Patricia Hocker is on a mission to give inspiration to Veterans and their families while at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, located at 921 NE 13th Street.
She is doing so via a rock garden that features painted rocks with inspirational messages.
“Four years ago, I became the chairman of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Veterans committee. The Veteran’s committee is a national outreach for the Salvation Army,” she said. “When I went down to the VA Hospital, I thought it looked bleak and not very welcoming.
There was a small sign in an area surrounded by some bushes. It said, ”take a rock and leave a rock for inspiration.” One of the hospital staff came by when I was there. She told me that occupational therapy did this for a few years, but they were no longer doing it. I knew then that I had to do something about that.”
Hocker said she asked three of her friends, Teta Turner, Shirley Brummett, and Becky Evans to help her.
“Shirley and Becky are artists and Teta and I do the best we can. I also invited ladies from our Salvation Women’s Auxiliary to help with the painting. My Bible study group also paints,” Hocker said. “I supply all the paint, rocks, and ideas for painting. I’m always happy when someone walks up to me with a box of painted rocks. We now have some “rock fairies” who leave painted rocks.”
Hocker said last year they purchased an attractive metal sign to go in the garden.
“I try to get down every 2 to 3 weeks to “plant” new rocks. When I get there, the garden is bare. It’s a challenge to keep the garden planted,” she said. “It has become a mission for Shirley, Becky, and I. It is a blessing for us as we bless our Veterans and their families. Whenever we are down there, we hear beautiful stories about what the rocks mean to that person or a loved one.”
Turner and her friends all previously worked together at Windsor Hills Elementary School in the Putnam City school district.
“We all worked in and we ended our careers at Windsor Hills,” she said.
Turner said she got involved with the VA Rock Garden after a close friend passed away while in the Oklahoma City VA Hospital.
“What frankly got me involved directly in it is two years ago on New Year’s Day we had a very close friend who died at the Veterans Hospital, and that’s when I began to get inspired to do something for the people who come down there,” she said.
“The garden was already going, but I had gone down to see him. And then when he passed away, of course, I wanted to do my part. And the rocks are not just for the Vets but for their families too.”
Turner said being a part of the VA rock garden has been a blessing.
“It became such a joyful mission that we’ve carried it on now for at least two years. And we can hardly keep rocks in there. They disappear so quickly. They give people a lot of joy,” she said. • by Van Mitchell, staff writer
