Children know how to soften old hearts
By BILL DUNCAN
The View From Here
Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14 should be a holiday for all of Oregon. After all that was the day Oregon moved from a status of territory to statehood. On February 14, 1859, President Buchanan signed the bill and Oregon joined the federal union.
If it were not for Valentine’s Day itself and the hoopla that naturally goes with the day, the date would probably pass unnoticed, even in Salem. In fact, if you asked most Oregonians why the day is significant most would say for exchanging love notes and few would even know the date 147 years ago finally settled a hotly contested issue of letting Oregon into the union. The issue was whether Oregon would be a free or a slave state.
I can guarantee there will be celebrations in Oregon at White City, Roseburg and Portland on Valentine’s Day but not to celebrate statehood. Tuesday, Feb. 14 is National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans and that celebration will take place in the VA hospital facilities in those three cities, as well as at every VA hospital in the nation.
It may not sound important, but it should be important for every American. I am a veteran and I am a volunteer at the Roseburg VA Health Care System as the national representative of the American Red Cross on the hospital campus. Red Cross volunteers and I have participated in this program for the 33 years. I have witnessed what this show of love does for grizzly old vets, some of whom have no family.
This outpouring of love regenerates their spirit. It is the community, albeit, the nation, recognizing the sacrifice these men and women have made. Sometimes it is difficult for adults to express that feeling, but not for children.
Back in January, the VA began getting box loads of homemade Valentine cards from school children throughout the region. They are not addressed to any particular veteran, but the messages inside show the uninhibited love for the veterans.
The spelling may not always been correct, but the message is far more important. Here are some samples I got to peek at before they went to the veterans:
"Roses are Red, but I know you bled for the U.S. and that is us."
"Happy Valentine from Mrs. McIntyre’s whole third grade."
"My daddy was in the Army like you. He told me he was scart. (sic) Were you?"
"Don’t ever, ever stop being a veterian (sic) because I love dogs."
"Were you a Marine? My daddy was. Is it true that only Marines guard heaven?"
"Dear Veteran. I am sending you my big hart (sic) to kep (sic) under your pilow (sic)."
I still have a child’s Valentine prominently displayed on a bulletin board in my office — one that I found when I was returned to my hospital bed after a surgical procedure at the Portland VA hospital almost 20 years ago. It is a snake outlined in crayola and careful cut out. A strange Valentine I know, but the message was unmistakably love from a child:
"Keep this snake and he will protect you against bad things. Signed Jay."
Well, Jay it has been a lucky charm and has protected this old vet who has lived a charmed life.
Fortunately, children, unlike cynical adults, tell it like it is. One of my surgeries left me with a sizable hole in my back. As part of my recovery therapy, I had water therapy at the local YMCA. One day, a youngster spotted the scar and asked:
"Did you get hit by a MIG?"
Yep. Children know how to tell it like it is.
(Bill Duncan can be reached by writing to P.O. Box 812, Roseburg, OR 97470)