Disabled veteran has humane heart
By: Michael A. Nazario, Ph.D.
Topics: disabled, veteran, Volunteer, bakersfield
Posted by DrMichaelNazario Mon Apr 9, 2007 12:46:04 PDT
Viewed 1049 times
0 responses 0 comments
Disabled Army veteran, Elizabeth Bart, suffered hearing loss to her left ear as a result of the constant firing noise and training of her M-16 rifle at the Army rifle range at Fort Irwin in Barstow, Calif.
Subsequently, she was able to earn her education primarily because of her 30 percent disability, and $40,000 the Army granted her.
At that time, when I was discharged from the Army, I obtained work as a waitress and was working at the Olive Garden while going to school,” said Bart, who was born in Torrence, Calif.. She is now the marketing director for The Appollonia Dental Center in Bakersfield.
Prior to her enlistment in the Army, she was employed at IHOP in Redondo Beach as a waitress. There, she met a senior citizen named Frank LaFlamme. Routinely, Frank visited the IHOP and make “good conversation.” They became good friends. When Bart joined the Army, she always kept in contact with LaFlamme through letters.
Bart was in the Army as an administration clerk from 1984 to 1987. She then went on inactive reserve status until 1990, when she obtained her honorable discharge.
When she was released from active duty, she again began her active friendship with LaFlamme. They spent lots of time together. In the end, “Uncle Frank” moved in.
“He was an orphan, never married and he had no one to look after him, so I asked him to move in with me,” Bart said compassionately. Even when she was to be married, she advised her husband-to-be, William, of her unique accommodation of “Uncle Frank.”
LaFlamme was a World War II veteran who was wounded in the Army by a gun shot which brazed his head. Bart says she starting calling him “Uncle Frank” because “it was too much information that had to be given out in order for us to explain our relationship, so we kept it short and sweet as Uncle Frank.”
LaFlamme eventually enjoyed 16 years under Bart's care as a result of her selfless and humane action. He passed away in March of 2003, at the age of 87, of natural causes, and the Barts buries him with full military honors.
Bart has continued her humanitarian efforts in other ways.
In 2000, Bart and her friend and business partner, Tammy England, helped write a government grant for the Kern County and Family Commission, also known as First 5 Kern. The grant was approved for $300,000 for the “Tooth Fairy” program to teach children how to brush their teeth and maintain a healthy mouth.
“Elizabeth is a very professional individual, she is extremely dedicated, very kind and very compassionate,” England said.
The two women managed the grant while they worked at Dedicated Dental in Bakersfield.
Bart earned her associate's degree in liberal arts from Bakersfield College in 1989. She obtained her bachelor's degree in sociology from Cal State Bakersfield in 1991.
Most of her working career after the military has been in the dental industry. However, when asked about her life ambitions, she added, “I would love to open a senior citizen activity home for the senior population… My heart is there… Senior citizens are often forgotten.”
Bart volunteers her time at the local Disabled American Veterans association and helps in any way she can. The most recent Veterans Day Parade honored disabled female veterans. Unfortunately, Bart had to attend dental training in Las Vegas during the parade.
Bart has been happily married for 15 years, owns a home in Bakersfield, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to senior citizens, veterans or the underprivileged.
Subsequently, she was able to earn her education primarily because of her 30 percent disability, and $40,000 the Army granted her.
At that time, when I was discharged from the Army, I obtained work as a waitress and was working at the Olive Garden while going to school,” said Bart, who was born in Torrence, Calif.. She is now the marketing director for The Appollonia Dental Center in Bakersfield.
Prior to her enlistment in the Army, she was employed at IHOP in Redondo Beach as a waitress. There, she met a senior citizen named Frank LaFlamme. Routinely, Frank visited the IHOP and make “good conversation.” They became good friends. When Bart joined the Army, she always kept in contact with LaFlamme through letters.
Bart was in the Army as an administration clerk from 1984 to 1987. She then went on inactive reserve status until 1990, when she obtained her honorable discharge.
When she was released from active duty, she again began her active friendship with LaFlamme. They spent lots of time together. In the end, “Uncle Frank” moved in.
“He was an orphan, never married and he had no one to look after him, so I asked him to move in with me,” Bart said compassionately. Even when she was to be married, she advised her husband-to-be, William, of her unique accommodation of “Uncle Frank.”
LaFlamme was a World War II veteran who was wounded in the Army by a gun shot which brazed his head. Bart says she starting calling him “Uncle Frank” because “it was too much information that had to be given out in order for us to explain our relationship, so we kept it short and sweet as Uncle Frank.”
LaFlamme eventually enjoyed 16 years under Bart's care as a result of her selfless and humane action. He passed away in March of 2003, at the age of 87, of natural causes, and the Barts buries him with full military honors.
Bart has continued her humanitarian efforts in other ways.
In 2000, Bart and her friend and business partner, Tammy England, helped write a government grant for the Kern County and Family Commission, also known as First 5 Kern. The grant was approved for $300,000 for the “Tooth Fairy” program to teach children how to brush their teeth and maintain a healthy mouth.
“Elizabeth is a very professional individual, she is extremely dedicated, very kind and very compassionate,” England said.
The two women managed the grant while they worked at Dedicated Dental in Bakersfield.
Bart earned her associate's degree in liberal arts from Bakersfield College in 1989. She obtained her bachelor's degree in sociology from Cal State Bakersfield in 1991.
Most of her working career after the military has been in the dental industry. However, when asked about her life ambitions, she added, “I would love to open a senior citizen activity home for the senior population… My heart is there… Senior citizens are often forgotten.”
Bart volunteers her time at the local Disabled American Veterans association and helps in any way she can. The most recent Veterans Day Parade honored disabled female veterans. Unfortunately, Bart had to attend dental training in Las Vegas during the parade.
Bart has been happily married for 15 years, owns a home in Bakersfield, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to senior citizens, veterans or the underprivileged.
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
Spotlight
| Cool new People | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Find More People
|
||
|
|
||
|
Meet People Who Like ...
mountains, outdoors, starbucks, friends, trader joe's, Politics, myspace, pizza, cars, football, wildlife, guitar, writing, movies, food, hiking, church, SPORTS, Travel, Family, swimming, wine, dogs, singing, reading, cooking, traveling, beer, camping, fishing, shopping, Beach, the Real Estate Market and going out on the weekends determined , gardening, cats, Theatre, Animals, music, art, Poetry, Dancing, history, Books, graphic design, computers, Photography, cycling, pets, coffee, tattoos.
|
||
| View Them All | Add Yours! | ||
|
|
||
|
Advertisement: |
||