Dennis R. began his volunteer career at Circle of Concern in 2011, but his commitment to service predates Circle’s launch in 1967. For him, 1966 was the year he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, motivated to guard the people of South Vietnam from the encroachment of communism from the north. While in-country near the border of North Vietnam, Dennis experienced the hell of war first-hand many times. “It was bad over there,” he says, and he has the stories to prove it.
He witnessed explosions and gunfire, destruction and deaths of comrades-in-arms. On one fateful day, he and others in his unit were laying low when shrapnel from the firefight wounded his leg, an injury he still feels today, along with Parkinson’s disease that resulted from exposure to Agent Orange and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dennis relies on support and comradeship he’s gotten from the Veteran’s Administration and the group, Disabled American Veterans.
For some, what Dennis has experienced would narrow life’s options. For him, though, there’s more he wants to do. Since retiring several years ago, for example, Dennis has taken up such social experiences as swing and line dancing lessons. As he says, “With Parkinson’s, you have to keep moving, and even if I dance one song and sit out two because I get unsteady on my feet, it’s fun and keeps me going.”
At Circle, Dennis is a steady intake volunteer, meeting with our clients one-on-one to address their needs and offer help. He’s known to take his time to listen to their troubles, as he, himself, has known trouble. He’s also demonstrated that there’s hope. We are proud that this man of service chose Circle to extend his more than 50 years of service to his community and his country. Please join us in celebrating Dennis!
