The United States recognizes November 11 as Veterans Day, a date reserved to thank those who have served our nation. In recognition of this day, We Honor Veterans partners across the U.S. commemorated Veterans in their communities as well as Veteran patients receiving hospice care. Although these events varied in their location, the central purpose of recognizing, honoring, and thanking Veterans was universal. These events also serve to highlight the diversity that exists within the Veteran population as well as among those who care for them.
Hospice organizations such as Horizon Home Care & Hospice of Milwaukee, WI and Tidewell Hospice of Sarasota, FL, observed Veterans Day by hosting numerous events across their respective states. Horizon Home Care & Hospice conducted Veterans Day ceremonies at eight different partner facilities across Wisconsin. Through these events, the Milwaukee-based organization provided pins and certificates of recognition to over 100 Veteran. Tidewell Hospice similarly strove to honor Veterans on a large scale. The Sarasota-based hospice provider recognized over 400 Veterans via twenty-five individual events throughout the week of Veterans Day. Each of these pinning ceremonies was provided Veteran to Veteran by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Other We Honor Veterans hospice partners opted for more intimate ceremonies. Hospice in the Pines of Texas recognized Veterans receiving hospice care from a range of personal backgrounds and military involvement. The Texas-based hospice recognized the service of Donald Noel, who served two tours in Vietnam followed by 24 years as a Coast Guard enlistee, as well as C.L. Beck, who at 101 years old recalled his two-and-a-half-year service in the Navy during World War II. Each pinning was unique. Army Veteran Sampson Roberson, who thought he did not deserve recognition because he served during peacetime, was humbled by his pinning ceremony. The significance of the pinning of Ronald Mitchell, who served for over 20 years in the U.S. Army, was furthered by the involvement of his grandson, a U.S. Marine, in the ceremony.
Recognition of Veterans is hardly exclusive to We Honor Veterans hospice providers. We Honor Veterans community partners also hosted events to honor and recognize the sacrifices of Veterans. Genesis Arden House in Connecticut welcomed the Lota Chi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority into their Veterans Day celebration. The sorority members celebrated the Veterans of Arden House with food and conversation.
In their celebration of Veterans Day, We Honor Veterans hospice partners and community partners demonstrated that the universal belief in recognizing and honoring those who have served our nation far outweighs the differences that exist both among Veterans and among those who care for them. To find out more about the varying identities and experiences of Veterans, check out our Working for Veterans page!
