Published: July 13, 2008 12:33 am            

We couldn't do it without you

Thank you! In our dire economic times, it is all most small businessowners can do to keep afloat. In Meridian, we have some wonderful business persons, who help the Veteran Community tremendously, even though it takes away from their personal profits,or time spent trying to run their businesses. Advertising costs, like gas, keep going up. So, as President of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 257, and Public Information Officer of the newly formed Veterans Alliance of East Mississippi and West Alabama, it is my privilege and honor to give them a public THANK YOU!

Thank you to Dr. Jack Hall of Hall Chiropractic Clinic for all the hours you put in treating Veterans first, and worrying about how he/she/us can pay you second. Thank you for the money you put out of your own pocket to advertise and pay your staff, not to mention the long hours of hard work on your part to conduct your 'Patient Appreciation Days'--which recently you have graciously extended into a 'Patient Appreciate Week'. You donate all the money earned on those days/week to our Veterans Emergency Fund; and it is a Godsend!! With the economy going down, and costs going up, that money is used to help Veterans families who are facing emergencies. We have been able to give a Vietnam Veteran suffering with Cancer, gas and oil money, so he could get to the VA Medical Center in Jackson for his treatment; pay a medical bill for an Iraqi War Veteran who needs a civilian treatment, and has no insurance; buy groceries for a family who are having to make a choice -- gas or food. We have paid utility bills, and a lot of other things, because of your caring devotion to the folks who make us free - and their families.

Special recognition and thank you needs to go to a few others:

Thank you to Ken and Dixie Labruyere at Lil Caesars Pizza. When a thief ran off with our 'pickle jar', you made up the money out of your own pocket, and you continue to help us in so many ways!

Thank you to Jack Bishop at Queen City Durable Medical Equipment. You have fixed broken wheel chairs for nothing; made house calls at your own expense [to a houseboundVeteran], and so much more.

Thank you to Dennis Harper, of Harper's Hospice. The minute I tell Dennis of a situation, he personally stops everything and goes out to the patient. Recently he went all the way to another county to help a Veteran who was suffering from Cancer - even though VA never would authorize payment for Hospice Care. Dennis visited that combat Veteran, until the man died, and never was paid a penny!

Thank you to Janet and Tom McBride at the Lion & the Harp; Linda at Hodgepodge by Linda, and Bunny Stephens at Wrangler Furniture for your generous prizes for a recent raffle we held to help Veterans kids in this coming school year, and a few other things.

Thank you to a Veterans' widow, Mary Rodgers. Mary owns Better Floors and has started making regular contributions to the Emergency Fund, based on her sales amounts. Mary also set up a Memorial Fund, so that every Veteran of our area has flowers at his/her funeral.

Thank you to Mr. Archie McDonnell and Citizens National Bank for their on-going support of the needs of the Veteran Community [that includes the widows, wives and children of the Vets who have or are fighting for our freedom]. Without your help we could not do nearly so much.

Thank you to Mr. John Harris, City Councilman, who never asks what ward someone is in - or even if they live in the City Limits, when we call upon him for help. He has helped in so many ways since he became aware of the needs [from some Veterans he grew up with here in Meridian]. I'm not from here, and sometimes run into a situation that can easily be handled, if one knows who to ask. Mr. Harris has become that person. He never asks for publicity, like a 'normal' politician. He just 'takes care of it' and gets the Veteran or family member with the right person. I wish all our politicians were so conscious of their responsibility to the people.

Thank you to Steve Gillespie and the Meridian Star for publicizing the needs and happenings of the issues concerning the Veteran Community. You all do it so objectively and professionally.

Thank you to EVERY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER who has been gracious enough to put our our 'pickle jars' in your place of business. Some of you have recently voiced frustration because some folks have been stealing from a few of the jars lately. But you do not ask us to remove them, if fact most of you are adamant that they stay prominately on the counters. Even though you are very busy, most of you have become the 'jar police'. You are all truly devoted to REALLY helping the Veterans of our area.

And, last but certainly not least, thank you Meridian! Thank you folks who throw a few pennies in our jars and boxes at Binkie's Restaurant, Queen City Truck Stop, the Chicken Basket, Pet Services or any where else you see them.

We are all volunteers, and all members of the Vet Community ourselves, so every penny that you donate goes to help someone in our community who REALLY needs it; and, generally, is way to proud to ask.

Our Veterans, and their family members, deserve the best. Unfortunately, right now, they are not always getting that from the very people who should be on the forefront -- the VA and the politicians. Right now many of the Veterans of our community are going through so much; fighting disabilities or even death, while trying to get their deserved benefits and/or medical treatments. Thank you all for helping us to help them.

Sincerely,



Bobbye C. Jerone

President, American Legion

Auxiliary Unit 257 and

Public Information Officer,

The Veterans Alliance of East

Mississippi and West Alabama

        

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