I spend some of my free time doing volunteer work at the local veterans center and it has proven to be a wonderful experience that has helped me improve physically and mentally.
I am very limited in what I can do due to disability caused by a stroke on August 19, 2014 so I am not much help but I
The building is magnificent and second in quality only to the wonderful people who work there. One comment made and seconded by staff members is how much they respect and enjoy the residents and how much they enjoy coming to work every day. There is a marvelous physical rehabilitation room with a therapy staff to match. The employees take care of all of the resident needs, from bathing to laundry to feeding to cleaning the rooms to taking
The residents are also transported to any medical appointments that can’t be taken care of “in-house”. The center has a medical staff of doctors, nurses,
The privilege of spending time with this assortment of exquisite and wonderful people is something everyone should be able to experience in their lifetime. The experiences of the veterans are very interesting and enlightening. It is amazing how sharp the minds of people in their 90’s are and how appreciative they are of the smallest act of assistance on my part. One WWII veteran was a machine gunner on a PBY, a patrol bomber seaplane designed for use in anti-submarine warfare and reconnaissance, and was often used in the sea rescue of downed pilots or survivors of sunken ships. There are others from every aspect of the military and all of them spent part or all of their working lives in service to liberty. No finer group of people can be found anywhere, residents or staff.
With all of the graft, corruption, waste, and incompetence that has been revealed about the Veterans’ Administration it is easy to look at the entire organization as bad but I can personally attest to the high standards and quality of the organization and people in Claremore, Oklahoma. Those who have served our nation with courage, honor, and dedication are being served in Claremore by people of equal quality, some of them also veterans as is the case with Bert Ellard, who served in the Navy. All of the bad things I am aware of come from bureaucrats in Washington, D C (De Cesspool) who are strictly bureaucrats without contact with those they are supposed to serve and with no repercussions if they are corrupt or incompetent. The situation on the ground is different and the people are of much higher quality, which says all that needs to be said about keeping decisions and control as close as possible to the citizens who need the “service”. The farther up the bureaucratic ladder they get, the less useful they are to the “grassroots” organization that actually works with the veterans. So when you read or hear of the corruption and incompetence remember that your local center administration and staff, wherever it may be, is likely more victim than perpetrator so give them the benefit of the doubt unless you have firsthand knowledge to the opposite.
I submit this in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, in faith, with the responsibility given to me by Almighty God to honor His work and not let it die from neglect.
Bob Russell
Claremore, Oklahoma
August 28, 2015
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