By Mary Cordova, EVP Business Development, Concierge Care Advisors
One of my most prized possessions is the tattered, worn, bible my father carried during the last seven months of his tour in Vietnam. It was never his choice to be there, he was drafted like so many other young men were during that time. He was 22 years old, living in sunny San Diego, and had just become a fireman with the California Department of Forestry when he was called to serve his country. Since he had experience driving a fire truck, they positioned him as a truck driver in the Army. He spent his days driving treacherous roads, bringing cargo and supplies to the front line to support the troops. What I didn’t know until recently is that he also brought a full truck back to the base as well; full of the fallen soldiers from the front. I can’t imagine the fear he must have felt driving into a battle every day, let alone knowing what he would have to load and bring back to the base. It must have been surreal.
Luckily, my dad also has memories of comradery, courage, and resiliency among the men and women he served with. In my childhood, he regaled us with funny stories of his time in the army and taught us how to march around in the yard singing cadence songs. To us it seemed he had just gone off to an extended summer camp and came back with stories and music. As an adult I learned it was so much more. Our veterans sacrificed so much in order to keep our nation strong and safe. We owe them a debt of gratitude that can only be paid by ensuring they have the tools and support they need to live the long, healthy, and secure lives that they fought so hard to bring us all.
Here at Concierge Care Advisors, we are dedicated to helping Veteran seniors find the care and living environment that best meets their needs and expectations. If you or a Veteran you know may be interested in learning more about our Veterans services and how we may be able to help ensure they are using their full benefits to help with the cost of care in their Golden Years please have them call us at 1-855-444-7364. We also encourage a visit to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for additional information and resources.
