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By Chief Petty Officer AnTuan D. Guerry
HAMPTON, Va. – USS Wasp Chief Selectees and Chiefs continued to roll on a fast-paced induction season by giving back to veterans at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Hampton, Va., Aug. 25.
The visit to the VA Medical Center is part of the training Wasp Chief Selectees are receiving during their transitioning to becoming Chief Petty Officers, and one of several community relations projects planned for the 10 Chief Selectees during this almost six-week process.
At the medical center, the Chief Selectees helped to prepare, serve and clean up during the veterans’ lunch-time meals.
They also conducted recreational activities with the veterans and visited patients on the wings of VA’s rehab and extended care unit, along the way crossing paths with retired Navy Master Chiefs, World War II, Korean, and Vietnam War heroes.
Meeting veterans of various services and hearing their stories, was one of the most memorable parts of the day for HMC (Sel.) Joseph Nicholls, who said he spent much of his day with 20-year Air Force veteran Willie “Bill” Massey, an aircraft radio communications expert.
After retiring from active duty, Bill then spent another 20 years of Federal Service in the Immigration Department.
“I [also] spoke with Francell Flood, another veteran who had 27 years of service in the Air Force. He regaled me with stories of how he traveled overseas, lost his wife, and put his three children through college; two work at the Pentagon, one for the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Nicholls noted. “The overwhelming sense of pride and service is etched deep into my heart and memory. I can not put into words the sheer respect I have for those men and women.”
Army veteran Roger Barnes, who served with the 1st Air Cavalry during the Vietnam War, said he especially appreciates the times he shares with active duty military, and he often finds himself replaying the visits’ conversations over in his mind.
“I think about y’all a lot when you leave,” Barnes said. “I love when you guys come over here … you could be doing anything else, or you could have gone anywhere else, but you chose to come here and that means a lot to me.”
Army Lt. Col. Roy Bunders, who served 22 years before retiring from active duty in 1970, praised the many programs VA runs – especially the visits by active duty personnel to the medical center.
Bunders spent the majority of his time with CTRC (Sel.) Jill Violini, and when asked specifically about their time together, Bunders smiled and said simply, “she’s perfect.”
Although it was not his first visit to a VA medical center, PSC (Sel.) Galen Draper said, nonetheless, it was an experience he will cherish because of the visit’s historical value.
“Visiting the Veterans Hospital, as always, is a rewarding experience,” Draper said. “Rewarding because you get a chance to interact and learn from the people who have made this country great, and passing on their stories is how history is made.”
ACC (Sel.) Morgan Foister said he understands the importance of “service” to the community and developing a sense of pride for where one lives.
“No matter where we consider home to be, we are part of this community while we are serving here in Hampton Roads. We all benefit when we look outside our own individual interests and needs to each other’s needs,” Foister said. “This is when the whole becomes stronger, more vibrant, and better than the sum of its parts. ‘E Pluribus Unum,’ [means] ‘from many, one.’ That is the core principle of this country. When we build community, we are honoring and continuing the heritage of the citizen-patriot.”
| Date Taken: | 08.25.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.07.2010 18:02 |
| Story ID: | 55867 |
| Location: | HAMPTON, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 219 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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