Capps Attends Dreams for Veterans Launch
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lois Capps joined local veteran and dream recipient George “Ray” West in attending the Dream Foundation’s public launch of its Dreams for Veterans program in Washington, D.C. The Dreams for Veterans program serves our nation’s heroes by giving back to terminally ill veterans and their families through the fulfillment of a final dream. Photos of Capps meeting with Mr. West and speaking at the event can be found here and here.
West is an 89-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who served as Seaman 3rd Class, Ships Mate from 1944 -1946. He lives in Santa Barbara with his family and has been diagnosed with both leukemia and heart disease. West’s dream of enjoying a trip to the Yosemite Valley with his wife, son and daughter-in-law, was fulfilled in May 2015. The trip came 65 years after Mr. West and his wife, Jean, first honeymooned in Yosemite in 1950.
“Dreams for Veterans offers truly heartwarming acts of gratitude to those who have given so much to our country,” Capps said. “I have long admired the Dream Foundation’s work, and I am so inspired by their efforts to give back to terminally ill veterans and their families.”
When asked about their dream to Yosemite…Jean West, his wife said: “It meant the world to us! We honeymooned there in 1950 and fell in love with the area. We built a cabin there and from 1950 to 1999 we stayed in our cabin at least one day every month for 49 years. It was our home away from home where we raised our children. We didn’t think we would ever be able to return, but Dream Foundation gave us the opportunity to return home! And create even more memories!” Ray added, “Yosemite is a wonderland of God’s work.” When asked about his upcoming trip to DC, Ray said…“I am excited to experience something new, the opportunity to meet the dignitaries that will be at the launch, and visits the memorials that share so much of our history.”
“After more than 20 years and 20,000 dreams served throughout all 50 states, it is more special than ever knowing Dream Foundation began and has always had its home base right here in Santa Barbara,” said Kisa Keyer, Dream Foundation Executive Director. “The importance this community and people like Lois Capps place on the role of a dream in the palliative care continuum, particularly for veterans, is of the utmost importance to us. We are overjoyed that Santa Barbara’s own Mr. Ray West will be traveling to D.C. with his son David for the public launch of Dreams for Veterans and thank Capps and her team for their support.”
To date, Dreams for Veterans has served more than 100 dreams to veterans and plans to expand to more than 600 over the next few years. The Dream Foundation is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA and has fulfilled 20,000 dreams to terminally ill participants nation-wide.
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