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Reforging Bonds Between Young and Old

November, 2003

STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS—The two men are seen from the back, sitting side by side on a wooden bench. Though only a fraction of an inch apart, they are separated by two or three generations. The young man's legs, visible under the bench, are crossed at the ankles and reveal the worn-down heels of athletic shoes that have taken their wearer on many recent adventures. The elderly man next to him wears sockless deck shoes, wide as rowboats flat on the water.

It is an unlikely juxtaposition: youth and age. Unlikelier still, though the photo does not hint at this, the two are not related. Their bond is a humanitarian one. The image serves as the cover photo for Living Memories: Reflections of Students Volunteering in VA Hospitals.

Published in summer 2003 by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this 54-page collection of 12 essays and 26 black-and-white photos bears the handprints of several MBA '03 alums: Lisa Rutherford designed the book, Kristin Lundquist designed the cover, and Clinton Chan served as the project's sole photographer. Andre D. Vanier (JD/MBA '04) served on the editorial board.

Ten months in the making, the book is tangible testament to the power of young people to enliven the lives of elderly veterans and, in so doing, receive a rich return. At first glance, working with VA patients appears an unlikely match for high-energy college student volunteers: The average age of the veterans is 75. Many are men with no family who live in the isolated environment of Veterans Affairs hospitals and suffer from mental illnesses or Alzheimer's.

"It's an environment most young people would find depressing," said Vanier, who authored one of the essays in the book, "yet something so simple as holding someone's hand and offering a human touch can provide so much. The nurses say this means all the difference in their patients' lives." As the essays in the book attest, however, the lives of the students are touched and enriched as well.

Andre's older brother, Vance Vanier, now doing his medical residency at UCSF- Highland General Hospital in Oakland, Calif., conceived of the book idea and served as executive editor. Vance founded United Students for Veterans Health (USVH) in 1994 with a gathering of several dozen college students from Stanford University who began visiting the patients at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center's geriatric unit. As the organization expanded nationally, hundreds of USVH volunteers have given over 15,000 hours of their time at VA hospitals throughout the United States. In his introduction to the book, the older Vanier reports: "Students and veterans have formed friendships and gifted each other comfort, inspiration, and insights that have changed their lives forever."

Chan's photos set the scene for the book with spare and sometimes haunting images of the grounds and exteriors of VA facilities throughout the Bay Area. The essays provide the deep sense of humanity in the USVH mission. In the essay "A Great Gift Lives On," a volunteer finds a link to the much-admired uncle who died in Vietnam when he connects with a veteran who may have known his uncle. Another volunteer, in his essay on "Simple Advice," finds that contrary to the hospital dramas on television, "the most powerful experiences are often the subtlest." And Andre Vanier's essay, "Reflections of a Hero," plumbs the depths of religious faith in a Vietnam veteran's views on war and suffering.

"I feel USVH is the single most important thing I've done," said Andre. "It's definitely given me a profound appreciation of the importance of giving back."
The vision articulated by the original group of student volunteers in 1994 may very well apply to the new book, which seeks to inspire a new generation of volunteers:

"We live in an age where the elderly and veterans of our nation are increasingly ignored or forgotten. As memories fade away, the past generations who have contributed to our welfare suffer from society's indifference. The responsibilities you are undertaking will reverse this tide . the example of your actions and deeds will reforge the bond between the young and the old."

Related Information

For information about ordering the book send inquiries to livingmemories@usvh.org