Desert Messenger

M�� 19, 2010  WALK AMERICA CON’T FROM PG. 1 thing to help, and he decided that if every family in American could donate just one dollar, he would be able to raise enough money to really make a differ- ence to those disabled veterans he wanted to help. Richard started this “Walk across America” on Veter- an’s Day, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida at the Duvall County War Memorial. His walk will take 202 days, walking 17 miles each day, going through 8 states on his journey of almost 2700 miles. He will reach the Balboa Park Memorial in San Diego on Memorial Day, 2010. As he is walking, he carries the flag for Disabled Veterans with him. During his trip, Richard visits many VA hospitals and outpatient clinics to interview disabled veterans, doctors, nurses and civilians, asking questions that cover their needs, treatment, and general concerns. He has met some very unique and awesome people along his journey. They have showered him with so many remembrances of his visit that he was over- whelmed and really touched by their generosity and goodwill. He has received all kinds of license plates, coins, stickers and medals, along with wooden chips, from many VFW or American Legion members. He was also given a beautiful hand-carved walking stick with the POW/MIA logo, and a special marble from one of the vets he visited. When he entered Quartzsite, he walked beside a woman who was in a motorized wheelchair who had an American flag flying and he talked with her for quite awhile. He has also met so many wonderful and kind people along the way, and he keeps a jour- nal of his daily trip that he posts on his website each day. He truly believes that everyone should honor all our veterans, and that our disabled veterans should get all the care and help they require and deserve for having served our country. He is a quiet, unassuming man whose love for God and country give him the strength to keep going on this huge undertaking, trying to help those veterans who really need to be given the best because they gave their best. His whole back and front of his body is tattooed to show his love of his fellow veterans; a D����� M�������� miniature rendition of the Vietnam Wall is part of it, and he wears it proudly. The support team member, Vince, drives a car that has been decorated with all kinds of stickers of every branch of the military, along with hundreds of signa- tures of military families and veterans. He plans to auction off this car when he reaches San Diego, with all proceeds going to the Disabled Veterans. He will start back across the country with a different car that people can decorate, and that, too, will be auctioned off when he gets home. Richard is planning to come back through Quartz- site in late November, when he walks back across the country starting from Sand Diego on Veteran’s Day this year. He has agreed to give me a head’s up on his itinerary so I’ll be able to write about it letting people know when he is coming through town, so we can give him the welcome he deserves. The VFW treated him and Vince to a great steak dinner at the Post, and we are hoping that next time he comes through we can P��� 15 get more people to come out and show their support, giving him a great Quartzsite welcome. Maybe he will stay overnight so he has the chance to see our town and maybe talk with our schoolchildren about what he is doing. It was an honor to meet this wonderful man and I look forward to talking with him again. If you want to make a donation to the Disabled Vet- erans, or just see what this walk is all about, you can check his website at www.vetwalking.org or send do- nations to Richard Hunsucker, PO Box 536, Green Bay, WI 54305-0536. Every dollar counts and you can help make a differ- ence to many veterans who have suffered many types of injuries, physical and emotional. These brave men and women have paid a dear price for serving our country, and they deserve the best treatment available to bring them back to their fami- lies and to make their lives a little better. 60 W. MAIN ST. Quartzsite The Bright RED Building next to Shell BREAKFAST & LUNCH OPEN 8 - 2 (CLOSED TUES. & WED.) Best Bread Pudding West of the Mississippi Homemade Soup by the quart! 928-927-9071 COUPON YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO QUARTZSITE! IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO AL’S MEXICAN AND AMERICAN FOOD Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner 1099 W. MAIN ST. Quartzsite DAILY SPECIALS! CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED! $1 OFF ANY PIZZA * BIG SCREEN TVS! MARGARITAS - PINA COLADAS - BEER Friday - Fish & Chips Open 7am - 8pm Daily Take Out Orders: 928-927-6282 Famous Gourmet Pizza open all summer! Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials! KARAOKE Fri & Sat @7pm NEW A/C UNITS! 10am-noon & 3:30pm-5:30pm Kitchen Open 10am-10pm 2 HAPPY HOURS: X $1 DRAFT 175 E. Main St. 928-927-5585 Serving Quartsite at Same Location for over 20 years! *With Coupon Only Expires 6-30-10 B-10, Main St. 928-927-8890 MOUNTAIN - Daily Specials! - Homecooked Food! - Saturday Night Prime Rib! CALL IN FOR TAKE OUT! QUAIL CAFE We will be Open All Summer! 7am -7pm Closed Monday 490 N. Moon Mt. Rd., Quartzsite (corner of Moon Mt. & Quail Trail) EASY TO FIND: Quail Trail N Moon Mountain Rd. Hwy. 95, N. Central

• Cover