50plus Life Dauphin County – May 2022

Complimentary | Dauphin County Edition

May 2022

A tour-deforce worthy of honoring page 4

Understanding aphasia page 9

Hippie Communes: The Temporary Utopias page 12

Please Join Us for These 2022 Events!

omen’s Expo

June 8

26th Annual 20th Annual 23rd Annual

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton

Sept. 21

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

LANCASTER COUNTY

Sept. 28

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

York Expo Center Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York

YORK COUNTY

Oct. 12

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K St. Carlisle

50plusExpoPA.com

8th Annual

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Resort (Formerly Lancaster Host)

2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster

June 25

9th Annual

2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster

10th Annual

(Formerly Lancaster Host)

LANCASTER COUNTY

May 21

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

Sept. 17

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

E

Oct. 22

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

omen’s Expo

May 2022

50plus Life

Nov. 12

Cumberland County

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K St. Carlisle

aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available!

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Lebanon Expo Center 80 Rocherty Road Lebanon

6th Annual

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Resort

11th Annual

May 4

18th Annual

23rd Annual

Caregiving • Finances • Health & Wellness • Home Improvements Leisure Activities • Nutrition • Retirement Living • Technology and more!

Health & Wellness • Finance • Home Shopping • Technology • Beauty Nutrition • Fashion and more!

(717) 285-1350 www.50plusLifePA.com

The Beauty in Nature

Converging Birds and Horseshoe Crabs Clyde McMillan-Gamber

In May of some years, I’ve traveled They sit on the horseshoe crabs to soak to Delaware Bay beaches in New up warming sunlight to have the energy Jersey and Delaware to experience to hunt food. the convergence of many thousands Meanwhile, black-headed laughing of spawning horseshoe crabs, nesting gulls, which nest in nearby saltmarshes, laughing gulls, and migrating keep up a constant chorus of “laughing” shorebirds, including red knots, ruddy calls while feeding on horseshoe crab turnstones, dunlin, and semi-palmated eggs on Delaware Bay beaches. Being sandpipers. abundant and always noisy, these gulls Female horseshoe crabs deposit are the icons of summer beaches and billions of tiny, dull-green eggs in the saltmarshes along the Atlantic Coast. sand a few feet up the beaches. And Hundreds of thousands of migrating the hundreds of laughing gulls and up shorebirds, at once on the beaches, to a million shorebirds congregate to create inspiring spectacles when Horseshoe crab consume as many of those fat-filled eggs ingesting horseshoe crab eggs. Their as they can. constantly moving swarms are so Those eggs fatten the shorebirds so populous that one can’t see the sand they can complete the last lap of their beneath them. trip north to the Arctic tundra to raise Those shorebird flocks often take young. Red knots migrated the longest wing in one large mass racing over distance, from southern South America. the beaches. Their airborne thousands Horseshoe crabs are not crabs but turn this way and that in speedy flight are related to scorpions and spiders. together, as if one body. Then, suddenly, However, they have protective upper they sweep down and land on a beach shells, as crabs do. And the 1-foot-across like someone throwing peanuts across shells on horseshoe crabs, which have the sand. There they immediately remained unchanged relics of ancient consume horseshoe crab eggs again. times, are shaped like horseshoes.

The convergence of migrant Pairs of horseshoe crabs creep up shorebirds, nesting gulls, and spawning Delaware Bay beaches like tiny tanks horseshoe crabs can also be seen by live Semi-palmated sandpiper to lay eggs, day or night, during the camera and computer screens. In your full moon or new moon in May. Each web browser, search for “live camera female deposits up to 100,000 eggs in the sand, which are fertilized by her spawning horseshoe crabs.” mate.

The great convergence of horseshoe crabs and the birds that consume their Comically, several diamond-backed terrapins perch on horseshoe crabs eggs on Delaware Bay beaches create intriguing spectacles in May each year. still in shallow water. Those bay turtles, like all reptiles, are cold-blooded.

And one can experience those overwhelming gatherings in person or online.

Nature’s Wonders

Information and support whenever you need it!

by Clyde

A nature blog

by Clyde McMillan-Gamber, retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist and longtime 50plus LIFE columnist

Each story is like a walk with your own naturalist.

View online at: www.onlinepub.com

NaturesWondersByClyde.BlogSpot.com

(under supplements)

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50plus Life

May 2022

3

Cover Story

A Tour-de-Force Worthy of Honoring

By Gabriele Amersbach Corporate Office

P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone (717) 285-1350 (610) 675-6240 Fax (717) 285-1360 Email address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Senior Marketing Consultant Joshua Binkley Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Awards

50plus Life is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community.

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Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication.

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May 2022

50plus Life

never been part of my thinking. I am grateful each day I can focus on how to enhance our community.”

When you think of a fundraising tour-de-force, Hungerford was born you immediately think of Betty in Kentucky and moved to Hungerford. Hungerford has Palmyra, Pennsylvania, when repeatedly broken down barriers her father’s work in the shoe for women in Harrisburg’s business brought the family to public relations profession Pennsylvania in the late ’40s. throughout her remarkable She learned to set her goals high career.

As Homeland Center’s director at an early age. of development for more than 20 “My father always told me, years, she has played a crucial role ‘Betty, you can do anything in raising funds for benevolent you want to do,’” she says. “He care, ensuring personal and skilled expected me to always try to be care residents are never asked to the best I could be and to live leave because they can no longer each day better than the last.” afford to pay.

Hungerford met her first This year Homeland Center husband at Lebanon Valley and Homeland at Home College, where she graduated in celebrate their 155th anniversary.

1954. While raising her family The event marking this historic of four children — and lots of occasion will honor Hungerford neighbor kids — she always for her exceptional charitable found time to volunteer for a fundraising and community variety of organizations. dedication.

