VETERAN OF THE YEAR

VETERAN OF THE YEAR

CELEBRATING TOM WHILDEN

– by Kiersten Gunsberg –

Photos by Karen S Lueck at amomentcaptured.net

Fifty years back and two and a half hours south of Northern Michigan, Tom Whilden was about to graduate from high school in Caledonia, a small town thirty miles in from Lake Michigan. He’d spent the past few years putting in busy hours on a dairy farm after school but there wasn’t any part of Tom looking to take a break after being handed his diploma Less than a year after graduating in 1970, Tom enlisted during the Vietnam War and set off to San Antonio, Texas for basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. While Michiganders back home were turning up their thermostats, Tom was perfecting military corners and wiping the sweat from his brow as he pushed his physical limits in the stifling southern heat.

After basic training, Tom found himself closer to his old, chillier stomping grounds when he was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda where he served stateside as a medic until his honorable discharge on February 21st, 1975

Though the war ended later that year, Tom’s zeal to serve did not. With four years of medical training

under his belt, he was accepted to Blodgett School of Nursing in Grand Rapids. It takes both grit and selflessness to be a nurse, to bring comfort to the injured and ill while also tending to their immediate needs, attributes that were well refined by his years in the military. By 1978 Tom had completed his program at Blodgett and graduated as a registered nurse, the first male at the school to do so, and was on his way to Traverse City to start his career in nursing at Munson Medical Center. There, he specialized in cardiac care, later adding emergency room nurse and North Flight crew member to his repertoire before his retirement thirty-five years later in 2013.

He’s enjoying downtime with his wife of over 45 years, Deb, their two children and their four grandchildren. However, as those close to him will tell you, Tom’s love for his country and those who sacrifice for it continues to compel him, even into retirement. He’s focused his energy on supporting local veterans and veteran affairs through his work with Patriot Guard Riders, a volunteer-based organization of veterans who, among other acts of honor, unite to hold American flags while attending military funeral services.

Tom’s also the director of the American Legion Riders Post 35, located on Hastings Street near the perimeter of Cherry Capital Airport. In this role, Tom has found additional opportunities to show appreciation to others who have served or are currently serving by taking part in fundraisers for current military families and by coordinating visits to local nursing homes where he and other American Legion members spend time with former service men and women who now reside there. When he’s not putting in hours with our nation’s veterans, he’s spearheading efforts to bring the issues that face them, including homelessness, increased risk of suicide and veteran health needs to the forefront of public awareness. Because for Tom, showing his patriotism, pride and gratitude didn’t end with his honorable discharge, it’s an everyday act sparked by a desire to do good for all people, evident in his four years with the military, his hospital work with people at their most vulnerable and his continued dedication to serving those who’ve served their country.

Pictured Here:

Upper left: Tom with wife, Deb, enjoying time with friends Jan and Gary, fellow American Legion Riders members. Upper Right: Tom and Gary Middle: Tom enjoys riding his motorcycle, especially when riding with the American Legion Riders.

Lower Left: Gary & Jan share a passion for each other as well as the American Legion Riders.