Veterans Day

The Korean Monument in Evansville, Indiana

 

 

Let us salute all Veterans who have served our country.  They have been our protectors, our strength, and our shield.  

Most of us go about our daily lives without a thought of the sacrifices that were made for our freedom and happiness.  How different our lives would be if those soldiers hadn’t been there.  Today, November 11th, give those veterans you know a small acknowledgement of your gratitude – a handshake, a phone call, or card.

Every soldier has a different perspective on war. Evansville veteran Randy Muston of 173^rd Airborne Brigade was in the Vietnam War and shared his experiences.

“173^rd was an airborne unit-- airborne units go into combat by parachute, other units go in by ship or land by plane.  In Vietnam I was lucky I didn’t have to parachute out, I was able to land by plane, but the parachute was there if I needed it.”

Randy was very serious as he explained, “An airborne unit is the only military combat unit that is automatically surrounded.  An airborne unit’s job is to fight their way out of it.  When there were troops in Vietnam that were in trouble—the 173^rd was thrown in to assist them.  They were all over the place.”

The soldiers of Vietnam are heroes, but when they returned home weren’t always welcomed.  Randy Muston remembers this: “I’m still very ticked off at the way the people of this country treated the Vietnam veterans because veterans give them the freedoms they have.” 

Captain Marissa Mitchell of the United States Army has been to both Afghanistan and Iraq and is on “inactive ready reserve”, which means she could be called up again.  When deployed, her unit took a lot of indirect fire, and there was little she could do to protect herself.  For example, her unit’s gym, which she used regularly, was hit by the enemy one day.  And while traveling, she knew the Taliban would target her seat in the vehicle because of her rank.

Like many other soldiers, Marissa’s transition back to civilian life has been hampered by PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  PTSD is an anxiety disorder that interferes with normal activities and it affects everyone differently.  PTSD causes some to relive a stressful event, others to become emotionally detached, and others to have exaggerated responses to normal events.  Marissa thinks a strong support network at home is critical to deal with PTSD.

Armistice Day was established in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson after WWI.  In 1954, Congress renamed it to Veterans Day in 1954 as a day to recognize veterans of all wars.  President Wilson said “…. the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

Soldiers both past and present have been called.  They have gone.  Because of their courage and sacrifice we have a good life.  Veterans Day is today Nov. 11^th – let’s show our thanks!



Thank You Cards!

Hillcrest Washington Youth Home sent us their thanks for our time spent with them as well as the blankets, books, and food they were given on October 27th, Make A Difference Day.

 The letter below is from the Boys & Girls Club thanking us for the decorated treat bags they received from us.  That was our "Pay it Forward" project with the kids at Hillcrest.

Make A Difference Day

From left to right:  U of E student Ashleigh Helbert, Altrusan Eileen Will, U of E student Kelly Andres, Altrusan Nita Voorhees, U of E student Jessica Braam, Altrusan Donna Feagley, Altrusan Ruth Willis, Activities Director Michael Garris, U of E student Katy Von Der Heide, U of E student Colleen Vonalt, U of E student Meghan Becker

Make A Difference Day

Altrusa and University of Evansville students teamed up on national Make A Difference Day for an activity at Hillcrest Washington Youth Home.  Although the two groups are very different, Make A Difference Day brought them together.

In addition to time with the children, Altrusa and the college students  provided an activity to encourage the idea of “paying it forward.”  This small yet important project benefited the Boys and Girls Club of Evansville.

Nita Voorhees, Altrusa’s Community Service Committee co-chair, says Altrusa also delivered twenty-nine books in several genres.  “I always have suggestions of author or titles from (Hillcrest) Activities Director, Michael Garris and help from the lady in the teen section at Barnes & Noble.”  Altrusa donated fleece blankets and a gift bag containing personal care items.

Garris noted that the youth at Hillcrest look forward to the new books, the visiting and the ‘pay it forward project’.  “Our kids have big hearts.  They want to show you what they do.  It’s almost as if they need feedback—is this okay?  It’s just that recognition really – that they are valued, that their views are valued.”  

Garris also mentioned that many kids at Hillcrest are wondering about their own future, so having college students around is a real treat.   They are curious about the college students and ask questions. 

