RENO – Bill Thomas, a former head of the 12th Naval District Color Guard, member of the military police and drill sergeant, expressed the sense of “unspoken camaraderie” he feels is shared by all veterans when he helped dole out gift packages to fellow veterans at the VA Assisted Living Center on Saturday.  

“I’m lucky because I’m able to walk and am in pretty good health,” Thomas said.  “A lot of the veterans here aren’t, though and a lot of them don’t receive a lot of visitors.”

Elwood Compton, who said he receives few visitors, was one of the veterans to receive a care package.

“I have a sister, but I don’t see her too much,” Compton said.  Compton served in the Air Force and was stationed in Missouri. 

To help Compton’s situation, as well as the loneliness of other veterans, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department tries to bring the spirit of the holidays to the VA Hospital long after the holiday season’s climax has ended.

This is the second year that the event, called Operation Christmas Stand Down, has taken place.

“During the peak times of year, like Christmas, there are a lot of visitors here (at the assisted living center),” said chief records clerk for the sheriff department and Bill’s daughter, Maureen Thomas.  “But after that, not as many visitors come by.”

Maureen was inspired by her father, Bill, to start the event.

“We really wanted to do something for the veterans,” Maureen said.  “I thought of my dad, who served in Vietnam, and thought this was the perfect way to reach out to veterans in the community.”

The gift bags were filled with decks of cards, shampoo, conditioner, socks and other toiletries.  Sixty-five bags were prepared and any extras were given other patients at the VA hospital or homeless veterans and they were given out by other veteran volunteers.

“This has been a very rewarding experience,” veteran volunteer Ron Coleman said.  “It’s really important to show the people who are here that people are thinking of them.”

“We visited the veterans in January for the first time last year,” said Sheriff Mike Haley in a written statement. “It was such a memorable experience, hearing their stories and spending time with them.  There was never any question that we would be back to do it again.”  

In addition to handing out care packages, employees of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office went from room to room, paying visits to the veterans in the assisted living center. 

Bill said that the best part of giving out the care packages was “watching their (the package recipients) eyes light up.”

“It’s just nice to be able to do something for the veterans,” Maureen said as the volunteers finished handing out the gifts.