Page 3 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine

a

letter

Every time we work on the Fall edition, I think of my cousin, Paul Bennett, who from
was an Army colonel in WWII. I credit his influence on me as a teenager for my
appreciation of veterans and the importance of sharing their stories, especially the
with younger generations. I didn’t keep much memorabilia from my high school
publisher
years, but I will always hold onto the essay that I wrote about him.

With that in mind, I love to encourage the youth of today to sit at the feet of
veterans around them and record their stories. In this fifth annual Veterans
edition, several young people have written
about men and women who have served
our country. Hopefully, the stories they
have documented will be passed on to
future generations in their own families.
All the articles in this edition are records
of West Texas neighbors and friends.
Their experiences are not only interesting
and remarkable, but along with their
predecessors, they are the reason America
continues to be a free country. We hope
this issue is passed around, read and
reread, shared with others, and saved as a
keepsake.

I have one more thing I’d like to address.
Many of the men and women we have
interviewed are distressed about the
division and discord in our country. I’ve
been trying to process what I hear them
saying. If anyone has a right to be upset, they do. They’ve each invested a significant part of their lives to
ensure that our freedom and unity remains intact. Many have friends who have lost their lives; many have
disturbing memories that never go away; many came home to disrespect and mistreatment. And now, in
a sense, the very things they fought for are in jeopardy. Regardless of which side of the fence you are on
– division is disheartening, even tragic. But no matter what else happens, veterans deserve our thanks and
gratitude. May the stories you read in this issue inspire appreciation for the sacrifice of every person who
served or is serving in the military. Thank them. Teach your children and grandchildren to thank them. They
deserve it!

And speaking of thanks: Our veteran edition is always the largest and most sought-after, which means we rely
even more heavily upon our sponsors and advertisers. On page 9, you will see a list of those who helped with
our cover photo and banquet. Please thank them, as well as the others you see in our Table of Contents of
Advertisers on p. 114.

We are blessed to live in a community that has such a generous and grateful heart for America’s veterans.

Erin Agee

{ Thank you to those who have written in this edition, for sharing your knowledge {

and stories and helping to Link us. And thank you to the advertisers who make
this magazine a reality. Without all of you this would not be possible.