Throughout 2020, we faced a pandemic with prolonged isolation. But the Yellow Ribbon project proved to be an important opportunity to help galvanize the West Michigan veteran community. Everyone appreciated the chance to be part of something bigger than themselves. While we learned new lessons about resilience, one of our Gulf War vets lost his…
This is America through the eyes of our beloved veterans, the true heroes of our time. So much joy comes from our wonderful members, even in the midst of the pandemic. We learn many things from them, as their perspectives have changed throughout their lives. In this work, they have been able to express themselves…
I’m very proud to be part of a heritage of four generations of military service—my grandpa, my dad, me, and my son. To me, service in the military opened up a new world, for both good and bad. I’m grateful for all the new things I learned as a U.S. Air Force medic, such as…
From 1963 to 1965, after graduating from the University of Michigan, I worked in the Army medical core as a urologist on Sandia base. The base, located on the edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico, produced and stored nuclear weapons. I also worked at Kirtland, which is the world’s largest storage for nuclear weapons. After the…
I want to leave the world a better place, but I’m not a writer. I can’t help a person feel good through a poem or a book. I do carve opal gemstones, though. If I am able to present an elegant art piece, the work might inspire others to feel good on the inside—and maybe…
My name is George Doornbos. I’m 87 years old, and I live with my wife, Janye, in a Breton Woods Retirement Community. I served in the Army from 1953 to 1955, in Nuremberg. As a radio operator, I learned Morse Code. But I also learned to obey orders. With all the intense physical training, I…