still were able to visit some veterans and staff. In particular, we spent a lot of time talking to Bill. He petted me with a great deal of pleasure. He was a Vietnam veteran. He is also on the Lovell Wheelchair Team and won some medals last summer.
Bill talked about what he did after coming home from Vietnam. He lived in northwest Indiana and worked at the very large U.S. Steel plant at the lakefront. In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, a very large number of people worked at this plant. Bill had a very skilled job dealing with converting scrap metal into quality steel products. He handled cradles that were filled with molten steel, placing this material in forms to produce castings. The temperature of his work area was very high. He had to wear layers of special clothing. You could tell that he was very proud of the work he accomplished. It’s great to hear about the lives of these veterans after they left the military.
Then I attended another LCC “22” Supper. There were lots of comfort dogs and lots of people in attendance. Members from Faith were there. The speaker was Allan Lynch, a Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam. He captivated the audience by sharing his experiences before, on, and after the battlefield. My handlers are planning to write this story in a separate article. Watch for it.
Second, I visited two senior centers: one in Gurnee and another in Libertyville. In each case, I’m very well-known by the residents. Since I visit on a regular schedule, people look forward to my visit. We all had a great time.
This week’s visit emphasized the value of learning. As we gathered with various people on a regular basis, they share their experiences, both happy and sad times. The Lord uses these happenings in ways to share the Gospel message.
Be in touch. Peace!