[StBernard] Why bother?

[Westley Annis]

I have a college friend in OH whose husband works with the Honor Flight
program in OH.  Basically the idea is to get as many of our WW II vets up to
D.C. to see the WW II Memorial and other D.C. sites - Viet Nam memorial,
Arlington and the Marine, Iwo Jima memorial and others.  Her husband
recently got a letter from one of these veterans.  She sent it to me and I'm
sharing it with the list.

JY





	Some people don't donate money to a cause....not because they don't
have the money, but they just don't get around to it.  Other people don't
volunteer for anything, or bake cookies, or crochet a blanket, or read to
children...you get the idea.  Often you hear people say "What difference
does it make, anyway?"  Well, Jim got a letter today from one of the vets
that Honor Flight took to DC last year...this is just one reason it's
important to reach out:
	
	"On Nov. 22, 2008, last year, I traveled to Washington on an Honor
Flight to see the WWII Monument.  Prior to the trip I had been through some
difficult times and my self-esteem was almost zero.  The Honor Flight to see
the WWII Monument and Senator Dole's talk to us on the tour bus raised my
self-esteem to the point that I really felt that my service time in WWII was
really worth something for my children to remember.  I felt like a "hero for
a day" although we all know that the dead soldiers are the real heroes.  But
we all have a little piece of the war that we remember.  I was proud to have
served.
	
	Since last Nov. 22 my life has improved immensely.  My feelings
about myself are very high now and I owe it all to the Honor Flight, the
beautiful monument and Sen. Dole's kind words to us on that tour bus a year
ago in Washington, DC.  I'll never forget what it all did for me.
	
	I am now looking to a much happier life ahead for me and my family.
	
	Thank you for making all of this possible for me.
	
	Your devoted friend,
	########## "
	
	So....the next time someone asks for something as simple as a prayer
for a friend or a ride to the store, think about the effect you might have
on someone's life.