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Memorial Day, Zablocki Medical Center

By Bob Riggle

It was almost a no-go this year. After so many years of moving semi-ambulatory patients from the VA hospital, by bus, foot or otherwise, up the hill to the chapel for the annual Memorial Day ceremony, VVAW Milwaukee almost passed on doing it this year. With the addition of the D.A.V. minivans, and of course the VA's policy of cutting back on inpatient admissions and care, we've been on the verge of zero people to move for the past two years. Thank you!

There were mixed feelings as to whether we should continue to show up. We had almost nothing to do. Yes, we do love the ceremony, but we also came to work. But where the F$@K are the patients?

We have seen less and less patients available for transport. In a hospital with maybe a 250-bed capacity, these days we are lucky to have about twenty or twenty-five patients capable of being moved. It's not really that far, but it's F$@KING MEMORIAL DAY!

John Lindquist, bless his soul, reminded us of all the years we struggled to be accepted by the mainstream veterans' community. We finally obtained that goal many years in the past, and worked too hard to give it up to a few who would like to have our balls. So, we came, we saw, we did.

Fortunately we had good weather in our favor and many patients were willing and allowed to attend the ceremony. Thank goodness.

The highlight for us this year was the participation of some four hundred or so local Hmong veterans in their dress camos. They showed what it's all about - solidarity! We love you all, brothers. Peace to you.