In the early ’70s, Hungerford At times, it may be hard to Hungerford as a little girl in the was recruited as a volunteer get this busy lady on the phone, mid-1930s. for the March of Dimes. It is but when you do, Hungerford there she met her second always has time to listen, husband. discuss current events, “At first I thought he provide advice, or simply was a snob, and he thought have a chat. Her days are I was a dizzy blonde,” she filled with meetings where laughs. “Yet, we ended up she strategizes with her married. For 36 wonderful team as well as meetings years he was the love of my with families, residents, and life, and my kids simply community members. adored him.”

“I love what I do,” she says. “I have never gotten A Heart for People up in the morning and Hungerford realized that said, ‘Oh no, I have to go her volunteer experiences to work.’ Never! I look at were marketable and my schedule and consider started a public relations how each interaction will be career that continues productive and rewarding, today. She especially not just for me but for our enjoyed working with residents.” nonprofits, and her skills Sounds like a typical and enthusiasm led to highly skilled and the leadership roles that motivated leader at the Hungerford at age 16. defined her career path. top of her game. What Hungerford served as is surprising is that the first director of public relations and alumni Hungerford exudes this level of enthusiasm and joy affairs at Penn State Harrisburg. For six years, she in her work at the age of 89. served as assistant director of development and “I can’t imagine getting out of bed and not volunteers at the Harrisburg Polyclinic Hospital. having a purpose,” she explains. “Retirement has At age 69, while engaged as an independent

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contractor, she was recruited by She was instrumental in establishing Homeland Center, which occupies a the Interact Club at The Nativity School, full block along Fifth Street in uptown in which students can enjoy talking Harrisburg. with residents at Homeland Center, and Homeland Center is a continuing likewise, the residents have a chance to care retirement center providing visit with and help mentor these students. exceptional personal care, skilled nursing This volunteer program is right in line care, memory care, and short-term with her personal goal: to help society rehabilitation. Homeland consistently recognize the value of seniors in their receives the highest recognition for quality community, in the lives of family, and in care, staffing and safety, ranking it among the lives of their friends. the best in the country.

She is quick to point out, “Those who After getting to know the are older still want to be of service and compassionate staff and engaging continue to have a lot to offer.” residents at Homeland, Hungerford Hungerford suggests the best way to quickly learned what a gem Homeland encourage respect for seniors is to start in Homeland Center was chartered in 1867 as the Home for the Center truly is. one’s own home.

Friendless to care for the widows and orphans of the Civil War. “It is a place of beauty and caring, and “My parents had many older friends,” a model of excellence,” she says. she says. “As an only child, I learned a lot Homeland’s tradition of care began 155 years ago after the Civil War. from them, including information about Rotary.”

Eighteen women of nine churches in the city of Harrisburg vowed to help Her own children also were exposed to a wide variety of visitors since all orphaned children and widows left homeless in the wake of the war. were welcomed to her home.

They rallied support to establish the “Society for the Home for the “I wasn’t the doting type of mother,” Hungerford explains. “I taught them Friendless,” which, by the 1950s, became Homeland Center with a new to think for themselves and give back to the community.” mission: caring for the community’s seniors.

Today, her children are proud of their mother’s independence. Since Homeland Center is part of a broader continuum of care. Homeland at Hungerford is still active and involved in her own career and social life, her Home, a community outreach program, provides quality care and support to children can focus on their own lives. patients and clients in the comfort of their own home.

Her son David lives in Florida, while Christopher has made a home in Homeland at Home Services include compassionate end-of-life hospice Portland, Oregon. Only her daughter, Deborah, lives in Pennsylvania. care (Homeland Hospice); daily nonmedical assistance and companionship Hungerford’s oldest son, JT, lost his battle with cancer 10 years ago.

(Homeland HomeCare); and at-home, physician-ordered medical treatment Hungerford sees her children and eight grandchildren as often as possible (Homeland HomeHealth). but also has gathered people of all ages into her social circle, from residents and staff at Homeland to many younger friends.

A Focus on Gratitude “Often times, my peers aren’t physically able to get out and socialize,” she “There’s a great spirit at Homeland,” says Hungerford. explains. “I feel so blessed to have younger friends to do things with socially She has had firsthand knowledge of the compassionate environment in the community.” fostered by all who work there. Her husband Paul received interim care at When Betty Hungerford isn’t busy going out with friends and keeping her Homeland, and her father lived there for more than two years and died 40 full social calendar, she says, “I’ll keep working as long as I feel I can offer days short of his 100th birthday. something to the residents and staff at Homeland. It’s all part of not getting “The staff embraced me both physically and emotionally,” she says. “I will rusty.” always be grateful for their attention and support. Gratitude has gotten me To find out more about Homeland’s 155th anniversary celebration event through a lot of tough times.” honoring Betty Hungerford, including tickets, tributes, and sponsorships, With her emphasis on expressing gratitude for all the good in her life, visit homelandanniversary.org.

Hungerford has always focused on giving back through volunteering. She is a proud Rotarian and is happy to be part of an organization that supports young people in their educational endeavors.

For her, rising to a leadership position with her local Rotary club was as natural as taking a step. With a fond laugh, she tells the story of coming home after her first Rotary meeting.

“When I told Paul I was joining the local Rotary club, he said, ‘Don’t tell me you’re going to become president of this as well.’”

Hungerford did serve as president in 2015 and continues as an active member today.

She also has lent her fundraising expertise to other cherished nonprofit Plus, you’ll receive organizations, including Theatre Harrisburg, Polyclinic Medical Center event updates, story Auxiliary, and Harrisburg Symphony Society, to name a few.

“Like” us on Facebook!

Recognizing the Value of Seniors Hungerford relishes opportunities for young people to interact with older individuals and hear their stories.

“Young people can learn a lot of lessons from older adults if they take time to listen,” she emphasizes. www.50plusLifePA.com

links, and more!

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May 2022

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Nursing & Rehabilitation Centers Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Claremont Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Bethany Village – The Oaks

1000 Claremont Road • Carlisle, PA 17013 (717) 243-2031 • www.claremontnursing.com

325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.bethanyvillage.org Number of Beds: 69 Skilled Licensed Nursing: Yes Therapy: Speech, Occupational, Physical Rehabilitation Unit: Yes Short-Term Care: Yes Long-Term Care: Yes Alzheimer’s Unit: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes 24-Hour Medical Care: Yes

Security System: Yes Staff Background Checks: Yes Internet Access: Yes Recreational Activities: Yes Scheduled Entertainment: Yes Medicare: Yes Medicaid: Yes Accreditations/Affiliations: CARF, Eagle, LeadingAge PA Comments: Maplewood Assisted Living also available.

Number of Beds: 282 Skilled Licensed Nursing: Yes Therapy: Speech, Occupational, Physical Rehabilitation Unit: Yes Short-Term Care: Yes Long-Term Care: Yes Alzheimer’s Unit: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes 24-Hour Medical Care: Yes

Homeland Center

Landis Homes

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 717-221-7902 • www.homelandcenter.org Number of Beds: 95 Skilled Licensed Nursing: Yes Therapy: Speech, Occupational, Physical Rehabilitation Unit: Yes Short-Term Care: Yes Long-Term Care: Yes Alzheimer’s Unit: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes 24-Hour Medical Care: Yes

Security System: Yes Staff Background Checks: Yes Internet Access: Yes Recreational Activities: Yes Scheduled Entertainment: Yes Medicare: Yes Medicaid: Yes Accreditations/Affiliations: AAHSA, LeadingAge PA (PANPHA), NHPCO, PHN, HPNA Comments: A beautiful, full-service continuing care retirement community with a history of more than 150 years of exemplary care.

Secure Unit: Yes Staff Background Checks: Yes Internet Access: Yes Recreational Activities: Yes Scheduled Entertainment: Yes Medicare: Yes Medicaid: Yes Accreditations/Affiliations: Best Nursing Homes 2021 – Newsweek Comments: Featuring Transitions at Claremont, a dedicated, 39-bed, short-term rehab unit. Claremont provides quality skilled nursing and secured dementia care.

1001 East Oregon Road • Lititz, PA 17543 717-569-3271 • www.landishomes.org Number of Beds: 103 (13 short-term) Skilled Licensed Nursing: Yes Therapy: Speech, Occupational, Physical Rehabilitation Unit: Yes Short-Term Care: Yes Long-Term Care: Yes Alzheimer’s Unit: No Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes 24-Hour Medical Care: Yes

Security System: Yes Staff Background Checks: Yes Internet Access: Yes Recreational Activities: Yes Scheduled Entertainment: Yes Medicare: Yes Medicaid: Yes Comments: Most Medicare Advantage plans accepted.

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your marketing consultant or call (717) 285-1350.

Memorial Day: Take Time to Remember A few solemn thoughts to ponder and share this Memorial Day:

commemoration of what they did.”

W.J. Cameron: “Perform, then, this one act of remembrance before this day passes: Remember there is an army of defense and advance that never dies and never surrenders, but is increasingly recruited from the eternal sources of the American spirit and from the generations of American youth.”

Robert G. Ingersoll: “These heroes are dead.

They died for liberty — they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless place of rest. Earth may run red with other wars — they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead.”

Benjamin Harrison: “I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant

Pete Hegseth: “Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans; it’s honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that’s a reminder of when we come home, we still have a responsibility to serve. It’s a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it.”

Daniel Webster: “Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.”

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May 2022

50plus Life

Memorial Day – Monday, May 30

www.50plusLifePA.com

CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18.

SUDOKU

Across WORD SEARCH

Animals of Australia

1. Banquet 5. Tablelands 10. Perlman of Cheers 14. Bunsen burner 15. Fragrance 16. Stagecoach actor Tim 17. Phrase to a recent winner 19. Assortment 20. Escargot starter 21. Family member 23. Starchy tuber 24. Dire fate 27. Manicurist’s concern

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Phrase to an underling Space shooter Milne bear Wool weight Range Painting Ancient Greek theater Beer barrel Tops Botanist Gray Sawbucks Fancy tie Phrase of helplessness Valentine symbol

53. Buckeye State 54. Egg cells 56. Alliance acronym 58. Like some lingerie 62. Well (It.) 64. Phrase of encouragement 67. Tolkien creatures 68. African antelope 69. Trick 70. Baby blues 71. Store events 72. Expires

Down 1. Computer memory, for short 2. Collar type 3. Dwarf buffalo 4. Phrase that could mean, “Who cares?”

5. Former Chinese leader 6. Go wrong 7. Miso starter 8. Quantity 9. Steam bath 10. Pi follower 11. Phrase of excitement 12. Lamb alias 13. Energy source

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Play disaster Nervous twitches Director Preminger State of mind Auction offering Tender spots “No way!” phrase Utopian Happening Lambs Sunscreen ingredient Norse capital “The Turtle” poet Foot part

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Baseball’s Musial Dropout’s phrase No. 1 Hun Enumerate Storms Bassoon relative Exceedingly Elliptical Ornamental purse Gaelic Bar selections Double curve Compass point Psyches

Your ad could be here on this popular page!

Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.

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May 2022

7

Elder Law Attorneys

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This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers.

These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Specific areas of elder law in which the firm concentrates:

Appel, Yost & Zee LLP 33 North Duke Street Lancaster, PA 17602 717-394-0521 • fax 717-394-0739 appel@appelyostzee.com www.appelyost.com

7

18

1883 1970

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills/ advanced healthcare directories, estate administrative, guardianship, Medicaid planning, and business succession planning. Experienced, responsive, and friendly staff.

Yes

Estate planning, elder law, asset protection planning, Medicaid planning, crisis Medicaid planning, and special needs planning.

Yes

Estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, estate administration, guardianships.

York County Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Law Section, chairman since 2001, friendly and efficient service and staff.

Yes

Estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, estate administration, Medicaid planning, and living wills.

Yes

Estate planning, wills, financial powers of attorney, durable healthcare powers of attorney (living wills), guardianships, Medicaid planning, and estate administration.

Offices in Lancaster, Columbia, Elizabethtown, and Quarryville.

Bellomo & Associates 3198 East Market Street York, PA 17402 717-845-5340 rdrotarcassidy@bellomoassociates.com www.bellomoassociates.com

3

3

2010

2010

Yes

Yes

No

Blakey, Yost, Bupp & Rausch, LLP David A. Mills, Esquire

17 East Market Street, York, PA 17401 717-845-3674 • fax 717-854-7839 dmills@blakeyyost.com www.blakeyyost.com

1

6

1980 1990

No

Yes

No

Griffith, Lerman, Lutz & Scheib 110 South Northern Way York, PA 17402 717-757-7602 • fax 717-757-3783 kkipnis@gllslawfirm.com www.gllslawfirm.com

2

5

1965 1965

Yes

Yes

Yes

Nikolaus & Hohenadel, LLP 212 North Queen Street Lancaster, PA 17603 717-299-3726 • fax 717-299-1811 www.n-hlaw.com

7

20

1972 2006

No

Yes

Yes

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your marketing consultant or call (717) 285-1350. * Indicates that at least one attorney in the firm is a member. Information contained herein was provided by the firm.

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May 2022

50plus Life

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May is Better Hearing & Speech Month Understanding Aphasia: Bruce Willis Diagnosis Puts Disorder in Spotlight The recent announcement by Bruce Willis’ family that the actor has been diagnosed with aphasia has brought attention to the language disorder, which is relatively common but not well known by the general public.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association encourages the public and media to seek out evidence-based information about this condition — and stresses that treatment is available from speech-language pathologists (SLPs).

Below is some information about the language disorder. More details are available on ASHA’s website (asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aphasia).

What is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a language disorder that can occur when a person experiences changes in the brain from injury or disease. This is most often due to stroke; however, any type of brain damage can cause aphasia.

Aphasia can make it hard for someone to understand, speak, read, or write.

This depends on the parts of the brain that are affected.

Aphasia is not associated with cognitive deficits. However, word-finding difficulty, a hallmark symptom of aphasia, may also be an early symptom of other neurological conditions, such as primary progressive aphasia — which are accompanied by cognitive impairments.

How is Aphasia Diagnosed and Treated?

SLPs evaluate a person’s speech and language skills. In making a diagnosis, they will assess how well a person: • Understands words, questions, directions, and stories.

• Says words and sentences. The SLP asks a person to name objects, describe pictures, and answer questions.

• Reads and writes. The SLP will have a person write letters, words, and sentences — as well as read short stories and answer questions about them.

Aphasia can be treated in various ways, depending on the specific difficulties a person is having and what their goals are (e.g., getting back to work, taking care of family members, participating in specific life activities).

SLPs work with people with aphasia one on one, as well as in groups, to improve their communication skills. They may also help them find other ways to share ideas when they have trouble talking. This may include pointing, drawing, or using other gestures (called “augmentative and alternative communication,” or AAC).

They also include family members who support their loved one’s communication.

How Can Loved Ones Help Someone With Aphasia?

Loved ones can help their family member or friend by connecting them with a certified SLP. A doctor can provide recommendations for local SLPs. A national database of these professionals is also available at asha.org/profind.

As you communicate with a person with aphasia in everyday life, use these tips: 1. Get their attention before you start speaking.

2. Keep eye contact as you speak. Watch their body language and gestures.

3. Talk to them in a quiet place. Turn off the TV or radio.

4. Keep your voice at a normal level. Don’t raise your voice unless the person asks.

5. Keep the words you use simple but adult. Don’t “talk down” to the person.

6. Use shorter sentences. Repeat key words that you want them to understand.

7. Slow down your speech.

8. Give them time to speak. Try not to finish sentences for them.

9. Try using drawings, gestures, writing, and facial expressions. The person may understand those better than words sometimes.

10. Ask them to draw, write, or point when they are having trouble talking.

11. Ask “yes” and “no” questions to make it easier for them to respond.

12. L et them make mistakes sometimes. They may not be able to say everything perfectly all the time.

13. Let them try to do things for themselves. It may take a few tries. Help when they ask for it.

Are you 62+ or 18 to 61 with permanent disabilities?

Welcome to your new home!

utilities included!

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Newly Renovated Units, Fitness Center, Service Coordinator, and More ...

Give us a call and check out our fabulous facilities.

We offer congregate meals to all residents, Mon.–Fri., at 11:30 a.m.

b’nai B’rith Apartments 130 South Third Street • Harrisburg

(717) 232-7516

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May 2022

9

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month 17 Million U.S. Seniors with Hearing Loss Don’t Use Hearing Aids Millions of American adults could benefit from using hearing aids. Yet, fewer than 1 in 3 adults over 60 with hearing loss uses them.

To help understand why this gap exists, SeniorLiving.org analyzed a study of Americans aged 55 or older as well as data from the National Health Interview Survey to get a sense of current attitudes about and usage of hearing aids.

The study (seniorliving.org/hearing/hearingaid-study) revealed a number of barriers that stop people with hearing loss from purchasing hearing aids, including cost, comfort, and appearance.

Luckily, technological advances and shifts in political ideologies are paving the way toward more accessible hearing aids.

Key Findings • 13% of the entire U.S. adult population experiences at least some hearing difficulty.

• Currently, 6.9 million people aged 60 or older use hearing aids, but an additional 17 million seniors with hearing difficulties do not use them.

• Older adults who have hearing loss but don’t use hearing aids are twice as likely to report frequent symptoms of depression as those who use the devices.

• 26% of people with hearing difficulties say they don’t use hearing aids because they’re too expensive.

KEEPING SENIORS IN THEIR HOMES, IT’S WHAT WE DO. CHECK FOR YOUR ELIGIBILITY:

SeniorLIFEPA.com or call our Harrisburg location at 717.234.5433 TTY: 711 SERVICES INCLUDE: • Medical care • Transportation • Medication management • Personal & in-home care

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• Telehealth & wellness checks • LIFE Health and Wellness Center And so much more...

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May 2022

50plus Life

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May is Better Hearing & Speech Month • More than half of hearing aid wearers plan to upgrade one or both of their hearing devices in the next year.

Current State of Hearing Loss According to the analysis, about 34% of all adults over 60 in the U.S. have some trouble hearing. People ages 60-69 were most likely to report hearing loss.

Men and women experience hearing loss at different rates. According to NHIS data, 41% of men and 27% of women over 60 experience hearing loss.

It’s not entirely clear why men experience higher rates of hearing loss than women, but some experts believe it’s because men are more likely to work in loud environments or to smoke, which can impact hearing.

The number of people experiencing hearing loss is likely much higher, as hearing loss is underrecognized and undertreated.

Hearing Aid Usage Overall, 7.5 million people aged 60 or older use hearing aids, according to the NHIS. As Americans age, the rate of hearing aid usage increases.

Age

Uses hearing aid

No hearing aid

19-29

7%

93%

30-39

3%

97%

40-49

5%

95%

50-59

10%

90%

60-69

18%

82%

70-79

30%

70%

80 or older

42%

58%

It’s possible that some people with hearing difficulties are turning to other options to improve their hearing. Many of the people surveyed are employing other devices and technologies to listen to the world around them.

Do you use any of the following devices to aid in hearing?

Closed caption or subtitles

29%

Wireless headphones

19%

Bluetooth adapter

9%

Amplified telephone

5%

Captioned telephone

3%

Visual or tactile alert system

2%

Pocket Talker

2%

Other

2%

None

55%

Hearing Aid Effectiveness and Technology Hearing aid technology has come a long way since its inception. Even the most basic hearing aid models today perform better than the highest-quality hearing aids of previous years. Nearly 3 in 4 people in the study using hearing aids felt satisfied with their performance.

Hearing aid technology is continuing to evolve to benefit users. Modernday hearing aids are becoming increasingly automated, helping users navigate conversations and hear better in difficult listening situations. www.50plusLifePA.com

While many hearing aids in the past were large and bulky, many of today’s models are smaller and sleeker than ever and include Bluetooth compatibility, remote support, and remote microphone technology Why Do People Forego Hearing Aids?

When surveyed people with hearing loss were asked why they were not using hearing aids, cost remained a barrier for many.

Why don’t you use hearing aids?

I can manage without one

70%

I have not been prescribed one by a doctor/audiologist

42%

Too expensive

26%

I just don’t want one

18%

My doctor deemed it unnecessary

10%

I have other technology to assist me

3%

I find them uncomfortable

3%

Hearing aid costs vary widely, ranging from $1,000 to upwards of $5,000.

Typically, a set of hearing aids falls somewhere in the middle. However, there are often additional costs when purchasing hearing aids, including the price of hearing tests and hearing aid fittings.

One of the biggest reasons people with hearing difficulties choose to go without hearing aids is inaccessibility. Not only can hearing aids themselves be costly, but the sheer task of hearing tests and fittings may be enough to deter some people.

Insurance for Hearing Aids Despite millions of Americans experiencing hearing loss, most insurance policies do not cover the cost of hearing aids or examinations and fittings.

If healthcare plans include hearing benefits, they are often limited, covering only a portion of hearing aid costs. In some cases, insurance plans may offer discounted hearing aids from specified healthcare providers, but this is far from enough coverage for some.

While the standard Medicare plan has some hearing benefits, it does not cover hearing aids or hearing tests. However, the Medicare Advantage Plans offer optional coverage for hearing aids at an additional cost. The plan typically covers the hearing aids themselves, as well as the cost of examinations and fittings.

Hearing aid accessibility has been heavily criticized in recent years, leading to a push toward making over-the-counter hearing aids more widely available.

Impact of Hearing Aids on Quality of Life Due to the stigma surrounding hearing loss and the high cost of hearing aids, hearing difficulty is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Although many may feel they can function well enough without hearing aids, hearing loss may be affecting their quality of life.

According to this analysis of NHIS data, people over 60 who have significant difficulty hearing but do not use hearing aids are two times more likely to report feeling depressed daily or weekly than those with poor hearing who use hearing aids.

As the population of people over 65 grows in the next 10 years, so will the number of people shopping for hearing aids. Luckily, some of the barriers to acquiring hearing aids appear to be coming down.

50plus Life

May 2022

11

Sixties Flashback

The Temporary Utopias Randal C. Hill

During the ’60s, thousands of young did “teach-ins” about the Vietnam War. Americans opted for a life in one of about Counterculturists concerned about the 3,000 “hippie” communes across the country. environment helped to establish the first Earth Who were those mavericks who made such an Day in 1970. unorthodox choice?

It was a variety of problems that led to the Generally, they were disaffected urban and ruination of many collectives. One of the main suburban baby boomers who rejected traditional issues was that there was often no structured society. Their numbers included back-to-nature governing body. Rules were often lax when farmers, antiwar protestors, civil-rights zealots, it came to raising food, sharing parental young men avoiding the draft, unfettered responsibilities, and doing household tasks (whose hedonists, criminals on the lam, and fringe folks turn is it to clean the bathroom?). with nowhere else to go.

For some hippies, often-tedious toil became There was no “one size fits all” in such secondary to pursuing freewheeling matters of cooperatives, as each group developed its own the flesh and a cornucopia of illicit drugs. Poor culture. Some were religious-based, others entirely money management was frequently a thorny issue secular. Drugs flourished in certain quarters but also. (Farming, for example, involved hard work were forbidden in others. Some were self-sufficient and wasn’t especially lucrative.) Jealousy often and agrarian-based, while others ran capitalismdrove irreparable wedges between certain “free fueled businesses. love” groups.

Many residents did adopt a popular uniform of Some residents simply grew older and chose to the day: long hair, long beards, long dresses, and leave in order to embrace a world once scorned — psychedelic-patterned clothes, as well as sandals, working for The Man, driving a station wagon, Photo credit: “Sutter Street Commune”

by Miriam Bobkoff, licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0. beads, and rimless “granny” glasses. (As a sort buying a tract home. Others just packed up and Members of the Sutter/Scott Street of social counterpoint, certain villages declared moved on to somewhere and something else. commune, later known as the Kaliflower themselves clothing-optional.)

Vermont organic farmer Robert Houriet once commune, started in San Francisco in 1967.

Traditional Judeo-Christian tenets were lived an idyllic life as a commune resident in sometimes replaced by elements of Buddhism and the Green Mountain State. Decades later, he Hinduism. The widespread popularity of astrology generated the term “Age of declared, “There has to be some leadership and decision-making, some control Aquarius.” Music heroes such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, the Rolling Stones, of membership,” he said in an interview. “You can’t sell drugs to people in and the Grateful Dead were enthusiastically proclaimed “cool.” town, go skinny-dipping in the town pond, and offend your neighbors.”

It is important to give credit where credit is due regarding some of the He pauses, and then adds, “There was a brief, shining moment when we principles that have been adopted from these coteries. Resident bohemians knew it could work. We knew it could work, but we blew it.” often followed healthy vegetarian diets and practiced holistic medicine.

Gays and lesbians, frequently rejected by society at large, were usually Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in welcomed by commune members. On college and university campuses, Bandon, Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. ethnic studies of Blacks, Native Americans, and Latinos blossomed, as

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Managing Complications of Lupus Many people may recognize the • Take a diuretic, or water pill, if directed by your healthcare provider, term “lupus” and think of it as an to help rid your body of extra fluid, autoimmune disease that can cause joint which can raise your blood pressure pain and swelling, but you may not be and cause strain on your heart. aware lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans and can affect many • Talk to a professional, such as a parts of the body. mental health therapist, counselor, The disease that causes the immune or social worker, to help understand system to attack its own tissues mainly and process emotions, improve impacts women, who make up 9 out coping skills, and advocate for your of 10 lupus patients. Genetics also needs. play a role in lupus; if you have a • Join a support group to connect family member with lupus or another with others who have similar autoimmune disease, you are at greater experiences. risk.

Some racial and ethnic groups are • A sk your doctor for handouts or also at elevated risk, including those suggestions for where you can go for Photo courtesy of Getty Images of Black, Asian American, Hispanic/ more information.

Latino, Native American, and Pacific May is Lupus Awareness Month Islander heritage.

• Don’t be afraid to get a second Additionally, Black, Hispanic/Latino, opinion if you feel your doctor is not taking your concerns seriously. and Asian American lupus patients are more likely to develop complications, including kidney damage, also known as lupus nephritis, and these patients To learn more and find resources to help cope with lupus nephritis, visit tend to have worse outcomes than white patients.

Lupus nephritis — kidney swelling and irritation caused by lupus — affects kidneyfund.org/lupus. (Family Features) up to 60% of patients with lupus, according to the American Kidney Fund. It can cause permanent kidney damage, called chronic kidney disease, which can affect your quality of life.

People with lupus nephritis also have a higher chance of heart problems, blood vessel problems, and developing certain types of cancer.

Symptoms of lupus nephritis include weight gain, fatigue, joint pain or swelling, muscle pain, fever, high blood pressure, and frequent urination.

Because some of the symptoms of lupus nephritis can also look like symptoms of other diseases, it’s important for lupus patients to talk to their doctors about testing their kidney function regularly. Testing your kidney function involves a urine test to look for protein and a blood test to check for waste products in your blood.

If you are diagnosed with lupus nephritis, it is important you see a kidney doctor, called a nephrologist. Treatment for lupus nephritis focuses on preventing additional kidney damage.

It’s also important to recognize lupus nephritis can impact your mental health, too. These tips from the American Kidney Fund can help you navigate your care and cope with lupus nephritis:

The ultimate resource for boomer and senior living and care options.

• Ensure your kidney function is tested regularly and you are referred to a nephrologist.

• Keep records of your symptoms, tests, and test results so you can share them with your doctors in detail.

• Consider medication to lower your blood pressure, if directed by your healthcare provider, which can help lower the amount of protein in your urine.

26th Annual Edition

• Write down questions you have for your doctor and bring them to your next visit.

• Take notes on what your doctor says during your visits.

• Find healthy ways to cope, such as meditating, journaling, or exercising. www.50plusLifePA.com

Read it online, in print, and on mobile/tablet devices. onlinepub.com

50plus Life

May 2022

13

Savvy Senior

How to Recognize a Mini-Stroke Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, How can a person know if they’ve had a minor stroke? My mother had a spell a few weeks ago where she suddenly felt dizzy for no apparent reason and had trouble walking and speaking, but it went away, and she seems fine now.

– Concerned Son Dear Concerned, The way you’re describing it, it’s very possible your mom had a “mini-stroke,” also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), and if she hasn’t already done so, she needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Each year, around 250,000 Americans have a mini-stroke, but fewer than half of them realize what’s happening. That’s because the symptoms are usually fleeting — lasting only a few minutes, up to an hour or two — causing most people to ignore them or brush them off as no big deal.

But anyone who has had a mini-stroke is much more likely to have a full-blown stroke, which can cause long-term paralysis, impaired memory, loss of speech or vision, and even death.

A mini-stroke is caused by a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain and can be a warning sign that a major stroke may soon be coming. That’s why mini-strokes need to be treated like emergencies.

May is American Stroke Month

Who’s Vulnerable?

A person is more likely to suffer a TIA or stroke if they are overweight or inactive or have high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or diabetes. Other factors that boost the risks are age (over 60), smoking, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and having a family history of stroke.

Men also have a greater risk for stroke than women, and African Americans and Hispanics

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are at higher risk than those of other races.

Warning Signs The symptoms of a mini-stroke are the same as those of a full-blown stroke but can be subtle and short-lived, and they don’t leave any permanent damage.

They include any one or combination of the following: • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause The easiest way to identify a stroke is to use the F.A.S.T. test to identify the symptoms: F (Face): Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A (Arm): Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S (Speech): Ask the person to say a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred?

T (Time): If you observe any of these signs of stroke, call 911 as soon as possible.

Get Help If these warning signs sound like what happened to your mom, but they went away, she needs to go to the emergency room or nearby stroke center.

If the doctor suspects a TIA, he or she will run a series of tests to determine what caused it and assess her risk of a future stroke. Once the cause has been determined, the goal of treatment is to correct the abnormality and prevent a full-blown stroke.

Depending on the cause(s), her doctor may prescribe medication to reduce the tendency for blood to clot or may recommend surgery or a balloon procedure (angioplasty).

For more information on mini-strokes and how to recognize one, visit the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association at strokeassociation. org.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

Debunking Common Misconceptions about Gout When many people think of gout, they often Myth: Gout is a man’s disease. picture swelling and pain in the big toe.

Anyone can get gout, but it’s more common However, gout — an extremely painful form in men than women. Though men are 10 times of inflammatory arthritis — can occur in any more likely to develop gout, rates of gout even joint when high levels of uric acid in the blood out after age 60 since gout tends to develop for lead to the formation of urate crystals. women after menopause.

If your body creates too much uric acid Myth: Only people who are obese get gout. or cannot clear uric acid properly, you may People of all sizes can develop gout. Though experience sudden and sometimes severe people who are obese are at higher risk, gout is gout attacks, called flare-ups, that include more common in people who have other health pain, swelling, or redness in your joints. The problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, condition can disrupt many aspects of daily high cholesterol, or kidney disease. living, including work and leisure or family Photo courtesy of Getty Images Others more at risk for gout are males 30activities.

50 years old, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Black “I was diagnosed with kidney disease in National Gout Awareness Day is May 22 people, people with a family history of gout, 2009, and it wasn’t too long after that I started people with organ transplants, and people dealing with gout issues,” said registered nurse exposed to lead.

Theresa Caldron. “Gout affects your quality of life in a lot of different ways. You’re going through days of pain, and no one Myth: Gout eventually goes away on its own. knows it because you don’t look sick.”

Symptoms of gout attacks often go away within a few days, but that doesn’t Because the kidneys filter and release uric acid, people with kidney disease mean gout is gone. Even if you don’t feel symptoms, urate crystals can build up are more likely to experience a buildup of urate crystals and, therefore, gout. beneath the surface, which can cause long-term health problems like joint and In fact, 1 out of 10 people with chronic kidney disease has gout, and an even kidney damage. higher percentage of people with gout have kidney disease.

To help debunk some myths around the condition, the American Kidney Myth: There are foods you can eat to prevent or cure gout.

Fund, in partnership with Horizon Therapeutics, created the “Goutful” education campaign, which aims to educate and empower patients with gout Certain foods may help decrease the level of uric acid in your body, but diet to help them live easier and prevent further health complications, especially alone is not a cure for gout. People with gout who follow healthy diets may still relating to their kidneys. need medicine to prevent flare-ups and lower uric acid levels.

Consider these common myths: Alcohol and foods rich in purines, especially red meat and seafood, should be avoided if you are prone to gout.

Myth: Gout is rare.

Gout is a relatively common condition. More than 8 million Americans have If you think you might have gout, talk with your doctor or a gout specialist gout, and it is the most common form of arthritis in men over 40. about your symptoms. Visit kidneyfund.org/gout to learn more about gout and kidney disease. (Family Features)

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50plus Life

May 2022

15

The History of Ordinary Things

Antique Textile Art: Crochet Doris Montag

Bobbin lace was the preferred needlework in the 1700s. It was made by nuns using silk or linen thread on multiple spindles to create complex patterns. In 1806, Napoleon’s blockade on the English Channel stopped the shipments of silk thread from the East.

During this time, brothers James and Patrick Clark were running a loom equipment and silk thread business in Scotland. In response to the loss of silk trade, Patrick Clark created a method of twisting cotton A crocheted baby bib, bonnet, and yarns together to produce a four-cord booties. thread.

It was so strong and smooth that it could be substituted for silk and linen for hand sewing. Cotton was readily available and could be salvaged from existing fabric. This change in thread made needlework affordable.

The invention of the spinning jenny (James Hargreaves, 1770) and the

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cotton gin (Eli Whitney, 1774) made machine-spun cotton thread widely available and inexpensive in Europe and North America.

Crocheted laces use more thread than woven bobbin laces, but the crocheted laces were faster to make and easier to teach. By the 1800s, crochet was popular as a less costly substitute for bobbin lace.

During the Great Irish Famine (1845-49), nuns taught local women and children to crochet. Pieces were shipped across Europe and America, A delicately crocheted bedspread. bought for their beauty and for the charitable help supporting the Irish.

Crochet became a thriving cottage industry, particularly in Ireland and northern France, supporting communities whose traditional livelihoods had been damaged by wars, changes in farming, and crop failures.

At the time, crochet was disdained by the rich as a cheap copy of older laces.

Queen Victoria conspicuously bought Irish-made crochet lace and even learned

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to crochet herself to promote the acceptance of crochet.

During the late 1800s, the preferred colors were white, cream, and ochre (light brownishyellow). Godey’s Ladies Book, a pioneer woman’s magazine along with others, published patterns for the homemaker. Women formed clubs to share the cost of a subscription. The magazine was then passed from member to member.

In the 1920s, America was changing from the conservative Victorian Era to the Modern Era in fashion, home furnishings, and lifestyle. There was an evolution A board with the five original variegated in crochet patterns and colors as colors. Note the shoes in green and the well. Historically the patterns chicken pincushion in orange. were more elaborate and involved, but women were enamored with the quick and easy patterns of the new times.

During the period 1900-1930, crochet was an economical means to create linens, dainty laces for lingerie and collars, yokes for nightgowns, and baby clothes.

Crochet pieces adorned homes with pillowcases, armchair covers, and bedspreads.

Doilies and dresser scarves were intended not only to decorate, but also to protect furniture from scratches.

The five original variegated threads were introduced in the 1940s: the classic blue, purple, green, pink, and orange. One can date pieces in these variegated colors from 1940 to 1960.

After World War II and into the early ’60s, there was a resurgence in interest in home crafts. New and imaginative crochet Grandma’s crochet designs were published for colorful accessories, pillowcases. potholders, and other home items. Even Barbie dolls were dressed in crochet gowns. These uses called for thicker threads and yarns, and multiple variegated colors were introduced.

The craft remained primarily a homemaker’s art until the late ’60s through the 1970s, when my generation embraced crochet with “granny squares,” a motif worked in the round that incorporated bright colors of yarn for bedspreads, shawls, and pillows.

Since this time, crochet has declined in popularity. The 21st century has seen a renewed appreciation for women’s handicrafts, perhaps more as women’s textile art than for the utilitarian uses of the past.

It has been my observation that the treasured pieces from our mothers and grandmothers live in the back bedroom in a dresser drawer. For the children and grandchildren, “out of sight” suggests they have no value.

I beseech you to open the drawers and bring out your “stories.” Frame a piece.

Use the fancy pillowcases and put the bedspread on the bed! Celebrate them as the material documentation of women’s lives speaking through thread.

Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit curator who researches and displays historical collections of ordinary things, such as can openers, crochet, toy sewing machines, hand corn planters, powder compacts, egg cartons, and more.

Contact or follow her on Facebook, HistoryofOrdinaryThings.

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May 2022

17

The Bookworm Sez

Immortal Valor Terri Schlichenmeyer

Puzzles shown on page 7.

Puzzle Solutions

You’d need that pin to get in. his missionary family when he Put it on your chest, and you’d get volunteered to fight with the access to an exclusive club. The pin Chinese; four years later, he visited tells the world what you did, that you the American embassy and asked to were elite, that you acted with honor. be assigned to Abyssinia with the If you earned the pin, you’d wear it American troops. with pride.

George Watson lost his life In Immortal Valor by Robert Child, attempting to save one. Ruben Rivers it’s a beribboned thing that you’d went into the Army with his younger definitely deserved. brother. John Fox left a prestigious Almost since the birth of this college to attend one with an ROTC country, soldiers who have exhibited program, so strong was his desire to bravery above and beyond their serve … normal duties have been given medals So what makes these men unique? for military merit. Says Child, almost Author Robert Child explains the rest 3,500 Medals of Honor have been of the story: In 1993, a study showed awarded so far in the history of these men didn’t get the honors for America, but less than 3% have been which they were recommended. It awarded to African Americans. took another four years before they Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II Of the 500 Medals of Honor finally received their medals, more

By Robert Child awarded for service during World War than five decades after wars’ end. c. 2022, Osprey Publishing/Bloomsbury II, just seven of them went to Black Child tells readers how this 288 pages soldiers. happened; he also says that other men That may not be a surprise. Racism are still waiting. was an everyday occurrence then, and Black soldiers “knew only segregation,” That all makes Immortal Valor part irritation, part history. The former lies which “meant inequality.” Even so, the men in this book didn’t let racism stop waiting, wrapped in small biographies of those men, Jim Crow tales, and them from serving their country. It didn’t stop them from exceptional acts. stories of valor so long unrecognized.

Charles Thomas was working at Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, when he was The latter could be a bit of a challenge for civilians: Along with tales of drafted into the Army. In the midst of battle in Climbach, France, Thomas American society, it’s a lot of battles-and-dates information that, even so, was injured but continued to lead his men. pulses with adrenaline, blood, screams, and jaw-dropping bravery.

If Vernon Baker hadn’t seen much racism at home in Wyoming, he surely Go into Immortal Valor knowing this, and you’ll burst with outrage and saw it after he enlisted in the Army. It was never as blatant, though, as it pride at nearly every word. Especially for veterans and their families, this is a was when a white officer was given credit “for the actions [which Baker] book to pin down. performed …”

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years Willy James was killed trying to reach “his fatally wounded platoon old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin leader.” with two dogs and 14,000 books.

Edward Allen Carter Jr. was 15 years old and living in Shanghai with

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