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NEWS | Sept. 29, 2006

Langley group gives back to veterans

By 1st Lt. Rachel Sherburne 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

More than 50 people from Our Lady of Peace Parish here at Langley spent Sunday afternoon at the VA hospital in Hampton as part of an ongoing project to spend time and develop relationships with patients in the Spinal Cord Injury Ward. 

The volunteers brought all the fixings for ice cream sundaes, and no one left hungry.
"The ice cream sundae was delicious!" said Arthur Lukens, an 84-year-old veteran who has been in a wheel chair since 1978. 

He is one of 43 patients in the ward, which is the only long-term care spinal cord injury ward with the Department of Veteran's Affairs in the country. 

Chip Shelton is a recreation therapist who has been working in the ward for 13 years. He handles community integration projects that include taking the patients on outings in the community, helping them feel more comfortable in public and with others, as well as bed-side therapy to help patients with reality orientation and cognitive stimulation. 

"We keep them oriented to time and place by reading to them, visiting them, and playing music and cards so they know what is going on," said Mr. Shelton, who explained that patients who spend months in bed can get disoriented with time and reality. 

Taking care of his patients is more than a job for Mr. Shelton, who goes out of his way to help and assist the patients in any way possible. 

"If my brother or father were here, how would I want them treated? That's the way I look at it," he said, adding that the best part of his job is making a difference in the patient's lives. 

He also helps arrange activities such as BINGO and group visits for the patients, much like the one coordinated with the Charity and Justice committee from Our Lady Queen of Peace parish. 

"Working with these veterans seemed like a logical choice for us retired military and active duty members," said Steve Pearson, the committee chairperson. 

The goal is to establish regular visits with the patients in the ward - all of whom are either para- or quadriplegics. 

"We're going to cultivate and develop relationships with the people here," said Father Jim Barlow during the presentation ceremony where the church donated $1,000 to the ward for patient comfort items. 

The church also purchased and donated two computers, a printer, computer games and some new songs for the hospital's karaoke machine. 

The room was a bustle of energy as volunteers young and old served sundaes, talked with and even sang to the patients. 

"The best part of it was meeting the people," said Mr.Lukens. 

And that is what this program is all about. 

"We're putting our faith into action and responding to people who need us," said Fr. Barlow. 

The smiles of the faces of volunteers and patients alike were proof that they were enjoying the food and the company. 

"I want to express my thanks to the people who put this on for us," said Mr. Lukens.
"Thank you for your service to us and to Uncle Sam." 

For more information or to volunteer, there will be an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Wedensday at the Langley Chapel Annex. For more details contact Laurie Sepanski at 659-0064 or Terri and Dan Crawford at 766-2066.