Lance Cpl. Steven J. Radar, a CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, from Sacramento, Calif.,
and fellow troops visit with Michael A. Bastian, a retired airman at San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oct. 8, 2011. Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen visited the VA medical center as part of San Francisco Fleet Week. The event is an opportunity for service members to serve the community and showcase equipment, personnel and the ability of the Navy-Marine Corps to respond to a crisis. Photo by USMC Lance
Cpl. Joshua Young
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SAN FRANCISCO (10/9/2011) - Ten Marines, ten sailors and two Coast
Guardsmen brought Fleet Week to their fellow military members
hospitalized at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Oct. 8.
The service members visited the medical center as
part of a community relations outing for San Francisco Fleet Week.
Fleet Week is an occasion filled with opportunities, like
visiting the medical center, as a way for service members to give
back to the community.
Service members disembarked USS
Bonhomme Richard, which is ported in San Francisco's Pier 32. They
visited the VA medical center to chat and interact with veterans
from each branch of military service and every U.S. war since World
War II.
The entrance and hallway were lined with veterans in
wheelchairs waiting for active duty military men and women. Service
members were greeted with salutes, handshakes and veterans who
couldn't wait to tell where and when they had served. |
“Today we were reaching out to some of the veterans at the
hospital that might not have the opportunity to get out and
partake [in] Fleet Week,” said Sgt. Jordan M. Keefover, a
26-year-old helicopter mechanic with Marine Medium
Helicopter Squadron 364, from Beatrice, Neb.
Keefover
spent almost an hour with one veteran who was so grateful
for his time that he struggled to hold back his tears.
“We essentially brought Fleet Week to them,” he said.
“The fact that we can come to them is very important to
them.”
Some of these veterans are bound to a
wheelchair and don't get to go out much due to medical
conditions. Some of the veterans brought cameras with them
to have their photos taken with the service members.
“I met some new friends, some amazing people, enjoyed the
company of veterans and heard some great stories,” Keefover
said.
The medical center was filled with friendly
staff who were also eager to greet the service members and
seemed very happy that they had come.
“It's great to
have you guys here,” said Jim McDermott, an assistant chief
with voluntary service at the medical center. “The veterans
love to be recognized by the active duty, and I think the
active duty like to be recognized by the veterans. It's a
win-win situation.”
The veterans at the medical
center spoke highly of the staff and the living conditions.
“This is their home. They are welcoming people into
their home,” said McDermott, who has worked with the
veterans for 15 years. “They like visitors. They look
forward to it.”
This trip was the last of three
hospital visits scheduled for Fleet Week. Several service
members who attended said they hoped to come back again
before the week is over, or next time they come to San
Francisco.
“The fact that we took time out of our day
to go and brighten theirs really lifts up their spirits and
brightens their lives,” Keefover said. “They have been
there, they have done that and they have given their time.
It shouldn't be beyond anyone to give them some time back.”
More associated images in frame below
By USMC Lance Cpl. Joshua Young
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
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