Hospital Volunteer Extraordinaire 2005-2006

Martha Rooney

Auxiliary 720 Phoenix

I received a telephone call from a lovely auxiliary sister. Her name is Martha Rooney and she is from Phoenix, AZ. She was inquiring about Hospital Pins for volunteer hours. She has been consistently donating over 600 hours a year. The problem is all the work is done from home. You see, Martha is eighty-five years old.

Well, hospital volunteer pins are for work in the hospital, but Martha is so wonderful, I chose to write a short story and honor her on our Hospital-VAVS website. Martha, please forgive me if I make any errors in the retelling of your great service to the Veterans of our land!

Martha’s husband was a WWII veteran who saw duty in the Atlantic was part of the Normandy Invasion and served on the USS Blessman. The Blessman was assigned convoy duty in the North Atlantic and made several Londonderry runs. She screened heavy bombardment units in attack on Normandy beaches and assisted mined transports Susan B. Anthony and Frances C. Harrington, transferring wounded to hospital ship.

She has four children, three sons and one daughter. Between them they have fives tours of duty and three injuries. The daughter’s husband also is military. Her family is patriotic! She believes that you give back when you have been so lucky. And so, she continues even today serving our hospitalized veterans.

Martha knits and crochets lap robes, makes tray favors, solicits donations from businesses and does whatever she can for the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix.

While Phoenix is now home to sister Martha, she is a Past District 1 President from her days living in Yuma. I am extending a personal thank you and recognition to Martha. Each of you should do the same!

Sheila Shutts-Chairman

Hospital-VAVS

Department of Arizona VFW

RESOURCE:

http://www.informediate.com/ussrichde695/ComCortDiv19/USSBlessman