 “I heard about Make A Difference Day in a meeting for Sigma Alpha Iota, UE's professional women's music fraternity” said Katy Von Der Heide, one of six U of E student volunteers, about the upcoming Hillcrest event.  “I know that I have been blessed with everything that I have, and I really believe that it is my duty to help everyone that is not so fortunate”

Garris has seen a lot of changes at Hillcrest over the years. He remembered that Twenty eight years ago kids came in through DCS (Department of Children’s Services). Now, if a child is not delinquent, DCS will put them in foster care.  Today Hillcrest houses mostly delinquency situations. “This means most likely a child at Hillcrest has been brought before the court and found guilty of some kind of criminal mischief whether it be truancy or running away from home.” 

Hillcrest Washington Youth home works to provide a safe nurturing environment.  They are not a “locked” facility meaning the kids are able to come and go.  For safety reasons, outsiders cannot get in unless they are on a visitors list.  This Youth Home covers anger management, bullying, cyber bullying, studying for classes, the importance of attending school, as well as drug and alcohol related issues.  The goal is to get these children to return to their families and become productive members of society. 

USA Weekend Magazine and Hands On Network established Make A Difference Day in 1990 as a day to “love your neighbor.”  Any group may take part in “Make A Difference Day” as long as it performs a volunteer project that helps others. Altrusa is an international organization and impacts millions of people around the world.  For twelve years all the clubs have joined together on the fourth Saturday of October, to Make A Difference and to combat illiteracy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Storytelling and Essay Contest Awards

Storyteller Addie Hirschen

  Addie May Hirschen, a storyteller from Indianapolis, entertained young and old under a tent on the lawn of Willard library on July 28^th, the final day of “Beyond the Beanstalk”.   Wearing a long blue- green dress along with a golden crown, she told interesting stories with expression, and used riddles as well as puppets to captivate her audience.

With temperatures over 100 degrees this summer, reading a good book in air conditioning has been a great alternative to playing outside.  Aidan Huffman, a participant in Willard Library’s “Beyond the Beanstalk” summer reading program said, “I read a lot and reading’s good for you.  Me and my sister had a competition and we both got tied.”

Rhonda Mort, Willard Children’s Librarian, said that there was good participation in their summer reading program.  Children participating in the “Beyond the Beanstalk” reading program were given a chance for a prize for every ten hours of reading.  On July 28^th at the Grand Fabled Costume Ball, the end of the summer reading program celebration, names were drawn from a jar.  The age appropriate prizes included T-Shirt, E- Monopoly, Horse ride, and Rock climbing.

Indiana Jones and the Tooth Fairy

Fancy Nancy

 Kids were encouraged to attend dressed as their favorite character.  There were well-known characters such as the adventurous Indiana Jones and a career-oriented yet dainty tooth fairy, as well as Fancy Nancy, who wore a multi-colored tutu and sparkly pink shoes.  For those of you not familiar, Fancy Nancy is a little girl character created by author Jane O’Connor who loves everything fancy:  clothes, accessories, decorations, furniture, and even fancy words.

Sara Murray and Nafeeza (Birdie) Harrison with the first place winner of the Essay Contest

When the storytelling finished, Mother Goose (Sara Murray) made an appearance.  She came with her Altrusa friends, who sponsored an essay and art contest, and later cooled everyone down by serving ice cream.  Sue Huck explained that Altrusa of Evansville is part of an international organization that supports literacy.   “Altrusa historically has been, and still is, a community service organization with a focus on literacy and other local needs”.

The subject of the essay contest was “Who Made a Difference in Evansville’s History?” in honor of Evansville’s 200^th anniversary.   The contestants chose a wide variety of historical figures including Samuel McCutchan, Albert Wesselman, Christian Decker, Hugh McGary, and John Reitz. 

Winners of the Essay Contest sponsored by Altrusa International of Evansville

In their essays, some contestants proudly stated their relationship to these historic Evansville figures.  The first place entry was by Jim McMurray who was awarded a Kindle, followed by Jack Buschkill, Chris Zimmerman, Melissa Bubb, and Tyler Zimmerman who won gift cards to Barnes & Noble bookstore.

The art contest theme was “Draw your favorite place in Evansville”.  Aubrie Madigan won first prize in the drawing contest and a basket of art supplies, and Nicole Hamilton placed second receiving a gift card from Dick Blicks.

Sue Huck dishes up ice cream

Birdie Harrison mentioned a future Altrusa activity at Caze Elementary’s new multicultural library.  “Fifty multicultural books were donated to help bring awareness to the different cultures in our community.”   Members will be actively involved in the new Pre-K class this school year by establishing a book reading schedule and giving each pre- school child a free book.

From left to right: Sue Huck. Rhonda Mort, and Sara Murray