A Christmas Gift

Some gifts come beautifully wrapped. Some come knocking at your door. Others arrive by telephone from loved ones. This year I received a very special gift via the internet. It was an email that sent me a Kirkus Review that was a 100% wonderful review for Reveille in Hot Springs. These editors did not know me, the town or our VA, but they completely understood our battle, the sentiments of the community of Hot Springs, and the views of our veterans who use our VA.

They wrote that this VA should not be closed, but rather it should be cloned in every state in this country. They stated that this book is "an infuriating, stinging rebuke to politicians who leave returning soldiers to their own devices."  They totally got it! I admit that I cried when I read this review from a group of reviewers long known for tough reviews. It was a gift.

To top it off, a few days later I received another email from the publishers who sent their congratulations and said that Reveille had been named to the Kirkus list of the best books of 2013! This news has been announced on the Kirkus web site, their email newsletter and will be published in their January magazine.

This is an additional gift. This is a gift for the veterans, for the editor, Dennis Cass, for Senator Johnson, who wrote the foreword, for the photographers, William Ing and Justin Gausman, for the members of the community who contributed their sentiments, and for yours truly who wove the words into stories that touched these critics.

The ultimate gift would be recognition by those in Washington who have the final say as to the closing of our VA facilities in the rural communities and to the gradual waning of veteran benefits.We don't ask for special wrapping or fancy bows. All we wait for is the word from Washington that our veterans will have their wishes honored.

Tell us Virginia, is there really a Santa Claus?