 |
| Loretta Coleman, left, and U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth. |
Service to others is woven into the fabric of Loretta
Coleman’s life. She spent 10 years in the U.S. Armed Forces, including four
years of active duty in the Air Force and six years in the Army Reserve. She’s
currently an AmeriCorps member, managing the Greater Chicago Food Depository
veterans pantry at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago.
“There’s always an opportunity to lend a helping hand, no
matter how small,” she said. “It’s a part of who I am.”
In honor of her dedication to service, Loretta was invited
by U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in January to attend the State of the Union
address in Washington, D.C.
“I felt honored to be chosen,” she said. “From the moment I
got off the plane, it was a whirlwind experience.”
Loretta was excited to be a part of President Obama’s final
State of the Union, but was even more appreciative of what the President said
about the importance of those serving our country.
“That’s part of what makes this nation great – that people
are willing to give of themselves,” she said.
In addition to attending the address, Loretta took a tour of
the White House and the Washington monuments.
She returned home with a reinforced conviction that helping
others should be an important part of everyone’s lives. She also returned home
with hope – that despite the continuing need among veterans in Cook County,
there’s progress being made.
“I’d like to see a day when we don’t need food pantries for
veterans, but the reality is that we do,” she said. “But I know how grateful
they are, and how much we’re making a difference.”
The veterans pantries at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital serve as many as 3,000 individuals per month.
No comments:
Post a Comment