Page 3 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021 - Online Magazine

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Welcome to the Fall Veterans edition of Senior Link magazine, which features from
the stories of 15 local Veterans. You don’t want to miss the articles about a POW,
a Bronze Star medalist, our U.S. Congressman, the director of our VA, and many
more. Their love for our country is evident in their stories. You will also want to the
read about the Claude community and the work they have done to honor the
Veterans who live in Armstrong County. publisher

My vision for Senior Link started with a desire to honor Veterans. As a high
schooler, I was able to spend quality time with a close relative who, although
wounded, had survived WWII. The stories he told me were so mesmerizing that I
can never forget them. As a teenager, I didn’t understand
the commitment and the sacrifice behind those stories. Now
that I have children of my own, I realize why I was given
the opportunity to hear them. It has become my mission
to recognize the sacrifice of all Veterans by providing a
platform for as many as possible to share their unique
experience and the wisdom they have gleaned from it.
Today, new battles threaten our culture, and it is even
more important for young people to hear history from the
people who experienced it. Yesterday’s stories need to be
told to younger generations so they can appreciate the cost
of their freedom. We say it often, “Freedom is not free”.
It’s more urgent than ever that our youth understand
what that really means. Freedom costs something, and the
people in this issue are real. Their stories offer glimpses
into their sacrifice. And every one of them will tell you the
real sacrifices were made by their compatriots who didn’t
come home. As leaders in our country continue to make
life-altering decisions, we could all benefit by listening to
the wisdom that Veterans have acquired through their
sacrificial service.
We wanted to honor all of the men and women featured in
this issue, so we gathered all of them for a cover photo and
breakfast banquet at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial. It is one of the highlights of my job. These patriots
have a tremendous passion for our country, and it is inspiring to be around them. I pray that their stories will
filter down into the hands of as many young people as possible. I encourage you parents and grandparents to
share copies with your children and grandchildren.

It is important for our readers to remember that the reason Senior Link magazine is free is because of the
generosity of our advertisers. Please make a point to thank them and let them know that their advertising
dollars are well spent. We are so grateful to each one of them.
As you dig into this issue, please also remember to thank the Veterans around you. (Many can be recognized
by their hats.) They have many more valuable stories to tell than we can fit on our pages. And, as Veterans
witness unsettling changes in their beloved USA, it would be nice for them to hear from the rest of us that we
are grateful to them for their service to our country.
Erin Agee

The Mission of Senior Link

Our mission is to tell the stories of local seniors, not only to honor them,
but also to inspire and challenge younger generations. We endeavor to link
seniors with the resources they need to ensure quality of life. We believe in
the strength of the chain, in linking with one another, and in linking all of
us to information which can enhance our lives. We recognize the value of
every season of life and the uniqueness of every story.
Senior Link’s mission rests in the power of connection.