Living Treasures

Reading the paper while sipping coffee at Bean Affair Coffee and More I came across two obituaries that reminded me of one of my dreams. Several years ago I had read about the Living Treasures program in Santa Fe, New Mexico: honor the elders who have generously served the community with kind hearts and good deeds.

The first obituary was for Robert “Reg” Wilson, a native of the Sonoma Valley. He passed away days after being inducted into the Sonoma Valley High School’s athletic hall of fame. The event was one of the highlights of his life.

The second was for Virginia Sweet. As a child she was inspired by a story she read about Amelia Earhart’s transatlantic flight. During World War II she became of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots. The WASP’s were civilians that ferried planes from factories to air bases around the world. She flew 52 different types of military aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-29 Superfortress bombers and the p-51 Mustang.

After the war these ladies were basically forgotten. That is until July 1, 2009, when President Obama, signed a law that offered recognition and Congressional Gold Medals, the highest award Congress can give to a civilian, to the WASP fliers. Virginia Sweet had suffered a stroke earlier in the year and the family feels that she may not have understood what they had told her about the hard-won honor. She has since passed away and a niece will accept her Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony later this year.

One was recognized and honored by his community, the other passed away not knowing of the recognition. That is why the living Treasures program intrigues me.
We need to honor the elders in our communities while they are living and are able to participate. Before leaving Oregon I had the pleasure of organizing one ceremony at the church I was attending. Reading these two obituaries makes me want to start the program here in Healdsburg.