        
 Fla. squadron visits veterans at local VA Medical CenterMay 16, 2007
Public Affairs Officer Suwannee Valley Composite Squadron Florida Wing FLORIDA -- Cadets from the Suwannee Valley Composite Squadron recently visited the Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where they had a chance to meet veterans who have given much to their country. The visit was the idea of one cadet's mother -- Sr. Mbr. Marie Montgomery, the squadron's moral leadership officer. Five cadets and a friend were escorted around the hospital for several hours. They were able to give out goodie bags of fruit, cookies and other items. The veterans appreciated the visit, and a number took the time to talk with the cadets. One cadet, who is interested in music, was visiting a patient when she noticed a trumpet lying on the stand beside the bed. That brought up some questions. It turned out that the veteran had not only played in the U.S. Army band, but also knew one of the all-time great musicians, Louis Armstrong, on a first-name basis. A spirited discussion ensued as the two musicians conversed. Another cadet was able to talk with a Bataan Death March survivor. He heard a very sobering tale of how one man watched his friends die right beside him and couldn't do anything about it. The most telling moment of all came quite unexpectedly. Each cadet made it a point to thank the veterans for their service to their country. One, who was hospitalized with the possibility that he might not go home, told the cadets that no one had ever thanked him for his service. At that point, there were a number of moist eyes in the room. Once the visit was over, the cadets had pizza on the VA grounds and made plans to visit again. They express their thanks go out to the veterans and to the VA personnel who made the visit happen.
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