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Contributed commentary by Sharon S., who asked to use only her first name because of her situation, provided through the Alzheimer’s Association, Tennessee Chapter:

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we moved from our home of 21 years in Virginia to Clarksville to be closer to family. My hope was that it would be a familiar place for my husband, Art. He retired from the Army at Fort Campbell in 1997.

When I first met Art, he was a young sailor serving with the Seabees at Port of Hueneme, California, in the early ’70s. This young sailor decided to join my all-girls folk choir at a local church. And so our history began. We were married June 29, 1974. Soon after we married, he joined the Army, and a wonderful journey began, taking us all over the world.

In 2016, our life would change forever. That year, my husband Art was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. We were stunned by that news. He was strong and healthy. We hoped for a cure and took part in a clinical trial at Georgetown. I never imagined how quickly the disease would progress. We were young and with our whole life before us. The VA linked Art’s Alzheimer’s to a head injury from a parachute accident while stationed at Fort Bragg in the early ’80s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over half a million American veterans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.

After moving to Clarksville, Art’s Alzheimer’s progressed rapidly. It was a difficult journey, one I never imagined. On June 18, our life would change again. Art passed away that day, one week away from our 47th wedding anniversary. When it came time to plan his memorial/funeral, June 29, was the only date available. So we celebrated our beginning together and his life that day. Not what I had in mind but what was meant to be.

As a fellow veteran, I want to encourage Congressman Mark Green to lend his voice to the fight against Alzheimer’s. Thankfully, Congress can play an important role in addressing this critical issue. By supporting increased funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia research at the National Institutes of Health by $289 million, Congressman Green, Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Bill Hagerty have the opportunity to provide millions of Americans a sense of hope. With these funding increases, scientists will be able to work at a more rapid pace to advance basic disease knowledge, explore ways to reduce risk, uncover new biomarkers for early diagnosis and drug targeting, and make discoveries that can lead to a treatment or a cure. We can’t afford not to fund research.

Please join me and the Alzheimer’s Association in encouraging Congress to lead in the fight to end Alzheimer’s by supporting critical funding.

Together many can make a difference. Thank you.

Sharon S.

FOR MORE: The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be Saturday, Sept. 25, at 9 a.m. at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center.