Veterans help in time of need

Dear Editor:
This is a very true story I have been waiting to tell. It happened one morning in the spring of the 1990’s about 10:30 on a Sunday. This older car pulled into our driveway, man, woman and three young children. The car was running very poorly. They had stopped at a farm outside of town and were given directions to our home. They had driven from a little town close to the South Dakota border after receiving a call from their family in a small town in the middle of Texas. Grandpa had suddenly taken ill and they should come if they wanted to see him.
Their car was barely running. It was a combination of dirty plugs, swollen plug wires and a bad part on the carburetor. I looked in my “stash bag” of good used and new parts. Could not find a match close enough. I didn’t have the part I needed, but I knew someone who also had a “stash box” so I called him. His family had just gotten home from church. Wife would hold dinner while he looked for the part. I drove to Aurora and he had a part close enough it would work.
While I was gone, my husband cleaned spark plugs, put a set of slightly-used wires on the engine, checked oil and water. I  put the new part on the carb, adjusted it, and it was running pretty well. We gave them our phone number so they could call us. We fixed PBJ sandwiches and soda, apples, bananas and travel necessities. Told them to drive the car at speed you usually do, check the oil when you get gas. Car should be fine.
Three weeks later, we got a call. They had gotten home just fine. Spent a few days with Grandpa before he passed and they were home again. Their family helped them get a better car.
There are no better people than Roger Salmon and his wife. Our military vets know the value of helping others when we can. My husband also is a vet. Roger, thanks again for the old greasy wood box, I treasure it!
Ruby Skidmore,
Marquette