Surprise Visitor at Veterans Affairs Outreach Event

One of our outreach teachers relayed a surprising visit she had during a recent outreach dance class with the elderly veterans at the VA.

Here's her story --

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"There were two people observing our class yesterday. They watched for a good 3+ minutes when I invited them to join. A man named 'Thomas' showed me his cane and said he can't dance. He turned to go and as he was walking away I called out, 'Well maybe you'll join us for a dance next time!'

With that, he turned back around and said he'd like to join now and asked for a rattle. He greeted the veterans and stood with them shaking the rattle. One of the class participants recognized him and said, 'I've heard you speak! We were both in the Army.' Thomas said, 'Yes, I was in the Army.'

He greeted the guys and, at the end, thanked the recreation therapist, Allison, and myself for our work. I had no idea until later that he is the Director of the entire VA Palo Alto Healthcare System! What a class act of a guy."

Dance disolves barriers!

With love,

Sylvie and the SDP Team