Category: History and current events

Honoring Our Veterans 

Veterans Day on November 11 honors those who served in the U.S. armed forces. The Veterans Administration supports veterans through health care, education, and research. Personal stories highlight the ongoing impact of veterans, including therapeutic relationships with pets and reflections from veterans of past conflicts, emphasizing resilience and community connection.

updated November 4, 2024

In the United States we reserve November 11, the date of the Armistice of World War I, as Veterans Day, to remember and honor all who do or have served in our armed forces.

The Veterans Administration provides benefits to veterans including health care. The VA Health Care System, or VHA,  one of the largest in the world, not only cares for veterans’ health, but also  provides medical education and medical research.

If you have ever received care from a physician who trained in the United States, that doctor likely learned from a veteran in a VHA facility. So our veterans continue to serve even after they leave military service. 

Welcome home heroes sign on a VA clinic
a Veterans Administration clinic

Here are several stories about veterans. Enjoy them, and thank the veterans you know this week.

disabled veteran patch

One Dog’s Powerful Healing Effects on Two Wounded Veterans

I believe your heart will be touched by this  story about the special relationship between  a wounded veteran and his therapy dog. Mine certainly was.

“It’s been quite a journey for U.S. Army veteran Justin Lansford and his canine companion, Gabe.

In 2012, Lansford lost his left leg in an IED explosion in Afghanistan.”

My husband served in the Army and was deployed to Vietnam in the 1970s. Here is his story –

From bullets to blessings-one man’s journey to recovery from war

“I didn’t want to ever go to Vietnam again when I came home in 1972 after a one-year tour of duty with the United States Army. I was stationed with the Americal Division, 3/18 Field Artillery Battalion near Tra Bong, a major village located about 25 miles west of Chu Lai, the headquarters of the Americal Division, on “China Beach” at the South China Sea.”

man next to concrete bunker at China Beach
Raymond visiting an old war bunker on China Beach

 

A veteran dishes out love– personal reflections from a Vietnam veteran

“The people around us are starving for love and we need to unlock our pantry and see to it that everybody gets a belly full.”

clowns entertain Vietnamese people
A veteran and his wife clown for people at a humanitarian outreach in Vietnam.
two soldiers statue
memorial statue at Canon City, Colorado-photo by Dr Aletha 

exploring the HEART of health

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you turn health challenges into health opportunities.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr Aletha

Remembering September 11, 2001

In this post I’m sharing a few of my first impressions of New York City from a visit in 2013, 12 years after the Twin Towers were attacked.

updated September 9, 2024

I visited New York City once, in 2013, 12 years after the terrorist attack. I took these photos then. 

One World Trade Center, photo taken 8/16/2013
One World Trade Center, photo taken 8/16/2013
IMG_1551
a view of Manhattan and Liberty Island from the harbor
a New York City police officer and his horse represent the city proudly
A New York City police officer and his horse represent the city proudly
honoring the brave firefighters who rescued survivors and those who lost their lives doing so
While we were eating outside a restaurant, this FDNY firetruck drove by, reminding me of the brave firefighters who rescued survivors and those who died doing so

In this post, I reviewed a book about 9/11, Working Stiff

Remembering and reading about September 11, 2001

Even though the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States happened long ago, there are still lessons to remember and to learn. This post highlights some of the literature that preserves that knowledge.

Keep reading

exploring the HEART of health in history

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you turn health challenges into health opportunities.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

The Heart of Health Online Bookstore

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore that financially supports local, independent bookstores.

We believe bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and they are dedicated to the common good.

Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores.