Visiting VA Hospital a rewarding experience Published March 9, 2007 By Senior Airman Nancy Goldberger 90th Mission Support Squadron F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. -- Do you respect veterans in all their glory, or do you not think of them until Veterans Day? These are the people who served before you and possibly the ones who inspired you to join. Here is a bit of reality: they cannot visit you. Why not visit them? After Airmen get over the initial discomfort of speaking loudly so many veterans can hear them and the fear of awkward silences, they realize veterans are people like you and me. They were you and me back in the day, the heroes in old war movies. They are the ones in your mind when thinking of your forefathers defending freedom. The Veterans Administration Hospital in Cheyenne is home to many veterans from all different walks of life, such as servicemembers who were drafted in the 1940s to Vietnam soldiers, personnelists and infantry. If you choose to roam the halls and visit different rooms, you will see some veterans are not very well off, and some have led hard, bitter lives. I agree with Senior Airman David Estrada, 90th Civil Engineering Squadron, that at times, it's hard to visit them. "What can we actually say [to them]?" Airman Estrada said. "Those people have given so much." You will find that the residents of the hospital would greatly appreciate your company. "They look forward to this all month," said Master Sgt. Al Davis, 20th Air Force, who is the base coordinator for VA Hospital activities. If you could find the time and in your heart, go on these monthly visits. Your investment will be well worth it. To all the veterans, you make me proud to wear this uniform. You help me to understand why I do what I do every day in the service, and you inspire me to improve. You are a source of strength and wisdom I hope not to leave untapped. Thank you for making the world a better place.