What makes NH great 11-26-08

What makes NH great 11-26-08
Peter Macdonald 465 Packersfalls rd Lee NH 03824 603-659-6217
Patrick from Mr. Gilmore’s geography class in Pawtucket RI, wanting local residents to talk about “What makes NH Great”? I left NH at 17 to become a U.S. Marine. I left the US after suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury (with complete permanent loss of memory from a car accident right out of Parris Island) from the US military hospital. I did the next 31 months over seas in and out of hostel territory during the Vietnam Conflict. NH is a small state that most other Marines never heard of. The closest was a Marine from Portland Maine whom was able to tell me what NH was like. I had no memory of my family, friends or state. I dreamed of making it back alive to see the state of NH one day as beautiful as other Marines described NH and the U.S. I returned in 74 to be spit on at the San Francisco airport by a hippy girl protesting the Conflict. I was discharged with in days and landed by small plane in the Lakes Region airport. The view of the large and small lakes warmed my needs to touch what was only a dream for so long. I hitched hiked the 15 miles to my home town school where I wanted to see the guidance councilor because with no memory I found education classes during my tour through the mail helped me. People that picked me up or I met while walking were friendly and out going. The average person then and now I find in NH are willing to give (either with a friendly word or help) as a natural norm. I found this across the US but in NH it seemed more natural. I met family and friends over the next few years Hiking, camping, or just enjoying the many social and natural elements of the area. I had trouble adjusting so drinking became my solution. I had receive two more permanent disabilities during separate combat related missions. The NH people (one in particular) identified my troubles because he had returned a few years earlier. He gave me a room and helped me get in to UNH. He could see my social skills were that of a Marine Sgt so he helped me adjust and conform to the civilized society. In NH small town governments are made up of local volunteers which in every town I lived, I participated. Volunteering in NH to help others is a major part of our culture. I find volunteering gives me a chance to get advice from older more wiser people and give at the same time. I came back alive so I feel giving is my small way of respecting those that never come home.
NH is as I am sure your state and all the other parts of the US are great. The United States of America is what we the people make her be. I re-live, living what I did every day and that is why last year the VA diagnosis me with PTSD. I lived in different friendly villages that my convoy stopped at nights where families lived and ate 11 or more to a small hooch. Where they ate with their hands because utensils were a luxury. I have seen life from both sides. You can write about NH but on this Holiday season the United States of America is where we are all equal in constitutional rights and that is what is special about the United States of America. In your report I hope you say thank you to those in our U.S. Military now and the Veterans that returned from past wars and those that never came home alive or at all. Thank You for reading my letter Patrick writing it means more than you realize Thank You for giving me the reason to write you.
Peter Macdonald Sgt USMC Semper fi