Joan Welch Patriot of the Month, February 2003

DOB: 12/25/46 Married to Chris 33 1/2 yrs. One son, 27 yrs old. Presently practicing retirement.

My military interests revolve around the veterans who joined the services, fought in the wars and need help in the way of friends, support, appreciation, living a normal existence day to day.

The military history that interests me the most is the Civil War. I feel as though I was there. It simply breaks my heart.

I was a member of the Sumner VFW auxiliary whose members were from WWII and Korea. Chris was the only Vietnam vet who belonged. I joined to support him and to do good works for the folks at the WA State Soldiers Home and the community at large. That organization folded due to no new members joining. It is obvious they did not reach out to Vietnam vets. Chris tried and tried to get his fellow vets from that war to join, but the way they were treated by the citizens of this country and the members of that particular VFW, believing Vietnam was a farce and unhappy the war was not won by the USA, made them unpopular to the other war veterans. This attitude was the cause of their demise. It is unfortunate, they did a lot of good things.

The highlights I would like to share would be those when I, in tandem with Chris, and on my own helped make the lives of the vets at the Soldier's Home a little happier. For several years, we invited a few vets from the Home to join us for Thanksgiving and Christmas. These were men who had no family or friends to share the holidays with. We reached out to them and happily they accepted our invitations. It was great! Unfortunately, the guest list with family reached to be over 25 people for dinner. Chris and I did our best. It must have been good, because everyone kept coming back every year. It became too much for me, as I always had to work the day after each of these holidays. It took it's toll. We began having dinner out at Christmas, my birthday, and managed to get invited to friends for Thanksgiving. However, we continued to give when we organized Bingo games twice a week at the Home. It was the very least we could do.

We volunteered for the local Food Bank. After Chris went on swing shift, I would pack groceries and deliver 3 to 4 x's a week after work. I would take our son along with me. I can get lost in a closet. But mainly for him to see not every kid had what he had. It was an eyeopener to him.

I have worked with Francis House. This organization gathers clothes and household items, along with furniture to those poor families and individuals who have been ousted from their homes for reasons of poverty and/or fire.

Chris and I have been involved with other charity projects. Please understand, I am not bragging. It is very difficult for me to open up. I give of myself selflessly. I want all of you to know that leaving the sanctity of your home, your warm, safe, cozy corner of the world, and going into lower income and worse neighborhoods to do good is a treasured gift. It is a gift to those you help, and a gift to yourselves. There is no better way to feel good about your life, than to help those in need. This includes listening and visiting the elderly and caring for children. These are the greatest achievements and highlights of my life.

I am proud to be working with Chris and our friend, Nancy in CA, finding former shipmates of the USS Black. There is a reunion for these swabbies each year. We have found men who haven't seen one another for 30+ years. It is a joy to see these guys lock into a hug with so long-ago buddies and reconnect for memory-sharing and future visits.

My message to others would be to be proud of yourselves for your service to our country, support fellow veterans, honor your achievements and move onto the future.

I am always proud of Chris when he wears his USS Black jacket with the Vietnam patch in public. The men & women who hold out their hands to thank Chris for serving his country always amazes and astounds me.

I am quite surprised by how much I have to say. Please, if you are able, reach out to others, do good works. The prize is joy!

Thank you for your nomination. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my stories with you. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you are in need.

God Bless. Stay Healthy....Be Happy