on the square yesterday

.........excerpts from a talk i heard yesterday by thomas haugh of chicago about a chicago area veterans' home. it applies in mansfield, as well.

"veterans day is today. this veterans situation of these severely wounded people coming from these 2 wars.............i hope that people are listening from the illinois veterans home in mantino where my stepfather was. good morning to you.

despite the incredible lack of money from the state, the phones are older than me, we took up a collection for tvs.

i've never seen more dedicated people. this is the nicest group i have ever been associated with.

my stepfather was a good guy, but as he grew older, he had some personality issues. they were fine with him.

they put a lot of these people's pictures on the wall, from when they were in the armed services, when they were real studs.

the old guys grumped a lot, but it just went right by them.

lots of volunteer took them to sox games and stuff.

for what they had to work with, they did a wonderful job. i recommend them highly to anyone whose parents are veterans and getting up in age, and need fulltime care.

we went through a string of places before that, and there was no comparison.

i went down every week. it was really sad. most guys, and ladies, too, think tjey will live forever.

when we took him down there, they made us sign, all the powers of attorney and other stuff.

you hate to ask anybody to do that, even if they arent doing so hot.

most people dont want to sign their stuff over, even if it's their kid. when somebody takes away the car keys and want you to sign everything away. they go through all stuff, as will you and me.

once a quarter, they would have a meeting with the dietary people and that other stuff.

they always invited you down, and i went down.

i would show up and they looked at me as if i had 4 heads. "what are you doing here?"

"you invited me."

"you are supposed to be here, but you are the only one who ever show up.

an awful lot of people drop them off here, and never come back.

they find out what undertaker to call; that's the last they ever see of many of the kids."

i cant imagine why people would act that way. my brother was there 2 nights a week, and i was there every weekend, for our stepfather.

audrey was there, and she would bring her little dog.

she was the star of the place. all f these old guys who had serious issues, not alzheimers), they loved it, and waited in line to pet the dog.

the hardest part was, it just tugs at you, all these guys want is somebody to talk to.

you could walk in the tv room, even if you knew no one .

one day i walked in with my leather jacket and sunglasses said "there's john wayne."

i sat down with them and we started talking, and i told them what i do.

we had an hourlong conversation. when i left, it was like i shot them.

walk in and watch a ballgame with them. it will be the highlight of their month.

loneliness is the whole thing."

the veterans day 2010 memorial display is disassembled by volunteers at the richland county courthouse.

the lower pictures are from a classy display at richland county democratic headquarters.

from a nondemocrat, the display showed thanks to ALL veterans.

thanks democrats.