Newspaper Page Text
The True Citizen, Wednesday, November 10, 2021 — Page 5
John Tinker
(Sitting in for Ronda Rich)
TINK'S THANKS
Local Vets Continued from 2
This is a thank you note
though it might take a minute
for me to get to the gratitude.
It’s hard for me to feel deserv
ing of the kindness you’ve
given me.
I have a longtime friend who
is a wonderful gift giver. What
ever he chooses — store bought
or handmade, unwrapped or
tied up with ribbons and bows
— his presents are always
thoughtful and heartfelt. I wish
I were like that.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy
gift giving — though I admit
there’s a part of me that always
feels my gifts are never quite
“good enough”. I overthink the
gift selection rather than giving
straight from my heart.
So, upon handing someone
a present, I’ll typically say
quickly, “You can exchange it”
or “If you already have one...”
Then I flush with the realiza
tion I should’ve bought some
thing else. I’m certain there
are psychological implications
here about my character but I’ll
ignore them for now because
I want to talk about your gift
to me
By the way, before we go
further, I’m worse at receiving
gifts than giving them. I feel
completely undeserving.
I’ve tried finding ways
around this: I’ll tell someone,
“Do not give me anything for
Christmas.” I request this of
Ronda whether it’s Christmas
or my birthday or Valentine’s
Day or some other occasion.
She ignores my pleas, how
ever, and she typically gets me
something really terrific which,
of course, only compounds the
“unde serving -I- should ’ ve- got
ten-you-something” quotient.
All this mishegoss (Yiddish
for craziness or senseless be
havior. I learned Yiddish from
my mentor, Bruce Paltrow.
My wife has Southernized it to
mishegosh) on my part is not
very gracious, I admit. But try
as I might to tamp down my
unbecoming behavior, I’m
sure I manage to take away
some of the joy from Ronda
and other gift givers. To be
honest. We’ve all sung this
refrain at least some time in
our life, “Aw, you didn’t have
to do this.” Yes, regardless, the
courteous and kind behavior
would be for me just to thank
the gift giver. Perhaps some of
you understand how uncom
fortable I can be with people’s
kindness and gifts.
Thus, having made my con
fession and knowing how dif
ficult this is for me, I want to...
thank you.
Specifically, I want to thank
all of you who have supported
me by giving of your time to
watch the Hallmark television
series, When Calls the Heart
of which I am an Executive
Producer and head writer. Now,
understand, I believe it to be
soothing, uplifting entertain
ment — the kind that families
can watch together. It was that
way for the seven seasons be
fore I became the showrunner.
This season, it was you who
made the difference. Some of
you found out through this
column, some through Ronda’s
newsletter, or her friend, Karen
Peck, others in social situations
or a press release or magazine/
TV story. And you tuned in — a
large number of you who had
never watched before. You
gave of yourselves and that
means the world to me.
In fact, you delivered the
best ratings it’s ever had. Every
episode topped with the previ
ous week with bigger numbers.
It was stunning to watch.
And humbling.
Of course, (and I can only
speak for myself though I have
seen that my colleagues feel the
same), we who make the show
will always try remembering
an hour out of your day is a
lot to give. It’s a precious gift.
And on a Sunday night when,
for whatever the reason, the
hours always seem to be more
precious than others.
I’m getting dangerously
close to diminishing your gift
by speaking of what you get
in return. Instead, please, ac
cept my appreciation for such
thoughtfulness. Thank you.
Very much.
Y’all turned the little show
into the number one series on
cable television for the year.
My heart runneth over.
John Tinker is married to
columnist Ronda Rich. Hall
mark’s When Calls The Heart
is the number one show on
cable.
is service related, a monetary
benefit for the surviving spouse
or next of kin that paid for the
funeral.”
Funeral relief may also include
a headstone for honorably dis
charged personnel, an honor
burial which includes a flag
and the playing of Taps. Vet
erans can be buried in a state or
national VA cemetery. Family
members also receive a cer
tificate signed by the President
honoring their service.
