Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
Take a few moments to honor the fallen on Memorial Day MAY 2020
For resident Vicki Halls, isolation isn’t new For Fort Scott Presbyterian Village resident Vicki Halls, self-isolation is nothing new. In the late 1960s through 1970, another virus migrated out of southeast Asia. Scientists called it the H3N2 virus, but it was dubbed the Hong Kong flu because of its origin in China. As troops returned home from the war in Vietnam, some feared that the virus would wreak havoc Vicki Halls remembers the Hong Kong flu throughout the world. pandemic.
Vicki’s husband was deployed with the Navy at the time. Along with many other military spouses, she lived on a military base in Trula Vista, Calif., when she contracted the virus. “I was so infected and contagious, they confined me and asked me not to leave my apartment,” Vicki recalled. “I had to have people bring me groceries and prescriptions. My friend, at risk to herself, helped me. I couldn’t have made it without her. The Navy probably would’ve made sure I was taken care of, but I was fortunate to have my best friend next door. By the grace of God, she didn’t get sick.” According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Hong Kong flu began in 1968. Before the recent spread of the novel coronavirus, it was the third major pandemic in recent history. The first was the infamous Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, and the other was the 1957 flu pandemic. The Hong Kong flu resulted in an estimated 1-4 million deaths. Scientists believe the 1968 virus was a mutation of the virus that infected people in 1957. This meant that those exposed to the earlier virus retained some immunity from the later virus. Within two weeks of the emergence of the H3N2 virus, 500,000 cases were reported, and it spread rapidly across Southeast Asia. Within a few months, returning soldiers carried the virus to the United States. ISOLATION – continued on page 3
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village would like to say “thank you” to all of those who have served our country. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May. It’s a holiday of quiet respect for service members who have fought and died for our country. While other holidays honor military service, such as Veteran’s Day and Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day differs in that it is specifically in memory of those who lost their lives in service to our country. It is a reminder to reflect on their sacrifices. It is traditional for flags to fly at half-staff from dawn until noon on Memorial Day, and it’s not uncommon to see neighborhoods filled with American flags. Some communities celebrate with parades, while others bring flowers to cemeteries as a sign of respect. On this very important day, we encourage everyone to take a few minutes to remember those who have given their all for our freedom. Paul Milks, “Sunrise at Fort Scott National Cemetery” won the professional photography category in the Art is Ageless® competition.
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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