Claremore, Oklahoma Veterans Day Parade

[Bob Russell]

I was honored to participate in the Claremore Veterans Day parade by riding on the float with residents of the ODVA Claremore Veterans Center.  The center is a quasi-nursing home for veterans in need of 24 hour care that families are not able to provide.  It houses 302 residents with doctors, nurses,  physical therapy room and staff, a recreation department to provide activities, and has a laundry, library, and a full service dining room.  I have been honored to be accepted as a volunteer since May 8, 2015.  The contingent from the center included 47 residents and 53 employees and volunteers.  I was allowed to ride on the float because I am not currently able to walk the 2 mile or so route due to the effects of a severe stroke I suffered on August 19, 2014.  I am recovering but still quite limited in my ability but the residents and administration graciously allow me to participate in events involving the center.  Never in my life have I been involved with a better bunch of people.  The quality of these people matches  those I served with during my military service and those I attend church with in all respects and I am very honored and humbled to be allowed to be a small part of the organization.   Some of the residents rode in their wheelchairs and were pushed by other residents,

read more:

http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2016/11/claremore-veteranclare...

[kevin kiernan]

Congrats Bob. It sounds like a wonderful parade with a great message. That is a positive thing that Makes America Great. We all need to do things that help people in need. People need the love of other people by actually getting involved. 

[Bob Russell]

Thanks, Kevin.  It was a great event that capped an entire week of local people honoring veterans.  It makes me very proud of my community, state, and nation when I see how people treat veterans, and each other also.  This is truly "God's Country".  Some like to denigrate us as "bible thumpers" but that is because they have no respect for God or their fellow man but there is a lot of both in Oklahoma.  We can disagree on politics without killing each other or destroying the property of others.  Those doing such things elsewhere are playing right into the hands of evil people that desire to rule over them with an iron fist but they aren't smart enough to see it and by the time they do catch on it will be too late.  It's odd that those rioting and destroying things accuse me of being hateful and violent yet I didn't riot over the tyranny of Osama Obama!!!!!

[kevin kiernan]

Bob you are spot on. I know you understand the love that Jesus wants us to deliver as well as receive. As much as I speak of greed and selfishness are tools of the devil. Love is an absolute tool of goodness which God is about.I know you realize and appreciated the day  you had was engulfed through the tool of love. You are a rich man because you have the gift to see things and appreciate things for what they truly are.

[Bob Russell]

yes, love, appreciation, and respect was everywhere I turned this past week.  I see a lot of it every day as I spend anywhere from 6 to 8 hours a day around very high quality people who love God and their fellow man.  The time I spend at the Veterans Center is very rewarding as I see the best in very good people being displayed every day.  I am indeed rich in what matters most as I am surrounded by people who live every day by the "golden rule", do unto others as you want them to do to you.  I wish everyone in the nation could spend some time there to see what true love and kindness is really like.  God bless you!!!!