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Chaplain William G. Kalaidjian on the power of singing

Is This All There Is?

In January of 2004, I was assigned wards IE and ID, the Spinal Cord Units of the Bronx Veteran Administration Medical Center on Kingsbridge Road in Bronx County, New York City.

The two wards have a population of approximately 55 patients. The majority of the patients are confined to their beds. While visiting the patients, one of them asked me, as their new Spinal Cord Chaplain, “Hey, Chaplain, we’re here in bed, we get a shower or go for a brief swim, and it’s back to bed. Is this all there is?” The question really tormented me and when I went to bed that night I asked myself, what if I were a spinal cord patient? How would I meet such a challenge? It dawned on me: the patients could sing. I took a survey — the memo stated, “You do not have to be a Bing Crosby or a Frank Sinatra to join in the forming of a Wheelchair Chorus. Come meet your chaplain next Monday at 3pm in the IE Ward Recreation Room. Volunteer David Thomas will play the piano or keyboard. Your Chaplain, a Navy veteran, will bring the songs in booklet form, with easy-to-turn pages, and songs easy to sing."

To my delight, 16 veteran patients showed up for the first rehearsal. I mentioned that I had a dream that we could one day perform for the Bronx Rotary Club at a luncheon meeting. May 18th we did it. A bus provided by E.P.V.A., four cars, and a police escort left the Bronx VA for the Harbor Restaurant on City Island. Memorial Day we sang at our chapel’s Memorial Day ceremony. June 14th, Flag Day U.S.A., we sang a patriotic concert that was well received.

The Spinal Cord doctors say the cloud of depression has lifted from the two wards. The chorus members have told me they feel they breathe better since they have been in the chorus. The full-time chaplains tell me there are more wheelchairs coming to Chapel on Sundays. I write this message in answer to the question asked of me, “Is this all there is?” With a wheelchair chorus, there is more. More joy, more fellowship, more purpose in living, and more circumstances to live for, prepare for, and experience.

The Rev. William G. Kalaidjian is a graduate of Nyack Public Schools, a veteran, US Navy, WWII, Aerologist 3/c on staff of Admiral Rosenthal, Lakehurst, NJ. He graduated from Adelphi College in 1950 with a BA in Sociology and from Union Theological Seminary in May 1953 with a B.D. and M.Div., majoring in church and community. He was ordained a Congregational Minister (now UCC) in May 1953 and installed as pastor of The Bedford Park Congregational Church, where he served for 43 years. He was sworn in as a Protestant Police Chaplain in April of 1957 and served the police department for 41 years. Bill became an intermittent chaplain at the Bronx VA Medical Center in July of 1976 and part-time staff one year later. He is presently in his 30th year of service to the U.S. Government. Bill is the chaplain for two wards of spiral cord patients as well as being the organizer and founder of the Bronx VAMC Wheelchair Chorus.

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