Connecting the Dots

After 50 years, what finally made this Army vet feel like she ranked

Veterans are some of our most respected citizens, but just like the rest of us, they share a basic human need to feel like what they do matters.

That feeling was a long time coming for proud U.S. Army vet Constance Lee Richards, who served from 1973-1976. Thank you, Constance, for sharing your recent Honor Flight experience in our periodic guest post series “Shared Spaces.”

On Veteran’s Day and every day, we salute our veterans who have stepped up to secure our freedoms. However you have served, we are grateful.

You all deserve an Honor Flight experience and then some.

(Photo/Constance Lee Richards)

Impact Heroes

Giving the shoes off his feet

When 18-year-old Jordan Hope saw an elderly man struggling through his Arizona neighborhood using a walker and wearing old slippers that were falling apart, he was moved to hand over his own Nike slides – and then his time.

Turns out Mr. Roy had lost his wife two weeks before and lived by himself. He was lonely.

The two hung out that whole afternoon and now check in every day. Jordan is “glad that I can be his friend, his family.”

Check out the touching shoe transfer caught on camera by bystander Yareli Madrid below!

YOUR TURN: Even if you hang on to your shoes, how can you be an unexpected friend to someone who needs it this week?

(Photo/Yareli Madrid)

Your Stories

No poop fairy

I often drive by a municipal marquee that says: “There is no poop fairy, pick up after your pet.”

The sign is appropriate, but I wish it was posted in the park where I frequently walk my dog. When I go to the park, I usually take an extra bag to pick up trash and my dog’s poop, but occasionally I also pick up dog poop that is left behind by others.

I suppose I have become the poop fairy. I so wish pet owners would be thoughtful about their dog’s bowels and clean up after they do their business!

Dog lover in Missouri

(Photo/Iulian Sandu)