Editor, Times-Union: On Wednesday, May 18, my father-in-law (David Fuller) and mother-in-law (Doris Fuller) were eating at the America Table when my mother-in-law seen an elderly man pushing a walker and dragging a large suit case, and he looked like he could use some help. So my father-in-law went out to see if he could help. The gentleman informed him that he didn’t have a car, and he was trying to get to Highway 15 to get a ride to the VA hospital in Marion. He said he arrived in town Tuesday afternoon and his ride left him at the McDonald’s on 15. He asked a customer where he could find the American Legion, and they told him it was up the road about two blocks. The gentleman helped him get to the American Legion. He proceeded to ask them at the American Legion if they could assist him with getting a ride to the VA hospital when they told him they couldn’t help him. As he was still standing outside the American Legion there was a lady selling poppies for the Legion and she offered to try to find him some help. She proceeded to call four churches, no one offered to help. She then got him a room at the motel behind the American Table. My father-in-law asked him if he had anything to eat and he said no because he didn’t have any money, so he bought him breakfast. While they were talking over breakfast he told him he was 86 years old and a World War II veteran. The waitress at the American table was very gracious and took up a collection to help him out. My father-in-law called the VA to see if they could find him a ride, and he was told they didn’t provide that kind of service available, but they said they could give him a number to call if he had Medicare to pay for it. One of the waitresses offered to take him after her shift and my father-in-law thanked her, but said he would take him. Our family finds it very sad when the churches and the American Legion can’t find time to help a 86-year-old veteran who put his life on the line for us hear at home, and all he asked was a ride 50 miles to Marion VA. Michelle Fuller Warsaw, via e-mail
