[David]

By Kelli Germeraad, The Reporter



Hearts and flowers, glitter and glue; valentines love for heroes like you. The week of Valentine's Day is one of my favorite times of year. The cards and letters of young children, high school students and American citizens will flood into area VA medical centers and clinics as part of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.

During the week of Feb. 13-19, area VA medical centers and clinics are gearing up to pay tribute in a national salute to our national heroes, America's veterans. This annual salute began in 1978 when the Department of Veterans Affairs took over the program that started in 1974 by No Greater Love Inc., a humanitarian organization.

The week of the salute has been a time to honor hospitalized veterans; to increase community awareness of the VA's role in providing comprehensive medical care to the nation's veterans; and to encourage Americans to visit hospitalized veterans and consider working as VA volunteers. TV talk show host Montel Williams will serve as this year's chairman of the National Salute.

Williams will lead the VA's annual patient recognition program. He will invite the public to visit and honor veterans during the salute week, and serve as spokesman for nearly 100,000 volunteers serving veterans at VA facilities.

Williams enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1974 upon graduation from high school. Following basic training, he attended the Desert Warfare Training Center at Twentynine Palms, near Palm Springs, where he was recommended for, and accepted to, the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I.

After graduating from the one-year preparatory school, he was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where he studied Mandarin Chinese and graduated in 1980 with a degree in general engineering and a minor in international security affairs.

He was the first black enlisted Marine to graduate from both the Naval Academy Prep School and the U.S. Naval Academy. Some years later Williams gave up his naval commission to pursue speaking full time. He left the Navy with the rank of lieutenant commander. As a public speaker, he has reached out to thousands of parents, educators and business leaders, bringing them together to address issues affecting America's youth.

These efforts led to "The Montel Williams Show." In 1999, Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He established the Montel Williams MS Foundation to further study MS, provide financial assistance to select organizations and institutions conducting research, and raise national awareness and educate the public.

The week of the National Salute is an outstanding opportunity for us to visit area VA hospitals and clinics. In fact, right here in Solano County there are two big events taking place in which veterans service organizations and auxiliaries, as well as local citizens, can help honor our veterans.

At the Mare Island VA Outpatient Clinic, on Feb. 15, a reception will be held at 11 a.m. At 11 a.m. Feb. 16, a reception is scheduled for the Fairfield Outpatient Clinic at Travis Air Force Base. Please take time that week to honor our nation's heroes, those who give so much to make us the nation we are. It is great opportunity to give your heart to a hero.