California Vietnam Veteran Gifted Free Solar Panels as Memorial Day Gift
Semper Solaris installed the panels on the home of Bob Blumenstock, who said: “I never won the lottery, but I would think this is pretty close.”
BOB BLUMENSTOCK: Never won the lottery, but it was pretty close.
– Bob Blumenstock is getting brand new solar panels installed for free on his Alpine home.
BOB BLUMENSTOCK: It’s really going to help a lot.
– A gift on this Memorial Day from local solar company Semper Solaris. It’s part of their Semper Cares initiative to give back to veterans.
KELLY SHAWHAN: Win-win. There hasn’t been one of these that hasn’t been like, I’ll be crying before the end of the day. It’s just how it goes.
– Blumenstock served in Vietnam in 1968. He was a Navy corpsman who served as a dental technician behind enemy lines supporting the Third Marine Division.
BOB BLUMENSTOCK: It was kind of exciting, actually. It was a little scary, but it was rewarding, being able to actually do some good for Marines and civilians there.
– He was also part of a team that visited villages to treat Vietnamese civilians, which may have fueled his early desire to give back.
BOB BLUMENSTOCK: I realized that these people were more or less victims of their situation and got a deep appreciation of what it was like to be an American and to be able to go home after 12 months. Whereas, these people had to suffer for a lifetime.
– But he, too, suffered. He was first poisoned in Vietnam by Agent Orange, and later, the victim of water contamination at our own Fort Lejeune.
BOB BLUMENSTOCK: My exposures were being literally crop dusted by– I think they were C-123 cargo planes that were outfitted with sprayers. And they would fly over the base.
– He and many others still struggle with medical issues. But it has not dampened his spirit or drive to help others. And that, he says, starts with serving your country.
BOB BLUMENSTOCK: We really should serve our country, in one way or another. It doesn’t really matter what you do or where you do it. But I think that it may give you more appreciation of what we have.
Source: PTI
