Submitted by Larry Robert, Bereavement Services Manager/Veteran Liaison
When social distancing measures are the rule of the day, a front porch will do just fine.
That’s how Larry Robert, bereavement services manager for VITAS in Atlanta and a veteran outreach specialist, made sure that patient and U.S. Navy veteran Michael Boiko, 83, got the recognition he deserved for his service during the Korean War.
Instead of performing the standard ceremony in Michael’s living room, Robert offered his thanks from a safe distance in the hospice patient’s front yard.
He provided Michael with a certificate of recognition, a heartfelt salute—one Navy veteran to another—and a patriotic blanket crafted by a VITAS volunteer.
“Our veterans love the patriotic blankets, and he was so proud, a very proud veteran,” Robert said. “He always displays his flag, putting it up when he needs to and taking it down when he needs to. I wanted to make sure he was recognized properly for his service to the country.”
