Tue, Feb 09 2010
|
Published November 12, 2009 12:45 am - Every day, Geneva resident Don Branford opens his eyes, stretches his arms and gets ready to make a difference in the life of a veteran. Geneva man will take donations and cards to veteran’s hospital By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com Star Beacon GENEVA — Every day, Geneva resident Don Branford opens his eyes, stretches his arms and gets ready to make a difference in the life of a veteran.
Branford, a U.S. Army sergeant first class, served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. In honor of the men who didn’t come home from battle, Branford volunteers with the Cleveland VA Medical Center in Brecksville, Wade Park and Youngstown, as well as the Community Based Outreach Clinic. “You see young men and women, so young, and they lost arms and legs and eyes and they struggle and they fight to get better and to be all they can be and they are proud of their service and their sacrifice,” Branford said. “And they don’t get the respect and the recognition they deserve.” Branford said the men and women veterans have sacrificed enough. “Now is our time to serve them,” he said. Branford encourages schools, Boy and Girl Scout troops and other organizations to write cards to veterans. He takes the cards to various veterans hospitals, where he hangs them in common areas of the hospital and delivers cards to bedridden veterans. “I don’t think people truly understand how much a simple thank you card means to a veteran,” he said. “Veterans need to be appreciated and that thank you card means the world to them. It sounds simple, but it is so important.” “People really do need to do more. Nobody expects a brass band when they come home, but they do expect to be appreciated,” he said. Branford said the disabled veterans also need deodorant for men and women, toothbrushes, toothpaste, new or gently used clothing, brushes, combs, books, puzzle books and puzzles. Wheelchair bound veterans use crocheted lap robes to keep warm. “I feel if people pull together, they can make a difference in the life of these veterans. I ask people to encourage children to make handmade cards, to buy an extra toothbrush at the store, pick up an extra pair of warm socks,” he said. For more information on how to support a disabled veteran or to donate items and cards, call Branford at (440) 466-5197. 
More from the Local News section
Culinary center cooking in Geneva? |
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
© 2009, Ashtabula Star Beacon
P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula OH 44005-2100 (440) 998-2323, Send news tips and feedback 
|
Popular Business directory links - Ashtabula Apartments | Ashtabula Attorneys | Ashtabula Auto Dealers | Ashtabula Auto Parts | Ashtabula Auto Repair | Ashtabula Beauty Salons | Ashtabula Car Rental | Ashtabula Dentists | Ashtabula Doctors | Ashtabula Flowers | Ashtabula Hotels | Ashtabula Insurance | Ashtabula Loans | Ashtabula Mortgages | Ashtabula Movers | Ashtabula Pizza | Ashtabula Realtors | Ashtabula Restaurants | Ashtabula Storage | Ashtabula Tax Preparation | Ashtabula Travel | Ashtabula Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
