SPOKANE, Wash. — The holidays can be a time where we gather with friends and family, but it can also spark a sense of loneliness for many.
Nearly 100 veterans live at the Spokane Veterans Home, a local nonprofit for veterans, and many of them don’t have family nearby to spend the holidays with.
“I did my active time and then I got out and joined the reserves,” said veteran Gary Wright. “Active time and reserve time came up to 23 years.”
Wright served in the Army from 1975 to 1991, working to keep our nation safe.
For the past seven years, he has lived at Spokane Veterans Home. Everyone at the home put their lives on the line so our country can enjoy the freedoms we have every day.
“Some people just forget and it’s nice to be known,” Wright said.
If you want to help make Christmas for these veterans a little more merry, writing and sending a holiday letter is strongly encouraged.
“It feels good to read it. Some of them have a lot of stuff in them and some of them just have ‘Thank you for your service,’ and that’s enough,” Wright said.
A simple thank you can go a long way in the veteran community.
“It makes you feel good because there were some people that were shrugged off when they came home,” said Wright.
One veteran who served in Vietnam said coming back home was rough after the war. He said it isn’t the card but the thank you written inside that means the most to him.
You can drop off or mail letters to Spokane Veterans Home, 222 East 5th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202. If you would like to send gifts such as candies or other goodies, they must be store bought and completely wrapped.
For more information on the Spokane Veterans Home, click here.
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