MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY

Veterans' Hospital Los Angeles

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO FEEL CHRISTMAS? GO CAROLING AT A VA CENTER AND SING TO OUR VETERANS. What a joy it is to see their eyes light up.

Alexandra Dwek, Barbera Thornhill and I went to the VA Center in Westwood to join the choir of the Brentwood Presbyterian Church. We went from floor to floor singing our hearts out, and then we ended up in the dining room singing at dinner.

These patients are not the ones you see on the news. Most of them are WWII Vets living out their end of days. On the wall outisde each room there are plaques with their name and service affiliation.

This is Sadie Sonnenreich. She is 100 years old and a fast as a bullet. She was a WAC and loves to tell of her adventures in Europe. Extraordinary woman.

Alexandra Dwek and me

We met a couple named Moose. I didn't get their ranks, but they met in the war and married. They are still together and living in two rooms with a foyer in between. Their love is palpable. And, of course, The Mooses (meees?) created a nativity scene where each character is represented by a miniature moose. Adorable.


The photographer Phil Stern donated wall-size prints of most of his collection, and they are all over the hospital. 

IF YOU HAVE A MINUTE OF FREE TIME, DRIVE RIGHT ON OVER AND VOLUNTEER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS YOUR SCHEDULE ALLOWS. THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE THANK YOU.


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE----MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY