The Norway Veterans home is home to some of the nicest people you will ever met. I’m talking about both the veterans and the people who work there. Our school’s CSL (or Community Service Learning) has taken may trips to this place, each time coming back with smiles on our faces. Even though it has rained every time we have gone up to the home, inside you could never tell. Everyone there is happy.
The home is a wonderful place. The staff is very friendly. There are always activities for the elderly to enjoy taking part of. For the last couple of visits the CSL has been the main attraction. We have played games and painted with the veterans that come to see us. We also listen to all of their remarkable tales.
I remember one veteran who talked about his secret mission while in the service. He was stationed out in a ship in the middle of an ocean and there was talk that he and other members of his crew would be sent out to do something, but no one knew what that something was. That something turned out to be flying planes to places that need them. He never had to fight in battle or risk his life. The army sent him to all the beautiful places in the world such as Jamaica and Hawaii. At the end of his service he was scar free.
Another person I personally talked to was a remarkable man. He has lived in Maine for a long time now. He told me and the other members of the CSL about how he has been going skiing at Sunday River for as long as they’ve been open. Every weekend he went skiing, even if he was injured. Lately, however, he hasn’t been able to go much because of his age, but he is still able to get at least one run done when he does make the trip. At that age you have to keep moving. Its inspiring to see someone over the age of 80 able to still ski down the mountain he basically grew up on.
The last man that I’m going to talk about is a man known to everybody as Gramps, who is 101 years old. He is the oldest man in the home. Not only is he as charming as he is funny, but he is also very artistic. He has come to see the CSL every time the group makes the trip. Gramps is a very talented water color painter. He always shows us something out of his many works. If you wish to see his art, go see Ms. Carrera in her room. She has one piece that Gramps did a long time ago. He also filmed some of his stay in WW2. He tried to show the group but the DVD, unfortunately, did not work. When you live 100 years, minor technological glitches don’t bother you.
If you wish to join the Community Service Club, contact Ms. Carrera, the group’s co-curricular advisor. Let me take this opportunity to say how much fun I personally have serving in the club. It’s hard work, but we have fun -- lots of it. What a better way to get a credit than having fun and helping out your community (not to mention the Red Sox game at the end of the year)? If you have ideas for community service learning or places where we can go to make a difference in people’s lives, stop on by. We meet on Wednesdays after school at the bell, 2:05 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Drop on by.
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