Petaluman supports veterans, troops

Growing up as the daughter of a World War II Army veteran, Petaluman Donna Lundstrom was instilled with a drive to give back and to support the nation’s veterans as well as active troops.

A psychiatric nurse for three decades, the last 14 with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Lundstrom dedicates a great amount of her spare time to veterans’ causes, working in her community to raise awareness and to support those who are serving.

For the past seven years, the 65-year-old has organized a booth at her neighborhood’s Fourth of July block party, where she provides art supplies and encourages Petaluma children to learn about patriotism by writing letters to soldiers.

Lundstrom said children from ages 4 to 15 create between 40 to 60 letters and cards each year, which she forwards to Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends care packages and correspondence to overseas service members.

“The first year that I did this I was amazed at how thoughtful the children were in what they wrote,” she said. “Some even draw pictures, and I’ve been told that more than the little care packages they receive, the recipients love getting the letters.”

Another way Lundstrom reaches out to help others is within her own profession, where she offers stress reduction techniques to other psychiatric nurses. As a part of the nurses’ continuing education courses, the lessons Lundstrom offers are part of the hours nurses need to retain their licenses.

“I counsel them with ways to cope and not bring things home, because the job is extremely stressful,” she said. “I emphasize to them the benefit of cultivating a sense of humor, and suggest other pursuits like yoga and music.”

She’s also brought out her baton to marching in the Veterans Administration’s Marching Unit in Petaluma’s annual Veterans Day Parade for the past four years as a way to honor her father and three brothers’ service in the military. She said marching in the parade is also part of her efforts to “try to be available for any volunteer service that may come along.”

She has also played a role in the community as a disaster relief nurse during last year’s Lake County Fire. During her childhood in Kansas, Lundstrom grew up accompanying her country veterinarian father on farm visits and credits the example set by her dad about the gifts of reaching out to others in time of need.

“I really enjoyed going with dad to visit the animals and when I went into (the survivors’) tents at the Lake County fairgrounds after last year’s fire, I even checked on their animals for them,” she said. “It was extremely rewarding.”

She said her life goal is to make a positive impression on the lives of others, and she’s glad to have played a role in her community.

“I am very proud of my work I’ve done through the years. I really believe that the world is so crazy that however you can help others, to take the time to be there for them is the most important thing we can do,” she said.