Looking for something extra special to do on Valentine's Day, tomorrow? How about a trip to the hospital! I'm not talking about going there in the back of a mini-van holding your head to stop the nose-bleed you have, as a result of being hit by a flying Oreck XL21 Titanium Series Vacuum Cleaner with the 21 year warranty, hypo-allergenic filtration system and free cordless iron that your lovely, and surprisingly strong, wife threw at you. (I'm not saying it was me on the receiving end, but if I ever run into that David Oreck, there's gonna be trouble right here in River City and that starts with T and that rhymes with V and that stands for Valentine's Day...a day when flowers, candy or a gift card would be much more appreciated than, say, an appliance for cleaning the house.) No, I don't mean head for the ER. I mean head for the VA.

February 14, 2008 is the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. Each year, the VA here in Kansas City, opens the doors and invites folks to say thank you to the brave men and women who have given so much to keep our country free. Tomorrow, Donna Pitman, Kris Ketz and I will have the great honor of visiting the vets. The word "awesome" is overused these days, but this annual encounter is truly AWE-SOME & AWE-INSPIRING. There are lots of stories...laughs...quiet words of concern...a few tears. Sometimes we get to share greeting cards that area kids have created. We are lucky to be the bridge between the generations.

So, if you'd like to touch some hearts for Valentine's Day, give the VA a call and see how you can be a part of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. Just be warned: You'll walk out of there with an enlarged heart...in the best possible way!