Page 3 - PGA Community News - November '21

November 2021 November 2021 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 3

From The Editor: Heroes Among Us…

November is the month resource for services for our veterans. Deb has personally are dying from attempts at self-medicating their pain.
when we give formal assisted homeless veterans and those with post-traumatic Mental health must be given the same importance as
recognition to our veterans stress disorder. She is one of those individuals that you physical health. Please visit the website dds4vets.org for
on the 11th. Most of us recognize as an angel who has been placed on this earth more information about this 501(c)(3) organization and
recognize them when we to touch the lives of others. Deb even highlighted 2 Gala consider a donation or volunteer to assist.
meet them in our daily guests who served in World War II – ages 99 and 100. At the entrance to the Gala dining room, a table was
lives by thanking them for Amazing! set to recognize our POW-MIA’s. Walter Evans described
serving our country and None of us can imagine what our soldiers experience in its significance:
fighting for our freedoms. combat. Less than 1 % of the U.S. population has served “The round table shows everlasting concern for our
On October 16th I in the military. On average over the past few years, each POW/MIA’s. Remember. The white cloth represents the
experienced an evening I day, almost 20 veterans end their lives by suicide. There purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s
will always remember. I must be increasing awareness among all of us so that we call to arms. Remember. The single red rose signifies
attended, along with 324 others, the 1st annual Believe make a concerted effort to help those in our community. the blood they may have shed in sacrifice to ensure
in The Mission Gala organized by DDS4Vets (Dedicated It takes a combination of both community-based and the freedom of our beloved United States of America.
Devoted Solutions For Veterans). My dear friend, Deb clinically-based strategies. The Veterans’ Administration This rose, reminding us of the family and friends of our
Doherty, conceived of the idea for the organization a short does not have the resources alone to solve the crisis. missing comrades who keep the faith, while awaiting
time ago and brought it to fruition with a very capable Several speakers at the Gala told us of the personal their return. Remember. The yellow ribbon stands for
Board of Directors and advisors. Their slogan is “Helping experiences of hopelessness, pain and despair. They the yellow ribbons worn on the lapels of thousands who
a Hero, Changing Lives, One Veteran at a Time.” The fortunately found support before they took the final step. demand an accounting of our comrades who are not with
goal is to raise funds for service dogs for those who were However, with the unabated proliferation of illicit drugs us. Remember. A slice of lemon reminds us of the bitter
members of our armed forces. Deb and the team are also a coming across our southern border, more Americans fate of those missing, captured and held as prisoners in
foreign lands. Remember. The Holy Bible represents
strength gained through faith in our country, founded as
one nation under God, to sustain those lost from our midst.
Remember. The lighted candle reflects the light of hope
which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home,
away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful
nation. Remember. The glass is inverted symbolizing
their inability to share this evening’s toast. Remember.”
A very powerful reminder of the often-forgotten
soldiers.
Accompanying me to the Gala were Ret. Col. Jose
Doggies Dig Donya LLC Thomas-Richards and Suzanne Thomas-Richards – one
of my favorite couples. I have previously (in my Page 3
newspaper column) recognized and honored Ret. Col.
Pet Walking Pet Sitting Pet Care Jose Thomas-Richards, a colleague and dear friend. He
was instrumental in initiating the Veterans Independence

Jeanne Cobb We love kitties too! Donya Wilkes Program (VIP) locally by the Area Agency on Aging
and the Veterans’ Administration. VIP allows qualifying
(561) 420-9445 doggiesdigdonya.com Insured (561) 972-0210 Veterans over the age of 60 the opportunity to recruit
and hire their caregivers. Ultimately, this program allows
Veterans to live more independently in their communities,
avoiding costly nursing home placement. Col. Thomas-
Richards, an orthopedic surgeon, was deployed to
Afghanistan in 2003 and performed many surgeries for our
soldiers during his years in the military service. Suzanne
Thomas-Richards was an operating room technician for
the U.S. Army in 1985-1986 and recognized as top soldier
of the cycle, candidate for Drill Sergeant academy, expert
in M16 rifle and grenade, military occupational skills as a
Chadwick Hampton, Combat Medic, Operating Room Technician, and Senior
Career Counselor of the ARCOM. Thereafter, from 1986
to 1994, Suzanne served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S.
MD, FAAOS, FAAHKS Army Reserves, Combat Medicine & Operating Room
Technician; NCO Retention Career Counselor 325th
General/Field Hospital, US Army Reserve, Independence,
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon MO; Command Retention NCO for 102nd ARCOM.
Two extraordinary individuals who, with many others
in our area, are Heroes Among Us.
SPECIALIZING IN: Until next month,

• Joint Replacement and Joint Preservation James A. Cioffi, Editor
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(P.S. Please provide me information about other
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