It’s pretty hard not to run into veterans on Whidbey Island. Island County has the third largest veteran population in the state. For those of us who call Whidbey Island home, the desire to settle here is not surprising. But there is a draw for veterans that could be even stronger — community.

Our veterans community is a close-knit group that genuinely looks out for one another.

Service officers at our various veterans organizations do what they do because they want to help fellow veterans slog through the quagmire of Veterans Administration paperwork and regulations (page 3). And they do it for free. Even if they were allowed some form of compensation, I don’t think they’d take it. They do it because veterans care about other veterans. It’s that simple.

But it’s not just limited to veterans. Several members of team Whidbey came together to help move an Oak Harbor veteran into a new home when it was discovered his was virtually uninhabitable (page 2). Navy spouse Dee Heinz is mounting a one-woman effort to bring a different kind of healing to families of those veterans lost in the line of duty (page 12).

And then there are groups like Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, whose volunteers share one of the most important commodities there is with veterans — time (page 6). Or two Freeland men who needed a worthwhile project and thought of building a better boat; one that will help disabled veterans as well as any person with a disability get out and enjoy a day on the water (page 10).

We could all strive for the example of community set by veterans. Imagine how much richer our lives would be if we spent even half as much time caring for our friends, neighbors and coworkers as veterans spend caring for each other.

– Kathy Reed

  Editor