Several years ago, while waiting for my husband to finish his appointments at Togus Veterans Affairs hospital, I was sitting in the cemetery at Togus.

A reporter walked up and asked me a bunch of questions about Memorial Day and the gravemarker I was sitting in front of.

At the time, it was just a name on a stone. Last fall, however, I found out that name was my great-uncle, who fought in the Spanish-American War. Family stories said he may have gone out west like his father had. Turns out, he spent his final days living between the hospital and the Soldier’s Home. He had several things wrong with him; I’m sure it was painful.

Every time I go to Togus and see the old pictures on the walls of the soldiers who fought for us, I think of him and the pain he went through.

In addition to thanking all the military people who put themselves on the front lines for us, we also should thank the caregivers who take care of our veterans. God bless you all.

Terri Lambert, Clinton