The big day finally arrived! Six months after the VA administration made the announcement that they would be closing our VA and leaving a clinic, resulting in longer drive time for many veterans, outsourcing of their care and the construction of a Domiciliary in an urban setting which would be less conducive to the healing of veterans with PTSD or other emotional issues, the final proposal that committees worked on, was presented to the entire community before it was shown to the VA in Washington and to the rest of the country. It is a remarkable proposal, growing services to the veterans, while at the same time, lowering the cost to the taxpayers from the plan proposed by the VA.
When have you known a group of citizens from diverse backgrounds join together, at their own expense, to create a new vision for a rural VA facility that will help a community, veterans, and their families? Veterans will receive more help emotionally, physically, educationally and financially. More veterans will be able to return to civilian life, finding work and success at personal relationships. In the long run our country should see less homeless veterans, greater employment and more intact families from this segment of our population. These are the men and women who have served our country and whose families have faced adversity along with the spouse/parent. Their world changed forever in one way or the other and our country needs to help them adjust to the world they left when they joined the service.
The proposal from the Save Our VA committees has addressed many of the issues facing not only our returning veterans, but also the veterans from past conflicts who still carry scars from their time in the military.
You can read the proposal, "Building an Integrated Veterans Support Community" on the website of our local paper, The Hot Springs Star, or on theveteranstown.com. If it isn't on at this time, give it a few days to check it out.
Be prepared to be impressed, hopeful and grateful to the community of Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Can Eric Shinseki ignore a proposal for a demonstration project that will be a guide for VA facilities nationwide, be cost effective for the taxpayers, while helping those who served to find healing, work and a sense of belonging during their lives as civilians?
It just makes sense. Helpful and less expensive. Who wouldn't want to go down this path?
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Ch, Ch, Ch, Chiggers
My introduction to chiggers came with a load of hay we ordered for our llamas when we lived on our land south of Hot Springs. Those little buggers are almost impossible to detect, with the exception of the itchy red bump they leave as a lengthy memento of their visit. That first exposure to those sneaky insects was a shock to this old lady who had never been exposed to them in Minnesota. I knew mosquitos, black flies, sand flies and other miserable bugs from living 65 years among the lakes of Minnesota, but during all of that time I had never met up with a chigger. Those annoying pests were kept in store for my elder years in South Dakota.
During my first time dealing with them I scratched one little bump until it became infected. Do not, I repeat, do not scratch one! I still have a scar as a reminder of that initial attack back in about 2004. Eventually it involved a visit to a doctor to take care of an infection.
We are now living in town, away from such annoyances, and yet on Monday I found one bite through that dreaded itch. By the time Monday had turned over to Tuesday I had nine more spots begging to be scratched. One more magically appeared this morning.
It is an old wives tale that finger nail polish destroys them. By the time you are bitten those tiny red monsters have long gone. The website suggests calamine lotion or other such remedies to sooth the itching. Whatever works, or doesn't, do not scratch!!!
Still remaining, in addition to the itches, is the mystery of where they came from. My husband does not have one bite. He was not with me in the Miss South Dakota parade on Saturday, Our Save Our VA group lined up in a park outside of town. Maybe, just maybe some of those cheeky chiggers hopped a visit then. Don't know, and maybe never will. It may remain another of life's little mysteries.
"Ah, a (not so) sweet mystery of life".
During my first time dealing with them I scratched one little bump until it became infected. Do not, I repeat, do not scratch one! I still have a scar as a reminder of that initial attack back in about 2004. Eventually it involved a visit to a doctor to take care of an infection.
We are now living in town, away from such annoyances, and yet on Monday I found one bite through that dreaded itch. By the time Monday had turned over to Tuesday I had nine more spots begging to be scratched. One more magically appeared this morning.
It is an old wives tale that finger nail polish destroys them. By the time you are bitten those tiny red monsters have long gone. The website suggests calamine lotion or other such remedies to sooth the itching. Whatever works, or doesn't, do not scratch!!!
Still remaining, in addition to the itches, is the mystery of where they came from. My husband does not have one bite. He was not with me in the Miss South Dakota parade on Saturday, Our Save Our VA group lined up in a park outside of town. Maybe, just maybe some of those cheeky chiggers hopped a visit then. Don't know, and maybe never will. It may remain another of life's little mysteries.
"Ah, a (not so) sweet mystery of life".
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Our Part in a Miss South Dakota Parade
The worst part of being in a parade is that you are in it and cannot see the other entries.
The best part of being in a parade is riding through town and greeting townspeople and being greeted with waves, cheers, thumb's up and salutes. Several of us PR members from Save our VA committee decorated a golf cart notifying citizens of the upcoming "roll out" presentation of our proposal to Washington for saving and growing our VA.
Finally, after over five months of work by many dedicated individuals committed to the health care of our veterans, the completed product will be shown to the community of Hot Springs at the same time as it will be revealed to the press.
The whole process of working together in smaller groups on separate issues, all combining to help us save a unique and much needed place of healing for veterans, has been challenging, invigorating, inspiring, exhausting and extremely satisfying. There is power in numbers and commitment to an idea. There is power in a positive attitude of victory for a common cause.