The local office is available to
explain homestead exemptions
for property taxes, vehicle
taxes, driver’s licenses, veteran
license plates and hunting and
fishing licenses.
“Of course, none of the benefits
are automatic,” Crawford said.
“A veteran has to apply for the
benefits and has to meet the cri
teria for them. Some veterans
think that because they served
they are automatically eligible
for the benefits, but they have
to meet the criteria. “
Surviving spouses are entitled
to similar benefits. If the vet
eran died from a service-con
nected disability, the spouse is
eligible for DIC benefits. If
the veteran did not die from a
service-connected disability,
then she may still be eligible
for a pension, based on her
income. Family members may
also meet the requirements to
receive educational and medi
cal benefits. Spouses and chil
dren may be buried at the same
state or national VA cemetery
as the veteran.
“If they come to us with an
issue for which we do not
provide, we try to lead them
to an agency that may be able
to help them,” Crawford said
and named the homeless pro
gram and counseling services
through the VA Medical Cen
ter and financial assistance
through the Augusta Warrior
Program.
There is plenty room for more.
Crawford said there are a lot
of veterans who do not take
advantage of the services that
are available.
“That is the sad part,” she said.
“The services are here for the
veterans but a lot of them do
not utilize them. We pretty
much do our best to try to
service the vets and reach out
to them.”
There are approximately 1,500
veterans in Burke County.
More information about avail
able services can be found out
by visiting the office at 715 W.
Sixth Street
Waynesboro, or by calling
(706)554-3874.
“In-office visits are by appoint
ments, but we do take walk-
ins,” Crawford said.
BIKE COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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RC. 502 West 6th Street
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PHONE (706) 554-2861
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GENERAC
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fiirarrl f^A
AUTHORIZED DEALER
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Contractor
HIGHSMITH BUILDING SERVICES, INC.
constructing custom homes since 1991
JOHN A. HIGHSMITH
706-551-0248
Insurance
Stacey L. Herrmann, LUTCF ■ Agency Mgr.
FARM
BUREAU
GEORGIA
Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Services
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
Office 706-554-2017 FAX: 706-554-7482
Email: slherrmann@gfbins.com
CLAIMS # 1-855-432-2567
P.O. Box 329 Waynesboro, GA 30830
Heating & Air
Dustin Rowell,
Owner/President
Rowell
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factory
MJTHCWZFD
DEALER
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“Trust, Honor & Pride - Our Commitment To You”
346 Old Mlllen Hwy., Waynesboro, GA 30830
706-554-2665
Pet Grooming
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Springwood
Boarding & Grooming
706-592-0444
3209 Old Waynesboro Road
Hephzibah, GA 30815
"Caring hands for your precious pet"
Wrecker Service
706-551-3998
706-551-0876
TAYLOR BROTHERS
Wiecker Service
206 West 12th Street
Handyman and Lawn Services
DIA/AI HANDYMAN services
rvvn AND lawn CARE, LLC
ALL YOUR HANDYMAN AND LAWN CARE NEEDS
NO JOS TOO SMALL!
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR HOME REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT
LAWN CARE AND LANDSCAPING
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Cleaning Services
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL
You me it we clean it!
Homes, Offices, Commercial, Churches
Before & after party services, seasonal services too
We are Licensed, Bonded & Insured!
Call for free estimates - Klewisservices
762-212-2901 or 706-551-4098
Landscaping & Tree Trimming
HE5HIVD
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ADVERTISE HERE!
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To be included in the Burke
To be included in the Burke
County Business Directory,
County Business Directory,
contact Roy Chalker
contact Roy Chalker
at 706-554-2111.
at 706-554-2111.
Burke Memorial Funeral Home
www.burkememorial.com
‘A Home of Dependable Service’
842 Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA
Family owned operated
Jane and George DeLoach
706-833-9867 or 706-551-5100