OPINION

Veterans Guest House in Reno helps vets every day

Noreen Leary

Veterans Day is a great time to say thanks. Those of us at the Veterans Guest House in Reno take this day to remember and thank our veterans who served and are serving in our country’s military.

We have many precious memories of our guests who have sacrificed so much and needed just a little help. One of our previous guests was Tony, a veteran and a single father of two teenagers. He needed medical treatment at the Reno VA and was planning to stay in a tent at the KOA campground in November a few years ago. He could not afford to care for his children and get a motel room for himself. Thankfully, he was directed to the Guest House and we provided a room for him. A newly diagnosed diabetic, Tony had a diabetic event during this time, and if he had been in that tent, he probably would not be alive today. We are very grateful that his eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy were successful, and that we were here for him during this difficult time.

The Guest House also serves the families of our veterans, like Bob who served our country for 35 years in the Army. He and his family recently spent three weeks at the Guest House after his son was critically injured in a bicycle accident at Lake Tahoe. We were able to provide the family with a place to rest, shower and have a hot meal when they could pull themselves away from his bedside. Again, it was an honor to be here when Bob and his family needed help.

This is just a glimpse of the challenges our veterans have every day. I am proud that the Veterans Guest House is the only one of its kind in the country serving our veterans and their families, and accepts no government funds. We are excited to be celebrating our 20th year of providing temporary lodging to U.S. military veterans and their families who receive medical treatment in the Reno-Sparks area. By year’s end, we will have provided close to 50,000 guest nights of lodging during the past 20 wonderful years.

Join us in thanking our veterans today, and if you have the time, visit us from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 11 for a Veterans Day open house at 880 Locust St.

— Noreen Leary is CEO of the Veterans Guest House in Reno.