Old Memories, New Perspective 

In the short time I met with Steve Flanagan and his friend, Chuck, I felt as if I had taken a long, wonderful journey down memory lane.  Steve says, “Chuck will share a memory and it will spark a memory of my own.”  Chuck began telling me about how he and his sister used to dance on The Milt Grant Show. Then Steve and Chuck started talking about other D.C. area shows they used to enjoy, such as watching Willard Scott as Bozo the Clown. They talked about discovering that they were both born in D.C.  Chuck’s dad and Steve’s mom worked at the same department store off Pennsylvania Avenue.  Both Steve and Chuck are veterans; Steve served in the Navy and Chuck served in the Air Force.
Steve and Chuck have been sharing memories and making new ones for the past ten years.  They were introduced through the Senior Visitors Program in July of 2008.  Chuck says, “This started out as Senior Visitors. It’s something different now.  We made a pretty immediate connection.  I’ve been in a wheel chair since 2000.  When I met Steve, I felt pretty sorry for myself.  He helped me pull out of that.” Steve explained, “I have had a wonderful life as an adult and I was pretty focused on myself.  A friend suggested that I needed to do some volunteer work to focus on something outside myself.  I started at Big Brother Big Sisters.  That made me look at things differently. It was a great experience, but it wasn’t enough.” Steve then joined the Senior Visitors Program and was matched with Chuck.  “Volunteer work has changed how I view the world.  When you get involved in the community and step outside yourself, it pays big dividends.  I used to visit to Chuck because I was a Senior Visitors volunteer.  Now I visit Chuck, because it’s Chuck.”
“We have been through a lot together. We straighten each other out,” declares Chuck. “Steve impressed me from the beginning.  He is no nonsense, trustworthy, direct. Our conversations are fun, but they are also meaningful.  Steve motivates me.  He is willing to get me out and show me what I can do.  People should feel lucky the Senior Visitors Program is here. I know some seniors are neglected. Not me!”
I asked Steve and Chuck to each share a favorite outing that they’ve had together.  Steve said he enjoys taking Chuck to the gun range and the Moose Lodge.  Chuck laughed that he also enjoys going to the Moose Lodge and added that Steve has taken him to a few football games (Chuck used to play for James Monroe High School).  Both agreed that just getting together to visit and check on each other is what matters most.
We ended our visit where we started, on memory lane.  Steve reminisced about walking around D.C. with his grandmother and playing in the fountain at Union Station on hot days.  Chuck talked about meeting notable Fredericksburg area people such as Carl D. Silver and Sam Shipp while working as a bell hop at the Princess Anne and General Washington Hotels.
If you know a senior who could benefit from having a weekly, friendly visit OR if you are ready to volunteer to be a friend to a senior, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org.” You may also contact Program Coordinator, Laurie Black more information at the same phone number.