Sharing stories, and Legos, with veterans

Legionnaires from the Seaford American Legion Post 1132 brought the holiday spirit to veterans at the Northport VA Medical Center in a visit that featured presents and sharing memories.

“Our group received an initial cordial but reserved reception from the Veteran residents,” Post Commander Terrence Murphy said of the Dec. 28 visit. “When we started talking with them, however, they responded with stories of humor, military histories, and home. We all were grateful for the experience.”

 Post members delivered Adult LEGO Sets—designed for cognitive stimulation and recreation—to support the center’s LEGO Club. They also sat with veterans to swap stories and share in fellowship.

Kevin Tirman, a Post 1132 member, and US Air Force Veteran who served from 1979-1983, said that the sets are a positive tool for patients in the center. “It is very therapeutic for those veterans that live at the home,” Tirman said

The Northport VA Medical Center is a skilled nursing facilities owned and operated by the New York State Department of Health for veterans and their dependents. The State Department of Health operates four Veterans Homes, located in Batavia, Oxford, Montrose, and St. Albans–in Queens.

Post Chaplain Charlie Wroblewski likened the visit to going to the home of a friend. “It's something that posts want to do to actually visit them (veterans) at their home turf,” Wroblewski said. “Going to see them there was really a treat for them, and it was a treat for us,”

The Northport VA Center is affiliated with the State University of New York Medical School at Stony Brook University and offers fully integrated residency programs in general medicine, general surgery, and specialties such as cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology.

“I think you find out the commonality between all veterans and how we take care of our own,” Wroblewski added. Seaford’s chapter of the American Legion is a part of the nation’s largest wartime veterans organization. It is devoted to mutual helpfulness, and is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring community programs, advocating for patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security and continued devotion to fellow servicemembers and veterans.

Each year around Thanksgiving the post also welcomes veterans from nearby institutions, such as the Stony Brook veterans home and Northport VA hospital, for a turkey dinner with all the fixings.

While Wroblewski enjoys hosting fellow veterans at the post, visiting veterans at the VA Medical Center allows for more time spent with fellow veterans. “It made us feel like we were reaching out to friends,” he said. “We were reaching out. When they come to post, you don't have that much time with them.”

“We get to hear their life stories,” Tirman said. “Some of these stories are sad, but these guys are actual heroes.” While there can be heavy moments, Tirman also acknowledged  humor in the trip. He shared a joke he would tell veterans of the Vietnam War after asking them where they were deployed.

“I love it when they say Pleiku,” he said. “Because my answer to them is, do you know where I was when you were there? I say I was in the play pen.”

Tirman, a retired police officer, began his career in New York City in 1985 and transferred to Nassau County two years after beginning; he retired from the NCPD in 2015. “I met four individuals that were veterans from Vietnam, but also were retired police officers from New York City, and one was a New York State Trooper,” Tirman said. “It's just a good feeling being there, visiting them.”