Page 3 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

a

letter

These days, news shows describe a United States that seems more divided than
ever. Division over a multitude of issues appears to be widening. When the from
anxiety stemming from COVID-19 is factored in, it can be overwhelming. Most
of us are ready for some resolve, some normalcy, some hope for the future, and the
hopefully, some common ground.
publisher
Welcome to the Fall veterans’ edition of Senior Link. This extra-large issue is the
first ever joint edition of Lubbock Senior Link and Amarillo Senior Link. Every Fall,
we honor the veterans who have fought for our country to preserve the cause of
freedom. If we agree on nothing else, we can surely acknowledge the value of
that service. In the spirit of unity, we want
to bring people together, so Lubbock and
Amarillo, Panhandle and South Plains, this
is for you.

Because we are honoring so many who
paid so dearly, we chose to put the symbols
of those sacrifices on our cover. Our friend,
Dr. Sam Ayers, photographed two actual
medals and wrote the stories of their
heroic recipients. In the pages that follow,
you will find the stories of many Panhandle
and South Plains Purple Heart recipients,
Gold Star Families, WWII veterans, a Medal
of Honor recipient, and a Congressional
Gold Medal winner. A few stories of other
West Texas greats are also included.

You will read about the amazing new War
Memorial Community Education Center
in Amarillo. Not only are they actively honoring veterans, but they will also be educating youth so the honor
will continue for generations. A new regional Monument of Courage has been dedicated in Lubbock, paying
tribute to Medal of Honor winners, Gold Star families, and Purple Heart recipients from all over the Panhandle
and the South Plains.

Joslyn Harney, an employee of the city of Amarillo and a veteran herself, wrote two of the articles for this issue.
She also penned the following:

“The war in Afghanistan and Iraq, spanning nearly a decade, has never been personal for many of us. Our lives
have not been disrupted by the loss of a loved one on the battlefield. The stories written in this issue plumb the
depths of despair, sacrifice and loss. But they also portray the tenacity of the human spirit: the ability to forgive,
to walk past loss and create a future, and the urgency to hope. These are stories of triumph above all the odds
and willingness to pursue life. These stories make the loss of many personal to each of us. Their sacrifices
should live as an exclamation point in our hearts because freedom is fueled through their loss, and that is never
impersonal!”

We have so much to be grateful for. If we focus on those things, our differences won’t seem so important, and
we can begin to reunite.
Erin Agee

If you are interested in a paid subscription to Senior Link,
we will be happy to mail a copy to you. See our subscription information on the next page.

{ Thank you to those who have written in this edition, for sharing your knowledge {

and stories and helping to Link us. And thank you to the advertisers who make
this magazine a reality. Without all of you this would not be possible.