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By Tracie Rodgers This month we honor our veterans. I am the daughter and daughter-in-law to men who served. By the time I was born, these men had survived their terms of enlistment. They had left the war, but I guarantee the war did not leave them. My father was a Marine during Vietnam. When he was discharged and making his new life in sunny California, he fought new demons. Being the son of a soldier back then, you didn't show weakness. Instead, you self-medicated. It was this part of his journey that took him to Colorado as I stayed behind with my mother. There are some things you really can't make sense of until you are grown. After a few rough years, he picked himself up and dedicated his life to his Mountain Rescue Unit and creating/ supporting units all over the world. Any chance he had to honor fellow veterans, he took. My father-in-law was in the Army during Vietnam. Again, you can leave the war, the war doesn't leave you. As the night terrors continued to haunt, he sought assistance through the VA. Opposite of my father, Danny Rodgers would recount stories, so much so his VA doctor suggested he write them down. A few years ago, his book was published. Call Me Sergeant Rock, a brief 650 pages! These two men were introduced to each other at the rehearsal dinner before our wedding. After about 20 minutes of their meeting, my father-in-law was able to extract information about the duties my father performed and that my father was probably in a rescue copter that saved him. I have been in a unique situation to experience and support veterans in the past - making sure Pearl Harbor survivors had a comfortable seat to be paraded down Florida Ave. or raising funds to support Veteran services. Mostly, I have had the honor to listen. Sitting quietly as my World War Two'ers would tell me tales. Oh, and the hugs I have shared, there are too many to keep track of but each one imprinted on my heart. This year the Association will offer the veterans in our Four Seasons community a complimentary breakfast at the Bistro. The full details are listed in this issue of the Herald. When you visit the Lodge in November, please take a moment to visit the POW/MIA table located in the gallery hallway. I want to send my sincerest wishes for each of you during this month of Thanksgiving. The motions of life have carried on in 2020 even if very strange and different at times but each day brings us an opportunity to look for ways to grow our list of gratitude. Thank you for being a daily part of mine. 4 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | NOVEMBER 2020 | From Your Activities Director Welcome Home Memorial The sculptor requested my father's Marine Corp. picture to use as a model. field-of-dreams.org/welcomehome Fruta, CO Drake Rodgers saluting the statue that was modeled after his grandfather Tim Cochrane, 1950-2011