Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project and the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project are two initiatives to help injured soldiers from Irag, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terrorism return to life stateside, to give them a place and the means to recover their bodies, minds, and spirits. Two of their vans were on campus recently.

My husband is a Vietnam vet who has told of the reception he and his fellows received on their return (and who hasn't?), and it does my heart good to see the support our newest vets are getting.

Welcome home, soldiers.

Armed Forces signs at Walter Reed

Armed Forces signs at Walter Reed15
Originally uploaded by tiz_herself

I spent a few lunch times last fall walking around Walter Reed, taking pictures of bumper stickers and other means of making statements. This is one of my favorites, if you can call it that. I think this is a touching tribute to a man who was obviously much loved and missed.

Chapel at Walter Reed

Chapel at Walter Reed
Originally uploaded by tiz_herself

The Memorial Chapel is on the Walter Reed campus. It was built with funds raised by the Gray Ladies of the Red Cross Hospital Service and was dedicated in 1931 as a memorial to those who gave their lives in the service of their country. (The Gray Ladies were so called because of the gray uniform they wore.) The first ceremony performed was a wedding. Sunday services are still held there, and I saw funeral services being organized there last week.

It's a lovely place, inside and out.


Here's a picture of the stained glass window over the altar:


There are "gargoyles" at the top of the tower. Some of them represent the Gray Ladies:


and there are others that represent science and religion. Not sure which one this is.

Old Walter Reed Hospital

Old Walter Reed Hospital
Originally uploaded by tiz_herself

As you may know, our museum is on the campus of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. I bought myself a spiffy new camera last fall and have been a picture-taking fool since then. This picture is of the original hospital, opened in 1909. Stately, isn't it? It was replaced with a, um, not-as-nice-looking building in the 1970s and this one's now used for administrative offices.

Washington Post on dental care

Today's Washington Post has an excellent article on the problems of dental care in Louisiana. It's well worth reading about the volunteer work that Dr. Folse does.

Their ongoing report, "The Other Walter Reed" was on the same page too, so might as well link to it. We in the museum are completely in a different world from the patient care issues beyond passing each other in the cafeteria though.