MynameisBettySmithandIturned90yearsoldyesterday.IwasbornandraisedinWashington,D.C.butmovedheretoCardiffthirtyyearsagowithmyfamily.Ihavededicatedmylifetohelpingothers.For35yearsIwasaprofessionalnurseatthecountyhospital.IbeganmycareerasanurseintheSecondWorldWar,andalsoassistedsoldiersinjuredinKorea,Vietnam,andhereathome.Forthelastdecade,Ihavebeenaschoolnurse,andnowIlivewithmyson,hiswifeandtheirtwochildren.Ithasbeenabeautifullife.
Isettledonnursingbecausetakingcareofthesoldiersseemedsonaturaltome.Imetmyhusbandonthebattlefield.Mychildrenwereborntheyearweendedthewaranddeclaredpeace.WhatelsecouldIhavedone?Thislifeofservicefoundme.
OneofthemostinterestingthingshasbeenmeetingpeopleinallthecountriesI’vevisited.Intimesofdistress,youreallyseehowtighteachcommunitybecomes.Ifsomeoneisinthewater,they’repluckedout.Ifsomeoneisinjured,they’rebandaged.Therearenoquestions,justaction.I’dlovetoseethatkindofcommunitysupportallovertheworld.Notjustduringtimesofwaranddisaster,butineverydaylife.Thevillagesthatsupporteachotherarethevillagesthatsucceed.InthisgiantvillageofBritain,it’svitalthatwerememberthatourresponsibilitieslienotjustwithourselves,butalsowithourneighbors.Ourliberationisboundtotheliberationofothers.
I’dliketothinkI’vedonemypart,beenasusefulaspossible,andgiventothebestofmyabilities.Fornow,I’dliketocontinuementoringyoungnursesandenjoyingmytimewithfamilyandfriends.