Honoring Our Veterans, One Volunteer’s Life of Service

For Amanda Smith, HopeWest volunteer and advisory board member, serving in the U.S. Navy was inspired partly by her father’s love of the ocean, and partly by her own desire to see the world beyond her hometown.

At 18 years old, Amanda took a 13-hour flight from Colorado, landing in Sasebo, Japan. Until then, her only travel experience had been an eighth-grade school trip to Washington, D.C.

When she arrived on base, the culture shock hit. She stood out, tall, light hair, with blue eyes and the language was both difficult to understand and nearly impossible to read. She remembers calling her mom the day she arrived, overwhelmed, and questioning whether she had made the right decision.

“My mom told me, ‘Pull yourself together. You’re a Navy sailor. You can do this,’” said Amanda. “Later my mom told me it was the hardest phone call she had ever taken. She had to be strong for me, because there was nothing she could do.”

Adjusting to life in a new country was just the beginning. Amanda became the fifth female sailor to ever board the USS Belleau Wood. Prior to this, enlisted women had not been allowed to serve on ships.

“I was tough, but I had to get tougher. I had to prove to the boys that I was just as strong and just as capable,” said Amanda. “I had to show them that we all had to work together—we were brothers and sisters.”

Amanda says her years of service taught her irreplaceable lessons, many of which she carries into her roles as a HopeWest volunteer and board member, as well as in her efforts to revive the Meeker VFW. Part of her personal mission is to inspire others to recognize the value and importance of service, whether to our country or as community members.

“It doesn’t matter if you sit behind a computer or in active combat what matters is that you made the choice to serve. That alone is enough.”

She applies this same belief to volunteering at HopeWest. In her role, she primarily helps with administrative work rather than direct patient care.

“We all matter in our own ways,” she said.

Amanda likens her volunteer work at HopeWest to a lesson she learned in the Navy.

“Individuality is great, but it’s not what keeps you safe or happy. When we realize we’re all going through similar struggles and choose to work together to help each other, that’s how we get through it.”

Although Amanda was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2004, her commitment to service is far from over as she continues serving others right here at home, in Meeker.

As part of the We Honor Veterans program at HopeWest, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Amanda and to all veterans. Thank you for your service, in every capacity, and for choosing to serve our country.