Hats off to veterans

Civilians coping with the demands of everyday life often forget the sacrifice of our soldiers. As we pay the rent and go shopping and raise our children, we take for granted our relative security and prosperity compared to the rest of the world. Soldiers, however, know all too well the chaos and turmoil of trouble spots because they witnessed it firsthand. May is National Military Appreciation Month and a fitting time to recognize the sacrifices American service members and their families make for freedom.

Furthermore, our veterans deserve, and many desperately need, continuing confirmation of the value of their service as they cope with the aftermath of war.

If the United States wishes to remain a society of justice and opportunity, we must continually find ways to support the people who laid their lives on the line to preserve it. In addition to providing adequate healthcare and educational benefits, we must tend to psychological needs as well. Faced with budget cuts and swelling admissions, VA Medical Centers are not always able to fully address these psychological needs on an individual, veteran-by-veteran basis.

Furthermore, a chasm exists between veterans with needs and independent citizens who are willing to pitch in, but don’t know how. On the one hand, many veterans would like to participate in special outreach programs but are unable to find a sponsor. On the other, individuals and groups would like to help a veteran, but are often limited in the forms of assistance they can provide.

To bridge this gap, Manhattanville College created a program called Hats off to Veterans. “Hats Off” promotes recognition to veterans, especially for those home- or hospital-bound due to injury while serving our country.

When a person enrolls in the “Hats Off” program, they agree to mail or deliver a respectful greeting and note of encouragement to a hospitalized veteran.

They sign up at www.mysoldier.com to receive a “Hats Off” starter kit containing veteran contact information, guidelines for letter-writing and optional care package preparation, a My Soldier bracelet (to wear in support of Veterans and American service men and women) and a specially designed My Soldier baseball hat to include with the greeting they send to their veteran.

The program and kits are free to all who register, but donations are appreciated. Participation is not limited to Manhattanville College, but is open to the public. In fact, it is the goal of the program to have participants from all 50 states. We hope every American registers to use “Hats Off” to honor, support and thank a veteran. It’s an easy way for anyone to do his or her part to recognize and cheer a hospitalized veteran.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Berman, President, Manhattanville College

Thanks from

Swan Lakers

Swan Lakers would like to thank everyone who came out on April 21st to clean up a bit of Ferndale. We joined the Adopt-A-Highway program recently and had a great response for our Earth Day get-together.

Twenty five members and friends gathered at the Ferndale Market and quickly dispersed to various areas on Hwy 209. Our section is between mile marker 3.7 and 5.4. Many of the volunteers went beyond these boundaries, cleaning some of South Ferndale Drive and around the corners of South and North Ferndale Drive, also 1/4 mile each side of the corner of Highways 83 and 209. With so many enthusiastic people the job was finished quickly.

It was a beautiful spring day and fun was had by all! We want to thank the Ferndale Market for providing parking space and donating a case of bottled drinking water. We also appreciated Gypsy Java giving us discounts on delicious hot chocolate and coffee. A special thank you to Dave Barton and his crew at the Rocky Mountain Roadhouse for treating us to homemade sandwiches and refreshments; they did a great job! Also, thank you, Dianna, at the Grateful Bread, for taking time to bake a special birthday cake for Denny. It was so nice we all sat outside, enjoying the scenery and engaging conversation.

Once again, thank you to all who participated! We are looking forward to another clean-up towards the end of the summer. If you would like more information about the Swan Lakers, please visit our website: www.swanlakers.org.

Sincerely,

Swan Lakers Board of Directors