Watch our Facebook page on our website, the veteranstown.com for continuing coverage of Hot Springs making history.
Phase one is completed. Phase two is about to begin.
The best part of being in a parade is riding through town and greeting townspeople and being greeted with waves, cheers, thumb's up and salutes. Several of us PR members from Save our VA committee decorated a golf cart notifying citizens of the upcoming "roll out" presentation of our proposal to Washington for saving and growing our VA.
Finally, after over five months of work by many dedicated individuals committed to the health care of our veterans, the completed product will be shown to the community of Hot Springs at the same time as it will be revealed to the press.
The whole process of working together in smaller groups on separate issues, all combining to help us save a unique and much needed place of healing for veterans, has been challenging, invigorating, inspiring, exhausting and extremely satisfying. There is power in numbers and commitment to an idea. There is power in a positive attitude of victory for a common cause.
Watch our Facebook page on our website, the veteranstown.com for continuing coverage of Hot Springs making history.
Phase one is completed. Phase two is about to begin.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
"June is Busting Out All Over"
Our yard is at its peak of blooms and buds. The yellow roses have wilted, but the red and white ones are splashing colors shamelessly among daisies and brilliant red sweet peas, while some are climbing the trees and lilac bushes, reaching high, as if to call out, "notice me, notice me".
In the front yard the miniature rose bushes are heavy with red blossoms. They fill the window where our old cat loves to lie, enjoying the early morning sunlight. The bushes are so thick with flowers, they block some of the light, but cat is entertained by the fat bumblebees that dart among the blooms, landing when one catches their fancy.
In the garden the veggies are emerging in various stages. A green tomato or two are developing swiftly. Our bees are especially busy, flying in and out of the hive, laden with pollen and nectar. They are speedier than the bumbling bumblebees and harder to spot, except when they stop at the bee bath to take in water.
In the midst of all of this dazzling beauty, the baby birds are taking their first awkward flights, at times landing at my feet, blinking stupidly up at me while their frantic parents call from a nearby tree, "Watch out for that person! Fly away, fly away"! And of course, they do.
One robin is furiously pulling up dry grasses for a nest. Other robins were on that project weeks ago. Why is she so slow? Perhaps she is on a different time table. Perhaps her nest was destroyed. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.....
Is it any wonder that I love the month of June, so full of color and new life?
In the front yard the miniature rose bushes are heavy with red blossoms. They fill the window where our old cat loves to lie, enjoying the early morning sunlight. The bushes are so thick with flowers, they block some of the light, but cat is entertained by the fat bumblebees that dart among the blooms, landing when one catches their fancy.
In the garden the veggies are emerging in various stages. A green tomato or two are developing swiftly. Our bees are especially busy, flying in and out of the hive, laden with pollen and nectar. They are speedier than the bumbling bumblebees and harder to spot, except when they stop at the bee bath to take in water.
In the midst of all of this dazzling beauty, the baby birds are taking their first awkward flights, at times landing at my feet, blinking stupidly up at me while their frantic parents call from a nearby tree, "Watch out for that person! Fly away, fly away"! And of course, they do.
One robin is furiously pulling up dry grasses for a nest. Other robins were on that project weeks ago. Why is she so slow? Perhaps she is on a different time table. Perhaps her nest was destroyed. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.....
Is it any wonder that I love the month of June, so full of color and new life?
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
A Historical Veteran's Powwow
We made another first! Our small border community of Hot Springs hosted a day at a veteran's Powwow on the neighboring reservation of Pine Ridge. If you want to see military solemnity and honor to our veterans, this is the Powwow to attend. Veterans - black, white and red - marched proudly together, united in a common bond of "veteran hood".
Pictures are worth more than any words. For some great shots, go to our website, theveteranstown.com, and click on Facebook and William Ing's photo essay.
Pictures are worth more than any words. For some great shots, go to our website, theveteranstown.com, and click on Facebook and William Ing's photo essay.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Under the Color of our Skin
A Native American Korean veteran was sitting on a park bench in front of the book store in downtown Hot Springs. I sat down beside him as he was sipping on his cup of coffee and we talked about his life, which was colorful, to say the least. After years of working as a cowboy on different ranches, he was ordered by a judge to go into a substance abuse treatment program at the VA in Hot Springs. He has remained sober, and in Hot Springs, ever since.
He talked about how things have changed at the facility. In former times he said that the staff didn't know what to do with people of color - black or red. They didn't treat them the same as the white veterans back then.
The Korean veteran sat for a while nursing his coffee. Then he said quietly, "They didn't seem to know that we are all alike under the color of our skin. We all have our hopes and dreams."
He talked about how things have changed at the facility. In former times he said that the staff didn't know what to do with people of color - black or red. They didn't treat them the same as the white veterans back then.
The Korean veteran sat for a while nursing his coffee. Then he said quietly, "They didn't seem to know that we are all alike under the color of our skin. We all have our hopes and dreams."
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