Stamps for the Wounded

As we commememorate Pearl Harbor Day, Joseph Robertia of Alaska's Peninsula Clarion reports since 1942, the Stamps for the Wounded program has collected stamps and other stamp collecting related materials, and redistributed them to veteran's hospitals across the U.S. as occupational and recuperative therapy for wounded soldiers.

According to Joseph, "Thirty-five years ago, Livingston, Texas, resident Virginia "Cy" Turner had a cousin -- a veteran of World War II -- who had a stroke. At the time, doctors had given her cousin tweezers and two shot glasses -- one filled with BBs, as part of the rehabilitation process to improve his fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination."

Turner is quoted as saying, "He was supposed to move the BBs from one glass to the other. It was nerve-wracking and he got BBs everywhere."

Instead of BBs, Turner suggested stamps and the rest, as they say, is history.

Between her collecting efforts in Alaska and Texas (where she lives), Turner has collected more than 15,000 pounds of stamps to be used in veteran's hospitals around the country.

"They'll use them to make mosaics, crafts or for matching exercising," she said. "It occupies their time, eyes, hands, and above all, their minds."

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