The following article was written for the Alamogordo Daily News (to be published by them on their new blog):

Air Force Sergeants’ Association (AFSA) visits the veterans in Alamogordo every third Saturday of the month.  It is part of their efforts to show respect to those who have served and sacrificed for our nation.  Volunteers from AFSA visit over 30 veterans in Betty Dare Good Samaritan Center, Aristocrat Assisted Living Center and Casa Arena Blanca in Alamogordo.  Some of them will even go as far as to Truth or Consequences to visit the veterans in New Mexico Veterans Home, where over 120 veterans are staying there.  As far as I know, many of them do not have family members who will visit them regularly.  Some also live away from their own home towns.  Support and companionship are very much needed.

 

It is a commendable effort by AFSA, but unfortunately not many people seem to think that community service or paying respect to the veterans is on their priority list.  With over 800 members in the Holloman AFB chapter of AFSA, only an average of 5 to 10 people have been showing up in the veterans’ visit.  This is barely 1% of the membership.  Holloman and Alamogordo, is this the best we can do?  Can we not spare just a couple of hours every month for our veterans? 

 

The next visit will be this Saturday, May 17, at 9:30 a.m. starting from Betty Dare Good Samaritan Center on 3101 N. Florida Avenue.  The members are encouraged to bring their family members and pets.  The more people there are, the merrier.  It is a great opportunity to teach the children about respecting the veterans and the elderly.  It is also a community service that will bring joy to many veterans. 

Hope to see you all there.

Your response: