Veteran mails century-old letter that still rings true
It’s fairly common for donors to mail The Salvation Army letters of thanks or support. But this letter was different.
Salvation Army donor Keith Carey of Westbrook, Minn. recently mailed us a gift that also included a copy of a letter dated Aug. 1, 1919 (pictured above). It featured Salvation Army letterhead and was signed by Commander Evangeline Booth (pictured), daughter of Salvation Army founders William and Catherine Booth.
The letter was addressed to Keith’s grandpa, A. E. Carey, informing him that his son, Albert Carey – Keith’s uncle – had returned to America safely from France following World War I. It was sent on behalf of the now-defunct Salvation Army War Service Department, which provided a host of services to soldiers during both World Wars and the Cold War.
Booth wrote, “I send you this letter to say how much we rejoice with you in the happiness which this homecoming will bring…”
She ended the letter with, “I want to assure you that you will find us ever ready to help you in any way possible.”
Booth’s closing statement is important because it still rings true: Nearly 100 years after her letter, The Salvation Army is still committed to serving veterans.
In Minnesota and North Dakota, The Salvation Army operates a myriad of housing programs for veterans experiencing homelessness, including two entire apartment complexes in South Minneapolis (pictured). Our social workers help hundreds of veterans apply for social security benefits through The Salvation Army’s partnership with the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans. And that’s just the start.
Then again, don’t take our word for it. Take it from Keith. He witnessed our service to military men and women firsthand during the Vietnam War.
Keith’s account
Keith still remembers what his uncle said before he left for Vietnam: “My uncle Al used to tell me that if I ever had a problem, find The Salvation Army.”
Keith (pictured in 1966) served as an Air Force police officer at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, near Saigon. He was part of the rescue team that saved Nemo, a famous war dog, in December 1966.
At the base, Keith witnessed the same Salvation Army compassion that his uncle had talked about.
“The Salvation Army was at the airport, 24/7, greeting every military flight that came in,” said Keith, 70, now a Presbyterian minister. “If we ran out of money and needed lunch, we went over and got free donuts and coffee from The Salvation Army. They never turned us away for coming back too often.”
He remembers one Salvation Army officer (pastor) in particular.
“He was such a nice guy,” Keith said. “I interacted with him a lot, in the chow hall and the PX. He was always around.”
The officer impacted Keith so deeply that, years later, Keith gave to The Salvation Army by having money deducted from his work paychecks. “That’s how impressed I was by that guy,” said Keith, who worked in manufacturing for much of his life.
Keith also was impressed by how The Salvation Army offered loans to soldiers who needed to go home for emergency leave. “If you borrowed from The Salvation Army, you could pay it back at any rate you wanted to,” he said, noting that other agencies offered loans with stringent repayment policies.
Keith continues to give to The Salvation Army 50 years later because, quite simply, “they served the veterans and the active duty soldiers.”
Tradition of service
Military service runs strong in Keith’s family. His relatives served in almost every major war of the last 150 years, starting with his great-grandpa, who fought in the Civil War. Other immediate and extended family members served in both World Wars and the Korean War. Still others are recently retired from careers in the military.
“My grandpa instilled in us the idea of serving our country,” said Keith, who lives in the same house his grandpa built in 1902 with $348 worth of materials. “I carried on the tradition and served when my country called.”
Today, The Salvation Army is proud to continue its own tradition of serving veterans in need. In Minnesota, North Dakota and nationwide, The Salvation Army offers them counseling, rehabilitation services, rent and utility assistance, job services and more.
Many of these programs are specifically designed for veterans, including our veteran supportive housing programs in the Twin Cities, Rochester, St. Cloud and elsewhere. These programs are a blessing to veterans like Cecil Wooten, who graduated from the St. Cloud program.
The Salvation Army “saved my life,” Cecil said.
Learn more about how The Salvation Army helps veterans in War Cry magazine, whose November edition is devoted exclusively to our uniformed men and women in honor of Veteran’s Day.
“On behalf of The Salvation Army Northern Division, happy Veteran’s Day to the brave men and women who have fought to protect our freedoms,” said Lt. Col. Robert Thomson, Salvation Army commander of Minnesota and North Dakota.
Please join The Salvation Army’s mission by donating or by volunteering in your local community.