Peace Time Veteran or War Time Veteran?

Had I not grew up with Barry Gay and immediately informed by neighbors of his alleged suicide, I possibly would have never heard or read about it through the media. It is very sad that there was only a brief mention of this incident in the news. I assumed that the VA hospital he allegedly killed himself at was the VA Hospital located on the west side of Chicago. Surely I would find something in the Chicago news papers or on-line sources. It's not everyday I hear about a long time neighbor of mines meeting his death in the parking lot of a VA hospital. After searching every on-line news source I could think of..., bingo! I located a brief, incompassionate article in the Pioneer Herald on-line newspaper written a week following his death. Wow! It occurred in the hospital parking lot of Maywood, IL, not Chicago.

Please read the article
:http://www.pioneerlocal.com/maywood/news/491317,ma-suicide-080107-s1.article.

It basically indicates his name, age, Chicago address, where he was found dead, that he never entered the hospital, his last visit to the VA and that he was a peace time veteran. The hospital administrator provided the information. End of story.

Reflecting back I recall that quite some time passed since I shared an in-depth conversation with Barry. I ran into him this past spring as I was leaving a movie theater on 62nd and Western, Chicago IL. There were heavy rain showers, so we greeted each other and continued on our way. Strangely enough, I last saw Barry walking and talking with a couple of other old neighbors the weekend preceding his death. I happen to be passing by in my car. Even then, he was so close but appeared to be so very far away.

A Child of The Universe

Credit: Linda Sanders

Copyright: Linda Sanders