AMH2020 student*
“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good
deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants
kindness gathers love.” -Saint Basil
In a world filled with hatred and ungratefulness, this quote
is a simple reminder that kindness and love are still an option. Love will
always trump hate… Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all that we have
been blessed with. Honestly, every day should be! My service project was to
bake pies for Thanksgiving dinner at the Veterans Village.
As a former member of the Amish, I was taught at an early
age how to prepare food in the kitchen from the simplest and freshest
ingredients. After the food is prepared, it is always shared with love with a
neighbor, friend or even a stranger. I can remember my mother standing in the
kitchen for hours preparing food and after it was done, say “Now, take this
over to Ray and Evelyn and be careful not to spill it on the way.” Ray and
Evelyn were an older couple who lived just down the gravel road from us and Mom
often prepared meals for them since age and disease were slowing them down. My
mother inspired me then and still today because she taught me how to be selfless
and “plant kindness”.
Not everyone enjoys preparing food and I completely
understand that. We all have our
talents. I followed my mother’s footsteps. Given that Thanksgiving is all about
the turkey, stuffing and pie, I decided that this would be a great project for
myself. I was given the privilege to help feed those who are less fortunate. After
all, this is my way to say THANK YOU for all those who have fought for my
freedom in America.
On Thanksgiving Day, I watched the vets line up for a hot
meal and it almost broke my heart. They all looked as if they had been broken.
Each one has a story to tell and that story has shaped who they have become.
Given that the Amish choose to not participate in fighting at war or at home, I
never personally knew someone who went to war or how it could affect someone
after. This project has given me the opportunity to see first-hand how people
try to put their lives back together after coming home. Sometimes, it is after
several attempts that they are successful. The Veterans Village offers
previously homeless veterans a fresh start at life.
Those pies were the least I could do for everything that
each one of those men who have endured while fighting overseas. I cannot even
begin to imagine all that they have seen and went through to make it back home.
We as Americans forget the price that veterans payed for our freedom.
My major in college is human biology. After achieving my
forensic pathology degree, I plan to work as a mortician. My first plan was to
go for nursing. I was almost finished
when I decided that I do not deal with dying humans very well. I simply get too
attached and it traumatizes me. My theory behind my major now is that I would
rather find closure for families who have lost their loved ones than to have no
response for families that stood over me and watched their loved one die as I
performed every life-saving measure to try to revive them. This service project
reflects who I am as a person. I will always be living by Tim McGraw’s words,
“Always stay humble and kind.”
