Paul Dickerson, a retired Army artilleryman who served for 28 years and fought in two wars, receives a teddy bear from Amanda Meagher, Volunteer Services of America’s Miss Texas 2008, during a Valentine’s Day party at the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home. Photo by Dustin Perry.
Volunteers ‘bear’ their hearts to retired veterans
Dustin Perry, Editor
Paul Dickerson is a retired Army artilleryman who served for 28 years and fought in two wars, but even he couldn’t help cracking a sheepish grin when a young beauty queen handed him a teddy bear for Valentine’s Day.
Dickerson and several other residents at the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home were treated to a party Thursday, which included live music, refreshments and the opportunity to visit with local volunteers and Fort Bliss Soldiers.
“It was very enjoyable,” said Dickerson. “I just love to be with people and see people having a good time.”
Hospice El Paso, in conjunction with the Volunteer Services of America Pageant, hosted the party as part of a community project known as “Bear Their Hearts.” Throughout the event, VSA and El Paso Junior Coed queens – complete with their tiaras and sashes – distributed stuffed bears and handmade heart pillows to the veterans and thanked them for their service to the nation.
“I think it was a very rewarding experience,” said Desiree Ontiveros, Miss Teen El Paso Junior Coed. “For me, it was emotional … I can’t even explain it in words. I couldn’t imagine spending Valentine’s Day any other way.”
Alyssa Nuñez, Miss El Paso Junior Coed, said she shared an especially close bond after meeting with the veterans because of her own family’s military history. Her grandfather Roberto fought in the Battle of the Bulge; her other grandfather, Tomas Duran, was an Air Force Veteran; and her great-grandfather, Jacob Knight, once served as an Army firefighter at Fort Bliss.
“I was very happy because I learned a lot about the wars (the veterans have) been in, and I was so amazed at what they’ve done,” said Nuñez. “It was entertaining and a lot of fun. They were all very thankful, saying that just having me here was nice.”
Also visiting were 41 Soldiers attending the Licensed Vocational Nurse Course at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. The visit served as an appropriate primer for the students, who will make regular visits to the Guillen Home during the 54-week course, said Maj. Christian Swift, deputy director of the LVN course.
“Eight to 10 students at a time will be visiting on an average of three times a week,” said Swift. “They’ll be getting great exposure to the ins and outs of long-term care. That’s the future of health care, and they need to be exposed to that.”
The students gave the veterans homemade valentines and shared cake and conversation with them throughout the afternoon.
“We knew it would be successful, but I think it exceeded our expectations,” said Swift.