OzSTOC
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: keith3po on November 11, 2013, 06:06:11 AM
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Saw this post on Facebook the other day
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_isyuTGv2pY/Un_lNmMgu6I/AAAAAAAACro/lT86L_tC2MM/s800/1467308_10152009137501224_1576241401_n.jpg)
It was seen by a lot of people and made the news now it looks like over a 1000 people will be at his funeral which is nice but after posting this on my-mc-phoenix Forest a member from Canada posted this
There are many of us who have the utmost respect for the men and women who serve their country's military and especially so for those that have lived through, or died, in war. This man was one such hero in my book and I find it sad, even sadder than the fact he had no close family to attend his funeral, that he very likely had no one to be with him, or to talk to him, or to help him in his declining years, other than nursing home staff. Thousands of thoughtful people turning out for his funeral shows how grateful we are for his war efforts, but how much nicer it could have been for him if even one of those people had known him while he was alive and were able to express their gratitude with some companionship.
About a year after I retired, I was looking for some type of volunteer work to take up some of my free time. I found it very difficult to find something that appealed to me and also that would give me a sense of satisfaction that I was doing something worthwhile. Prior to this search, I had taken to doing a daily walk ( like a busman's holiday for a postman :lol: ) just to keep fit and had met an old fellow, sometimes with his wife, who also was a regular walker down by the beach here. Turned out he was a veteran of WWII, who had been a bombardier with the Royal Canadian Air Force, attached to Bomber Command.
I had often stopped to talk with him on my walks down there and also thanked him many times for his war service. One day, he wasn't there and after it had been a couple of weeks, I finally saw his wife, alone, and asked where Reg was. He had fallen at home and broken his hip. For someone at 90 years of age, that is often a death sentence, so I went to visit him in hospital a few times. Four months later, he beat the odds and left the hospital, albeit in a wheelchair now and I decided right then and there that he would become my volunteer "project".
For two years now, I have seen him for three or four hours weekly, helping him to get to doctor's appointments (his wife doesn't drive), getting his haircut, going down to the beach to see old friends, or whatever he needs me to do to help him out. At 92 years of age now, he is still as sharp as a tack and has a great memory. He has said to me many times that he doesn't know what he ever did to deserve a friend like me and, although he has two daughters who do visit him and help out also, I know he cherishes our friendship in a very special way. He thinks of me as being like his war time flying pals, since he and I can talk about things the way he did with his war time brothers. I intend to share my time with him for as long as he draws breath on this Earth.
So, I am telling this story, not to blow my own horn, but because I believe doing something for our veterans while they are still alive is much more meaningful and rewarding for both parties involved. If you are retired, with time on your hands and know of a veteran that could use a helping hand, you will do him, or her, a far greater service than attending their funeral ever will.
Thought it was worth re-posting in as many places as i can, my old fella is 92 and is struggling on his own part of the problem is loneliness though he won't admit it i know he would love someone calling in for a chat.
Sorry it was a bit long thanks for reading. :thumb
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Keith, bloody fantastic work there. :thumb
Sounds like Reg is a young man trapped in an older body.
Your efforts would no doubt are a big help to Reg's wife, just knowing that you are there.
Thanks for sharing and take care.
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Abe unfortunately its not me but a chap from Canada but i will pass on your comments. :thumbsup
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It's great to see people helping out others. :thumbsup
As a matter of interest.........you made reference in your post about "Bomber Command". Well, I have a very good friend "Ian Pelly" who lives at Woodford, Qld, with his wife, and his father is Flight Lieutenant Desmond Pelly DFC of Bomber Command, he initially flew with No 100 squadron and later No 156. He was a Lancaster Bomber Pilot and flew 41 missions before being shot down over Germany where he was placed in a POW camp in Nuremberg. He is one of the very few members of Bomber Command still living in the UK and has recently been involved in videos and documentries being made in England about Bomber Command! I have the greatest respect for all who served in any war!